"And Masmore, Lester's, Ward's, and Fishbourne's name,
With thine, Vandyck, shall live to endless fame;
In your collection Wit and Skill combine,
And Humour flows in every well-chose Sign."
[84] She is still living, and has been loud in abuse of this work, a circumstance to which she owes a niche in it.
[85] Among the compliments Hogarth was disposed to pay his own genius, he asserted his ability to take a complete likeness in three quarters of an hour. This head of Mr. Welsh was painted within the compass of the time prescribed, but had afterwards the advantage of a second sitting.
[86] Mr. Walpole is now possessed of the portrait of his brother Sir Edward.
[87] This, and the preceding article, are now in the possession of Peter Coxe, esq. of College Hill, in the city, executor to Mr. Forrest, and brother to the Rev. William Coxe, who has obliged the world with his Travels through Poland, Russia, &c.
[88] The following brief Memoirs of Mr. William Tothall, F. A. S. were communicated by Dr. Ducarel, who was personally acquainted with Mr. Tothall, and received the intelligence in a letter from the Rev. Mr. Lyon, Minister of St. Mary's at Dover, to whom the particulars in it were related by Captain Bulstrode of that town.
"Dover, June 11, 1781.
"Sir,
"The following narrative of your friend Tothall may be depended upon, as Captain Bulstrode informs me he frequently heard it from Tothall himself. His father was an apothecary in Fleet-street; but dying, as Captain Bulstrode thinks, while his son was young, and in but indifferent circumstances (as his mother afterwards practised as a midwife), he was taken by an uncle, who was a fishmonger. He lived with his uncle some time; but, not approving of the business, ran away from him, and entered on board a merchant-ship going to The West Indies. He also went several times to Newfoundland. During the time of his being in The West Indies, though so early in life, he was indefatigable in the collecting of shells, and brought home several utterly unknown in England. He continued at sea till he was almost 30 years of age. In one of his voyages he was taken by the Spaniards, and marched a considerable way up the country, without shoe or stocking, with only a woollen cap on his head, and a brown waistcoat on, with a large staff in his hand. He had afterwards his picture drawn in this dress. He continued a prisoner till exchanged.
"When he was about 30 years of age, he went as shopman to a woollen-draper at the corner of Tavistock Court, Covent Garden, with whom he continued some years; and his master, finding him a faithful servant, told him, 'as he dealt only in cloth, and his customers were taylors, he would lend him money to buy shalloons and trimmings, and recommend him to his chapmen, if he liked to take the trouble and the profit of the branch upon himself.' He readily accepted the proposal.