The next time I faw Gainfborough it was in the character of King David. He had heard a harper at Bath-the performer was foon left harpless and now Fischer, Abel, and Giardini were all forgottenthere was nothing like chords and arpeggios! He really ftuck to the harp long enough to play feveral airs with variations, and, in a little time, would nearly have exhausted all the pieces usually performed on an inftrument incapable of modulation, (this was not a pedal-harp) when another vifit from Abel brought him back to the viol-di-gamba.

He now faw the imperfection of fudden founds that inftantly die away—if you wanted a staccato, it was to be had by a proper management of the bow, and you might also have notes as long as you please. The viol-di-gamba is the only instrument,

fame inftrument-the air of the folo was executed with the bow, and the accompaniment pizzicato with the unemployed fingers of his left hand.

instrument, and Abel the prince of muficians !

This, and occafionally a little flirtation with the fiddle, continued fome years; when, as ill-luck would have it, he heard Crofdill-but, by fome irregularity of conduct, for which I cannot account, he neither took up, nor bought, the violoncello. All his paffion for the Bass was vented in descriptions of Crofdill's tone and bowing, which was rapturous and enthusiastic to the last degree.

More years now paffed away, when upon feeing a Theorbo in a picture of Vandyke's; he concluded (perhaps, because it was finely painted) that the The

ho must be a fine inftrument. He recollected to have heard of a German profeffor, who, though no more, I fhall forbear to name- - afcended per varios

gradus to his garret, where he found him at dinner upon a roafted apple, and fmoking a pipe—* ** says he, I am come to buy your lute

is

"To pay my lude!"

Yes-come, name your price, and here your money.

"I cannod Shell my lude !"

No, not for a guinea or two, but by G- you must fell it.

May lude ih wert much monnay! it

ish wert ten guinea."

That it is-fee, here is the money. Well-if I musht-but you will not take it away yourshelf?"

Yes, yes-good bye ***

(After he had gone down he came up again)

*** I have done but half my errandWhat is your lute worth, if I have not your book?

"Whad poog, Maifhter Cainfporough? Why, the book of airs you have compofed for the lute.

"Ah,

"Ah, py cot, I can never part wit my poog !"

Poh! you can make another at any time-this is the book I mean (putting it in his pocket)

"Ah, py cot, I cannot"

Come, come, here's another ten guineas for your book-fo, once more, good day t'ye (defcends again, and again comes up) But what use is your book to me, if I don't understand it ?—and your lute-you may take it again, if you won't teach me to play on it-Come home

with me, and give me my first leffon

"I will gome to marrow"

You must come now.

“I musht tress myshelf.”

For what? You are the best figure I

66

Ay mujht bud on my wik❞—

D-n your wig! your cap and beard become you! do you think if Vandyke

was

was

to paint you he'd let you be fhaved?—

In this manner he frittered away his mufical talents; and though poffeffed of ear, taste, and genius, he never had application enough to learn his notes. He fcorned to take the first step, the second was of courfe out of his reach; and the fummit became unattainable.

As a painter, his abilities may be confidered in three different departments. Portrait,

Landscape, and

Groups of Figures-to which must be added his Drawings.

To take these in the abovementioned order.

The first confideration in a portrait, especially to the purchaser, is, that it be a perfect likeness of the fitter-in this refpect, his skill was unrivalled—

the