$2 
To the Editor of ie Mozutol ly Magazines 
SIR, 
Y HEN a work is delivered entire 
V/ to the public, it feldom, or never, 
is neceflary for the author to appear in 
ats defence, or explanation ; ees eet good, 
it will defend itielf, if bad, it 1s. not 
worth defending, ae no defence .can 
ferve its But, when a publication pro- 
eceds progreflively, and is attended with 
confiderable expence, both to*the pro- 
prietors and the purchafers, by white 
opinion it ftands or falls, it is fometimes 
incumbent on the honeft ty of the Editor, 
to account for feeming deficiencies. 
With this view only, I tolicit admiiion 
for the. following brief, but neceffary, 
explanations, relative toa work conducted 
by me, ‘ The Portraits of lufirtous Per- 
fe: ns of Scotland,’ remain a well-wifher 
tc your liberal and intereiting publication. 
JOHN PINKERTON. 
Hampfiead, 14th iA eb, 
The work, intitled % Iconographia 
Scotica, or Portraits of uluftrious Pe) fons of 
Scotland,’ is complete in four parts, 
forming: one volume in 4to. or 8vo. 
Another, ftyled <* The Scoti/h Gallery, or 
Portraits of Eminent Perfons of Scotland ;” 
many of them after pictures by the cele- 
brated Jamefon at ‘Vaymouth, and elfe- 
where, will fpeedily appear in fimilar 
parts. 
Some-of the plates, in the firft publica- 
tion, fail far fhert of the editor’s expecta- 
tien, notwithitanding all his exertions, 
and his infifting on three or four being 
cut up, and fuperior pieces of art fub- 
ftituted. In the fecond work it is hoped 
there will be no reafon for complaint on 
this fcore, as Mr. EpDwarD HARDTING, 
of Pall Mall, fuperintends all the engrav- 
ings; many of which are by GARDINER, 
and other eminent artifts. “The portraits 
themfelves rather exceed thofe of the firft 
work, in curiofity and importance: the 
accounts of remarkable perfons, are, in 
ea iiftances, more extenfive; and a 
Differtation-will be prefixed to the vo- 
lume, on the Rife and Progrefs of Paint- 
ing in Scotland. 
“In the firtt work, feveral of the plates 
were inferted by the publifher in oppoti- 
tion to the editor’s advice and remon- 
ftrance; fuch as feme fac-fimiles from 
Jonk yn’s Infiriptiones, a Mary Magdalen, 
crying and writing, put for a "Mary, 
Queen of - ‘Scots, &e. Yet, aiid thefe 
deteéts, there is a great number of good 
plat tes, from very inte, efting por tr ate 
The editor » difgufted nears thofe bad 
Mr. Piakerton’s Explanation. 
plates, and)other drfagreeable, incidents, 
required that his name fhould not appear 
m the title, and attually dafhed it out in 
the copy fhewn to him: yet it was in- 
ferted. 
In the fecond work, the. Aabiekhet are 
felect, and fome exquifitely engraven. 
No bad plates, nor doubtful portraits, 
will appear. 
It only remains to apologize for the want 
of fome portraits, promifed in the Prof- 
pectus, andswhich have not been given. 
I. ‘There is no portrait ef Robert II. .at 
Taymouth. Erroneous information was the 
caufe of this, and other miftakes. 
2. There is no portrait of Elizabeth More. 
3. One of the portraits of Margaret, queen 
of James IV. is procured. The other isin.a 
royal pelace---and it is a fingular inftitution, 
fince the reign of Charles Il. that no picture, 
in any of iva palaces, can be copied without 
a perquifite of four guineas to the Chamber- 
jain’s clerks. Asitisa perguifite, itis indif- 
penfible---but certainly nothing can be more 
difgraceful to the prefent flourifhing fate of 
the arts in this country.---This, however, 
will not prevent the appearance of this spor- 
traitindue time: the diftance from town, and 
its being the only one in that palaces are the 
real cauies of the delay. : 
4. Cardinal. Innes, A. D. 1412, 1s. pro- 
cured, as are all the others mentioned in the 
Picea, except the following: 
§- Regent Murray, at Fonthill. A draw- 
ing was een It is fome Scotith gentle- 
man, of the end of laft century, ina “High- 
land drefs. 
6. Bifhop Dunbar, at Abereeds is ares 
cent and imaginary picture. 
. There is no portiait of Robert Th. at 
Raseioiire Hill. 
8. There is no portrait of Sir Robert has 
ray in the apartments of the Royal Society. 
g- The Cardinal Berea Holy-rood- 
houfe is ima gina ty Pennant informs 
me, itis a for eign cara of laf century--- 
and the portrait in an oval, is quite unlike 
the manner of Beton’s time. 
10. The Earl Douglas, at Cavers, is’ of 
pour exiftence. 
. Lord Weftcote’s duchefs of Richmond 
is eels engraved for the Memoirs of Gram- 
mont.) ghia) 
12. Dr. Burnet, of tds Charter-houfe, 
has been often engraved, and was, it is be- 
lieved, an Englishman. He is an honour to 
his country ; but this work is confined to, thie 
neglected province of Scotith iconography. 
at 


To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
O the books, which C. D.. recom- 
mends to your correfpondent L, I 
beg leave to add the following, which it 
may 
