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Excerpt from Cathedral Antiquities: Historical and Descriptive Accounts, With 311 Illustrations, of the Following English Cathedrals
As buildings only they amuse and delight almost every spectator; but associate them with the sublimity and benignity of the Christian religion, and with the amazing ostentation and tyranny of ancient monachism, they awaken the most active curiosity and interest. Yet, strange to say, these wonderful edifices have been hitherto much neglected by the discriminating historian and the antiquary. Each may be said to have its local guide; but this is frequently executed by some illiterate or fulsome panegyrist. The person always, or generally attached to one church, is certainly not well qualified to appreciate its beauties and defects - its real and comparative importance. He usually acquires a common-place and technical mode of commenting on it; and too frequently continues and perseveres in old prejudices and established errors. It will be the endeavour of the present author to explain and correct such things; and to offer his criticisms with freedom, but with strict regard to liberality and candour.
Browne Willis attempted a detailed and general Survey of the Cathedrals, in 1742 but his work does not comprise above one half of the number, and applies to the subordinate subjects of the diocess, rather than to the church; In Dart's Account of Canterbury Cathedral, we find a more comprehensive and apposite work: but Bentham's History, (sc. Of Ely, not only surpasses all its predecessors, but is truly valuable and important: it may be regarded almost as a model for the history of any one particular cathedral. The plates also had novelty and merit. But still this is much too diffuse for a general publication; and the architect and connoisseur require superior embellishments. In planning and executing the present work, as part of a series, the author has endeavoured to gratify persons of this description. He has sought to inform the architect and antiquary by geometrical elevations and details; and the connoisseur and general artist by such views of therhi preface.
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