1736.
1. Two prints of Before and After. The two pictures, from which these prints are taken, were painted at the particular request of a certain vicious nobleman, whose name deserves no commemoration. The hero of them is said to have been designed for Chief Justice Willes. Hogarth repented of having engraved them; and almost every possessor of his works will wish they had been with-held from the public, as often as he is obliged to shew the volume that contains them to ladies. To omit them, is to mutilate the collection; to pin the leaves, on which they are pasted, together, is a circumstance that tends only to provoke curiosity; and to display them, would be to set decency at defiance. The painter who indulges himself, or his employers, in such representations, will forfeit the general praise he might have gained by a choice of less offensive subjects. We have an artist of no common merit, who has frequently disgraced his skill by scenes too luxuriant to appear in any situation but a brothel; and yet one of the most meretricious of his performances, but a few years ago, was exhibited by the Royal Academy. These prints, however, display almost the only instance in which Hogarth condescended to execute a subject proposed to him; for I am assured by one who knew him well, that his obstinacy on these occasions has often proved invincible. Like Shakspeare's Tully,
"——he would never follow any thing
That other men began."
In the later impressions from these plates, the scroll-work on the head-cloth, &c. of the bed, is rendered indistinct, by an injudicious attempt to strengthen the engraving. Mr. S. Ireland has the first sketch in oil of "Before."[1]
[1] The originals of both are at the earl of Besborough's seat at Roehampton.
2. The Sleeping Congregation. The preacher was designed as the representative of Dr. Desaguliers. This print was first published in 1736. It was afterwards retouched and improved[1] by the author in 1762, and is found in three different states. In the first, Dieu & Mon Droit is wanting under the King's Arms; the angel with one wing and two pair of thighs, that supports this motto, is smoking a pipe; and the lion has not his present magnificent genitals. In the second, the words already mentioned are added; the angel's pipe is obliterated; the insignia of the lion's sex rendered ostentatiously conspicuous; and the lines of the triangle under the angel are doubled. The other distinctions are chiefly such as a reiteration of engraving would naturally produce, by adding strength to the fainter parts of the composition. Changes of this slender kind are numberless in all the repaired prints of our artist. There is also a pirated copy of this plate. It is not ill executed, but in size is somewhat shorter than its predecessor, and has no price annexed. In the original picture, in the collection of Sir Edward Walpole, the clerk's head is admirably well painted, and with great force; but he is dozing, and not leering at the young woman near him, as in the print.
[1] I wish, for the sake of some future edition of the present work, these improvements could be ascertained. To me they are invisible, like those in the re-published March to Finchley.
3. The Distressed Poet.[1] In a back ground, a picture of Pope threshing Curll. Over the head of Pope we read, Pope's Letters; out of his mouth comes Veni, vidi, vici; and under Curll lies a letter, directed—to Curll. The distressed bard is composing Poverty, a poem. At the bottom of the plate are the following lines from The Dunciad, I. iii.
Studious he sate, with all his books around,
Sinking from thought to thought, a vast profund!
Plung'd for his sense, but found no bottom there;
Then writ, and flounder'd on in mere despair.
In the subsequent impressions, dated December 15, 1740, the triumphs of Pope are changed to a view of the gold mines of Peru; and our hero of the garret is employed in celebrating the praise of Riches. The lines already quoted are effaced. The original painting is at lord Grosvenor's house at Milbank, Westminster.
[1] In The Craftsman, March 12, 1736-7, occurs, "This day is published, price 3s. a print representing a Distressed Poet. Also, five etchings, of different characters of heads in groups, viz. a Chorus of Singers; a pleased Audience at a Play; Scholars at a Lecture; and Quacks in Consultation; price 6d. each. To be had either bound together with all Mr. Hogarth's late engraved works (except the Harlot's Progress), or singly, at the Golden Head, in Leicester Fields; and at Mr Bakewell's, printseller, next the Horn Tavern, Fleet-street." And April 2 and 9, 1737, "Just published, price 3s. A print representing a Distressed Poet. Designed and engraved by Mr. Hogarth. Also four etchings, viz. A pleased Audience; a Chorus of Singers; Scholars at a Lecture; and a Consultation of Quacks, price 6d. each. To be had at the Golden Head, in Leicester Fields; and at Mr. Bakewell's, print-seller, next the Horn Tavern, in Fleet-street. Where may be had, bound or otherwise, all Mr. Hogarth's late engraved works, viz. A Midnight Conversation; Southwark Fair; the Rake's Progress, in eight prints; a sleepy Congregation in a Country Church; Before and After, two prints."
4. Right Hon. Frances Lady Byron. Whole length, mezzotinto. W. Hogarth pinxit. J. Faber fecit. The most beautiful impressions of this plate were commonly taken off in a brown colour.
