. And lastly, I will demonstrate that their systems show nothing of my line of beauty.
"This work will be printed on a new invented fool's-cap paper, at half a guinea to subscribers; but to those who do not subscribe, it will be fifteen shillings.
"Subscriptions will be taken in by the etcher of this plate, and at my house, at the sign of the Harlot's Head in Leicester Fields.
"N.B.—It will be in vain for astronomers, foreign or domestic, to crowd my house for information in their art; I grant them leave to subscribe, which is all the favour they are to expect from me.
"W. H."
In a well-etched print which, on a monumental stone placed in the corner, the engraver has chosen to denominate "A self-conceited arrogant dauber, grovelling in vain to undermine the ever-sacred temple of the best painters, sculptors, architects, etc., in imitation of the impious Herostratus, who with sacrilegious flame destroyed the temple of Diana to perpetuate his name to posterity."
We have here a very rich and well-imagined column, the base ornamented with historical bas-relief; and between a serpent, which is spirally twisted round a circular pillar, are portraits of painters, sculptors, etc. At the bottom of this, on his knees, and still with satyr's legs and feet, and a pen stuck in his hat, the artist has represented Hogarth; who, attended by a well-dressed connoisseur in the character of his torch-bearer, accompanied by his favourite dog, and armed with his palette knife, is grubbing up whatever he can find under it. No. 3, the inscription informs us, is "A satyr ready to lash the scribbler away;" and by the same authority we learn that No. 4 are "Geese," which being placed close to this emulator of the fame of Erostratus, "greedily swallows whatever he can rake up with his palette knife," etc. etc. etc. The print is enriched with cypress trees, capitals, well-formed vases, and superb edifices; the whole (for it is a night scene) is lighted up by the temple of Diana in flames. Beneath it is the waving line in a small triangle, and the following verses:—
"The vile Ephesian, to obtain
A name—a temple fires;
Observe, friend H—g—th, 'twas in vain,