Part 7

"But his poetical talents were not confined to the incidents of his village. I myself have had the honour to bear a part in one of his plays (I say _one_, for there are several of them extant in MS. in the mountains of _Westmoreland_ at this hour). This play was called 'The Destruction of _Troy_.' It was written in metre, much in the manner of _Lopez de Vega_, or the ancient _French_ drama; the unities were not too strictly observed, for the siege of ten years was all represented; every hero was in the piece; so that the Dramatis Personæ consisted of every lad of genius in the whole parish. The wooden horse--_Hector_ dragged by the heels--the fury of _Diomed_--the flight of _Æneas_--and the burning of the city, were all represented. I remember not what Fairies had to do in all this; but as I happened to be about three feet high at the time of this still-talked-of exhibition, I personated one of these tiny beings. The stage was a fabrication of boards placed about six feet high, on strong posts; the green-room was partitioned off with the same materials; it's cieling was the azure canopy of heaven; and the boxes, pit, and galleries, were laid into one by the Great Author of Nature, for they were the green slope of a fine hill. Despise not, reader, this humble state of the provincial drama; let me tell you, there were more spectators, for three days together, than your three theatres in _London_ would hold; and let me add, still more to your confusion, that you never saw an audience half so well pleased.

"The exhibition was begun with a grand procession, from the village to a great stone (dropt by the Devil about a quarter of a mile off, when he tried in vain to erect a bridge across _Windermere_; so the people, unlike the rest of the world, have remained a very good sort of people ever since). I say the procession was begun by the minstrels of five parishes, and were followed by a yeoman on bull-back--you stare!--stop then till I inform you that this adept had so far civilised his bull, that he would suffer the yeoman to mount his back, and even to play upon his fiddle there. The managers besought him to join the procession; but the bull, not being accustomed to much company, and particularly so much applause; whether he was intoxicated with praise; thought himself affronted, and made game of; or whether a favourite cow came across his imagination; certain it was, that he broke out of the procession; erected his tail, and, like another _Europa_, carried off the affrighted yeoman and his fiddle, over hedge and ditch, till he arrived at his own field. This accident rather inflamed than depressed the good humour arising from the procession; and the clown, or jack-pudding of the piece, availed himself so well of the incident, that the lungs and ribs of the spectators were in manifest danger. This character was the most important personage in the whole play: for his office was to turn the most serious parts of the drama into burlesque and ridicule: he was a compound of Harlequin and the Merry Andrew, or rather the Arch-fool of our ancient kings. His dress was a white jacket, covered with bulls, bears, birds, fish, &c. cut in various coloured cloth. His trowsers were decorated in like manner, and hung round with small bells; and his cap was that of Folly, decorated with bells, and an otter's brush impending. The lath sword must be of great antiquity in this island, for it has been the appendage of a jack-pudding in the mountains of _Westmoreland_ time out of mind.

"The play was opened by this character with a song, which answered the double purpose of a play-bill and a a prologue, for his ditty gave the audience a foretaste of the rueful incidents they were about to behold; and it called out the actors, one by one, to make the spectators acquainted with their names and characters, walking round and round till the whole Dramatis Personæ made one great circle on the stage. The audience being thus become acquainted with the actors, the play opened with _Paris_ running away with _Helen_, and _Menelaus_ scampering after them; then followed the death of _Patroclus_, the rage of _Achilles_, the persuasions of _Ulysses_,&c. &c. and the whole interlarded with apt songs, both serious and comic, all the production of _Ald Hogart_. The bard, however, at this time had been dead some years, and I believe this Fete was a Jubilee to his memory; but let it not detract from the invention of Mr. _Garrick_, to say that his at _Stratford_ was but a copy of one forty years ago on the banks of _Windermere_. Was it any improvement, think you, to introduce several _bulls_ into the procession instead of one? But I love not comparisons, and so conclude. Yours, &c. ADAM WALKER."

However _Ald Hogart_ might have succeeded in the dramatic line, and before a rustic audience, his poems of a different form are every way contemptible. Want of grammar, metre, sense, and decency, are their invariable characteristics. This opinion is founded on a thorough examination of a whole bundle of them, transmitted by a friend since the first publication of this work.