5. The same, shortened into a three-quarters length.
6. Consultation of Physicians. Arms of the Undertakers. In this plate, amongst other portraits, is the well-known one of Dr. Ward[1] (who was called Spot Ward, from the left side of his face being marked of a claret colour); and that of the elder Taylor,[2] a noted oculist, with an eye on the head of his cane; Dr. Pierce Dod,[3] Dr. Bamber;[4] and other physicians of that time. The figure with a bone in its hand, between the two demi-doctors (i. e. Taylor and Ward), is said to have been designed for Mrs. Mapp, a famous masculine woman, who was called the bone-setter, or shape-mistress. I am told, that many of her advertisements may be found in Mist's Journal, and still more accounts of her cures in the periodical publications of her time. Her maiden name was Wallin. Her father was also a bone-setter at Hindon, Wilts; but quarrelling with him, she wandered about the country, calling herself crazy Sally. On her success in her profession she married, August 11, 1736,[5] one Hill Mapp, a servant to Mr. Ibbetson, mercer on Ludgate-Hill. In most cases her success was rather owing to the strength of her arms, and the boldness of her undertakings, than to any knowledge of anatomy or skill in chirurgical operations. The following particulars relative to her are collected from the The Grub-street Journal, &c. and serve at least to shew, that she was a character considerable enough to deserve the satire of Hogarth.
August 19, 1736, "We hear that the husband of Mrs. Mapp, the famous bone-setter at Epsom, ran away from her last week, taking with him upwards of 100 guineas, and such other portable things as lay next hand."
"Several letters from Epsom mention, that the footman, whom the female bone-setter married the week before, had taken a sudden journey from thence with what money his wife had earned; and that her concern at first was very great: but soon as the surprize was over, she grew gay, and seemed to think the money well disposed of, as it was like to rid her of a husband. He took just 102 guineas."
The following verses were addressed to her in August 1736.
"Of late, without the least pretence to skill,
Ward's grown a fam'd physician by a pill;[6]
Yet he can but a doubtful honour claim,
While envious Death oft blasts his rising fame.
Next travell'd Taylor fill'd us with surprize,
Who pours new light upon the blindest eyes;
Each journal tells his circuit thro' the land;
Each journal tells the blessings of his hand:
And lest some hireling scribbler of the town
Injures his history, he writes his own.
We read the long accounts with wonder o'er;
Had he wrote less, we had believ'd him more.
Let these, O Mapp! thou wonder of the age!
With dubious arts endeavour to engage:
While you, irregularly strict to rules,
Teach dull collegiate pedants they are fools:
By merit, the sure path to fame pursue;
For all who see thy art, must own it true."
September 2, 1736, "On Friday several persons, who had the misfortune of lameness, crowded to The White-hart Inn, in White-chapel, on hearing Mrs. Mapp the famous bone-setter was there. Some of them were admitted to her, and were relieved as they apprehended. But a gentleman, who happened to come by, declared Mrs. Mapp was at Epsom, on which the woman thought proper to move off."
September 9, 1736. "Advertisement.
"Whereas it has been industriously (I wish I could say truly) reported, that I had found great benefit from a certain female bone-setter's performance, and that it was to a want of resolution to undergo the operation, that I did not meet with a perfect cure: this is therefore to give notice, that any persons afflicted with lameness (who are willing to know what good or harm others may receive, before they venture on desperate measures themselves) will be welcome any morning to see the dressing of my leg, which was sound before the operation, and they will then be able to judge of the performance, and to whom I owe my present unhappy confinement to my bed and chair.
"Thomas Barber, Tallow-chandler, Saffron-hill."
September 16, 1736. "On Thursday, Mrs. Mapp's plate of ten guineas was run for at Epsom. A mare, called 'Mrs. Mapp,' won the first heat; when Mrs. Mapp gave the rider a guinea, and swore if he won the plate she would give him 100; but the second and third heat was won by a chestnut mare."
"We hear that the husband of Mrs. Mapp is returned, and has been kindly received."
September 23, 1736. "Mrs. Mapp continues making extraordinary cures: she has now set up an equipage, and on Sunday waited on her Majesty."
Saturday, October 16, 1736. "Mrs. Mapp, the bone-setter, with Dr. Taylor, the oculist, was at the play-house, in Lincoln's-Inn Fields, to see a comedy called 'The Husband's Relief, with the Female Bone-setter and Worm Doctor;' which occasioned a full house, and the following epigram:
"'While Mapp to th'actors shew'd a kind regard,
On one side Taylor sat, on the other Ward:
When their mock persons of the Drama came,
Both Ward and Taylor thought it hurt their fame;
Wonder'd how Mapp cou'd in good humour be—
Zoons! cries the manly dame, it hurts not me;
Quacks without art may either blind or kill;
But[7] demonstration shews that mine is skill.'
