Part 18

"The fortune, which our adventurer has just received, enables him to make one push more at the gaming-table. He is exhibited, in the sixth print, venting curses on his folly for having lost his last stake.--This is upon the whole, perhaps, the best print of the set. The horrid scene it describes was never more inimitably drawn. The _composition_ is artful, and natural. If the shape of the whole be not quite pleasing, the figures are so well grouped, and with so much ease and variety, that you cannot take offence.--In point of light, it is more culpable. There is not shade enough among the figures to balance the glare. If the neck-cloth and weepers of the gentleman in mourning had been removed, and his hands thrown into shade, even that alone would have improved the effect.--The _expression_, in almost every figure, is admirable; and the whole is a strong representation of the human mind in a storm. Three stages of that species of madness, which attends gaming, are here described. On the first shock, all is inward dismay. The ruined gamester is representing leaning against a wall, with his arms across, lost in an agony of horror. Perhaps never passion was described with so much force. In a short time this horrible gloom bursts into a storm of fury: he tears in pieces what comes next him; and, kneeling down, invokes curses upon himself. He next attacks others; every one in his turn whom he imagines to have been instrumental in his ruin.--The eager joy of the winning gamesters, the attention of the usurer, the vehemence of the watchman, and the profound reverie of the highwayman, are all admirably marked. There is great coolness too expressed in the little we see of the fat gentleman at the end of the table. The figure opposing the mad-man is bad: it has a drunken appearance; and drunkenness is not the vice of a gaming table.--The principal figure is _ill-drawn_. The _perspective_ is formal; and the _execution_ but indifferent: in heightening his expression, _Hogarth_ has lost his spirit.

"The seventh plate, which gives us the view of a jail, has very little in it. Many of the circumstances, which may well be supposed to increase the misery of a confined debtor, are well contrived; but the fruitful genius of _Hogarth_, I should think, might have treated the subject in a more copious manner. The episode of the fainting woman might have given way to many circumstances more proper to the occasion. This is the same woman, whom the rake discards in the first print; by whom he is rescued in the fourth; who is present at his marriage; who follows him into jail; and, lastly, to _Bedlam_. The thought is rather unnatural, and the moral certainly culpable.--The _composition_ is bad. The group of the woman fainting is a round heavy mass: and the other group is very ill-shaped. The _light_ could not be worse managed, and, as the groups are contrived, can hardly be improved.--In the principal figure there is great _expression_; and the fainting scene is well described. A scheme to pay off the national debt, by a man who cannot pay his own; and the attempt of a silly rake, to retrieve his affairs by a work of genius; are admirable strokes of humour.

"The eighth plate brings the fortune of our hero to a conclusion. It is a very expressive representation of the most horrid scene which human nature can exhibit.--The _composition_ is not bad. The group, in which the lunatic is chained, is well managed; and if it had been carried a little further towards the middle of the picture, and the two women (who seem very oddly introduced) had been removed, both the composition, and the distribution of light, had been good.--The _drawing_ of the principal figure is a more accurate piece of anatomy than we commonly find in the works of this master. The _expression_ of the figure is rather unmeaning; and very inferior to the strong characters of all the other lunatics. The fertile genius of the artist has introduced as many of the causes of madness, as he could well have collected; but there is some tautology. There are two religionists, and two astronomers. Yet there is variety in each; and strong _expression_ in all the characters. The self-satisfaction, and conviction, of him who has discovered the longitude; the mock majesty of the monarch; the moody melancholy of the lover; and the superstitious horror of the popish devotee; are all admirable.--The _perspective_ is simple and proper.

"I should add, that these remarks are made upon the first edition of this work. When the plates were much worn, they were altered in many parts. They have gained by the alterations, in point of _design_; but have lost in point of _expression_."

[A] The _architect_. Mr. _Gilpin_ means--the _gardener_.

[B] I am authorized to observe, that this is no fault in our artist. The old church at _Marybone_ was so little, that it would have stood within the walls of the present one, leaving at the same time sufficient room for a walk round it.

[13] Afterwards twice lord mayor of _London_. See p. 44.

[14] The same as that introduced in Plate II.

* * * * *

1736.

