The life of Thomas Hollis / [Anon].

  • Thomas Hollis
Date:
[1780]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of Thomas Hollis / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/34 page 456
    Mr. Hollis had alfo deflgned to procure a new and improved Edition of the famous Book, entitled, Vhididce contra, Tyrahnos ; and for that purpofe had caufed an elegant Head of the Author, Hubert Languet, to be engraved by Cipriani, from an original painting in his poffeffion, for the ufe of fuch Edition. His de¬ sign, however, was not carried into execution. What prevented him does not appear. By this republication of their Works in beautiful and correct Editions, and by procuring clear and authentick Accounts of their Lives, Mr. Hollis, whilfl he did honour to the memory of fuch diftinguifhed perfons, was in hopes of exciting others to the imi¬ tation of their noble characters and conduct. Nor was this the only method he adopted with the fame generous view.—To per¬ petuate the portraits or the actions of great and good men in the medaliick way, is but a imall tribute of gratitude from their fuccef- fors; and whilfl it furnifhes ingenious artiils with a liberal employ¬ ment, there feems to be a probability of its counteracting, in forte degree, the vitiated take of a corrupt and effeminate age. At leak, Mr. Hollis’s own experience encouraged him to hope that inch might be the falutary conferences of the attempt ; for, at his frit entering upon the noble plan of life which he bad laid down, he tells us, that when he beheld the effigies, and reflected on the lives and aCiions, not only of the ancient Greeks and Ro¬ mans, (heroes of the utmoft fize and dignity,) but even of feveral of our countrymen yet almoft breathing, fuch as Newton, Boyle, Locke, Algernon Sydney, the divine Milton, and others, though he was impreffed with fo fenfible a conviction of his own lictlenefs as to hope that all vain glory and preemption were thereby effec¬ tually eradicated from his mind, yet whilfl he felt himfelf hum¬ bled, he was at the fame time animated by fuch contemplations, to walk after them in that path of virtue, through which they ran, they flew (h)* He therefore fpared no pains nor expence in col¬ lecting original Portraits of thofe who, either on account of their writings, or their publick conduCt, are juflly ranked amongft the benefaCtors of their country ; and from thefe Portraits he procured Prints to be engraved bv the moft celebrated artifls. His Medals and Coins were alio collected with the fame beneficent defign ; and \vhat he thus cojlcCted, he either prefented, as occafions of¬ fered, to the molt eminent repositories at home and abroad, and to many illultrious individuals, and patrons of liberty, in his own country, all the Manufcripts and fcaroeTra&s colleCted by Mr. Hollis for his own intended edition. This obligation Mr. Thonipfon very gratefully ac¬ knowledges ; obferving, that fomb of the trafls were fuch as he was unable to procure any where elfe. (h) Memoirs of Mr. Ilollis, P. Go.
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