I 1 * ] 
The nobility and gentry frequently honoured him 
with their friendfhip and generous fupport ; and he 
mentions with peculiar plealure being patroniled by 
four great men, who were perhaps the greateft pro* 
moters of learning, (Hence and arts, of any in the 
prelent age. Thefe were the late Duke of Rich-* 
mond, Sir Hans Sloane, Dr, Mead, and Mar¬ 
tin Folkes, Elq; * 
His 
* The following characters of thefe four eminent perfonages is given 
an his own words: 
“ The Duke, noble in his lineage, and defcent from the royal 
houfe of thefe kingdoms ; but Rill more noble and great from the innate 
“ magnificience, generofity, and goodnefs of his foul. Though by his 
“ high offices, his time was taken up by the important affairs of the pub- 
(e lie, yet his doors were always open to men of learning, fcience, and in- 
4 ‘ genuity.” 
“ The fecond was the good Sir Hans Sloane, Bart, who employed 
“ me, for a great number of years, in drawing miniature figures of ani- 
** mals, &c. after nature, in water colours, to encreafe his very great col- 
“ ledion of fine drawings by other hands ; which drawings are now all 
“ fixed in the Britiffi Mufeum, for the help and information of thofe in fu-^ 
“ ture generations, that may be curious or ftudious in natural hiftory. Sir 
“ Hans, in the decline of his life, left London , and retired to his manor 
<( houfe at Chelfea, where he refided about fourteen years before he died. 
“ After his retirement to Chelfea , he requefted it as a favour to him, 
iC (though I embraced his requeff as an honour done to myfelf) that I 
i( would vifit him every week, in order to divert him, for an hour or two, 
“ with the common news of the town, and with any thing particular that 
£i ffiould happen amongfi: his acquaintance of the Royal Society, and other 
** ingenious 