[3] Vir Clarissime, Excusso _Malpighio_ intra sex vel plurimum septem septimanas te tamen per totum inconsulto, culpa est in Bibliopolam conferenda, qui adeo festinanter urgebat opus ut moras nectere nequivimus. Utut sit, tamen mihimet adulor me satis recte authoris & verba & mentem cepisse (diligenter enim noctes atque dies opere incubui ne tibi vel ulli regiorum tuorum sodalium molestus forem). Rudiora tamen quorum specimen infra exhibere placuit, & _Italico-Latina_, juxta præceptum tuum, _similia feci_ aliter si fecissem, totus fere liber mutationem sul iisset. Authorem tam pueriliter & barbare loquentem nunquam antehac evolvi quod meminerim; faciat ergo lector, ut solent nautæ, qui dum fœtet aqua, nares pilissando comprimunt, spretis enim verbis sensum, si quis est, attendat. Multa (infinita pœnè dixerim) authoris errata emendavi, quædam tamen non animadversa vereor; _Augeæ_ enim stabulum non nisi _Hercules_ repurgavit. Partem _Italico_ sermone conscriptam præetermitto, istam enim provinciam adornare suscepit Doctor _Pragestee Italus_; quam bene rem gessit, ipse viderit. Menda Typographica, spero, aut nulla, aut levia apparebunt. Tuam tamen & Regiæ Societatis censuram exoptat facilem, Tibi omni studio addictissimus,

"RICHARDUS HOGARTH, ...Preli Curator."

[4] He published "Grammar Disputations; or, an Examination of the eight parts of speech by way of question and answer, _English_ and _Latin_, whereby children in a very little time will learn, not only the knowledge of grammar, but likewise to speak and write _Latin_; as I have found by good experience. At the end is added a short Chronological index of men and things of the greatest note, alphabetically digested, chiefly relating to the Sacred and _Roman_ History, from the beginning of the World to the Year of Christ 1640, and downwards. Written for the use of schools of _Great-Britain_, by _Richard Hogarth_ Schoolmaster, 1712." This little book has also a _Latin_ title-page to the same purpose, "Disputationes Grammaticales, &c." and is dedicated, "Scholarchis, Ludimagistris, _et Hypodidascalis Magnæ Britanniæ_."

[5] _Hogart_ was the family name, probably a corruption of _Hogherd_, for the latter is more like the local pronunciation than the first. This name disgusted Mrs. _Hogart_; and before the birth of her son, she prevailed upon her husband to liquify it into _Hogarth_. This circumstance was told to me by Mr. _Walker_, who is a native of _Westmoreland_. By Dr. _Morell_, I was informed that his real name was _Hoggard_, or _Hogard_, which, himself altered, by changing _d_ into ð, the Saxon _th_.

[6] On what authority this is said, I am yet to learn. The registers of _St. Bartholomew the Great_, and of _St. Bartholomew the Less_, have both been searched for the same information, with fruitless solicitude. The school of _Hogarth's_ father, in 1712, was in the parish of _St. Martin's Ludgate_. In the register of that parish, therefore, the births of his children, and his own death, may probably be found.[A]

[A] The register of _St. Martin's Ludgate_, has also been searched to no purpose.

[7] This circumstance has, since it was first written, been verified by a gentleman who has often heard a similar account from one of the _last Head Assay-Masters_ at _Goldsmiths-Hall_, who was apprentice to a silversmith in the same street with _Hogarth_, and intimate with him during the greatest part of his life.

[8] Universal Museum, 1764. p. 549. The same kind of revenge, however, was taken by _Verrio_, who, on the cieling of _St. George's Hall_ at _Windsor_, borrowed the face of Mrs. _Marriot_, the housekeeper, for one of the Furies.

[9] This picture is noticed in the article _Thornhill_, in the _Biographia Britannica_, where, instead of _Wanstead_, it is called the _Wandsworth_ assembly. There seems to be a reference to it in "A Poetical Epistle to Mr. _Hogarth_, an eminent History and Conversation Painter," written _June_ 1730, and published by the author (Mr. _Mitchell_), with two other epistles, in 1731, 4to.

"Large families obey your hand; _Assemblies_ rise at your command."

Mr. _Hogarth_ designed that year the frontispiece to Mr. _Mitchell's_ Opera, _The Highland Clans_.

[10] Of all these a more particular account will be given in the Catalogue annexed.

[11] Brother to _Henry Overton_, the well-known publisher of ordinary prints, who lived over against _St. Sepulchre's Church_, and sold many of _Hogarth's_ early pieces coarsely copied, as has since been done by _Dicey_ in _Bow Church-yard_.

