The regular progress of cultivated life is from necessaries to
accommodations, from accommodations to ornaments. By your illustrious
predecessors were established marts for manufactures, and colleges for
science; but for the arts of elegance, those arts by which manufactures
are embellished and science is refined, to found an academy was reserved
for your Majesty.
Had such patronage been without effect, there had been reason to believe
that nature had, by some insurmountable impediment, obstructed our
proficiency; but the annual improvement of the exhibitions which your
Majesty has been pleased to encourage shows that only encouragement had
been wanting.
To give advice to those who are contending for royal liberality has been
for some years the duty of my station in the Academy; and these
Discourses hope for your Majesty's acceptance as well-intended endeavours
to incite that emulation which your notice has kindled, and direct those
studies which your bounty has rewarded.
May it please your Majesty,
Your Majesty's
Most dutiful servant,
And most faithful subject,
JOSHUA REYNOLDS.