390 



design like nature?" — 'the obvious ridicule 

 would have struck him too forcibly. 



P. 237. 1.3. I cannot so well describe the strong im- 

 pression, and the various instruction that I re- 

 ceived from Sir Joshua Reynolds's discourses, 

 as in the words which Madame Roland has 

 applied to a very different guide. " II sembia 

 que c'etoit Paliment qui me fut propre, & l'in- 

 terprete des sentimens que j'avois avant lui, 

 mais que lui seul pouvoit m'expliquer." The 

 same impression, and with additional delight, 

 I received from his conversation. It was as 

 pleasing as it was instructive ; I never missed 

 any opportunity of enjoying it, and I never 

 think of it without regret. 



Few men had more numerous friends, in 

 more various ranks of life, or more warmly 

 attached. Those among them, who now ho- 

 nour and cherish his memory, as they loved 

 and admired him when living, must surely be 

 hurt at the publication of certain letters 

 ascribed to him, which, it will readily be 

 allowed, are very unlike his printed works — > 

 the noble produce of the vigour and maturity 

 of his age. These letters (whatever they may 

 be) appear to be written with the hasty negli- 

 gence of early and unsuspicious youth : if they 

 be genuine, they may indeed suggest very 

 severe reflections on the persons who gave 

 them up, and on those who published them, 