"And the following was sung upon the stage:
"'You surgeons of London, who puzzle your pates,
To ride in your coaches, and purchase estates,
Give over, for shame, for your pride has a fall,
And the doctress of Epsom has outdone you all.
Derry down, &c.
"'What signifies learning, or going to school,
When a woman can do, without reason or rule,
What puts you to nonplus, and baffles your art?
For petticoat-practice has now got the start.
"'In physics, as well as in fashions, we find,
The newest has always the run with mankind;
Forgot is the bustle 'bout Taylor and Ward;
Now Mapp's all the cry, and her fame's on record.
"'Dame Nature has given her a doctor's degree,
She gets all the patients, and pockets the fee;
So if you don't instantly prove it a cheat,
She'll loll in her chariot, whilst you walk the street.
Derry down, &c.'"
October 19, 1736, London Daily Post. "Mrs. Mapp, being present at the acting of The Wife's Relief, concurred in the universal applause of a crowded audience. This play was advertised by the desire of Mrs. Mapp, the famous bone-setter from Epsom."
October 21, 1736, "On Saturday evening there was such a concourse of people at the Theatre-royal in Lincoln's-Inn Fields, to see the famous Mrs. Mapp, that several gentlemen and ladies were obliged to return for want of room. The confusion at going out was so great, that several gentlemen and ladies had their pockets picked, and many of the latter lost their fans, &c. Yesterday she was elegantly entertained by Dr. Ward, at his house in Pall-Mall."
"On Saturday and yesterday Mrs. Mapp performed several operations at The Grecian Coffee-house, particularly one upon a niece of Sir Hans Sloane, to his great satisfaction and her credit. The patient had her shoulder-bone out for about nine years."
"On Monday Mrs. Mapp performed two extraordinary cures; one on a young lady of The Temple, who had several bones out from the knees to her toes, which she put in their proper places: and the other on a butcher, whose knee-pans were so misplaced that he walked with his knees knocking one against another. Yesterday she performed several other surprizing cures; and about one set out for Epsom, and carried with her several crutches, which she calls trophies of honour."
November 18, 1736, "Mrs. Mapp, the famous bone-setter, has taken lodgings in Pall-Mall, near Mr. Joshua Ward's, &c."
November 25, 1736,
"In this bright age three wonder-workers rise,
Whose operations puzzle all the wise.
To lame and blind, by dint of manual slight,
Mapp gives the use of limbs, and Taylor sight.
But greater Ward, &c."
December 16, 1736, "On Thursday, Polly Peachum (Miss Warren, that was sister to the famous Mrs. Mapp) was tried at The Old Bailey for marrying Mr. Nicholas; her former husband, Mr. Somers, being living, &c."
December 22, 1737, "Died last week, at her lodgings near The Seven Dials, the much-talked-of Mrs. Mapp, the bone-setter, so miserably poor, that the parish was obliged to bury her."
The plate is thus illustrated by the engraver: "The Company of Undertakers beareth Sable, an Urinal proper, between twelve Quack Heads of the second, and twelve Cane Heads, Or, Consultant. On a Chief,[8] Nebulæ,[9] Ermine, one compleat Doctor[10] issuant, checkie, sustaining in his right hand a baton of the second. On his dexter and sinister sides two demi-doctors issuant of the second, and two Cane Heads issuant of the third; the first having one eye couchant, towards the dexter side of the escutcheon; the second faced per pale proper and gules, guardant, with this motto—Et plurima mortis imago."
