C 9 3 



has fliewn, in the attempt to make me an 

 obje<5l of ridicule, by mifquoting my un- 

 publifhed MSS. 



It is the misfortune of every liberal art 

 to find amongft its profefibrs fome men of 

 uncouth manners ; and fince my profeflion 

 has more frequently been practifed by mere 

 day labourers, and perfons of no education, 

 it is the more difficult to give it that rank 

 amongft the polite arts, which I conceive 

 it ought to hold. Yet it is now become 

 my duty to fupport its refpeclability, lince 

 you attack the very exiltence of that pro- 

 feflion, at the head of which, both you 

 and Mr. Knight have the goodnefs to fay 

 that I am defervedly placed. 



Your new theory of deducing landscape 

 gardening from painting is fo plaufible, 

 that, like many other philofophic theories, 

 it may captivate and miflead, unlefs duly 

 examined by the teft of experience and 



practice. 



