A Biographical Sl<etch 



with amazing rapidity, and, in spite of his wild habits, his industry 

 was remarkable. But he used his pictures as another man would 

 draw cheques, and overdrew his account. When a tradesmen 

 pressed for a settlement of his bill, Morland would hand over a 

 newly-finished painting, which the man could immediately dispose 

 of with a considerable margin of profit for himself. Or if he 

 wanted to obtain credit from his wine-merchant or horse-dealer, he 

 would pledge himself to paint so many pictures within a certain 

 time. It was an amazing situation, and the tradesmen of Padding- 

 ton became so many art-dealers with a personal and pressing 

 interest in Morland's career. At his house opposite the White 

 Hart, and afterwards at Winchester Row, Paddington, whither 

 he removed, his studio became the resort of touts, money-lenders, 

 shopkeepers, and small tradesmen of every description ; besides 

 loafers and hangers-on such as prize-fighters, jockeys, horse- 

 dealers, farmers, drovers, ostlers, and tramps who came to see 

 Morland at work on pictures in which they held shares or which 

 they demanded as " payment on account." 



As Morland's studio was a sort of Tom Tiddler's Ground, in 

 which all these people had pegged out a claim, and in which they 

 were all rivals, it is easy to imagine the jealousies and enmities 

 which existed between them. Morland himself seems to have seen 

 the humour of the situation, and with his whimsical twist of mind 

 to have derived much amusement by playing off his creditors against 

 each other. 



At Paddington he lived " like a lord,'' though like a very dis- 

 reputable and dissolute lord. He kept " the highest style," dressed 

 like one of the dandies, employed two grooms and a footman in 

 livery for his personal attendance, gave open hospitality and the 

 best of wines to his crowd of " friends," and put good horses into 

 his stables. Not only did he indulge in what after all were but 

 reasonable expenses for a man of his position and income, but, like 

 some feudal baron, he clothed as well as fed his " retainers," giving 

 away his brand-new suits to any shabby fellow who had a laugh for 

 his jests, and scattering his money with prodigal generosity upon 

 any " poor devil" who begged a loan. His establishment at this 

 time reminds one of that of the great Alexandre Dumas, who had 



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