A Biographical Sketch 



and, in return for the grog with which he liberally provided them, 

 made him a member of the brotherhood of those who " go down to 

 the sea in ships," and obliged him with information respecting the 

 rig of ships in fair weather and foul for the seascapes upon which 

 he now employed his brush. 



From Cowes, Morland went to Newport, where he had an 

 introduction to a friend of Mr. Lynn's. This man, upon the advice 

 of Lynn, began to buy up Morland's sketches, though he knew 

 nothing whatever about art. Indeed, he began to get alarmed at 

 his investments in pictures which, as he confessed with Philistine 

 ignorance, seemed no better than the coloured prints which he could 

 buy in the Newport shops for threepence apiece. The surgeon, 

 however, reassured him, and told him to buy as many sketches as 

 he could, resting certain that he could afterwards sell them for 

 much more than he had given. 



Poor Morland, who had reasonably expected to have some peace 

 and quiet at such a distance from his old haunts of folly, was not to 

 be gratified in this way, and his sins found him out wherever his 

 retreat might be. He received an unexpected visit from his brother, 

 who warned him that one of his creditors, who had discovered 

 his address, was on his way to Newport, bringing the bailiffs to 

 arrest him and carry him back to a debtor's prison. Morland, in a 

 panic, hurriedly left Newport, and, with his brother and the man- 

 servant, went into hiding at Great Yarmouth. 



Here a ludicrous adventure occurred, which afterwards gave 

 Morland the opportunity of hearty laughter, but at the time 

 frightened him seriously. They had not been at Yarmouth for more 

 than a few days when, as they were having breakfast in the house 

 of a famous smuggler named George Coles, a lieutenant with eight 

 soldiers of the Dorset militia entered the room, and, grounding their 

 arms, declared them all prisoners. Morland was thrown into such 

 confusion and alarm that he had the very aspect of a conscience- 

 stricken criminal. 



The fact was that he had been seen making sketches of the 

 harbour and other works, and at a time when the dread of a French 

 invasion made the most heroic militiaman in terror of his own 

 shadow and suspicious of every stranger. The innocent artist was 



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