1. Two prints of Before and After. The two pictures, from which these prints are taken, were painted at the particular request of a certain vicious nobleman, whose name deserves no commemoration. The hero of them is said to have been designed for Chief Justice _Willes. Hogarth_ repented of having engraved them; and almost every possessor of his works will wish they had been with-held from the public, as often as he is obliged to shew the volume that contains them to ladies. To omit them, is to mutilate the collection; to pin the leaves, on which they are pasted, together, is a circumstance that tends only to provoke curiosity; and to display them, would be to set decency at defiance. The painter who indulges himself, or his employers, in such representations, will forfeit the general praise he might have gained by a choice of less offensive subjects. We have an artist of no common merit, who has frequently disgraced his skill by scenes too luxuriant to appear in any situation but a brothel; and yet one of the most meretricious of his performances, but a few years ago, was exhibited by the Royal Academy. These prints, however, display almost the only instance in which _Hogarth_ condescended to execute a subject proposed to him; for I am assured by one who knew him well, that his obstinacy on these occasions has often proved invincible. Like _Shakspeare's Tully_,

"----he would never follow any thing That other men began."

In the later impressions from these plates, the scroll-work on the head-cloth, &c. of the bed, is rendered indistinct, by an injudicious attempt to strengthen the engraving. Mr. _S. Ireland_ has the first sketch in oil of "Before."[1]

[1] The originals of both are at the earl of _Besborough's_ seat at _Roehampton_.

2. The Sleeping Congregation. The preacher was designed as the representative of Dr. _Desaguliers_. This print was first published in 1736. It was afterwards retouched and _improved_[1] by the author in 1762, and is found in three different states. In the first, _Dieu & Mon Droit_ is wanting under the King's Arms; the angel with one wing and two pair of thighs, that supports this motto, is smoking a pipe; and the lion has not his present magnificent genitals. In the second, the words already mentioned are added; the angel's pipe is obliterated; the insignia of the lion's sex rendered ostentatiously conspicuous; and the lines of the triangle under the angel are doubled. The other distinctions are chiefly such as a reiteration of engraving would naturally produce, by adding strength to the fainter parts of the composition. Changes of this slender kind are numberless in all the repaired prints of our artist. There is also a pirated copy of this plate. It is not ill executed, but in size is somewhat shorter than its predecessor, and has no price annexed. In the original picture, in the collection of Sir _Edward Walpole_, the clerk's head is admirably well painted, and with great force; but he is dozing, and not leering at the young woman near him, as in the print.

[1] I wish, for the sake of some future edition of the present work, these _improvements_ could be ascertained. To me they are invisible, like those in the re-published _March to Finchley_.

3. The Distressed Poet.[1] In a back ground, a picture of _Pope_ threshing _Curll_. Over the head of _Pope_ we read, _Pope's Letters_; out of his mouth comes _Veni, vidi, vici_; and under _Curll_ lies a letter, directed--_to Curll_. The distressed bard is composing _Poverty_, a poem. At the bottom of the plate are the following lines from _The Dunciad_, I. iii.

Studious he sate, with all his books around, Sinking from thought to thought, a vast profund! Plung'd for his sense, but found no bottom there; Then writ, and flounder'd on in mere despair.

In the subsequent impressions, dated _December_ 15, 1740, the triumphs of _Pope_ are changed to a view of the gold mines of _Peru_; and our hero of the garret is employed in celebrating the praise of _Riches_. The lines already quoted are effaced. The original painting is at lord _Grosvenor's_ house at _Milbank, Westminster_.

[1] In _The Craftsman, March_ 12, 1736-7, occurs, "This day is published, price 3s. a print representing a _Distressed Poet_. Also, five etchings, of different characters of heads in groups, viz. a Chorus of Singers; a pleased Audience at a Play; Scholars at a Lecture; and Quacks in Consultation; price 6d. each. To be had either bound together with all Mr. _Hogarth's_ late engraved works (except the Harlot's Progress), or singly, at the _Golden Head_, in _Leicester Fields_; and at Mr _Bakewell's_, printseller, next the _Horn Tavern, Fleet-street_." And _April_ 2 and 9, 1737, "Just published, price 3s. A print representing a _Distressed Poet_. Designed and engraved by Mr. _Hogarth_. Also four etchings, viz. A pleased Audience; a Chorus of Singers; Scholars at a Lecture; and a Consultation of Quacks, price 6d. each. To be had at the _Golden Head_, in _Leicester Fields_; and at Mr. _Bakewell's_, print-seller, next the _Horn Tavern_, in _Fleet-street_. Where may be had, bound or otherwise, all Mr. _Hogarth's_ late engraved works, viz. A _Midnight Conversation; Southwark Fair_; the _Rake's Progress,_ in eight prints; a sleepy Congregation in a Country Church; Before and After, two prints."

