Allan Ramsay subscribed for 30 sets. The number of subscribers in all amounts to 192. On the print of Hudibras and the Lawyer is W. Hogart delin. et sculp. a proof that our artist had not yet disused the original mode in which he spelt his name. In the scene of the Committee, one of the members has his gloves on his head. I am told this whimsical custom once prevailed among our sanctified fraternity; but it is in vain, I suppose, to ask the reason why. In plate XI. (earliest impressions) the words "Down with the Rumps" are wanting on the scroll.—Memorandum. At the top of the proposals for this set of Prints, is a small one representing Hudibras and Ralpho, engraved by Pine. The original drawing for it by Hogarth is in the possession of Mr. Betew, Silversmith, in Compton-street, Soho.
3. Seventeen small prints for Hudibras, with Butler's head. There certainly must have been some mistake concerning this portrait. It never could have been designed for the author of Hudibras; but more strongly resembles John Baptist Monnoyer, the flower-painter. There is a print of him by White, from a picture of Sir Godfrey Kneller. This I suppose to have been the original of Hogarth's small Butler.
The same designs engraved on a larger scale, and with some slight variations, by J. Mynde, for Grey's edition of Hudibras, published in 1744.
Previous, however, to both, appeared another set of plates, eighteen in number, for an edition in eighteens of this celebrated poem. To these it is manifest that Hogarth was indebted for his ideas of several of the scenes and personages both in his larger and smaller performances on the same subject. That the collector may know the book when he meets with it, the following is a transcript of the title-page. "Hudibras. In three Parts. Written in the time of the late Wars. Corrected and amended, with Additions. To which is added, Annotations to the third Part, with an exact Index to the whole; never before printed. Adorned with cuts. London. Printed for R. Chiswel, J. Tonson, T. Horne, and R. Willington, 1710."
Copies from the smaller plates are likewise inserted in Townly's translation of Hudibras into French, with the English on the opposite page. He was, I believe, an officer in the Irish brigade. The following is the title-page to his work. "Hudibras, Poeme ecrit dans les tems des troubles d'Angleterre; et traduit en vers François, avec des remarques et des figures. 3 tom. 12mo. A Londres, 1757." It seems rather to have been printed at Paris. The plates have no name subscribed to them.
4. Cunicularii, or the Wise Men of Godliman in Consultation.
"They held their talents most adroit
For any mystical exploit." Hudib.
This print was published in the year 1726, i. e. about the same time that Lord Onslow wrote the following letter:
"To the Honble. Sir Hans Sloane. To be left at the Grecian Coffe House, in Devereux Court near Temple Bar London.
"Sir, The report of a woman's breeding of rabbits has almost alarmed England, and in a manner persuaded several people of sound judgt of that truth. I have been at some pains to discover the affair, and think I have conquerd my poynt, as you will se by the Depotition taken before me, which shall be published in a day or two. I am
"Yr humble Servant,
"Onslow.
"Clandon, Dec. 4th, 1726."
Soon after, Mr. St. André also addressed this note to Sir Hans Sloane: