BRITISH TURF. 81 



Grosvenor, and other noblemen and gentlemen, 

 subscribed sufficient to enable him to complete 

 his studies in Italy, where he obtained several 

 prize medals, and his works were always admired. 

 The origin of his three celebrated pictures in ena- 

 mel, is thus related by one of his biographers. 



" Having remained in Italy the time necessary 

 for his improvement, Mr. Stubbs embarked for 

 England ; and during his passage, he became 

 acquainted with a gentleman, a native of Africa, 

 whose taste and pursuits in life were similar to 

 his own. This gentleman had been to Rome, and 

 was returning to his family ; he was liberally 

 educated, and spoke the English language with 

 accuracy. His information made him a delightful 

 companion to Stubbs, who often expressed how 

 much it would add to his gratification if he could 

 but behold the lion in its wild state, or any other 

 wild beast. His friend, on one occasion, gave 

 him an invitation to the paternal mansion he was 

 about to visit. The offer was accepted with plea- 

 sure, and Stubbs landed with his friend at the 

 fortress of Centa.* They had not been on shore 

 many days, when a circumstance occurred most 

 favourable to the wishes of our painter. The town 

 where his friend resided was surrounded by a lofty 

 wall and a moat. Nearly level with the wall a 

 capacious platform extended, on which the inha- 



* A fortress on the coast of Africa, situated on a peninsula east- 

 ward of Tangier, and opjiosite to Gibraltar, belonging to Spain. 

 VOL. 11. G 



