made them, and not made them well, they imitated the originals so abominably! Such men, who out-Herod Herod, ought to be whipped. Something too much of

this."

66

There are two other portraits "more attractive ”— the counterfeit presentment of two parents. See what a grace sits upon that brow, whose paternal form "seems -nay, it is"-full of benevolence and meekness. "Look now what follows." The complacent, charitable, kind, good-natured partner of his tranquillity and comfortssuch a combination and example, where every one did seem to set his seal to give the world assurance of a happy pair, now gone" to that bourne from whence no traveller returns, leaving the world for me to bustle in." But soft! methinks I scent the hour of bedtime! "Brief let me be:" if you accept my gift, well; if not, and my offer should offend you, think that " I have shot my arrow o'er the house, and hit my brother."

66

MY DEAR SIR,

To JOHN BRITTON, Esq.

Thine,

B. O.

Tavistock Place, January 26, 1821.

LISTLESSNESS, and slight indisposition, keep me at home. I have not been within the walls of Burton

Cottage for many weeks: you cannot then, I think, accuse me of being intrusive: nor do I charge you with intrusiveness; for I believe I have not seen you here more than twice these two months.

If my representative may be permitted to approach you and Mrs. Britton, and you should give him audience, he will, I am sure, whatever you may say to him, “never

T

To J. PICKERSGILL, Esq. SOHO SQUARE.

DEAR SIR,

Tavistock Place, January 25, 1821.

I SEND you some specimens of my attempt in lithographic art. You will, perhaps, recognise the features which emanate from the original artist, and, perhaps, allow the resemblance to be tolerably correct. I send you myself, and also beg to introduce to you my revered parents.

I cannot doubt you are in full practice, and most sincerely hope your talents are properly appreciated and rewarded.

Believe me to be, dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

B. O.

To CHARLES LAURENCE, Esq. KEPPEL STREET.

DEAR LAURENCE,

IF

Tavistock Place, January 25, 1821.

If you have no objection to "an old friend with a new face," who is disposed to accept a place in your portfolio, and you should receive him with a hearty welcome; take him; but do not " treat him according to his deserts:" for whip me, if I think he deserves the lash so generally levelled by the bard at such unoffending mortals.

We are told to assume a virtue, if we have it not; why then should I not assume to tread in the line of art without having the qualification to aspire to it? Do I for this deserve whipping? I have seen artists, ay, and great ones too, who have made such faces, that one would have thought some of Nature's journeymen had

made them, and not made them well, they imitated the originals so abominably! Such men, who out-Herod Herod, ought to be whipped. 'Something too much of

this."

66

There are two other portraits "" more attractive". the counterfeit presentment of two parents. See what a grace sits upon that brow, whose paternal form "seems -nay, it is"-full of benevolence and meekness. "Look now what follows." The complacent, charitable, kind, good-natured partner of his tranquillity and comfortssuch a combination and example, where every one did seem to set his seal to give the world assurance of a happy pair, now gone "to that bourne from whence no traveller returns," "leaving the world for me to bustle in." But soft! methinks I scent the hour of bedtime! "Brief let me be:" if you accept my gift, well; if not, and my offer should offend you, think that "I have shot my arrow o'er the house, and hit my brother."

MY DEAR SIR,

To JOHN BRITTON, Esq.

Thine,

B. O.

Tavistock Place, January 26, 1821.

LISTLESSNESS, and slight indisposition, keep me at home. I have not been within the walls of Burton Cottage for many weeks: you cannot then, I think, accuse me of being intrusive: nor do I charge you with intrusiveness; for I believe I have not seen you here more than twice these two months.

If my representative may be permitted to approach you and Mrs. Britton, and you should give him audience, he will, I am sure, whatever you may say to him, "never

T

move a muscle:" but should you swear, as Charles Surface did, that you will "keep him as long as you have a room to put him in," he will be grateful in the extreme. Lear says, "Between you both I do divide my crown!" I say, Between you both I do divide myself, and "whatsoever else may hap to me," "give it an understanding, but no tongue."

PLEASE to deliver the enclosed to Mr. Leggett: it contains a draft for, and on account of, your schooling.

I saw your letter to Jane last night; and am glad to find you feel yourself comfortable, and happy with your schoolfellow, Master Scott. You did very right to return from Chiswick, to ask leave of Mr. Leggett to dine with Mr. Horsley. As you grow in years, I am pleased to see your intellect keep pace with them, and that you have discrimination of the respect due to your superior and instructor; and trust you will never lose sight of that distinction which marks the judicious from the ignorant. I do not like the epithet of "stupid," which you have applied to the coachman who took the wrong road: it was an error, and what might have happened to you, to myself, or to any one else. Such expressions

ill become youth, and sit ungraciously on a boy of your years.

I took Christiana to Tooting on Sunday, and left her with Mr. Parrott. Change of air, and the professional assistance of Mr. Parrott, will, I hope, effect a speedy alteration and amendment in her health. I called on, and sat with Mr. Thomas, some time he is much altered since I saw him in the summer, and I greatly fear it will be the last time I may ever see my poor friend again.

I feel much honoured by Mrs. Leggett's commendation of the portraits, and regret exceedingly that all the sets are disposed of, else I should feel very proud in offering her one. If Mr. Leggett thinks the acceptance of myself worth his notice, I am much at his service: you can supply him, and I will replace it in your portfolio.

I hope you will employ your leisure hours in drawing you will find it a most delectable source of amusement. I also wish you to possess a knowledge of the principles of architecture. These are accomplishments which every well educated person ought to attain, and without which he must make a sorry appearance in polished society. I will, at my leisure, send you a short Treatise on Architecture, where you will find the orders explained; and from the examples you may easily draw sketches, which will implant it more strongly on your mind, and which you will find quite as easy as drawing figures or landscapes.

Believe me to be, dear Richard,

Yours affectionately,

B. O.