[12] This conceit is borrowed from _Vanloo's_ picture of _Colley Cibber_, whose daughter has the same employment.

[13] It appears that Mr. _G._ was dissatisfied with his likeness, or that some dispute arose between him and the painter, who then struck his pencil across the face, and damaged it. The picture was unpaid for at the time of his death. His widow then sent it home to Mr _Garrick_, without any demand.

[14] Afterwards rector of _Crawley_ in _Hampshire_; author of "_Ben Mordecai's_ Letters," "Confusion worse confounded," and many other celebrated works.

[15] He died of the small-pox, Aug. 12, 1729, and is said, in the "Political State," to have possessed 5000 l. a year. He married a sister of lord _Bateman_, by whom he left a son and two daughters.

[16] I have heard that he continually took sketches from nature as he met with them, and put them into his works; and it is natural to suppose he did so.

[17] See the Catalogue at the end of these Anecdotes. A very considerable number of personalities are there pointed out under the account of each plate in which they are found.

[18] The late Mr _Cole_, of _Milton_, in his copy of these Memoirs, had written against the name of _Bambridge_, "Father to the late attorney of that name, a worthy son of such a father. He lived at _Cambridge_." And in a copy of the first edition on occasion of a note (afterwards withdrawn) which mentioned "Mr. _Baker's_ having quarrelled with _Hearne_;" Mr. _Cole_ wrote, "Mr. _Baker_ quarrelled with no man: he might coolly debate with Mr. _Hearne_ on a disputable point. It is, therefore, a misrepresentation of Mr. _Baker's_ private character, agreeable to the petulance of this age."

[19] The wardenship of _The Fleet_, a patent office, was purchased of the earl of _Clarendon_, for 5000 _l._ by _John Huggins_, esq. who was in high favour with _Sunderland_ and _Craggs_, and consequently obnoxious to their successors. _Huggins's_ term in the patent was for his own life and his son's. But, in _August_ 1728, being far advanced in years, and his son not caring to take upon him so troublesome an office, he sold their term in the patent for the same sum it had cost him, to _Thomas Bambridge_ and _Dougal Cuthbert. Huggins_ lived to the age of 90.

[20] Mr. _Rayner_, in his reading on Stat. 2 _Geo._ II. chap. 32. whereby _Bambridge_ was incapacitated to enjoy the office of warden of _The Fleet_, has given the reader a very circumstantial account, with remarks, on the notorious breaches of trust, &c. committed by _Bambridge_ and other keepers of _The Fleet-Prison_. For this publication, see _Worral's_ Bibliotheca Legum by _Brooke_, 1777, p. 16.

"A report from the Committee appointed to enquire into the State of the Gaols of this Kingdom, relating to the _Marshalsea_ prison; with the Resolutions of the House of Commons thereupon," was published in 4to. 1729; and reprinted in 8vo, at _Dublin_ the same year. It appears by a MS. note of _Oldys_, cited in _British Topography_, vol. I. p. 636, that _Bambridge_ cut his throat 20 years after.

[21] _William Huggins_, esq. of _Headly Park, Hants,_ well-known by his translation of the _Orlando Furioso_ of _Ariosto_. Being intended for holy orders, he was sent to _Magdalen College, Oxford,_ where he took the degree of M. A. _April_ 30, 1761; but, on the death of his elder brother in 1756, declined all thoughts of entering into the church. He died _July_ 2, 1761; and left in MS. a tragedy, a farce, and a translation of _Dante_, of which a specimen was published in the _British Magazine_, 1760. Some flattering verses were addressed to him in 1757, on his version of _Ariosto_; which are preserved in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. XXVII. p. 180; but are not worth copying. The last Mr. _Huggins_ left an estate of 2000 _l._ a year to his two sons-in-law _Thomas Gatehouse_, Esq; and Dr. _Musgrave_ of _Chinnor_.

[22] Sir _Francis Page's_, "Character," by _Savage_, thus gibbets him to public detestation:

"Fair Truth, in courts where Justice should preside, Alike the Judge and Advocate would guide; And these would vie each dubious point to clear, To stop the widow's and the orphan's tear; Were all, like _Yorke_,[A] of delicate address, Strength to discern, and sweetness to express, Learn'd, just, polite, born every heart to gain, Like _Comyns_[B] mild; like _Fortescue_[C] humane, All-eloquent of truth, divinely known, So deep, so clear, all Science is his own.

