May, I9II 
chances are that they never became acquainted. After the 
‘Poetical Magazine” had published this series of prints 
and the story told in verse which went along with them, 
the reading public of Lon- 
don exhibited an unusual 
degree of interest in this 
fictitious history of Dr. 
Syntax, and numerous re- 
quests were sent to Mr. 
Ackermann that he repro- 
duce in book form the Syn- 
tax poem. The writer and 
the artist were both con- 
sulted, and agreed to revise 
their work as far as pos- 
sible, and get it ready for 
publication. The result 
was the publication, in the 
year 1812, of the first vol- 
ume, which was called ‘“‘A 
Tour in Search of the Pic- 
turesque, by the Rey. Dr. 
Syntax,” and the title page 
of the book gives the fol- 
lowing information: 
—penemammra 
‘ 
“Published May rst, 1812, at R. 
Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, ror Strand,” and on the 
colored prints, which are numerous throughout the book, 
tures. 
hand. 
Adtachichde dehy hate detache ttt tne A 
SM yond 
; ¥) 
Pies Sau UCUw 
Cover of tureen showing the rare view, ““Ihe Banns Forbidden” 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
177 
is given up to a description of his wanderings and adven- 
These Rowlandson etchings were all colored by 
This fact becomes evident by comparing the colored 
prints of the ‘Poetical Mag- 
azine’ with those which 
appeared in the first edi- 
tion of the Syntax poem, 
“The Tour of Doctor Syn- 
tax in Search of the Pictur- 
esque.” In cases where 
the prints were made from 
the same plate the pigments 
used differ in each impres- 
sion, showing that the 
artists who did the color- 
ing were not particular 
about matching their 
shades. This comparison 
also reveals the fact that in 
the printed volume of 1812 
Rowlandson did not use all 
of the old plates, but 
etched new ones and _ in- 
serted some which did not 
appear at all in the ‘Poetical Magazine.” 
The second volume in this series was not printed until 
August rst, 1820, and is called ‘‘The Second Tour of Dr. 
Inside of tureen—‘**Dr. Syntax Setting Out on His Second Tour”’ 
we find the following: “Designed and etched by Rowland- 
This first volume, in brief, described Dr. Syntax 
as being a poor clergyman, and having a hard struggle to 
get along. He appears in the poem to have had a number 
”) 
son. 
of accomplishments; 
among them, he was 
a very good artist, 
and a fairly skillful 
musician. Mrs. Syn- 
tax was not a very 
lovable woman, judg- 
ing by Rowlandson’s 
She 
pictures. was 
rather ungainly in 
appearance, and 
somewhat given to 
nagging. Dr. Syn- 
tax finally decided 
that he could get 
along better if he gave up preaching and went out on a 
So he mounted his old horse, taking along 
his sketching materials and his violin, and the first volume 
sketching tour. 
Three cup plates making the view of ‘“‘Dr. Syntax and the Gypsies” ” 
Syntax in Search of Consolation.” 
hurried examination of this second volume, but judging 
by careful perusal of the illustrations, I conclude that Mrs. 
Syntax died, and Dr. Syntax, while not absolutely pros- 
cu 
by highwaymen. He 
attended 
school commencements and university banquets. 
ofhciated at a marriage ceremony, and there are very few 
Soup tureen showing “Dr. Syntax and the Gypsies” 
I have only made a 
trated by grief, felt 
that he had met with 
a great loss, and 
must seek consola- 
tion somewhere. 
This seems to have 
been his excuse for a 
second tour, more ex- 
tended than the first, 
and) one nine a 
greater variety of 
adventure. He was 
entertained at one 
time by gypsies, and 
later on was captured 
young ladies’ boarding 
Once he 
