"Dear Sir,—Ever since I received the favour of your drawing, I have been in expectation of having my Preface printed, but have been continually disappointed, which was the reason of my not returning you my most hearty thanks for the above favour long before this time, and therefore I hope your goodness will excuse it.
"The design which you have favoured me with is the best that can be thought of for its intended purpose, as it tends to recommend the study of perspective by exposing the mistakes of those artists who are ignorant of it in such a striking manner as is peculiar to the genius of Mr. Hogarth. I intend to have it engraved by Mr. Sullivan, and shall send it to him as soon as I know how to direct to him, unless any other person is more agreeable to you for that purpose.
"I have enclosed my Preface for your inspection, and one page of the work itself as a specimen of the paper and letter, and shall be glad if they please you. My intention in the three last paragraphs[65] will be obvious at first sight, and I hope you will not think them unnecessary.
"But, good sir, give me leave to ask you (for you have given me much assurance by your friendship, and particularly by your promise), have you thought any more of what we have so often discoursed upon in relation to parallel columns, etc.? I am more and more convinced of the justness of your reasoning upon that subject, and shall think myself prodigiously honoured if you annex something of that kind to my work; for then I shall have you both in my front and rear, and shall not be afraid even of the d—l himself when I am so guarded. If the little witlings despise the study of perspective, I'll give 'em a thrust with my frontispiece which they cannot parry; and if there be any that are too tenacious of mathematical rules, I'll give them a cross-buttock with the 'Dissertations,' and crush them into as ill-shaped figures as those they would draw by adhering too strictly to the rules of perspective.
"I have nothing more to add but my humble thanks for all your favours; and I shall be glad to know if you intend doing anything as you proposed. And am, with compliments to Lady Thornhill, Mrs. Hogarth, etc., your most obliged and obedient humble servant,
"Jos. Kirby.
"P.S.—I cannot fix the time when my work will be published, but it is printing with the utmost expedition."
For another of Mr. Kirby's publications Hogarth designed a frontispiece, which was engraved by Mr. Woollet, and is prefixed to "The Perspective of Architecture, deduced from the principles of Doctor Brook Taylor, begun by order of his present Majesty when Prince of Wales." I have annexed a copy.