4. Right Hon. _Frances_ Lady _Byron_. Whole length, mezzotinto. _W. Hogarth pinxit. J. Faber fecit._ The most beautiful impressions of this plate were commonly taken off in a brown colour.

5. The same, shortened into a three-quarters length.

6. Consultation of Physicians. Arms of the Undertakers. In this plate, amongst other portraits, is the well-known one of Dr. _Ward_[1] (who was called _Spot Ward_, from the left side of his face being marked of a claret colour); and that of the elder _Taylor_,[2] a noted oculist, with an eye on the head of his cane; Dr. _Pierce Dod_,[3] Dr. _Bamber_;[4] and other physicians of that time. The figure with a bone in its hand, between the two demi-doctors (i. e. _Taylor_ and _Ward_), is said to have been designed for Mrs. _Mapp_, a famous masculine woman, who was called the bone-setter, or shape-mistress. I am told, that many of her advertisements may be found in _Mist's Journal_, and still more accounts of her cures in the periodical publications of her time. Her maiden name was _Wallin_. Her father was also a bone-setter at _Hindon, Wilts_; but quarrelling with him, she wandered about the country, calling herself _crazy Sally_. On her success in her profession she married, _August_ 11, 1736,[5] one _Hill Mapp_, a servant to Mr. _Ibbetson_, mercer on _Ludgate-Hill_. In most cases her success was rather owing to the strength of her arms, and the boldness of her undertakings, than to any knowledge of anatomy or skill in chirurgical operations. The following particulars relative to her are collected from the _The Grub-street Journal_, &c. and serve at least to shew, that she was a character considerable enough to deserve the satire of _Hogarth_.

_August_ 19, 1736, "We hear that the husband of Mrs. _Mapp_, the famous bone-setter at _Epsom_, ran away from her last week, taking with him upwards of 100 guineas, and such other portable things as lay next hand."

"Several letters from _Epsom_ mention, that the footman, whom the female bone-setter married the week before, had taken a sudden journey from thence with what money his wife had earned; and that her concern at first was very great: but soon as the surprize was over, she grew gay, and seemed to think the money well disposed of, as it was like to rid her of a husband. He took just 102 guineas."

The following verses were addressed to her in _August_ 1736.

"Of late, without the least pretence to skill, _Ward's_ grown a fam'd physician by a pill;[6] Yet he can but a doubtful honour claim, While envious Death oft blasts his rising fame. Next travell'd _Taylor_ fill'd us with surprize, Who pours new light upon the blindest eyes; Each journal tells his circuit thro' the land; Each journal tells the blessings of his hand: And lest some hireling scribbler of the town Injures his history, he writes his own. We read the long accounts with wonder o'er; Had he wrote less, we had believ'd him more. Let these, O _Mapp!_ thou wonder of the age! With dubious arts endeavour to engage: While you, irregularly strict to rules, Teach dull collegiate pedants they are fools: By merit, the sure path to fame pursue; For all who see thy art, must own it true."

_September_ 2, 1736, "On _Friday_ several persons, who had the misfortune of lameness, crowded to _The White-hart Inn_, in _White-chapel_, on hearing Mrs. _Mapp_ the famous bone-setter was there. Some of them were admitted to her, and were relieved as they apprehended. But a gentleman, who happened to come by, declared Mrs. _Mapp_ was at _Epsom_, on which the woman thought proper to move off."

_September_ 9, 1736. "Advertisement.

"Whereas it has been industriously (I wish I could say truly) reported, that I had found great benefit from a certain female bone-setter's performance, and that it was to a want of resolution to undergo the operation, that I did not meet with a perfect cure: this is therefore to give notice, that any persons afflicted with lameness (who are willing to know what good or harm others may receive, before they venture on desperate measures themselves) will be welcome any morning to see the dressing of my leg, which was sound before the operation, and they will then be able to judge of the performance, and to whom I owe my present unhappy confinement to my bed and chair.

