2^8 CHAPTER 49. 
200, and who generoufly advanced his price* 
In confequence of this countenance and 
proteftion, he obtained encouragement from 
Sir Hans Sloane, and many other opulent 
lovers of his art. Dr. For her gill pro- 
cured large colleftions from him; and the 
late eminent patronefs of natural hiftory, the 
Duchefs of Portland, poffelTed, befides 
near 300 paintings of exotics, upwards of 
. 500 of RngUflo plants, done on vellum, and 
highly linifhed, by this admirable artift. 
Another of his patrons, and to whofe 
obliging information I owe great part of the 
foregoing anecdotes relating to him, was 
WiLLET T,Efq; of Merlj, in Dorfet- 
/hire; at whofe feat Mr. Ehret was ac* 
cuftomed, for many years, to fpend feveral 
weeks in the fummer feafon, and in whofe 
friendship Mr.EnRET repofed, as executor 
in the laft arrangement of his affairs. The 
library at Merly exhibits a copious collec- 
tion of exotics, done by Ehret : not fewer 
than 230 finifhed fpecimens on vellum; 
befides feventy on paper ; and more than 
500 in an unfiniflied ftate. 
The firft publiflied fpecimens of his pen- 
cil, after his fettlement in England, that I 
am 
