Letter from Dr. Blair. 59 



if you go on you must excel highly, and may go what 

 length you please. Landscape painting has been always 

 a great favourite with me ; and you have really con- 

 tributed much to my entertainment. As I thought you 

 might wish to know my sentiments, after your paintings 

 had been a little considered, I was led to write you these 

 lines (in which I assure you there is nothing flattering), 

 before sending back your pieces to you. With best, 

 compliments to Lady Fairfax, believe me, 



Your obliged and most obedient Servant, 



HUGH BLAIR. 



ARGYLL SQUARE, Illh April (probably) 1796. 



A day or two after this a Mrs. Ramsay, a rich 

 proud widow, a relation of my mother's, came with 

 her daughter, who was an heiress, to pay us a 

 morning visit. Looking round the room she asked 

 who had painted the pictures hung up on the 

 walls. My mother, who was rather proud of them, 

 said they were painted by me. " I am glad," said 

 Mrs. Eamsay, " that Miss Fairfax has any kind of 

 talent that may enable her to win her bread, for 

 everyone knows she will not have a sixpence." 

 It was a very severe hit, because it was true. Had 

 it been my lot to win my bread by painting, I fear 

 I should have fared badly, but I never should have 

 been ashamed of it ; on the contrary, I should have 

 been very proud had I been successful. I must 

 say the idea of making money had never entered 



