6 
truth — yet what simplicity ! and how contemplative ! The 
identical white locks spoken of by Humphrey Newton, to 
be in a few years shorn to make way for the wig of the 
Houbraken print ! 
Dr. C. then gave the history of the portrait from whence 
this engraving has been taken, and said he identified it at the 
Art Treasures’ Exhibition, as Newton as he was when he 
wrote the Principia ; and pointed out at that time that it was 
the only known portrait of Newton worthy of notice — that 
he obtained, in conjunction with Dr. Joule, Mr. Fairbairn, 
Dr. Schunck, Mr. Binney, and Dr. Angus Smith, leave from 
its noble owner to have it photographed ; and he exhibited 
a print then taken — that Mr. Barlow happening to be at his 
house, saw an impression of it, and expressed a wish to en- 
grave it — that Dr. Crompton obtained Lord Portsmouth’s 
permission for the use of the original picture. Dr. C. then 
read letters from Lord Portsmouth, proving that the portrait 
came into his lordship’s possession by the marriage of his 
ancester Lord Lymington, to the grand-niece of Newton, 
Miss Conduit, and that it had been in a neglected condition 
and recently cleaned and lined. Dr. C. added that Sir David 
Brewster told him that he went to Hurstbourne Park to 
examine Newton’s MSS. and portraits, but that he did not 
see it, yet it was there. The picture. Dr. C. added, 
is in Kneller’s best manner, is painted with great care, is 
signed in the left corner “Isaacus Newtonus,” and in the 
right, et Godfrey Kneller fee. 1689.” Dr. C. exhibited an 
engraving prefixed to Dr. Edleston’s Correspondence of 
Newton and Cotes, which he said was from an India ink 
drawing in Magdalen College, Cambridge, undoubtedly 
closely allied to the Kneller picture, but greatly inferior ; 
being, in Dr. Crompton’s opinion, a bad copy by an inferior 
hand, but, no doubt, made for Mr. Pepys, in whose collection 
it was. 
Dr. C. showed that Newton was in London during the 
