A clip-wing'd griffin, and a molten raven,
And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff,"—
these can never be allowed to contribute a single leaf to the chaplet he has so long and so deservedly worn.
"I have dwelt the more on these things, because I am assured there are print-dealers now rummaging the books of our oldest engravers, in the hope that a still greater number of useless and insignificant particulars consisting of arms, etc., imputable to Hogarth, will be found; nor are their hopes less sanguine that the madness of collectors will be confirmed instead of cured by the examples hung out at the late auction in Leicester Fields.
"Let me hope, however, that for the future every sensible collector will think his assemblage of Hogarth's prints sufficiently complete, without the foolish adjuncts already described and reprobated. For the authenticity of these trifles being obvious to no kind of proof, they principally tend to expose their purchasers to the frauds of designing people, who will laugh at their credulity while they pocket their cash."
[230] A short time before this, the writer of these volumes had the honour of furnishing his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with a set of Hogarth's works. They consisted of remarkably fine impressions from his most valuable plates, many of the variations, and some which were deemed scarce (though not one of either the large or small coat of arms). For the two volumes he charged and received £84.
[231] See the manner of disgracing the most serious subjects in many celebrated old pictures, by introducing low, absurd, and obscure, and often profane, circumstances into them.
"What shall withstand old Time's devouring hand?
Where's Troy? and where's the Maypole in the Strand?"