those talents which in other studies have gained him such deserved reputation, he would have known that to challenge Titian to vie with tulips and crocusses, is hardly less improper than to make the same challenge to Raphael; that in truth he might almost as well have pitted nature against nature, and challenged a forest in autumn to vie with a flower-garden in spring; and that although Titian is renowned above all other painters for the glow and richness of his colours, yet that Van Huyssum came infinitely nearer to the tints of flowers in point of exact imitation, and probability of deception, without aspiring to the same high and general fame as a colourist. The study of pictures also, by presenting the varied and well-chosen forms, which with their numberless happy combinations are displayed in the works of the most eminent painters, would have convinced Dr. Warton, that Kent and his followers had made a very small progress in the choice of forms, or in the manner of arranging them. They disdained indeed the square and measured formality and method of the old style, but substituted a method and formality of their own, in which distinct and regular curves had no little share; and I am very sure that if Dr. Warton, when his mind was full of the compositions of eminent masters, had been shewn the prints of the Fairy Queen, be would not have ventured to ask- -"Can Kea

design like nature?"-the obvious ridicule would have struck him too forcibly.

P.237. 1.3. I cannot so well describe the strong impression, and the various instruction that I received from Sir Joshua Reynolds's discourses, as in the words which Madame Roland has applied to a very different guide. "Il sembla que c'étoit l'aliment qui me fut propre, & l'interprete des sentimens que j'avois avant lui, mais que lui seul pouvoit m'expliquer." The same impression, and with additional delight, I received from his conversation. It was as pleasing as it was instructive; I never missed any opportunity of enjoying it, and I never think of it without regret.

Few men had more numerous friends, in more various ranks of life, or more warmly attached. Those among them, who now honour and cherish his memory, as they loved and admired him when living, must surely be hurt at the publication of certain letters ascribed to him, which, it will readily be allowed, are very unlike his printed worksthe noble produce of the vigour and maturity of his age. These letters (whatever they may be) appear to be written with the hasty negligence of early and unsuspicious youth: if they be genuine, they may indeed suggest very severe reflections on the persons who gave them up, and on those who published them,

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but can little affect the high, and firmly established reputation of their supposed author; for, in my opinion, it would be just as fair to draw an inference from his former ignorance in painting, as from his former ignorance in writing; just as conclusive, to produce some of his early bad pictures, to prove that he did not paint Mrs. Siddons, or Cardinal Beaufort, as to bring forth early letters, to shew that he did not compose his discourses.

The most valuable part of every man's education, is that which he receives from himself, from his own untutored reflections; especially when the active energy of his character, makes ample amends for the want of a more finished course of study. Such a man, and so formed was Sir Joshua Reynolds; his observations on a variety of subjects, as well as on his own art, were those of a strong original mind, and his language, both in speaking and writing, gave them their full value. In his conversation there was a peculiar mildness, and a simplicity highly interesting, but which promised little else; and I have often been struck with the contrast, between that simplicity of manner, and the vigour of his thoughts and expressions. Some of our common friends have made the same reflection; and indeed many parts of his discourses, and those not the least impressive, appcared like transcripts of what he had spoken.

P. 256. I. 10. I have mentioned in the text the wretch

ed effect of taking away the outside trees from groups where they had long grown together; it is to the full as bad when they are incautiously removed from the front of an extended wood, for it can hardly ever be done without making a manifest gap, in itself very unpleasant, and at the same time letting in the view towards a number of naked stems behind. It appears, however, that the founder of the modern school did it upon system. "Where the plumage of an ancient wood extended wide its undulating canopy and stood venerable in darkness, Kent," says Mr. Walpole, "thinned its foremost ranks." One should really be led to conclude from every expression in this description, that the writer intended to give us a horror for the practice, which yet, from the place where it is mentioned, we must suppose him to have approved. The bad consequence of this system of separating trees which had long grown together, is no where more apparent, than when an old avenue is broken into clumps; yet it may very well happen that a landscape-painter, however strongly he may condemn the alteration as it affected the general views and the character of the place, might find some particular advantages from it with respect to his own art for as he is not obliged to make an exact por

trait, it is sufficient for his purpose if he discover the principal materials for composition, from the spot where he places himself. He therefore may select a view between any two of the clumps; and as a very slight alteration, in his expeditious art, turns them into groups, the whole may form a very pleasing landscape: again, as only two of the clumps would appear, no one could suspect from such a picture or drawing, that there were other clumps which strongly marked the old line of the avenue from every part where they were seen: All this is perfectly fair in the painter with reference to his own art; but were he employed to shew what would be the future effect of breaking an avenue into clumps, it would in the same degree be unfair; it would in fact be a deception, and tend to mislead his employer. Yet this is precisely what Mr. Repton has done, for the purpose of shewing how an avenue may be broken with good effect. He has in one plate represented the avenue on which the operation is to be performed, at its length, and of course as describing the straight line; and in common justice he ought to have given the same view of it when broken: but he well knew what a figure his clumps would make when the straight line was dotted with them. He therefore in the other plate has very dextrously changed both the point of view, and the scale; and as he knew that even

VOL. I.