Published as the Act directs July 17, 1788, by Peter Maxell Engraver No 32 James Street, Covent Garden, 26 REMARKABLE RUINS, and ROMANTIC PROSPECTS, of NORTH BRITAIN. with Ancient Monuments, and SINGULAR SUBJECTS of Satuml History By the Reyd Σ The Engravings by PETER MAZELL.. Publifhd as the Act directs July 171788 by Peter Mazell Engraver No 32 James Street Covent Gard i INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. T HE favourable reception which the firft fpecimens of this publication met with, was a powerful inducement to persevere in the endeavour of executing the future Engravings in a ftile worthy of the flattering notice bestowed on the former: and the countenance and attention wherewith the departments of Antiquities and Natural History were honoured, by Men of Taste and Science, made the ftudies that lead to the illuftration of these several subjects be cultivated with an ardour, which only fuch approbation could have inspired. The grandeur and beauty of many scenes, wherewith we are presented amid the CALEDONIAN wilds; and the rude magnificence of the cliffs on her bold and rocky fhores; promised a series of romantic LANDSCAPE, deserving of notice and description: and the RUINS of ancient Buildings, which appear among them in forlorn decay, fuggefted variety of interefting reflection to the attentive Traveller: 'twas of importance, therefore, to accompany these Engravings with fome History of the Ruins, and Annals of the parts of the Country to which the Plates refer. The mo ii INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. The very remarkable OBELISKS that yet remain in the deepeft folitudes, and on the most detached hills; covered over with sculptures which evince them to have been set up in the early ages of Christianity, and before alphabetical writing was practised in these northern counties; feemed a curious fubject of investigation, which had been but partially attended to: a department was therefore allotted to these Monuments, wherein the origin of the several figures fculptured on them might be fully traced, and their hieroglyphical import, or allegorical allufion, as far as poffible, fhewn. In illuftrating this fubject much yet remains to be done. The subjects of NATURAL HISTORY, here prefented, are folely marine animals, or productions from the depths of the Ocean. To the variety of life, and its wonderful operations, which pervades the bottom of the sea, human research can never fet a bound. For although, thro' the united labours of ingenious men, the Infects of the field and garden have had their structure and ingenuity very fully difplayed; yet the inftincts and faculties of thefe wonderful artificers, which inhabit the deep beds of the Ocean, are but comparatively little known. The difficulties attending the research and investigation of the modes of life, and contrivances to chear exiftence, that operate among those beings which have a fixed refidence there, have been an almost infuperable barrier to our full acquaintance with that part of the system.—In numberless instances, however, we perceive their form and texture to be no less ex quifitely |