"_Thomas Barber_, Tallow-chandler, _Saffron-hill_."

_September_ 16, 1736. "On _Thursday_, Mrs. _Mapp's_ plate of ten guineas was run for at _Epsom_. A mare, called 'Mrs. _Mapp_,' won the first heat; when Mrs. _Mapp_ gave the rider a guinea, and swore if he won the plate she would give him 100; but the second and third heat was won by a chestnut mare."

"We hear that the husband of Mrs. _Mapp_ is returned, and has been kindly received."

_September_ 23, 1736. "Mrs. _Mapp_ continues making extraordinary cures: she has now set up an equipage, and on _Sunday_ waited on her Majesty."

_Saturday, October_ 16, 1736. "Mrs. _Mapp_, the bone-setter, with Dr. _Taylor_, the oculist, was at the play-house, in _Lincoln's-Inn Fields,_ to see a comedy called 'The Husband's Relief, with the Female Bone-setter and Worm Doctor;' which occasioned a full house, and the following epigram:

"'While _Mapp_ to th'actors shew'd a kind regard, On one side _Taylor_ sat, on the other _Ward_: When their mock persons of the Drama came, Both _Ward_ and _Taylor_ thought it hurt their _fame_; Wonder'd how _Mapp_ cou'd in good humour be-- Zoons! cries the manly dame, it hurts not me; Quacks without art may either blind or kill; But[7] _demonstration_ shews that mine is _skill_.'

"And the following was sung upon the stage:

"'You surgeons of _London_, who puzzle your pates, To ride in your coaches, and purchase estates, Give over, for shame, for your pride has a fall, And the doctress of _Epsom_ has outdone you all. _Derry down_, &c.

"'What signifies learning, or going to school, When a woman can do, without reason or rule, What puts you to nonplus, and baffles your art? For petticoat-practice has now got the start.

"'In physics, as well as in fashions, we find, The newest has always the run with mankind; Forgot is the bustle 'bout _Taylor_ and _Ward_; Now _Mapp's_ all the cry, and her fame's on record.

"'Dame Nature has given her a doctor's degree, She gets all the patients, and pockets the fee; So if you don't instantly prove it a cheat, She'll loll in her chariot, whilst you walk the street. _Derry down_, &c.'"

_October_ 19, 1736, _London Daily Post._ "Mrs. _Mapp_, being present at the acting of _The Wife's Relief_, concurred in the universal applause of a crowded audience. This play was advertised by the desire of Mrs. _Mapp_, the famous bone-setter from _Epsom_."

_October_ 21, 1736, "On _Saturday_ evening there was such a concourse of people at the Theatre-royal in _Lincoln's-Inn Fields_, to see the famous Mrs. _Mapp_, that several gentlemen and ladies were obliged to return for want of room. The confusion at going out was so great, that several gentlemen and ladies had their pockets picked, and many of the latter lost their fans, &c. Yesterday she was elegantly entertained by Dr. _Ward_, at his house in _Pall-Mall_."

"On _Saturday_ and yesterday Mrs. _Mapp_ performed several operations at _The Grecian Coffee-house_, particularly one upon a niece of Sir _Hans Sloane_, to his great satisfaction and her credit. The patient had her shoulder-bone out for about nine years."

"On _Monday_ Mrs. _Mapp_ performed two extraordinary cures; one on a young lady of _The Temple_, who had several bones out from the knees to her toes, which she put in their proper places: and the other on a butcher, whose knee-pans were so misplaced that he walked with his knees knocking one against another. Yesterday she performed several other surprizing cures; and about one set out for _Epsom_, and carried with her several crutches, which she calls trophies of honour."

_November_ 18, 1736, "Mrs. _Mapp_, the famous bone-setter, has taken lodgings in _Pall-Mall_, near Mr. _Joshua Ward's_, &c."

_November_ 25, 1736,

"In this bright age three wonder-workers rise, Whose operations puzzle all the wise. To lame and blind, by dint of manual slight, _Mapp_ gives the use of limbs, and _Taylor_ sight. But greater _Ward_, &c."

_December_ 16, 1736, "On _Thursday, Polly Peachum_ (Miss _Warren_, that was sister to the famous Mrs. _Mapp_) was tried at _The Old Bailey_ for marrying Mr. _Nicholas_; her former husband, Mr. _Somers_, being living, &c."

