this original genius had his Analysis ranged his particular observations urof Beauty in contemplation, he has, der

general beads. more than once, accompanied him to In these excursions, I have been told the Fleet Market, and Harp-alley adja- that he was equally attentive to the cent, which were, in those times, the absurdities that were displayed betwixt great marts, and indeed exhibitions, us and the Zenith, among which he of figns, of various descriptions, bar- probably discovered constellations of bers'-blocks, poles, &c. &c. which were monsters sufficient to have framed the then more in request than they have figns of a hundred new Zodiacs ; and I been of late years. In these places it have often thought, that could Addison was the delight of Hogarth to contem- have heard his observations, they plate those Ipecimens of genius ema. would have furnished him with hints nating from a school which he used for many papers replete with genuine emphatically to observe was truly Eng- humour. lith, and frequently to compare with What a fund of amusement would a and prefer to the more expensive pro- genius like his have extracted from the ductions of those geniuses whom he remarks of Hogarth, could he have used to term the Black Master's *; and heard him descant also upon the ecit was his delight to consider the centricities which the wooden sculpblocks t, which used to be ranged in ture of this great city exhibited, in those shops in great order one row Highlanders, Black Boys, Golden above another, like the spectators in Heads, Pestles and Mortars, Lions, the galleries of a theatre, in different Hogs, Dogs, Cats, Mermaids, Unipoints of view, and to remark upon the corns, and a hundred other monsters, different characters which the work- chimeras, &c. which the artists of that man had beitowed upon their counte- age were in the habit of producing, nances, to endeavour to guess from and of which fome, though, alas ! few, their appearance at their dates, and specimens are still to be seen. thence deduce the effect which they These, nay even the chalk figures would have if decorated with the va. scrawled upon the walls I, as may be rious wigs which the fashion of their seen by his works, Hogarth was in the different periods might have clapped habit of contemplating with vaft fatis. upon them. He thence, I have no faction ; and I bave heard, that the doubt, frequently made a transition to fign-painters' exhibition arose from a the animated blocks of their wearers, hint which the Gentleman I have and, like many ingenious authors, ar already quoted, and my ingenious

a

By this appellation this Fielding of the graphic art denominated those smoky pictures which were the fashion of the day, namely, had copies of frequently bad originals of the Italian and Flemith fchools. Incredible numbers of these were annually fold by Langford and others, which, when exhibited, were generally so obscured by dirt, or scambled down with asphaltum, &c. in order to accommodate them to "the idea box of a connoisseur,” that it was many times impossible, at least till they had been well sponged, to distinguish even their subjects. This falle taste of the town (now happily eradicated), Hogarth took every opportunity, both with his tongue and pencil, tó ridicule and expole. Nor did this deviation from common sense pass unnoticed by Garrick, who, in his Prologue to Talte, in the character of Peter Puff, animadverts upon it with much truth and some humour.

+ It is a curious circumstance to observe the great alteration that has taken place in the formation of thele instruments upon which wigs are moulded. In the frequently noteless blocks of the old School we could difcern little to be admired, except their folidity : their sex was not then to be discerned by their countenances, ibovgh as wigs, at that time, were only worn by one part of the human species, we mighi take it for granted they were male. We have them now, as I have with plea. sure i blerved in those beautitul exhibitions which I think some of the greatest orna. ments of the City, of the maiculine and feminine gender. We have

-but as this is a subject of too much importance to be thrown into a note, I fhall reserve some oblervations that have occurred to me upon it for a leparate fpeculation.

1 The figure of the King of France, in the invasion print (England), has always fruck me as a correctly humorous specimen of his attention to this branch of bis art.

friend, friend, the late J. Collet, Esq. had gested to him that he should refuse an from him ; though I think it was not application, he frequently did it in a productive of that fund of humour manner that not only precluded the which the plan of it seemed to pro- poflibility of a repetition of the remise.

queit, but obliquely conveyed his sen

timents of the lubject that gave rise to DR. JORTIN.

it :

of which, from unquestionable. It is, I conceive, highly to the credit authority, I quote the following in, of the taite of the Conductors of this stance. Magazine, that, among such a nume-' Among the peculiarities of Dr. Jor. rous assemblage of other curious par- tin's difpofition, I do not mention it as ticulars, so many notices of this emi- one that he had a most unconquerable nent Divine and learned and elegant aversion to the Italian Opera, because writer have, in the preceding volumes, his works, though not generally, have been preserved. Every hint that been sufficiently read to give the world through such a medium meets the pub- a very exalted opinion of his genius, lic eye, seems to me to impede and his piety, and his understanding i roll back the Itream of time, and to though the mode in which he once arrest the objects floating upon its ra- displayed this averlion may, as I hare pid current in their pallage toward oblerved, furnith a small difcriminaoblivion.

