Chapter XIII: Canto VI (3)

2. Frontispiece to _Kirby's_ Perspective.[1] Engraved by _Sullivan_. Satire on false perspective. Motto, "Whoever maketh a design without the knowledge of Perspective, will be liable to such absurdities as are shewn in this frontispiece." The occasion of engraving the plate arose from the mistakes of Sir E. _Walpole_, who was learning to draw without being taught perspective. To point out in a strong light the errors which would be likely to happen from the want of acquaintance with those principles, this design was produced. It was afterwards given to _Kirby_, who dedicated Dr. _Brook Taylor's_ Method of Perspective to Mr. _Hogarth_. The above anecdote is recorded on the authority of the gentleman already mentioned. The plate, after the first quantity of impressions had been taken from it, was retouched, but very little to its advantage. Mr. _S. Ireland_ has the original sketch.

[1] "This work is in quarto, containing 172 pages, and 51 plates, in the whole; with a frontispiece designed and drawn by Mr. _Hogarth_. 'Tis a humourous piece, shewing the absurdities a person may be liable to, who attempts to draw without having some knowledge in perspective. As the production of that great genius, it is entertaining; and, though abounding with the grossest absurdities possible, may pass and please; otherwise I think it is a palpable insult offered to common sense, and tacitly calling the artists a parcel of egregious blockheads. There is not a finished piece in the book, but the mason's yard and the landscapes; so that I question if the whole of the plates were forty pounds expence. It was first printed for himself at _Ipswich_, dedicated to Mr. _Hogarth_, and published in the year 1754."

_Malton_, Appendix to Treatise on Perspective, p. 106.

* * * * *

1755.

1. Four prints of an Election.[1] These, by _Hogarth_, came out at different times, _viz._ Plate I. _Feb._ 24, 1755 (inscribed to the Right Hon. _Henry Fox_); Plate II. _Feb._ 20, 1757, (to his Excellency Sir _Charles Hanbury Williams_, Ambassador to the Court of _Russia_); Plate III. _Feb._ 20, 1758, (to the Hon. Sir _Edward Walpole_, Knight of the Bath); Plate IV. _Jan._ 1, 1758, (to the Hon. _George Hay_,[2] one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty). The original pictures are now in the possession of Mrs. _Garrick_, at _Hampton_. The inscription on the banner, "Give us our eleven days," alludes to the alteration of the Style in 1752; in which year, from the 2d to the 14th of _September_, eleven days were not reckoned by act of parliament. In the election-dinner, Mr. _Hogarth_ assured the writer of this paragraph, that there is but one at table intended for a real portrait and that is the _Irish_ gentleman [the present Sir _John Parnell_, nephew to the poet, and remarkable for a very flat nose], who is diverting the company by a face drawn with a burnt cork upon the back of his hand, while he is supposed to be singing--_An old woman cloathed in grey_. This gentleman (then an eminent attorney) begged it as a favour; declaring, at the same time, he was so generally known, that the introduction of his face would be of service to our artist in the sale of his prints at _Dublin_. Notwithstanding _Hogarth's_ assertion, the handsome candidate is pronounced to be the late _Thomas Potter_, esq. and the effigy, seen through the window, with the words "_No Jews_" about its neck, to be meant for the late Duke of _Newcastle_. Of yet another real personage we receive notice, from a pamphlet intituled "The last Blow, or an unanswerable vindication of the Society of _Exeter College_, in reply to the Vice-chancellor Dr. _King_, and the writers of _The London Evening Post_." 4to. 1755. p. 21.--"The next character, to whose merits we would do justice, is the Rev. Dr. _C--ff--t (Cofferat)_. But as it is very difficult to delineate this fellow in colours sufficiently strong and lively, it is fortunate for us and the Doctor, that _Hogarth_ has undertaken that task. In the print of an Election Entertainment, the publick will see the Doctor represented sitting among the freeholders, and zealously eating and drinking for the sake of the New Interest. His venerable and humane aspect will at once bespeak the dignity and benevolence of his heart. Never did alderman at _Guildhall_ devour custard with half such an appearance of love to his country, or swallow ale with so much the air of a patriot. These circumstances the pencil of Mr. _Hogarth_ will undoubtedly make manifest; but it is much to be lamented, that his words also cannot appear in this print, and that the artist cannot delineate that persuasive flow of eloquence which could prevail upon Copyholders to abjure their base tenures, and swear themselves Freeholders. But this oratory (far different from the balderdash of _Tully_ and Dr. _King_, concerning liberty and our country) as the genius of mild ale alone could inspire, this fellow alone could deliver."--The very paper of tobacco, inscribed "_Kirton's_ Best," has its peculiar significance. This man was a tobacconist by St. _Dunstan's_ Church in _Fleet-street_, and ruined his health and constitution, as well as impaired his circumstances, by being busy in the _Oxfordshire_ election of 1754. Plate II. In the painted cloth depending from the sign-post, the height of _The Treasury_ is contrasted with the squat solidity of _The Horse-Guards_, where the arch is so low, that the state-coachman cannot pass through it with his head on; and the turret on the top is so drawn as to resemble a beer-barrel. _Ware_ the architect very gravely remarked, on this occasion, that the chief defect would have been sufficiently pointed out by making the coachman only stoop. He was hurt by _Hogarth's_ stroke of satire. Money is likewise thrown from _The Treasury_ windows, to be put into a waggon, and carried into the country. _George Alexander Stevens_, in his celebrated "Lecture on Heads," exhibited the man with a pot of beer, explaining, with pieces of a tobacco-pipe, how _Porto Bello_ was taken with six ships only. In Plate III. Dr. _Shebbeare_, with fetters on, is prompting the idiot; and in Plate IV. the old Duke of _Newcastle_ appears at a window. A happy parody in the last of these plates may, perhaps, have escaped the notice of common observers. _Le Brun_, in his battle of the _Granicus_, has represented an eagle hovering above the laurel'd helmet of _Alexander. Hogarth_ has painted a goose flying over the periwig'd head of the successful candidate. During the contested _Oxfordshire_ election in 1754, an outrageous mob in the Old Interest had surrounded a post-chaise, and was about to throw it into the river; when Captain _T----_, within-side, shot a chimney-sweeper who was most active in the assault. The captain was tried and acquitted. To this fact _Hogarth_ is supposed to allude in the Monkey riding on the Bear, with a cockade in his hat, and a carbine by his side, which goes off and kills the little sweep, who has clambered up on the wall. The member chaired is said to bear more than an accidental resemblance to Mr. _Dodington_, afterwards Lord _Melcombe_.

