PART THE THIRD.

EARTHAM, January 3, 1796.

"Carissime,

"I prayed for a happy new year to you all on the first day of it, in the great temple of Nature, as I crossed our

lofty hills; for, after dispatching a tolerable morning's work, " and receiving letters from the post, I mounted my horse at

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one o'clock, galloped to wish a happy new year to our "friends at Petworth, and returned to a hermit's dinner at "home. Let me now enquire after your professional works; "what are the recent productions of your dear little hand, which is, I trust, daily improving in all the dexterity that your excellent master can teach, and wish it to exert. I recommend it to you to re-commence your useful diary with "the new year. It is an excellent custom, and leads to a

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beneficial review and improvement of time. I began a private one for my own use with this title and motto:

VOL. II.

'A DIARY OF THE HEAD AND HEART.

'Hoc me mihi reddat amicum !'

u

"It does not require more than five or ten minutes every

day, and these minutes are well employed. So may your "whole life be, my dearest of friends, and happy in proportion! "Such is the constant wish and expectation

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ઃઃ

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My very dear Papa,

"Accept my best thanks for your very kind letter and enquiries after my works. I am at present employed in copying an antique head of Medusa, and sitting to Mr. Romney, who has almost finished my figure in the grand picture. He has also advanced Mr. Flaxman's head, but left his own untouched. Mr. Maurice (author of the Indian Antiquities, and an Elegy on Sir William Jones,) called at our house a few days ago, to see the monument of Sir

William, and he has honoured it with a very handsome present, a copy of his Elegy, and of his Indian Antiquities. "He has also very politely invited me to drink tea with him "in Norton-street, and look over his library, which consists "of valuable books chiefly on art and antiquities."

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"EARTHAM, January 10, 1796.

"Your account of Mr. Maurice's very liberal kindness to

you afforded me great pleasure, and it will please you to hear

"that our young friend William of Kew has enjoyed some "social days in the South. I am much gratified in observing "that he begins to feel a very promising delight in literature.

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I am glad that you passed some pleasant holidays at Kew, " and that you have attended our dear Romney to forward the completion of his favourite picture. I always rejoice when "noble works of art are advancing, and in the progress of your "studies I must ever take a most affectionate interest. Scolding you is an occupation I am so little inclined to, that I have "omitted to scold you, as I believe I ought to have done, for having detained Clyfford's Latin version of my Elegy on Sir "William Jones.

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It would be an office worthy of your benevolent spirit, if you become more acquainted with Lady Jones, to engage "her in trying to obtain some preferment in the church for "Mr. Maurice."

It appears from the young sculptor's little book, entitled "Memoranda of my Works in Art," that on the 3d of January 1796, he made his first attempt in original design, and produced a sketch, which appeared so admirable a proof of inventive genius, to the intelligent eye and sympathetic spirit of Romney, that the kind and exulting painter wrote instantly, on this joyous occasion, to his friend of Eartham. The welcome intelligence produced the following letter from the father to

his son:

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EARTHAM, January 11, 1796.

« Φίλτατε φίλων,

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"I fervently congratulate you, and our dear Flaxman, and

myself, on the very delightful tidings of you, which I have just "received from our very kind Romney. He speaks with the "most friendly and enthusiastic praise of a design which he "tells me you have made from the New Testament, of the two Angels and Mary at the Tomb of our Saviour. The beloved 'painter describes your performance with affectionate admiration, as a bright example of original inventive genius. I need "not inform you, that such a description must necessarily draw tears of transport from the eyes of your enthusiastic paternal Hermit. Allowing for all the kind partiality of the "dear painter to you and your works, I am persuaded the design does you infinite honour; I am delighted that you had courage to engage in so very arduous an attempt, and I am doubly delighted that you have succeeded in a subject most "happily chosen, yet such a subject as requires the union of

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pathetic and sublime powers to execute it with any degree of

felicity. I am not afraid that any praise you may receive for "this blessed design may render you vain or presumptuous; " for your lovely mind is naturally modest, and you will justly "ascribe the praise as you ought, first to that gracious Pro

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vidence, which has endowed you with rare and valuable faculties; and, secondly, to that excellent and inestimable "master of your art, who has so kindly proved the instrument (under Heaven) to cherish and call forth those seeds of talent

"which you derive from the beneficence of God, who will grant you, I trust, through the whole course of your life, to “make the noblest use of that heavenly endowment which has

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first displayed itself in delineating a scene so full of sanctity "and pathos. The powers of the pencil and pen united, "could not fully express to you my parental delight on this occasion, or my eagerness to contemplate your design, of "which I intreat you to send me a slight copy as soon as you 66 can. Remember me kindly to the dear Flaxmans. Pray "write before the usual day, as I am all impatience to hear the "circumstances that led you to attempt your glorious design of "the Sacred Sepulchre. Be not concise on this very interesting ❝ topic,

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"To your delighted and affectionate

"W. H."

The juvenile artist had prepared to anticipate the eager request of his father, before it could reach him. The front of his next letter contained a neat sketch of his new design, which he introduces to the person whom he was ever most anxious to please, with the following expressions of modest affectionate ambition.

"BUCKINGHAM-STREET, Jan. 11, 1796.

Behold, my very dear papa! the first efforts of my creative powers, such as they are; and I have the pleasure of informing

you that these efforts have been most highly praised by