By Mr. T. B. Smith. 



201 



Fanny an invitation at his expense to give her the meeting, who pleads attention 

 to duty an excuse. My son will inclose agreeably to your's, with the most 

 grateful acknowledgements, on the 6th of May, and I am 



Ever so, Rev. Dear Sir, 



Thos. Lawrence. 



26th April, 1790. 



Rev. Dear Sir, — Words are wanting to express my sense of gratitude to 

 Heaven and to the world, for the great name my son has so wonderfully 

 acquired from the opening of the exhibition. That you may form a judgment 

 of my reason for being tit us thankful, I herewith present you with extracts 

 from different papers of yesterday that I have seen. N.B. It opened on 

 Wednesday. 



The Diary says s — 



" Mr. Lawrence, young as he is, treads close already on the kibe of the most 

 eminent of the profession. Such a head as that of Mr. Locke, painted as we 

 understand at a single sitting, and such a portrait as Miss Farren's, might create 

 envy in the mind of the first artist that ever existed. 



"We have seen a great variety of pictures of Miss Farren ; but we never 

 saw before her mind and character upon canvass. It is completely Elizabeth 

 Farren, arch, careless, spirited, elegant, and engaging." 



The Oracle, after speaking of Sir Joshua's performances, proceeds : — 



" If any picture from another pencil can do thus, it is the claim, we say this 

 with astonishment! — of young Lawrence. For this delightful whole length of 

 Miss Farren, which for winning ease, for expressive attitude, for the mind's 

 eye, and that peculiar style of feature so difficult to catch, of sweetness 

 without insanity and spirit without distortion, can never be exceeded." 



The Morning Herald : — 



" The portrait of Miss Farren, by Mr. Lawrence, possesses great merit, and 

 is extremely characteristic. The back ground is very fine." 



The Morning Chronicle, after speaking of Sir Joshua, says of Lawrence. 



" The picture of Her Majesty, No. 100, is admirable in point of likeness. 

 The drapery is well disposed, but the landscape will admit of improvement. 

 The full length of Miss Farren, is an excellent production : he hath given all 

 the richness and fascination of the original with exquisite effect." 



" Of the other portraits, that of his brother the clergyman, is by far the best. 

 This picture, with respect to likeness and colouring, is, we had almost said 

 unrivalled." 



The Gazetteer — "Mr. Lawrence hath this year fulfilled all the promises 

 which he gave a year ago. We cannot speak with sufficient commendations of 

 the beauties he hath exhibited. Miss Farren is one of the most delightful 

 portraits we ever saw. The Queen is a most perfect likeness, and the small 

 angel is a cabinet jewel." 



The World " The best portrait in oils, are Mr. Cholmondley, Lord Malmesbury's 

 daughter, Mr. Tomkins, and Lord Randon, by Sir Joshua ; and Mr. Locke, 

 Miss Farren, the Queen, little Lord Paisley, the Angel, and his Sisters heads, 

 the Princess Amelia, and No. 268, by Mr. Lawrence." 



And again in the same paper — ' ' Lawrence deserves the greatest encomiums for 