"Of heart impure, and impotent of head, In history, rhetoric, ethics, law, unread; How far unlike such worthies, once a drudge, From floundering in low cases, rose a Judge. Form'd to make pleaders laugh, his nonsense thunders, And on low juries breathes contagious blunders. His brothers blush, because no blush he knows, Nor e'er 'one uncorrupted finger shows.'[D] See, drunk with power, the circuit-lord exprest! Full, in his eye, his betters stand confest; Whose wealth, birth, virtue, from a tongue so loose, 'Scape not provincial, vile, buffoon abuse. Still to what circuit is assigned his name, There, swift before him, flies the warner--Fame. Contest stops short, Consent yields every cause To Cost; Delay endures them, and withdraws. But how 'scape prisoners? To their trial chain'd, All, all shall stand condemn'd, who stand arraign'd, Dire guilt, which else would detestation cause, Prejudg'd with insult, wondrous pity draws. But 'scapes e'en Innocence his harsh harangue? Alas!--e'en Innocence itself must hang; Must hang to please him, when of spleen possest, Must hang to bring forth an abortive jest.

"Why liv'd he not ere Star-chambers had fail'd, When fine, tax, censure, all but law prevail'd; Or law, subservient to some murderous will, Became a precedent to murder still? Yet e'en when portraits did for traitors bleed, Was e'er the jobb to such a slave decreed, Whose savage mind wants sophist-art to draw, O'er murder'd virtue, specious veils of law?

"Why, Student, when the bench your youth admits, Where, though the worst, with the best rank'd he sits; Where sound opinions you attentive write, As once a _Raymond_, now a _Lee_ to cite, Why pause you scornful when he dins the court? Note well his cruel quirks, and well report. Let his own words against himself point clear, Satire more sharp than verse when most severe."

Nor was _Savage_ less severe in his prose. On the trial of this unfortunate poet, for the murder of _James Sinclair_ in 1727, Judge _Page_, who was then on the bench, treated him with his usual insolence and severity; and, when he had summed up the evidence, endeavoured to exasperate the jury, as Mr. _Savage_ used to relate it, with this eloquent harangue: "Gentlemen of the Jury, you are to consider that Mr. _Savage_ is a very great man, a much greater man than you or I, gentlemen of the jury; that he wears very fine cloaths, much finer cloaths than you or I, gentlemen of the jury; that he has abundance of money in his pocket, much more money than you or I, gentlemen of the jury: but, gentlemen of the jury, is it not a very hard case, gentlemen of the jury, that Mr. _Savage_ should therefore kill you or me, gentlemen of the jury?"

_Pope_ also, _Horace_, B. II. Sat. r, has the following line:

"Hard words or hanging, if your judge be _Page."_

And _Fielding_, in _Tom Jones_, makes _Partridge_ say, with great _naiveté_, after premising that judge _Page_ was a very brave man, and a man of great wit, "It is indeed charming sport to hear trials on life and death!"

[A] Sir _Philip Yorke_, chief justice of the King's Bench, afterwards lord-chancellor and earl _Hardwicke_.

[B] Sir _John Comyns_, chief baron of the Exchequer.

[C] Hon. _William Fortescue_, then one of the justices of the court of Common Pleas, afterwards master of the Rolls.

[D] "When _Page_ one uncorrupted finger shows." D. of WHARTON.

[23] The truth and propriety of these strictures having been disputed by an ingenious correspondent in the _Public Advertiser_, his letter, with remarks on it, is subjoined by way of appendix to the present work. In this place performances of such a length would have interrupted the narrative respecting _Hogarth_ and his productions. See Appendix I.

[24] In co'i Banco.

WILLIAM HOGARTH, Plaintiff. JOSHUA MORRIS, Defendant.

_Middlesex._

The Plaintiff declares, that on the 20th of _December_, 1727, at _Westminster_ aforesaid, Defendant was indebted to him 30 _l_. for painter's work, and for divers materials laid out for the said work; which Defendant faithfully promised to pay when demanded.

Plaintiff also declares, that Defendant promised to pay for the said work and other materials, as much as the same was worth; and Plaintiff in fact says the same was worth other 30 _l_.

Plaintiff also declares for another sum of 30 _l_ for money laid out and expended for Defendant's use, which he promised to pay.

