The original small whole-length picture from which it is copied was sold by Greenwood after Mrs. Hogarth's death. The companion portrait of Mrs. Hogarth is in the possession of Mrs. Lewis of Chiswick.
A portrait of Hogarth was in 1781 engraved in mezzotinto by Charles Townley from a picture painted by Weltdon, and finished by Hogarth, now in the possession of James Townley, Esq. A portrait, copied from that in the Gate of Calais, I have seen prefixed to a dull pamphlet, published in 1781, entitled A Dissertation on Mr. Hogarth's six Prints lately published, viz. Gin Lane, Beer Street, and the Four Stages of Cruelty. I have a small engraving of his head, I believe done for the Universal Magazine, in which he looks like a village schoolmaster. An etching of his head by S. Ireland was prefixed to a catalogue of Hogarth's works, sold by Christie, in May 1797. Two small portraits have been engraved for watch-papers. A head in the dotted style has been engraved for Mr. Jeffrey, Pall Mall, but is not published.
1750.
The March to Finchley; engraved by Luke Sullivan. Dedicated to the King of Prusia: thus was the word spelt in the prints delivered to the subscribers. A few early impressions were dated 30th December 1750; but the 30th being that year on a Sunday, it was altered to the 31st. A print in the collection of Dr. Ford is inscribed "Printed and published by Wm. Hogarth," instead of " Printed for Wm. Hogarth, and published," etc. In the etching, of which very few were struck off, the woman to whom an officer presents a letter on the point of a pike, turns her head the contrary way to what she does in the print.
Second impression—The spelling of Prussia corrected; bunch of grapes at the Adam and Eve enlarged; catching lights given to the laced hats in the group beneath it; belt added to the Duke of Cumberland's portrait. Third state—"Retouched and improved by Wm. Hogarth; and republished June 12th, 1761."
I have an early impression of this print in which the dedication to the King of Prussia does not appear, and it might pass for a proof. On inquiry I find that, upon one of Hogarth's fastidious friends objecting to its being dedicated to a foreign potentate, he replied, "If you disapprove of it, you shall have one without any dedication;" and took off a few impressions, covering the dedication with fan paper.
Sullivan was so eccentric a character, that while he was employed in engraving this print, Hogarth held out every possible inducement to his remaining at his house in Leicester Square night and day; for if once Luke quitted it, he was not visible for a month. It has been said, but I know not on what authority, that for engraving it he was paid only one hundred pounds.
In the original picture, which is in the Foundling Hospital, the old man to whom a Frenchman is giving a letter has a plaid waistcoat.
1751.
1. Beer Street. In the first state—The blacksmith is lifting up a Frenchman; in the second—The Frenchman is properly discarded, and a shoulder of mutton supplies his place.