In 1759 appeared "A Poetical Description of Mr. _Hogarth's_ Election Prints,[3] in four Cantos. Written under Mr. _Hogarth's_ sanction and inspection," which I shall with the less scruple transcribe at large below,[4] as it was originally introduced by the following remarkable advertisement, dated _Cheapside, March_ 1, 1759. "For the satisfaction of the reader, and in justice to the concealed author, I take the liberty, with the permission of Mr. _Hogarth_, to insert in this manner that gentleman's opinion of the following Cantos, which is, 'That the thoughts entirely coincide with his own; that there is a well-adapted vein of humour preserved through the whole; and that, though some of his works have been formerly explained by other hands, yet none ever gave him so much satisfaction as the present performance.' JOHN SMITH."

In the second state of the first of these plates few variations are discoverable. The perspective in the oval over the stag's horns is improved. A shadow on the wainscot, proceeding from a supposed window on the left side, is effaced; the hand of the beldam kissing the young candidate, is removed from under her apron, and now dangles by her side: a saltseller is likewise missing from the table. In the first impression also, the butcher who is pouring gin on the broken head of another man, has _For our Country_ on his cockade; in the second we find _Pro Patria_ in its stead. The lemons and oranges that once lay on a paper, by the tub in which the boy is making punch, are taken away; because _Hogarth_, in all probability, had been informed that vitriol, or cream of tartar, is commonly used, instead of vegetable acids, when a great quantity of such liquor is prepared at public houses on public occasions. In the third impression a hat is added to those before on the ground, and another on the bench. The whole plate has also lost much of its former clearness. The original inscription at one corner of it was--"Painted, and _the whole_ engraved by _Wm. Hogarth_."[5] The two Words in _Italicks_ were afterwards effaced.

I may here observe, that this performance, in its original state, is by far the most finished and laborious of all _Hogarth's_ engravings. Having been two years on sale (from 1755 to 1757) it was considerably worn before the publication of Plate the second; and was afterwards touched and retouched till almost all the original and finer traces of the burin were either obliterated or covered by succeeding ones. In short, there is the same difference between the earliest and latest impressions, as there was between the first and second state of Sir _John Cutler's_ stockings, which, by frequent mending, from silk degenerated into worsted.