tive anecdote. The works of Dr. Jortin have, nei. It happened one day that Lady Delather by his cotemporaries nor the pre- mer called at the Doctor's house at lent age, met with that univerfal re- Kensington, for the purpose, as the ception to which their unaffected piety, stated to the young Lady in his pretheir intrinsic merit, and general erudi. 'sence, of taking Miss Jortin to the tion, entitle them! but, as it was laid Opera. The Doctor made no obserof a comic poet, that " he might be vation upon this, but fat some time, tracked in the snow of Moliere," fo I while the other parties were engaged have observed, that many Authors in conversation, playing with a favoure have, by mounting upon the volumes ise Cat. At lalt, when he found that of Jortin, exalted themfelves in the the busine's of the evening was pe.. opinion of the publick, although they fectly arranged, he said, addressing the have perhaps Ipurned the ladder by Cat, “ Puis, can you fing? I think, which they had afcended. Of such a by whai I have heard of your exertions, man, therefore, the smallest domeitic that you must be a tolerable judge of trait must, I think, be deemed worthy mulic: and though you do not speak of preservation, because it recalls his English, you may, for aught I know, name, and by that means attracts the understand Italian. If you choose to attention of the reader to subjects con. iinprove your taste, and edify your nected with it which can never be at- mind, this evening at that rational tended to without pleasure and im- entertainment the Opera, you may go. provement.

But I do ailure you, that you are the The Doctor, it is well known, had, only one of this family that ihall." like many learned men, sonse habits of This tingul.zr humour of the Doctor's fingularity in his disposition, but they received once a little check : for as he were inoffensive incentives to morality was going, one facrament Sunday, into and virtue. When his judgment lug. the church at Kentington, he over

This artill, whose pictures abounded with true, though what may be deemed broad, humour, diert at Chelsea about twenty years tince he was a man of learning, of considerable fortune, and of the most amiable manners and benevolent turn of mind : he was, like his friend Dawes, who was also independent, languid in the pura fuit of his art ; and, though he painted many pictures, viz. Courtship, the Elopement, Honeymoon, Matrimony, Picquet, or Virtue in Danger, &c. from which there are prints by Geldar, he is perhaps better known by the Taylor riding to Brentford than any other of his works.

There are also prints from several pi@ures of Dawes, particularly the Cavern Scene in Niacheth, engraved by Bannerman, and Captain Bohadil Cudgeiled. But I think the piece which may be elteemed his CHEF D'EUVRE is, the Drunkard repruving his disorderly Family. He died about twenty-tour years lince in Green. treet, Leiceller-fields.

took

him ;

took a Nobleman who was not in the spare a few coppers for poor Jack ! habit of being very regular in his stumped in the starboard-arm; his attendance ; to whom he said, I must knee-braces Ihot away; and turned confess with more zeal than politeness, out of the service without a sinart « My Lord, I am glad to see you bere ; ticket." I suppose you are come now to qua. The Sailor, still intent upon his cal. lify."

culation, which indeed seemed to re“ Indeed, Doctor, I am !" his Lord- quire the utmost itretch of his arith. thip mildly replied ; an answer of metical abilities, threw a thilling into which, no doubt, the querift felt the his hat, and was walking away. The force.

Jame fellow, Authed with success, MR. MALLET.

limped after him, bawling out, “Bless A Gentleman once called at the you, my noble matter ! Have you no house of this Author *, in May Fair, more small change for poor Jack? My upon business, and was informed that, bread-room's quite empty, indeed, malo in confequence of indisposition, he

ter." kept his chamber. When he had sent “ Avast, brother, avast!" said the ap' his name, he ascended the stairs, Sailor, as the Beggar was presling upon upon a green carpet, the floor was

" Don't veer out so much jaw. spread with green, the bed and window rope, but theer off while you're well. curtains were green, and the invalid, If I had given you the ship and cargo, who was feated upon a green elbow you'd ftill have begged for the longchair, writing at a green covered table,

boat." had on a green night-gown and a green

THE CHELSEA PENSIONER. velvet cap!

