By Mr. T. B. Smith. 



203 



To return to the subject of this paper. Lawrence was elected a 

 Royal Academician in 1790. It appears however to have been the 

 wish of George III. that this honour should have been conferred 

 upon him some two or three years earlier ; a fact which gave rise 

 to the publication of some " Loyal Odes to Disloyal Academician, " 

 from the caustic pen of Peter Pindar. They are 18 in number. 

 The following is an extract from the introduction. 



" The foundation of the following Odes is simply this. The 

 President of the Royal Academy reported lately to the Acade- 

 micians his Majesty's desire that a Mr. Lawrence might be added 

 to the list of the R.A., his Majesty being perfectly convinced of the 

 young artist's uncommon abilities, and consequent fair pretensions 

 to the honour. Notwithstanding the royal wish, and the wish of 

 the President, and the wish of Mr. Benjamin West, the R.A. 

 received the annunciation of his Majesty's wish, Sir Joshua's 

 wish, and Mr. West's wish, with the most ineffable sangfroid, not 

 to call it by the harder name, disgust. The annunciation happening 

 on the night of an election of associates, at which Mr. Lawrence, 

 ought to have been elected an associate, (a step neccessary to the 

 more exalted one of R.A.) the number of votes for Mr. Lawrence 

 amounted to 3, and that of his opponent, Mr. Wheatley, to 16." 

 In these Odes I find Lawrence's name mentioned only twice. 



" Refuse a monarch's mighty orders ! 



" It smells of treason ! — on rebellion borders ! 



c< 'S death, Sirs ! it was the Queen's fond wish as well 

 ' ' That Master Lawrence * should come in ! 



" Against a Queen so gentle to rebel, 

 " This is another crying sin ! 



11 What ! not oblige in such a trifling thing 



" So sweet a Queen, and such a goodly King ! " 



Ode i. 



" Go, Sirs, with halters round your wretched necks, 

 " Which some contrition for your crime bespeaks, 



" And much offended Majesty implore. 

 " Say, piteous, kneeling in the Royal view, 

 " ' Have pity on a sad abandoned crew, 



u 1 And we, great King, will sin no more. 

 " 1 Forgive, dread Sire, the crying sin, 

 " ' And Mister Lawrence shall come in ! ' " 

 _^Ode xvii. 



A young portrait painter of some merit. P.P." 



