[4] Scotin engraved the first and sixth; Baron the second and third; Ravenet the fourth and fifth.
[5] The blunders in architecture in this unfinished nobleman's seat, on the same account, are seen to disadvantage.
[6] This edifice seems at a stand for want of money, no workman appearing on the scaffolds, or near them.
[7] In his advertisement for this set of plates, he had engaged to engrave all the faces with his own hand. See note [1] above.
[8] The account given in a former edition of this volume concerning the sale of the original pictures of Marriage-à-la-mode, being somewhat erroneous, I am happy in the present opportunity of acknowledging my obligations to Mr. Lane abovementioned, who has corrected my mistakes by a communication of the following particulars relative to the purchase:
"Some time after they had been finished, perhaps six or seven years, during which period Mr. Hogarth had been preparing and publishing prints from them, in the year 1750 he advertised the sale of the originals by a kind of auction not carried on by personal bidding, but by a written ticket on which every one was to put the price he would give, with his name subscribed to it. These papers were to be received by Mr. Hogarth for the space of one month; and the highest bidder, at twelve o'clock on the last day of the month, was to be the purchaser: and none but those who had in writing made their biddings were to be admitted on the day that was to determine the sale. This nouvelle method of proceeding probably disobliged the public; and there seemed to be at that time a combination against poor Hogarth, who perhaps, from the extraordinary and frequent approbation of his works, might have imbibed some degree of vanity, which the town in general, friends and foes, seemed resolved to mortify. If this was the case (and to me it is very apparent), they fully effected their design; for on the memorable sixth of June 1750, which was to decide the fate of this capital work, about eleven o'clock Mr. Lane, the fortunate purchaser, arrived at the Golden Head: when, to his great surprize, expecting (what he had been a witness to in 1745, when Hogarth disposed of many of his pictures) to have found his painting-room full of noble and great personages, he only found the painter and his ingenious friend Dr. Parsons, secretary to the Royal Society, talking together, and expecting a number of spectators at least, if not of buyers. Mr. Hogarth then produced the highest bidding, from a gentleman well known, of £120. Nobody coming in, about ten minutes before twelve, by the decisive clock in the room, Mr. Lane told Mr. Hogarth he would make the pounds guineas. The clock then struck twelve, and Hogarth wished Mr. Lane joy of his purchase, hoping it was an agreeable one. Mr. Lane answered, Perfectly so. Now followed a scene of disturbance from Hogarth's friend the Doctor, and, what more affected Mr. Lane, a great appearance of disappointment in the painter, and truly with great reason. The Doctor told him, he had hurt himself greatly by fixing the determination of the sale at so early an hour, when the people at that part of the town were hardly up. Hogarth, in a tone and manner that could not escape observation, said, Perhaps it may be so! Mr. Lane, after a short pause, declared himself to be of the same opinion, adding, that the artist was very poorly rewarded for his labour, and, if he thought it would be of service to him, would give him till three o'clock to find a better purchaser. Hogarth warmly accepted the offer, and expressed his acknowledgements for the kindness in the strongest terms. The proposal likewise received great encomiums from the Doctor, who proposed to make it public. This was peremptorily forbidden by Mr. Lane, whose concession in favour of our artist was remembered by him to the time of his death.—About one o'clock, two hours sooner than the time appointed by Mr. Lane, Hogarth said he would no longer trespass on his generosity, but that, if he was pleased with his purchase, he himself was abundantly so with the purchaser. He then desired Mr. Lane to promise that he would not dispose of the pictures without previously acquainting him of his intention, and that he would never permit any person, under pretence of cleaning, to meddle with them, as he always desired to take that office on himself. This promise was readily made by Mr. Lane, who has been tempted more than once by Hogarth to part with his bargain at a price to be named by himself. When Mr. Lane bought the pictures, they were in Carlo Marratt frames which cost the painter four guineas apiece."
The memory of this occurrence ought always to attend the work which afforded Mr. Lane an opportunity of displaying so much disinterested generosity.
Another correspondent begins the same story as follows—A little time before the auction, Hogarth publickly declared, that no picture-dealer should be allowed to bid. He also called on his friends, requesting them not to appear at the sale, as his house was small, and the room might be over crowded. They obeyed his injunctions. Early in this mortifying day he dressed himself, put on his tye-wig, strutted away one hour, and fretted away two more, no bidder appearing, &c. &c.
2. A small print of Archbishop Herring, at the head of the speech he made to the clergy of York, September 24, 1745. William Hogarth pinx. C. Moseley sculp.