the rules laid down in his book, a man may do wonders; for this is wonderful."" From these attempts he proceeded to draw likenesses of the friends and relations of his family, with tolerable success. But what most strongly confirmed him in his love of the art, was Richardson's Treatise on Painting; the perusal of which so delighted and inflamed his mind, that Raffaelle appeared to him superior to the most illustrious names of ancient or modern time; a notion which he loved to indulge all the rest of his life.

His propensity to this fascinating art, growing daily more manifest, his father thought fit to gratify his inclination; and when he was not much more than seventeen years of age, on St. Luke's day, Oct. the 18th, 1740, he was placed as a pupil under his countryman Mr. Hudson, who though

6 From the late James Boswell, Esq. to whom this Jittle circumstance was communicated by our author.

7 Thomas Hudson; who was the scholar and son-in-law

a few

but an ordinary painter, was the most distinguished artist of that time. After spending years in London, which he employed in acquiring the rudiments of his art, on a disagreement with his master about a very slight matter, he in 1743, removed to Devonshire, where, as he told me, he passed about three years in company from whom little improvement could be got: when he recol

of Richardson the Painter, was born in 1701. "He enjoyed" (says Lord Orford, ANECDOTES OF PAINTING, iv. 122, 8vo.)" for many years the chief business of portrait-painting in the capital, after the favourite artists, his master and Jesvas, were gone off the stage; though Vanloo first, and Liotard afterwards, for a few years diverted the torrent of fashion from the established professor. Still the country gentlemen were faithful to their compatriot, and were content with his honest similitudes, and with the fair tied wigs, blue velvet coats, and white satin waistcoats, which he bestowed liberally on his custo mers, and which, with complacency, they beheld multiplied in Faber's mezzotintos. The better taste introduced by Sir Joshua Reynolds, put an end to Hudson's reign, who had the good sense to resign the throne soon after finishing his capital work, the family-piece of Charles, Duke of Marlborough." [About 56,] He died, Jan. 26, 1779, aged 8.

lected this period of his life, he always spoke of it as so much time thrown away, (so far as related to a knowledge of the world and of mankind,) of which he ever afterwards lamented the loss. However, after some little dissipation, he sat down seriously to the study and practice of his art; and he always considered the disagreement which induced him to leave Mr. Hudson as a very fortunate circumstance, since by this means he was led to deviate from the tameness and insipidity of his master, and to form a manner of his own.

While in this career, the first of his performances which brought him into any considerable notice, was the portrait of Captain Hamilton, father of the present Marquis of Abercorn, which he painted so early as in year 1746. When at a late period of

the

It is now in the possession of the Marquis of Abercorn; and there is a portrait of the same gentleman with. his children around him, a small family-piece, painted

his life he saw this portrait, he was sure, prised to find it so well done; and comparing it with his later works, with that modesty which always accompanies genius, lamented that in such a series of years he should not have made a greater progress in his art.9

On Christmas-day, 1746, his father, a man highly respected in his native county, died; and left our young painter to raise, as he could, the fabric of his own fortune. After spending a few more years in the practice of painting, partly in London 10 and partly in Devonshire, where many of his early essays yet remain, he became acquainted with

by young Reynolds about the same time, in the Collection of Lord Eliot, at Port Eliot in Cornwall.

9 He made the same observation on viewing the picture of a Boy reading, which he also painted in 1746; an admirable piece, which was sold by auction among other of his works in 1796, to Sir Henry Englefield, Bart. for thirty-five guineas,

10 At this period he lived in St. Martin's Lane, which was then a favourite residence of Artists; nearly opposite to May's Buildings,

George, the third Lord Edgcumbe and Captain (afterwards Lord) Keppel, by each of whom he was warmly patronised; and the latter being appointed to the command of a small squadron on the Mediterranean station, Mr. Reynolds embraced the opportunity which his kindness offered, and accompanied him thither, sailing from Plymouth, May 11th, 1749. In the course of their voyage (during which he had accommodations in the captain's own ship,) they touched at Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Algiers, and Minorca; and after spending about two months in Portmahon, the principal town of that island, in December he sailed to Leghorn, from which place he proceeded to Rome.

Among our author's loose papers, I have found some detached and unconnected thoughts, written occasionally as hints for a Discourse on a new and singular plan, which he appears, at a late period of his life,