36 Faraday, Correspondence of Lt.-Col. J. L. Pliilips. 



Catch book in my pocket and hoi)e to meet with Boden and one or two 

 others who excell in this line that we may do something, you know 

 Chas. Eyes is famous, and it is not unlikely that Wiatt »S: Mr Drinkwater 

 may he in Manchester on Tuesday, they have business there next week and 

 will contrive to meet if possible. 



Your excuse for not coming at Xmas leaves us nothing to say. Allerton 

 is now very dull. Miss Leigh is returned to Oughtrington, and Miss Earles 

 are at Chester. Pack has had great Success. He did not go on with his 

 historical piece, he had prepared a whole length Canvas for it but a Lady 

 engaged it for a family picture of herself and two children, which he is very 

 forward with & for which he is to have 30 gs. he has done a fancy piece in oil 

 at the Academy by lamplight, which is very clever, the suliject is St John 

 in the Wilderness — I have not seen Miller's picture but doubt not it is good 

 from the character I hear of the artist, but it is astonishing to me that a man 

 possessed of such abilities should paint for such low prices, or that his friends 

 should suffer him to so degrade himself — Pack desires his compts. and I 

 remain, ^''■ sincere friend 



TIIOS. TAYLOR. 



In a letter, probably written at the beginning of 1784, 

 btit to which no date is attached, Taylor mentions that 

 Dr. Currie is Ij'ing dangerously ill from inflammation of 

 the lungs, the result of a cold caught at the funeral of his 

 friend Dr. Bell, of Manchester. He then says : — 



I got the volume of plays I was to get changed for you, if you send it to 

 me at any time it shall be done. I will troubl you to get copied the rest of 

 the glees etc, all but "Hark the Lark" & "Return Blest Day," and also 

 the words of the two other verses of adieu to the Villiage Delights, which I 

 have not. 



The succeeding letter alludes to an enigma, which 

 was sent to one of the young ladies in Liverpool by Philips, 

 and the reception of which induces Taylor to encourage 

 his friend to hope that he may win the lady's hand. One 

 letter written on May 4th, tells of the favourable reception 

 of the enigma ; another, written on May 13th, goes more 

 into details. Taylor adds, "It is unnecessary for me to 

 say I am most heartily interested in the accomplishment 

 of your wishes, and that it has given me much pleasure to 

 find a favourable aspect appear. I think I can with cer- 

 tainty say you have no prior inclination to contend 