_December_ 22, 1737, "Died last week, at her lodgings near _The Seven Dials_, the much-talked-of Mrs. _Mapp_, the bone-setter, so miserably poor, that the parish was obliged to bury her."

The plate is thus illustrated by the engraver: "The Company of Undertakers beareth Sable, an Urinal proper, between twelve Quack Heads of the second, and twelve Cane Heads, Or, Consultant. On a Chief,[8] Nebulæ,[9] Ermine, one compleat Doctor[10] issuant, checkie, sustaining in his right hand a baton of the second. On his dexter and sinister sides two _demi-_doctors issuant of the second, and two Cane Heads issuant of the third; the first having one eye couchant, towards the dexter side of the escutcheon; the second faced per pale proper and gules, guardant, with this motto--_Et plurima mortis imago._"

[1] _Joshua Ward_ was one of the younger sons of an ancient and respectable family settled at _Guisborough_ in _Yorkshire_, where he was born some time in the last century. He seems, from every description of him, to have had small advantages from education, though he indisputably possessed no mean natural parts. The first account we have of him is, that he was a associated in partnership with a brother named _William_, as a dry-salter, in _Thames-street_. After they had carried on this business some time, a fire broke out in an adjoining house, which communicated itself to their warehouses, and entirely destroyed all their property. On this occasion Mr. _Ward_, with a gentleman from the country who was on a visit to him, escaped over the tops of the houses in their shirts. In the year 1717 he was returned member for _Marlborough_; but, by a vote of the House of Commons, dated _May_ 13, was declared not duly elected. It is imagined that he was in some measure connected with his brother _John Ward_ (who is stigmatized by Mr. _Pope_, Dunciad III. 34.) in secreting and protecting illegally the property of some of the _South Sea_ directors. Be this as it may, he soon after fled from _England_, resided some years abroad, and has been frequently supposed to have turned _Roman_ Catholic. While he remained in exile, he acquired that knowledge of medicine and chemistry, which afterwards was the means of raising him to a state of affluence. About the year 1733 he began to practise physic, and combated, for some time, the united efforts of Wit, Learning, Argument, Ridicule, Malice, and Jealousy, by all of which he was opposed in every shape that can be suggested. At length, by some lucky cures, and particularly one on a relation of Sir _Joseph Jekyl_ Master of the Rolls, he got the better of his opponents, and was suffered to practise undisturbed. From this time his reputation was established: he was exempted, by a vote of the House of Commons, from being visited by the censors of the college of physicians, and was even called in to the assistance of King _George_ the Second, whose hand he cured, and received, as a reward, a commission for his nephew the late General _Gansel_. It was his custom to distribute his medicines and advice, and even pecuniary assistance, to the poor, at his house, _gratis_; and thus he acquired considerable popularity. Indeed, in these particulars his conduct was entitled to every degree of praise. With a stern outside, and rough deportment, he was not wanting in benevolence. After a continued series of success, he died _Dec._ 21, 1761, at a very advanced age, and left the secret of his medicines to Mr. _Page_, member for _Chichester_, who bestowed them on two charitable institutions, which have derived considerable advantages from them. His will is printed in _The Gentleman's Magazine_, 1762, p. 208.

[2] I was assured by the late Dr. _Johnson_, that _Ward_ was the weakest, and _Taylor_ the most ignorant, of the whole empiric tribe. The latter once asserted, that when he was at _St. Petersburg_, he travelled as far as _Archangel_ to meet Prince _Herculaneum_. Now _Archangel_ being the extreme point from _European Asia_, had the tale been true, the oculist must have marched so far backwards out of the route of Prince _Heraclius_, whose name he had blundered into _Herculaneum_.

The present likeness of our oculist, however, we may suppose to have been a strong one, as it much resembles a mezzotinto by _Faber_, from a picture painted at _Rome_ by the Chevalier _Riche_. Under it is the following inscription: "_Joannes Taylor_, Medicus in Optica expertissimus multisque in Academiis celeberrimis Socius." Eight _Latin_ verses follow, which are not worth transcription. _Taylor_ made presents of this print to his friends. It is now become scarce.

[3] One of the physicians to _St. Bartholomew's_ Hospital. He died _August_ 6, 1754. His merits were thus celebrated by Dr. _Theobald_, a contemporary physician: