[13] It appears that Mr. G. was dissatisfied with his likeness, or that some dispute arose between him and the painter, who then struck his pencil across the face, and damaged it. The picture was unpaid for at the time of his death. His widow then sent it home to Mr Garrick, without any demand.
[14] Afterwards rector of Crawley in Hampshire; author of "Ben Mordecai's Letters," "Confusion worse confounded," and many other celebrated works.
[15] He died of the small-pox, Aug. 12, 1729, and is said, in the "Political State," to have possessed 5000 l. a year. He married a sister of lord Bateman, by whom he left a son and two daughters.
[16] I have heard that he continually took sketches from nature as he met with them, and put them into his works; and it is natural to suppose he did so.
[17] See the [Catalogue] at the end of these Anecdotes. A very considerable number of personalities are there pointed out under the account of each plate in which they are found.
[18] The late Mr Cole, of Milton, in his copy of these Memoirs, had written against the name of Bambridge, "Father to the late attorney of that name, a worthy son of such a father. He lived at Cambridge." And in a copy of the first edition on occasion of a note (afterwards withdrawn) which mentioned "Mr. Baker's having quarrelled with Hearne;" Mr. Cole wrote, "Mr. Baker quarrelled with no man: he might coolly debate with Mr. Hearne on a disputable point. It is, therefore, a misrepresentation of Mr. Baker's private character, agreeable to the petulance of this age."
[19] The wardenship of The Fleet, a patent office, was purchased of the earl of Clarendon, for 5000 l. by John Huggins, esq. who was in high favour with Sunderland and Craggs, and consequently obnoxious to their successors. Huggins's term in the patent was for his own life and his son's. But, in August 1728, being far advanced in years, and his son not caring to take upon him so troublesome an office, he sold their term in the patent for the same sum it had cost him, to Thomas Bambridge and Dougal Cuthbert. Huggins lived to the age of 90.
[20] Mr. Rayner, in his reading on Stat. 2 Geo. II. chap. 32. whereby Bambridge was incapacitated to enjoy the office of warden of The Fleet, has given the reader a very circumstantial account, with remarks, on the notorious breaches of trust, &c. committed by Bambridge and other keepers of The Fleet-Prison. For this publication, see Worral's Bibliotheca Legum by Brooke, 1777, p. 16.
"A report from the Committee appointed to enquire into the State of the Gaols of this Kingdom, relating to the Marshalsea prison; with the Resolutions of the House of Commons thereupon," was published in 4to. 1729; and reprinted in 8vo, at Dublin the same year. It appears by a MS. note of Oldys, cited in British Topography, vol. I. p. 636, that Bambridge cut his throat 20 years after.
[21] William Huggins, esq. of Headly Park, Hants, well-known by his translation of the Orlando Furioso of Ariosto. Being intended for holy orders, he was sent to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he took the degree of M. A. April 30, 1761; but, on the death of his elder brother in 1756, declined all thoughts of entering into the church. He died July 2, 1761; and left in MS. a tragedy, a farce, and a translation of Dante, of which a specimen was published in the British Magazine, 1760. Some flattering verses were addressed to him in 1757, on his version of Ariosto; which are preserved in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. XXVII. p. 180; but are not worth copying. The last Mr. Huggins left an estate of 2000 l. a year to his two sons-in-law Thomas Gatehouse, Esq; and Dr. Musgrave of Chinnor.