The highly flattering manner in which my work, entitled Nollekens and his Times, was generally received, induced me to collect numerous scattered biographical papers, which I have considerably augmented with a variety of subjects, arranged chronologically, according to the years of my life.

Some may object to my vanity, in expecting the reader of the following pages to be pleased with so heterogeneous a dish. It is, I own, what ought to be called a salmagundi, or it may be likened to various suits of clothes, made up of remnants of all colours. One promise I can make, that as my pieces are mostly of new cloth, they will last the longer. Dr. Johnson has said:

“All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know, than not.”

Lord Orrery, in a letter to Dr. Birch, dated November, 1741, makes the following observation:

“I look upon anecdotes as debts due to the public, which every man, when he has that kind of cash by him, ought to pay.”

J. T. Smith.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

JOHN THOMAS SMITH[Frontispiece]
From an Engraving by William Skelton of the Drawing by John Jackson, R.A.
NANCY DAWSONFacing page[10]
From a Contemporary Print.
ROYAL ACADEMICIANS REFLECTING ON THE TRUE LINE OF BEAUTY AT THE LIFE ACADEMY, SOMERSET HOUSE.” ”[14]
From a Drawing by Robert Cruikshank.
THE DELIGHTS OF ISLINGTON” ”[17]
From the Engraving by Charles Bretherton of the Caricature by Henry William Bunbury.
“SING TANTARARA—VAUXHALL! VAUXHALL!”” ”[24]
From the Drawing by Rowlandson (Microcosm of London).
GEORGE WHITEFIELD” ”[32]
From a Painting by Nathaniel Hone, mezzotinted by Grenwoode.
JOHN RANN” ”[38]
From a Contemporary Print.
LONDON BEGGARS: JOHN MACNALLY” ”[45]
From an Etching by John Thomas Smith.
LONDON BEGGARS: A SILVER-HAIRED MAN” ”[52]
From an Etching by John Thomas Smith.
LONDON MATCH BOYS” ”[58]
From an Etching by John Thomas Smith.
IMAGES” ”[63]
From an Etching by John Thomas Smith.
THE ROYAL COCKPIT” ”[68]
From a Drawing by Pugin and Rowlandson.
DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON” ”[78]
From the Drawing by Thomas Trotter, done from life, and engraved by Priscott.
“PERDITA” ROBINSON” ”[83]
Transcriber’s Note: this picture was omitted from the original book’s list of illustrations, and has here been added.
MRS. SIDDONS” ”[85]
From the Portrait by John Keyse Sherwin, engraved by the painter.
BENJAMIN WEST, P.R.A.” ”[91]
From the Painting by Gilbert Stuart in the National Portrait Gallery.
CAPTAIN FRANCIS GROSE” ”[105]
From the Drawing by Dance, engraved by Ridley.
COVENT GARDEN” ”[108]
From the Print, “Morning,” by Hogarth.
UMBRELLAS TO MEND” ”[115]
From an Etching by John Thomas Smith.
CHRISTIE’S AUCTION ROOM” ”[120]
From the Drawing by Pugin and Rowlandson (Microcosm of London).
AN OLD LONDON WATCH-HOUSE” ”[126]
From the Drawing by Pugin and Rowlandson (Microcosm of London).
SIR HARRY DINSDALE AND SIR JEFFERY DUNSTAN” ”[129]
From Contemporary Prints.
ELIZABETH CANNING’S IMPOSTURE” ”[135]
From a Contemporary Print.
RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN” ”[147]
From the Painting by John Russell, R.A., in the National Portrait Gallery.
J. W. M. TURNER, R.A.” ”[152]
From a Water-Colour Drawing by John Thomas Smith in the British Museum Print Room.
GEORGE MORLAND” ”[157]
From a Drawing by Rowlandson.
THE REV. ROWLAND HILL” ”[161]
From a Drawing by Thomas Clark, engraved by William Bond.
JAMES BARRY, R.A.” ”[168]
From the Portrait painted by himself, in the National Portrait Gallery.
THE OLD HOUSE OF COMMONS” ”[173]
From the Drawing by Pugin and Rowlandson (Microcosm of London).
NEWGATE CHAPEL ON THE EVE OF SEVERAL EXECUTIONS” ”[178]
From the Drawing by Pugin and Rowlandson (Microcosm of London).
THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE” ”[181]
From a Caricature (based upon a Drawing by Bartolozzi) in the National Portrait Gallery.
LADY HAMILTON” ”[184]
After a Painting by Romney.
GIOVANNI BATTISTA BELZONI” ”[188]
From the Painting by William Brockedon in the National Portrait Gallery.
BARTHOLOMEW FAIR” ”[193]
From the Drawing by Pugin and Rowlandson (Microcosm of London).
CHARLES TOWNLEY” ”[198]
From a Painting by Johann Zoffany, R.A., engraved by Worthington.
JAMES NORTHCOTE, R.A.” ”[205]
From a Drawing by James Lonsdale.
WILLIAM HUNTINGTON, “S.S.”” ”[212]
From the Painting by Domenico Pellegrini in the National Portrait Gallery.
MRS. JORDAN IN THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY GIRL” ”[222]
From the Painting by Romney, engraved by John Ogbourne.
HENRY CONSTANTINE JENNINGS (OR NOEL)” ”[233]
From a Contemporary Print.
DAVID GARRICK AND HIS WIFE” ”[243]
From the Painting by Hogarth, engraved by H. Bourne.
DR. OLIVER GOLDSMITH” ”[257]
From the Drawing by Henry William Bunbury, engraved by Bretherton.
THE WIG IN ENGLAND: A MACARONI READY FOR THE PANTHEON” ”[265]
From a Contemporary Print.
MATS TO SELL” ”[281]
From an Etching by John Thomas Smith.
CHARLES DIBDEN” ”[292]
From the Painting by Thomas Phillips, R.A., in the National Portrait Gallery.
A PARTY ON THE RIVER” ”[298]
From a Drawing by Robert Cruikshank.
SIR EDMUND BERRY GODFREY” ”[303]
From an Engraving by P. Vandrebane.
JOHN FLAXMAN, R.A., MODELLING THE BUST OF HAYLEY” ”[309]
From the Painting by Romney in the National Portrait Gallery.
THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH, R.A.” ”[317]
From the Painting by himself in the Royal Academy.