[228] In the third volume of this work, which was compiled from Hogarth's manuscripts, and published some time after the two which precede it, there is a catalogue of all his prints, and the editor has endeavoured to add a more perfect list of the numerous variations than has been hitherto given to the public.

[229] In a marginal leaf of the late Doctor Lort's Trusler, I found a piece of a newspaper with the following remarks (neither the date nor title of the paper were inserted): "Whether the late extraordinary sums paid for the works of Hogarth at Mr. Gulston's sale are to be regarded on the whole as proofs of our artist's merit, or of extravagance in our modern collectors, I shall not venture to determine; and yet the following statement of the rapid advance in the value of prints from this celebrated master may furnish notices to assist the judgment of your readers:—

"In 1780, Mr. Walpole obliged the world with a fourth volume of his Anecdotes of Painting in England. In this entertaining performance was comprised the first catalogue of Hogarth's pieces. I say the first, for every preceding enumeration of them was defective in the extreme. This was succeeded in 1781 by a publication from the ingenious and accurate Mr. Nichols, who considerably enlarged and amended the list made by his predecessor.

"In the same year, Mr. Bailley's collection, which would now be deemed an imperfect one, was sold at Christie's for £61, 10s. In 1782 it was resold, with some additions, at Barford's for £105.

"In 1785, the late Mr. Henderson of Covent Garden Theatre disposed of his collection, by far less complete than either of the foregoing, for £126.

"In 1786, Mr. Gulston's was sold piecemeal by Mr. Greenwood; and though the condition of all such articles in it, as real taste and common sense would style the most valuable, were very indifferent, the whole series is reported to have brought in upwards of £600.[230] At this auction, the plates now to be particularized were knocked down at the following rates, though taken altogether they were scarce worth the money paid for the cheapest of them:—

Two engravings on plate	£4	14	6
Three ditto	3	10	0
Small arms of the Duchess of Kendal	4	0	0
Large ditto	6	0	0
Arms of Lord Aylmer	7	10	0
Arms unknown, with women as terms	6	10	0
Two ditto	1	11	6
Impression from a tankard	10	0	0
Hogarth's shop-bill and another	11	15	0
Rape of the Lock; impression from a gold snuff-box
presented to Mr. Pope	33	0	0
Scene of Evening, without the girl	40	8	6

"Should the celebrity of the delightful mock heroic poem, or the rareness of an imperfect play tending to show that a complete design is not always to be hit at once even by a Hogarth, furnish some apology for the purchase of the two last articles, what excuse can be invented for the collectors who bought the preceding trash on terms so ridiculously high? Of all the trifling works of art, coats of arms must be reckoned the most contemptible. These early productions of our author on silver tea-tables, mugs, and waiters, have no sort of merit to recommend them, nor were ever meant to be impressed on paper (except as in momentary satisfaction to the engraver); for being there reversed, like the prayers of witches, they must be read backwards. Besides, what taste or genius can be manifested in the disposition of a cat's whiskers or a fox's tail; in the emblazonry of a black swan with two necks, or a blue boar with gilded tail? What abilities are requisite for the expansion of an old woman's furred cloak (very pompously denominated a mantle) at the back of a shield, or for inscribing some bright sentence or wretched pun (yclep'd a motto) in Gothic Latin on a ribbon fantastically waved? For the design in which nature and manners are displayed, no praise can be too exalted; but as for his heraldry,—his representation of birds and beasts that never had existence,—

these can never be allowed to contribute a single leaf to the chaplet he has so long and so deservedly worn.

"I have dwelt the more on these things, because I am assured there are print-dealers now rummaging the books of our oldest engravers, in the hope that a still greater number of useless and insignificant particulars consisting of arms, etc., imputable to Hogarth, will be found; nor are their hopes less sanguine that the madness of collectors will be confirmed instead of cured by the examples hung out at the late auction in Leicester Fields.

"Let me hope, however, that for the future every sensible collector will think his assemblage of Hogarth's prints sufficiently complete, without the foolish adjuncts already described and reprobated. For the authenticity of these trifles being obvious to no kind of proof, they principally tend to expose their purchasers to the frauds of designing people, who will laugh at their credulity while they pocket their cash."

[230] A short time before this, the writer of these volumes had the honour of furnishing his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with a set of Hogarth's works. They consisted of remarkably fine impressions from his most valuable plates, many of the variations, and some which were deemed scarce (though not one of either the large or small coat of arms). For the two volumes he charged and received £84.

[231] See the manner of disgracing the most serious subjects in many celebrated old pictures, by introducing low, absurd, and obscure, and often profane, circumstances into them.

[232]

[233] I may be told that this is a mistake, and that it was either to Pope or Swift. It was the fate of Arbuthnot to twine laurel for the brows of his friends. I know it was a partnership account, but surely the Doctor was first in the firm.

[234] See the introduction to the Memoirs of Scriblerus.

[235] Should any Lord, Knight, Esquire, or spirited Bookseller, choose to purchase the whole copy, I am ready to treat with him upon proper terms.

[236] The writer of a modern book of travels, relating the particulars of his being cast away, thus concludeth: "After having walked eleven hours without tracing the print of a human foot, to my great comfort and delight I saw a man hanging upon a gibbet: my pleasure at this cheering prospect was inexpressible, for it convinced me that I was in a civilised country!"