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PART THE FOURTH.

Ille penates

Implet, et ingenti genio juvat.

THE affectionate young artist, who had much pleasure in finishing his marble Minerva to decorate the library of his father, discovered equal kindness in meeting him, with the utmost alacrity, at Kew. The poet rode back to his retreat on Tuesday the 12th of July, after stopping to dine with his noble friend at Petworth.

His excursion of some days had been singularly pleasant; and he was soon enlivened in his retirement, by comfortable accounts that his son was pursuing his professional studies with new energy and success.

« Φίλτατε Φίλων,

"EARTHAM, July 17, 1796.

"I rejoice that you are returned well and happy to the "noble pursuit of your enchanting art, in which, I trust, you may say of yourself, in the words of the young Milton to his

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early friend Diodati, ‘rš kads idéav, veluti pulcherrimam quandam imaginem, per omnes rerum formas et facies (oddai yap

poppai tŵv Daróviwv) dies, noctesque, indagare soleo, et quasi certis quibusdam vestigiis ducentem sector.'

I thank you heartily for your intention of beating up the quarters of our little Palladio.

"The prospect of your excursion to Sussex, in the autumn, "will animate you, I am persuaded, to study in the interim with the happiest ardour and assiduity. I fervently hope our friends of Buckingham-street will indulge themselves in a little autumnal relaxation, and gratify the Hermit with their society in some of those serene days of autumn, when the "face of Nature is most pleasing to the eye, and when this lovely spot appears to particular advantage. I hope our dear Romney did not suffer by the vivacity of my movement in taking him prisoner in his new fortress, and conveying him "to a scene of enchanting pictures that he thought not of visiting. He promised to give me a line, just to assure me that the sudden excursion did not overwhelm his singular 'spirits, and increase his nervous trepidation; but I have not yet received the letter he promised. Our friends of Petworth, whom I had the pleasure of finding all in health and cheerfulness yesterday, expected his arrival there. Pray, if you write, as you kindly intend, and as I hope you will, by "the post of to-morrow night, be so kind as to tell me all you "happen to know of his projected excursion. As my Lord has "offered, in the kindest and most engaging manner, to make

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"a warm sea-water bath for him in the friendly palace, I hope

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he will try a remedy that his imagination has long panted

for; and which may, indeed, produce a very beneficial effect " on his marvellous frame.

“I had a pleasing letter yesterday from our dear William of "Kew, whom you will probably see in the course of the week, as he kindly promises to visit, and give me a speedy account "of our poor rustic in Bedlam. Adieu.”

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« Φίλτατε Φίλων,

"EARTHAM, July 22, 1796.

You have by this time, perhaps, caught a glimpse of our "active little Palladio. I rejoice to find he is getting into "such considerable employment, and shall still more rejoice "if our tower proves a pleasing monument of his ingenuity,

and such as (although it must be diyovre piλovre) may "conduce to his professional success, by promoting his re"putation.

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'Inest sua gratia parvis,'

says one of our old friends, the poets.

An architect may

display genius in such a trifle as we meditate, producing "considerable effects, by means the most simple, and at a "moderate expense.

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Apropos of artists! I did not, I believe, send your me"dallion of Romney to our amiable friend Wright; and I wish

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you to present to him such a becoming mark of your grati

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tude, for the extreme kindness that we ever received from "him. Would to Heaven, I could send him a good portion of "health and spirits to attend your interesting offering to this 66 very amiable invalid. From the accounts of him, that I col"lect from Meyer, I fear his pencil has been very inactive for some time. I always grieve when men of talents are con"demned by ill health to involuntary indolence; and I doubly grieve, when that misfortune falls upon a friend whose works I have often surveyed with delight.

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"Thanks to you for your kind attention to my little commissions. It is a pleasure to me to receive little services from you, provided they never interfere with the grand object of your professional application. It would, indeed, grieve me to have any time, that should be appropriated to study, wasted in your kindly running on any errand for me. I am much pleased that my good old friend of the Strand intends to "execute casts from your Minerva. I long to know what par"ticular objects of your art have lately occupied your hand and

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your mind. I hope you adhere to that most useful of habits, "the keeping a brief diary of all your actions and studies. "Ut et otii tui, cujus Cato reddendam operam putat, apud te "ratio constet;' to quote an excellent passage' in the preface of your friend Justin. I follow, myself, the practice which I "recommend to you, even when my health is not strong enough for any progress in the various works that I am eager "to advance. I rejoice in your cheerful account of our Caro Pittore, and hope he means to finish the sky of his great

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picture in this friendly scene, so calculated (according to the expression of Meyer the painter) for the study of skies.' Romney has not yet written to tell me when I may expect him; but a friend and an artist is always sure of a double welcome from the Hermit, who considers the arts and

friendship as the most valuable blessings of life.

"I desire you repeatedly to remind the dear Flaxmans that I

cherish the hope of seeing them here this autumn—a hope

"that I shall not fail to repeat whenever I write to one or the

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other; at present, be you my proxy, to say every thing kind "to them in my name. Adieu."

"BUCKINGHAM-STREET, August 1, 1796.

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My dear, dear Bard,

"Your kind letter reached me yesterday, while William Meyer was with me. He told me his family intend to set out "for Felpham on the 9th, and kindly invited me to spend a day "with them before they depart. I shall, therefore, beg them to convey to you my next epistle.

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66 As you kindly enquire what at present occupies my hand, I "will tell you. If you recollect, when you were last in town,

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I was about a copy of that large head at the end of our large study (called Castor) by Phidias. I have finished that, and am now making a copy in bas relief, half-size, of a body and head of a Faun, which you may perhaps recollect as hanging "up in our little study; but to-morrow morning I am to begin

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