Though perhaps a trite, it is never. When the Gentleman mentioned the theless a true, observation, that accident collection of greens which he had ob. has frequently excited those sentations ferved at this visit, at the Club 7, in the human mind, however low the some of the wags, glancing unquera fituation of its poffeffor, that, at least tionably at Shakspeare's

for a moment, elevates the man, and • Green ey'd monster, that doth make at other times infinitely his superiors,

places him upon a level with characters • The meat it feeds on,"

How frequently has a spark been eli. observed, that probably the success of cited from the bofom of an object fome cotemporary Author had caufed apparently callous to such impressions ! their friend to be afflicted with tbe How often has a word caused the coun. Green Sickness.

tenance of even sickness and indigence

to glow with animation, which has, THE MENDICANT AND SAILOR.

like a fhock of electricity, vibrated A fellow well known in the diftrict, through the whole system. Of this I lame, having also but one arm, and bad lately an instance related to me, by dressed in the habit of a Sailor, was the an accurate observer of life and man. other day, with much vociferation, ners, that seems to elucidate the probegging near Tower-hill. A Tar, position. who had just come out of a public- As a Sergeant (who was a Pensioner house, where he had probably paid his in Chelsea College), worn out with reckoning, and received change for a hard service and feeble from age, was note, was, as he walked, counting his one day, with cautious though unsteady money with more attention than is steps, descending the fair-case, he was usual' to persons of his description. met by two or three other Pensioners, While he was thus usefully engaged, one of whom, probably with a sneer, the Beggar set him, and, thrusting his cried, as the Sergeant was supporting hat before him, exclaimed, “ Bless your bimself by the hand-rail,

i Make noble heart, my worthy messinate, room, and let the Gentleman pass !" * Thomas Mallet has been juftly esteemed an ingenious Author.

I think the work in which he displayed the deepest insight into the human character was the finding a nicbe for Garrick in the life of the Duke of Marlborough.

† Holden fiift at the Turk's Head in Greek-ftreet, which tavern was almott half a century fince removed to Gerrard- ftreet, where it continued nearly as long as the house was kept open, and was composed of artists and a number of literary and theatrical characters.

« Gentle

• Gentle enough !" replied the ve- been lost more than thirty years, the teran, with great humility; yet the subject, I remember, was to commenext moment recollecting himself, he morate and deplore the effects of a continued, “ though I ought not to dreadful fire which happened upon forget the King gave me a Tword !" London Bridge the 13th of February

1632, two years before the death of the RANDOLPH.

Poet. It began in the house of one This Poet, who was cotemporary Briggs, a needle maker, and consumed with Ben Jonson, who survived him more than forty houses, among wlrich three years, is one of those few that was the Mitre Tavern ; the fall of Ben has celebrated, and whom it ap- which, and allusions to the triple pears, according to his familiar culo crown, are some of its principal featom, he had adopted as his fontures, and mark with confiderable There is in the works of Randolph accuracy the spirit of the times : I a gratulatory poem add:efied to Jonion can only recollect one verse of it, whicb upon this occalion ; but it does not is less valuable for its poetry than to appear, whatever might have been his thew that the violence of Peter was opmion, that his effufions, which are about to be adopted by Jack, while published in a Imall volume, and con- Martin Teemed an unconcerned fpeétaliit of Poems ; Amyntas, a Pastoral ; the * Mules Looking-Glass, a Play ; Arittippus, a Shew; and the Jealous “ Tho' some affirm the Devil did it, Lovers, a Comedy, though they run That he might drink up all ; through many editions in the leven. I rather think the Pope was drunk, teenth, were much eiteemed in the And let his Mitre fall." eighteenth century. I once had a copy, on the blank leaves of which ERRATUM in the firft Note in the prewas written a poem by this Author, ceding page.-- For Thomas read Though, and which was (as stated in a note to it) and put a Comma after the word Author, never printed. Though the book has instead of a Period.

toi.

In this play there is, I think, something truly original and ingenions ; and if it had not in it too much humour, I thould think it well adapted to the taste of modern times ; for it coniitts, with leis lyitem than exists in many of our comic productions, entirely of scenes-independent of each other, in each of which a virtue and a vice are exhibited ; luch as the extremes of courtely, the extremes of fortitude, temperance, liberality, magnificence, truth, justice, &c. &c. &c. many of which are well written, and worked up with a conliderable diiplay of learning and art. The characters of Bird and flowerdew, two of the straitlaced Puritans of those times, are excellent, as is that of Roscius, who acts as Prolocutor. The piece is wound up by the “ Mother of the Virtues," Mediocrítie, and ends in the conversion of Flowerdew and Bird, the latter of whom lays in conclusion, “ Hereafter I will visit Comedies, and see them, often they are good exercises " To teach devotion now a milder temper ; not that it shall lole any of its heat " Or purity, but henceforth shall be fuch “ As shall burn bright, altho' not blaze so much."

