380 ARIADNE FLORENTINA. 



from generation to generation, have mouldered away. I have 

 always felt extremely grieved to see the ancient mansions of 

 many of the country gentlemen, from somewhat similar causes, 

 meet with a similar fate. The gentry should, in an especial 

 manner, prove by their conduct that they are guarded against 

 showing any symptom of foolish pride, at the same time that 

 they soar above every meanness, and that their conduct is 

 guided by truth, integrity, and patriotism. If they wish the 

 people to partake with them in these good qualities, they must 

 set them the example, without which no real respect can ever 

 be paid to them. Gentlemen ought never to forget the re- 

 spectable station they hold in society, and that they are the 

 natural guardians of public morals and may with propriety 

 be considered as the head and the heart of the country, while 

 'a bold peasantry' are, in truth, the arms, the sinews, and the 

 strength of the same ; but when these last are degraded, they 

 soon become dispirited and mean, and often dishonest and 

 useless. 



******* 

 " This singular and worthy man * was perhaps the most in- 

 valuable acquaintance and friend I ever met with. His moral 

 lectures and advice to me formed a most important succeda- 

 neum to those imparted by my parents. His wise remarks, 

 his detestation of vice, his industry, and his temperance, 



* Gilbert Gray, bookbinder. I have to correct the inaccurate and 

 very harmfully inaccurate, expression which I used of Bewick, in Love's 

 Meinie, 'a printer's lad at Newastle.' His first master was a goldsmith 

 and engraver, else he could never have been an artist. I am very 

 heartily glad to make this correction, which establishes another link of 

 relation between Bewick and Botticelli ; but my error was partly caused 

 by the impression which the above description of his ''most invaluable 

 friend" made on me, when I first read it. 



Much else that I meant to correct, or promised to explain, in this lect- 

 ure, must be deferred to the Appendix ; the superiority of the Tuscan 

 to the Greek Aphrodite I may perhaps, even at last, leave the reader to 

 admit or deny as he pleases, having more important matters of debate 

 on hand. But as I mean only to play with Proserpina during the spring, 

 I will here briefly anticipate a statement I mean in the Appendix to en- 

 force, namely, of the extreme value of coloured copies by hand, or 

 paintings whose excellence greatly consists in colour, as auxiliary to en- 



