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Saviour, says unto him, " Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, 

 and the well is deep ; from whence then hast thou that living water?" 

 Nothing is more common than for strangers to enter into conver- 

 sation upon such occasions. Happy was the meeting of the wo- 

 man of Sychar with the holy traveller at Jacob's well. An assem- 

 blage of pilgrims at an oriental reservoir, often brings to mind the 

 interview in Samaria. When at Rome I purchased a picture on 

 this subject, by Guercino, large as life; reckoned one of the finest 

 works of that master: meekness and dignity are happily blended 

 in the Saviour's countenance, and the whole composition is a chef 

 d'ouvre of the Italian school. I spent much of my time with the 

 amiable Angelica Kauffman, while finishing the large picture of 

 our Saviour uttering those endearing words, " Suffer little children 

 to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the king- 

 dom of God!" The marked countenance of the disciples, ma- 

 ternal love pressing forward with infants at the breast, the inno- 

 cence of the children already embracing his knees, and the tender 

 sympathy of the surrounding spectators, were all admirable; but 

 in the character of the Divine Redeemer Angelica transcended 

 her usual excellence, and formed a union of majesty and meekness 

 not easy to conceive. The expression of majesty, or dignity, 

 alone, was comparatively easy to a mind accustomed to sublime 

 ideas; meekness and humility still more so; to combine them 

 with propriety required all the efforts of her transcendent genius. 

 Angelica told me she had often dwelt with pleasure on my 

 picture by Guercino, it had in some degree been a model for 

 her own. A learned friend, eminent in his profession, on seeing 