It is a curious circumstance, that there is, diffimilar as in fat they are, to be traced in this play the ground plan upon which the Rehearsal might, for aught I koow, have been erected. This is certainly the original model, in this country, of that mode of writing ; though probably both Randoiph and the Duke of Buckinghain might have copied Troin the Athenian Ichool, and have coniidered Rnicius and Bays as kind of Chorus. Be it lo : Flowerdew and Bird, Johnton and Sinith, are till perfectly Englith ; and certainly, though their characiers are different, their butinels on the stage is the same ; and I do conceive, it was as eaiy for a man of genius to build the latter upon the former as to constru& the Critic, and many other pieces of interior mesit, upon the Reheartal.

ORIGINAL LETTERS FROM THE LATE LORD ORFORD.

LETTER I.

their diabolic countrymen, who are Straspberryhill, Sept. 24, 1792. labouring mischief here, both openly You do me too much honour, dear and covertly. Of their covert trani.

Sir, in proposing to me to furnith actions, you, sis, have given me a you with observations which you are so glaring proof in the drawer, who hav. much more capable of executing admir- ing subscribed a guinea to the defence ably yourfelf." I flatter myself you do of Poland, and re-demanding it, renot think me vain enough to attempt it. ceived a guinea's worth of Paine's Your own learning, and your famili- pamphlet in return. This fact evinces arity with an author you are translating, that the opening of that subscription and your being maiter of all clallic was not, as it seemed to be, the most knowledge, Greek and Latin, render ridiculoully impotent attempt that ever you more proper for the task than any was made, but a deep-laid plan of poliman. I, on the contrary, am moit tical swindling. Had it produced a unqualified. It is long since I have thousand, or five hundred pounds, it been conversant with classic literature ; would have removed Mount Athos as Greek I have quite forgotten-but soon as have stopped one Russian fol. above all, I hold leventy-five lo debili. dier--no ; under colour of pity totating an age to whatever may have wards the honest and to-be-lamented been taken for parts, and have so long Poles, it is evident that it was a scheme pitied authors of Senilia, that I am lure for raising a new fum for dissemiI will not degrade your work hy mixing nating sedition, and therefore I wish my dregs with it nor lay your good the vile trick might be made public. nature and good breeding under the It may warn well meaning persons difficulty of admitting or rejecting against being drawn into Mam subwhat you probably would find un- scriptions; and such a base trick of worthy of being adopted. I have great political fwindling should be laid open, and fatisfaction in reading what you write exposed in severe colours. but beg to be excused froin writing I am just going to General Conway's for

for a few days, and am, dear Sir, Moft entirely do I agree with you, Your most sincere, Sir, on all French politics, and their

and obliged humble servant, consequences here it is hard indeed

ORFORD. to be forced to call affassinations and massacres, politics ! it is my opinion, like yours, that homicides' should be

Strawberrybill, Nov. 2d, 1792. received no where, much less monster's DEAR SIR, who proclaim rewards for murderers. I THANK you for your information What can put a Itop to such horrors on, confetum and fictum, and am persooner, than fhutting every country fuaded you are perfectly right. Xeno. upon earth against unparalleled crimi. phon might be so too in his solution of nals. There may be inconveniencies, no the Spartan permission of robbery. As doubt, from a vast influx of the present he was very sensible, it is no wonder he poor refugees; but I confess I see more tried to explain só seemingly gross a advantages. They will spread their contradiction as an allowance of theft own and the calamities of their country where there was a community of proLa necessary service, when some newi. perty—but, to say the truth, I little papers, paid by Jacobin, and perhaps regard the assertions of most ancient Presbyterian, money, labour to defend, authors, especially in their accounts of or conceal, or palliate such infernal other countries than their own ; and scenes ; which can only be done by even about their own I do not give men who would like to kindle trage. them implicit credit. They dealt little dies here. The sufferers that arrive, in the spirit of criticism ; information many being conscientious ecclesiastics, was difficult to be obtained, nor did mult, I should hope, be a warning to they pique then selves on accuracy, the Catholics in Ireland not to be the but set down whatever they heard fools of the Disienters there,-and of an- without examination. With many of other use they may certainly be ; they the contrary advantages, how little will be fittest and fureft detectors of historic truth is to be gleaned even

you to read.

LETTER II.