THE STORY AT CANONS Roy Publishers, a. n. New York TO VIOLETTA Introduction by Daniel Defoe ix Book One Winter 1744 x Book Two sP in g I 747 135 Notes and Acknowledgments 284 INTRODUCTION by DANIEL DEFOE 1 The Duke of Chandos has built a most Magnificent Palace, I might say, the Most Magnificent in England. This Palace is so beautiful in its Situation, so Lofty, so Majestic the Appearance of it, that a Pen can but ill describe it, the Pencil not much better tis only fit to be talked of upon the very Spot, when the Building is under View, to be considered in all its Parts, Tho many of the Palaces in Italy are very large fine Buildings, yet I venture to say, not Italy itself can show such a Building raisd from the Common Surface, by one private Hand, and in so little a time as this For Canons as I was informed, was not three Years a building. . . No Ornament is wanting to make it the finest house in England. . . The Great Staircase is the finest by far of any in England . . . The Gardens ... are not to be out-done in Engknd. . . The Chapel is a Singularity, not only in its Building, and the beauty of its workmanship, but in this also, that the Duke maintains there a full choir, and has the Worship performed there with the Best Musick, after the manner of the Chappel Royal, which is not done in any other Noble Mans Chappel in Britain no not the Prince of Waless, tho Heir Apparent to the Crown. . . In a Word, no Nobleman in England and very few in Europe, lives in greater Splendor, or maintains a Grandeur and Magnificence, equal to the Duke of Chandos. 1 The notes appear at the end of the book, that is on page 284.