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born male child, the only child she ever bore, and had a very narrow escape for her life: upon which trying occasion, no man could behave with more tenderness and real affection for a beloved wife than our painter. But the chagrin he expressed at the loss of a son; and the premature hints of a gossipping nurse, who had heard the surgeon assure his patient, that she would never be in a situation to bring her life into jeopardy from the same cause, wrought. so effectually upon him, that a change became every day visible to the writer of this. A tedious illness, and a considerable diminution of female loveliness, the consequence of it, unfortunately for both, succeeded for some time after her accouchement. The Britannia Tavern, Mother Red Cap's Tea Gardens, the Castle Tavern, and Assembly Rooms at Kentish Town, became now more pleasant than his home. Gay companions, some of whom were musically inclined, of which heavenly science Morland was passionately fond, and had been well grounded in; these companions who were, unfortunately for themselves, blessed,

or cursed, for it is oftener the latter, than the first, with a good voice, were now the constant companions of our painter. Singing clubs of the genteel kind were then much more in vogue than now, where several of the players resorted; which societies were generally composed of persons whose means were adequate to recompense the profes sional singers at their benefits, for the entertainment they had received almost every night throughout the winter and spring, from the musical talents of these players.

To these places of agrecable resort, in London as well as its suburbs, Morland frequently went, staid late, and formed rather unprofitable connections; for of all his many other harmless foibles, that of being fond of new acquaintances was not one of the least. During all this time, his reputation constantly increased, and as he was as yet the sole vender of his own productions, his expenditure was never beyond his income. The comfortable little habitation behind Mother Black Cap's must now be changed, and a house of more ex

tensive, and elegant dimensions became indispensable. Reasoning against any imprudence, or advice upon any matter already determined upon, however wild and extravagant, were ingredients in a friend poor George could never digest. And notwithstanding his immediate displeasure was the consequence, there were not wanting two or three out of the great number of acquaintances that now blasphemed the sacred name of friend, without having a particle of friendship for mortal man in their composition which would stand the test of a week's adversity that might overtake the dearest connection they had in the world.—We say, amongst those who followed him, there were three of the right stamp; each of whom never ceased to warn him as long as they lived, of the fate inevitably attendant upon such conduct as he too often pursued. How many more, at different periods of his good and ill fortune, there might be, no less disinterested than these already mentioned, we are not about to deny in positive terms, or too readily admit.

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As soon as Mr. Morland's determination of living upon a more extensive scale was known in the neighbourhood, the applications from various owners of newly built houses were numerous, and amongst them who were most eager to let him a house upon a forty year's lease there was more than one that would have refused him since then a lodging in their stable for a week. At last he closed with a builder for a new house, just finished in the style that suited our aspiring genius; and one of the handsomest houses in Warren Place now became the residence of our English Teniers, as the late eloquent Christie has often called him,

CHAP. IV.

MORIAND RESOLVES TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE BEHIND BLACK CAP'S, AND REMOVES TO A MORE ELEGANT NEW-BUILT DWELLING, THE CORNER HOUSE OF WARREN PLACE, CAMDEN TOWN—HIS GREAT REPUTATION, AND OPPORTUNITY OF DOING WELLLAUNCHES INTO EXTRAVAGANT HABITS A NUMBER OF UNPROFITABLE VISITORS—EXTRAVAGANT REPORTS RESPECTING HIS EARNINGS, &C.

-ENTERTAINS

BEING now in a house more suitable to the dignity of his rank amongst the artists of that day, the furniture must accord with the appearance of the exterior; the cellars must be stocked with wine, and every other appendage of a man whose income was

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