The impression of this Volume is limited to Twenty-Five Copies. Bath, August 1st, 1815. MBTIC 413 PREFACE. THE love of travelling still prevails, and curiosity still suggests new plans, and fresh excursions. The transient and favourable glimpse I have so lately enjoyed of Italy induce me to direct my thoughts thither again; but the love of novelty points out a new course, and fresh sources of information. The countries through which my destined route is now fixed, are highly conspicuous for the spirit of commercial activity, and military science, which they have evinced, and can boast of having given birth and patronage to a long list of celebrated painters, inferior, perhaps, to their brethren of Italy, in correctness of design, and grandeur of composition; but superior, in the opinion of many, as to brilliancy of colouring, and the minute and |