[1] Joshua Ward was one of the younger sons of an ancient and respectable family settled at Guisborough in Yorkshire, where he was born some time in the last century. He seems, from every description of him, to have had small advantages from education, though he indisputably possessed no mean natural parts. The first account we have of him is, that he was a associated in partnership with a brother named William, as a dry-salter, in Thames-street. After they had carried on this business some time, a fire broke out in an adjoining house, which communicated itself to their warehouses, and entirely destroyed all their property. On this occasion Mr. Ward, with a gentleman from the country who was on a visit to him, escaped over the tops of the houses in their shirts. In the year 1717 he was returned member for Marlborough; but, by a vote of the House of Commons, dated May 13, was declared not duly elected. It is imagined that he was in some measure connected with his brother John Ward (who is stigmatized by Mr. Pope, Dunciad III. 34.) in secreting and protecting illegally the property of some of the South Sea directors. Be this as it may, he soon after fled from England, resided some years abroad, and has been frequently supposed to have turned Roman Catholic. While he remained in exile, he acquired that knowledge of medicine and chemistry, which afterwards was the means of raising him to a state of affluence. About the year 1733 he began to practise physic, and combated, for some time, the united efforts of Wit, Learning, Argument, Ridicule, Malice, and Jealousy, by all of which he was opposed in every shape that can be suggested. At length, by some lucky cures, and particularly one on a relation of Sir Joseph Jekyl Master of the Rolls, he got the better of his opponents, and was suffered to practise undisturbed. From this time his reputation was established: he was exempted, by a vote of the House of Commons, from being visited by the censors of the college of physicians, and was even called in to the assistance of King George the Second, whose hand he cured, and received, as a reward, a commission for his nephew the late General Gansel. It was his custom to distribute his medicines and advice, and even pecuniary assistance, to the poor, at his house, gratis; and thus he acquired considerable popularity. Indeed, in these particulars his conduct was entitled to every degree of praise. With a stern outside, and rough deportment, he was not wanting in benevolence. After a continued series of success, he died Dec. 21, 1761, at a very advanced age, and left the secret of his medicines to Mr. Page, member for Chichester, who bestowed them on two charitable institutions, which have derived considerable advantages from them. His will is printed in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1762, p. 208.
[2] I was assured by the late Dr. Johnson, that Ward was the weakest, and Taylor the most ignorant, of the whole empiric tribe. The latter once asserted, that when he was at St. Petersburg, he travelled as far as Archangel to meet Prince Herculaneum. Now Archangel being the extreme point from European Asia, had the tale been true, the oculist must have marched so far backwards out of the route of Prince Heraclius, whose name he had blundered into Herculaneum.
The present likeness of our oculist, however, we may suppose to have been a strong one, as it much resembles a mezzotinto by Faber, from a picture painted at Rome by the Chevalier Riche. Under it is the following inscription: "Joannes Taylor, Medicus in Optica expertissimus multisque in Academiis celeberrimis Socius." Eight Latin verses follow, which are not worth transcription. Taylor made presents of this print to his friends. It is now become scarce.
[3] One of the physicians to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He died August 6, 1754. His merits were thus celebrated by Dr. Theobald, a contemporary physician:
"O raro merito quem juncta scientia dudum
Illustrem sacris medico stellam addidit orbi
Auspiciis, pura nunquam non luce corusce!
Utcunque incolumem virtutum aversa tueri
Gens humana solet, non ni post fata corona
Donandam merita, potitus melioribus astris,
Invidia major, tu præsens alter haberis
Hippocrates, pleno jam nunc cumulatus honore.
Te seu, corporea tandem compage soluta,
Accipiet, doctis clarescentem artibus, alta
Coi sphæra senis; seu tu venerabilis aureo
Romani Celsi rite effulgebis in orbe;
O sit adhuc tarda illa dies, sit tarda, precamur,
Illa dies, nostris et multum ferior annis,
Cum tua mens, membris seducta fluentibus, almas
Advolet, angelicis immixta cohortibus, arces!
Hic potius Musas, thematis dulcedine captas,
Delecta, atque audi laudes vel Apolline dignas."
[4] A celebrated anatomist, physician, and man-midwife, to whose estate the present Gascoyne family succeeded, and whose surname has been given as a Christian name to two of them.
[5] Some indifferent verses on this event were printed in The Gentleman's Magazine, 1736, p. 484.
[6] General Churchill was "the primary puffer of Ward's pill at court;" and Lord Chief Baron Reynolds soon after published "its miraculous effects on a maid servant," as I learn by some doggrel verses of Sir William Browne, addressed to "Dr. Ward, a Quack, of merry memory," under the title of "The Pill-Plot. On The Daily Courant's miraculous Discovery, upon the ever-memorable 28th day of November 1734, from the Doctor himself being a Papist, and distributing his Pills to the poor gratis, by the hands of the Lady Gage also a Papist, that the Pill must be beyond all doubt a deep-laid Plot, to introduce popery."
[7] "This alludes to some surprizing cures she performed before Sir Hans Sloane at The Grecian Coffee-house (where she came once a week from Epsom in her chariot with four horses): viz. a man of Wardour-street, whose back had been broke nine years, and stuck out two inches; a niece of Sir Hans Sloane in the like condition; and a gentleman who went with one shoe heel six inches high, having been lame twenty years of his hip and knee, whom she set strait, and brought his leg down even with the other." Gent. Mag. 1756, p. 617.
[8] A chief betokeneth a senator, or honourable personage borrowed from the Greeks, and is a word signifying a head; and as the head is the chief part of a man, so the chief in the escutcheon should be a reward of such only whose high merits have procured them chief place, esteem, or love amongst men.
[9] The bearing of clouds in armes (saith Upton) doth import some excellencie.
[10] Originally printed docter, but afterwards altered in this print.