200 On the Early Life of Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A. 



My son will continiie in Jermyn Street, in the mean time we have taken an 

 excellent house and a cheap at 100 guineas a year, taxes included, within two 

 doors of Soho Square, in Greek Street, and have let a small part of it to a 

 single gentleman at 60 guineas, and mean to furnish the remainder, neat and 

 plain, as we convenient^ can, and have always every convenience for your 

 reception, when you shall be pleased to honor with your company (and for as 

 long a time as jow please) which I hope will take place in 3 weeks at farthest. 



I have other franks directed to you, viz. for the 26th, the 30th, and May 6th, 

 and will therefore close my present account with assuring you how very much 



I am, ever yoiu"'s. 

 With the most perfect respect and gratitude, 



T. Lawkence. 

 Wife and children always join their best wishes and readiest services. 



Rev. Dear Sir, — I received the favour of your's and am truly and very much 

 concerned for your being so much troubled and distressed, and most sincerely 

 ■wish a speedy end to all of them and a succession of blessed peace and perfect 

 happiness. 



I wished for your company yesteiday at the Chapel of the Foundling Hospital, 

 where the devotion, preaching and singing, work altogether for the benefit of 

 the hearer, and leave the mind in a state of tranquility and hnmble resignation 

 to the divine will. Wednesday, will most assuredly become a day of ti'iumph 

 to our youngest son : for then, the exhibition opens, but to-morrow is the public 

 dinner, which will be held in the grand room, where Sir Joshua will sit at the 

 head of the table, at his right hand the Prince of Wales, and on his left the 

 Primate and Metropolitan of all England, and to which treat a much greater 

 number are invited than was before ever known with only three excuses returned. 



Their Majesties and the Princesses were there on Friday and expressed the 

 highest degree of satisfaction : in short it is spoke of as the best. 



All my son's pictures were received, being twelve in number, while many 

 others were rejected for want of room. 



I am informed that Sir Joshua dwelt in contemplation on the merits of one of 

 his pieces for upwards of 20 minutes, and when it was told him that another 

 artist endeavoured to copy after him in his manner, his reply was " They may 

 all study after him, but in his opinion they would never overtake him " 



It is the united wish of this family, to be favored with your company, and in 

 very deed I most sincerely hope it would prove a pleasing relaxation to all your 

 care, which we, in our little way, but accompanied with oiu' very best endeavours, 

 would alleviate if we could not remove. Pray write more fully for so you have 

 now promised. 



I told you what wonders the Haunted Tower was like to enact : it is advertised 

 for the foui' and fiftieth time. 



The Nation is like to continue at peace, and the stocks continue to rise. 



No payment for the Queen or Princess yet, but his business increases most 

 rapidly at 20 guineas a head, which is a greater price than was ever charged by 

 Sir Godfit'ey Kneller — surprising at his age, but as Hamlet says,' something too 

 much of this. 



Lady Lincoln for change of air is come to Sunning Hill near Windsor, and 

 Lucy with her, who we expect soon in town for a short time, and Tom has given 