The said Defendant not performing his several promises, the Plaintiff hath brought this action to his damage 30 _l_. for which this action is brought.

To which the Defendant hath pleaded _non assumpsit_ and thereupon issue is joined.

CASE.

The Defendant is an upholsterer and tapestry-worker, and was recommended to Plaintiff as a person skilful in painting patterns for that purpose; the Plaintiff accordingly came to Defendant, who informing him that he had occasion for a tapestry design of the Element of Earth, to be painted on canvas, Plaintiff told Defendant he was well skilled in painting that way, and promised to perform it in a workmanlike manner; which if he did, Defendant undertook to pay him for it twenty guineas.

Defendant, soon after, hearing that Plaintiff was an engraver, and no painter, was very uneasy about the work, and ordered his servant to go and acquaint Plaintiff what he had heard; and Plaintiff then told the said servant, 'that it was a bold undertaking, for that he never did any thing of that kind before; and that, if his master did not like it, he should not pay for it.'

That several times sending after Plaintiff to bring the same to Defendant's house, he did not think fit so to do; but carried the same to a private place where Defendant keeps some people at work, and there left it. As soon as Defendant was informed of it, he sent for it home, and consulted with his workmen whether the design was so painted as they could work tapestry by it, and they were all unanimous that it was not finished in a workmanlike manner, and that it was impossible for them to work tapestry by it.

Upon this, Defendant sent the painting back to Plaintiff by his servant, who acquainted him, 'that the same did not answer the Defendant's purpose, and that it was of no use to him; but if he would finish it in a proper manner, Defendant would take it, and pay for it.'

Defendant employs some of the finest hands in _Europe_ in working tapestry, who are most of them foreigners, and have worked abroad as well as here, and are perfect judges of performances of this kind.

The Plaintiff undertook to finish said piece in a month, but it was near three months before he sent to the Defendant to view it; who, when he saw it, told him that he could not make any use of it, and was so disappointed for want of it, that he was forced to put his workmen upon working other tapestry that was not bespoke, to the value of 200 _l._ which now lies by him, and another painter is now painting another proper pattern for the said piece of tapestry.

To prove the case as above set forth, call Mr. _William Bradshaw_.

To prove the painting not to be performed in a workmanlike manner, and that it was impossible to make tapestry by it, and that it was of no use to Plaintiff, call Mr. _Bernard Dorrider_, Mr. _Phillips_, Mr. _De Friend_, Mr. _Danten_, and Mr. _Pajon_.

By the counsel's memoranda on this brief it appears, that the witnesses examined for the Plaintiff were _Thomas King, Vanderbank, Le Gard, Thornhill,_ and _Cullumpton_.

[25] _James Thornhill_, esq. serjeant-painter and history-painter to King _George_ I. In _June_ 1715, he agreed to paint the cupola of _St. Paul's_ church for 4000 _l._ and was knighted in _April_ 1720. In a flattering account given of him immediately after his death, which happened _May_ 13, 1734, in his 57th year, he is said to have been "the greatest history-painter this kingdom ever produced, witness his elaborate works in _Greenwich-Hospital_, the cupola of _St. Paul's_, the altar-pieces of _All-Souls College_ in _Oxford_, and in the church of _Weymouth_, where he was born; a cieling in the palace of _Hampton-Court_, by order of the late Earl of _Halifax:_ his other works shine in divers noblemens' and gentlemens' houses. His later years were employed in copying the rich cartoons of _Raphael_ in the gallery of _Hampton-Court_, which, though in decay, will be revived by his curious pencil, not only in their full proportions, but in many other sizes and shapes, he in a course of years had drawn them. He was chosen representative in the two last parliaments for _Weymouth_, and having, by his own industry, acquired a considerable estate, re-purchased the seat of his ancestors, which he re-edified and embellished. He was not only by patents appointed history-painter to their late and present majesties, but serjeant-painter, by which he was to paint all the royal palaces, coaches, barges, and the royal navy. This late patent he surrendered in favour of his only son _John Thornhill_, Esq. He left no other issue but one daughter, now the wife of Mr _Wm. Hogarth_, admired for his curious miniature conversation paintings. Sir _James_ has left a most valuable Collection of pictures and other curiosities."

[26] He was called on this occasion, in the Craftsman, "Mr. _Hogarth_, an ingenious designer and engraver."