368 



a few words with regard to the painter him- 

 mM' When he lived at Bath, I made frequent 

 ej^cursions with him into the country ; ho 

 Was a man of an eager irritable mind > though 

 wannly attached to those he loved;of ahvelj 

 and playful imagination, yet at times severe 

 and sarcastic : but when we came to cottage 

 or village scenes, to groups of children, or to 

 any objects of that kind which struck his 

 fancy, I have often remarked in his counte- 

 nance an expression of particular gentle- 

 ness and complacency. I hare often too 

 observed Sir Joshua Re3'nolds, when chil- 

 dren have been playing before him ; the 

 most affectionate parent could not gaze at 

 thejQi with a look more expressive of kind- 

 uess and interest. He was indeed tlie mild- 

 est and most benevolent of men ; but iu) 

 .tlia^tlook was clearly expressed the mixture 

 oif interest which arose fiom his art, ami 

 whicH seemed to give additional force to hi«i 

 ivatural philaijthropy . / . . > 



With respect to the particular subject 6f 

 this Essay,, although by the study of picr 

 tures a mai>, will gain but little knowledgci- 



