A New and General Biographical Dictionary

Layout 2

A NEW AND GENERAL

BIOGRAPHICAL

DICTIONARY.

1784.

VOL. I. GEORGE R.

GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come. Greeting: Whereas WILLIAM OWEN, and WILLIAM JOHN-STON, of Our City of London, Booksellers, have, by their Petition, humbly represented unto Us, That, they have with great Care, Labour and Expence, compleated a Work intituled,

A NEW and GENERAL

Biographical Dictionary,

CONTAINING

The Lives of the most illustrious Persons, who have flourished in all Nations, from the earliest Period to the Present Time,

And have most humbly prayed, That We would grant Them Our Royal Licence, for the sole Vending of their said Dictionary, for the Term of Fourteen Years, according to the Statute in that Case made and provided ; We, being willing to give all due En-couragement, to a Work of this Nature, which may be of public Use and Benefit, are graciously pleased to condescend to Their Request ; And We do, therefore, by these Presents (so far as may be agreeable to the Statute in that behalf made and provided), grant unto Them, the said WILLIAM OWEN, and WILLIAM JOHNSTON, Their Heirs, Executors, and Assigns, Our Royal Privilege and Licence, for the sole printing, publishing, and vend-ing their said Dictionary, for the Term of Fourteen Years ; to be computed from the Date hereof, strictly forbidding and prohibiting all Our Subjects within Our Kingdoms and Dominions, to reprint, abridge, or translate the same, either in the like or any other Vo-lume or Volumes whatsoever ; or, to import, buy, vend, utter, or distribute any Copies thereof, reprinted, beyond the Seas, during the aforesaid Term of Fourteen Years, without the Consent and Approbation of them, the said WILLIAM OWEN and WILLIAM JOHNSTON, their Heirs, Executors, or Assigns, by Writing under their Hands and Seal, first had and obtained, as they and every of them offending herein will answer the contrary at their Peril. Whereof the Commissioners and other Officers of Our Customs, the Master Wardens and Company of Stationers of Our City of London, and all other Our Officers and Ministers whom it may concern, are to take Notice, that due Obedience be rendered to our Pleasure herein signified.

Given at our Court at Kensington, the Twenty-third Day of 1755, in the Twenty-ninth Year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty's Command,

HOLDERNESSE.