I learn also, on the best authority, that our artist, who was always fond of trying to do what no man had ventured to do before him, resolved to finish this plate without taking a single proof from it as he proceeded in his operation. The consequence of his temerity was, that he almost spoiled his performance. When he discovered his folly, he raved, stamped, and swore he was ruined, nor could be prevailed on to think otherwise, till his passion subsided, and a brother artist assisted him in his efforts to remedy the general defect occasioned by such an attempt to perform an impossibility.

In Plate II. we meet with a fresh proof of our artist's inattention to orthography; _Party-tool_ (used as a proper name) being here spelt parti-tool. This plate was engraved by _C. Grignion_, and has been retouched, as the upper-row of the lion's teeth are quite obliterated in the second impression.

Plate III. The militia (or, as _Hogarth_ spells it, milicia) bill appearing out of the pocket of the maimed voter, is only found in the second impression. This print was engraved by _Hogarth_ and _Le Cave_.[6]

The dead man, whom they are bringing up as a voter, alludes to an event of the same kind that happened during the contested election between _Bosworth_ and _Selwyn_. "Why," says one of the clerks, "you have brought us here a dead man."--"Dead!" cries the bringer; "dead as you suppose him, you shall soon hear him vote for _Bosworth_." On this, a thump was given to the body, which, being full of wind, emitted a sound that was immediately affirmed to be a distinct, audible, and good vote for the candidate already mentioned.--This circumstance, however, might have reference to the behaviour of the late Dr. _Barrowby_, who persuaded a dying patient he was so much better, that he might venture with him in his chariot to go and poll for Sir _George Vandeput_ in _Covent-Garden_. The unhappy voter took his physician's advice, but expired in an hour after his return from the hustings. "If _Hogarth_," says Mr. _Walpole_, "had an emblematic thought, he expressed it with wit, rather than by a symbol. Such is that of the whore setting fire to the world in _The Rake's Progress_. Once indeed he descended to use an allegoric personage, and was not happy in it. In one of his Election prints [plate III.] _Britannia's_ chariot breaks down, while the coachman and footman are playing at cards on the box."

In the second impressions of Plate IV.[7] (which was engraved by _W. Hogarth_ and _F. Aviline_) the shadow on the sun-dial, denoting the hour, and the word indintur (commonly spelt indenture) on the scroll hanging out at the attorney's window, are both added. The fire from the gun is also continued farther; the bars of the church-gate are darkened; and the upper sprigs of a tree, which were bare at first, are covered with leaves.

By these marks, the unskilful purchaser may distinguish the early from the later impressions. I forbear therefore to dwell on more minute variations. The ruined house adjoining to the attorney's, intimating that nothing can thrive in the neighbourhood of such vermin, is a stroke of satire that should not be overlooked.

The publick were so impatient for this set of prints, that _Hogarth_ was perpetually hastening his coadjutors, changing some, and quarrelling with others. Three of the plates therefore were slightly executed, and soon needed the reparations they have since received.

The following curious address appeared in the _Public Advertiser_ of _Feb._ 28, 1757.

"Mr. _Hogarth_ is obliged to inform the subscribers to his Election Prints, that the three last cannot be published till about _Christmas_ next, which delay is entirely owing to the difficulties he has met with to procure able hands to engrave the plates; but that he neither may have any more apologies to make on such an account, nor trespass any further on the indulgence of the public by encreasing a collection already sufficiently large, he intends to employ the rest of his time in portrait-painting; chiefly this notice seems more necessary, as several spurious and scandalous prints[8] have lately been published in his name.

"All Mr. _Hogarth's_ engraved works are to be had at his house in _Leicester-fields_, separate or together; as also his Analysis of Beauty, in 4to. with two explanatory prints, price 15_s._ With which will be delivered gratis, an eighteen-penny pamphlet published by _A. Miller_, called _The Investigator_, written in opposition to the principles laid down in the above Analysis of Beauty, by _A. R._,[9] a friend to Mr. _Hogarth_, an eminent portrait-painter now of _Rome_."

The foregoing advertisement appears to have been written during the influence of a fit of spleen or disappointment, for nothing else could have dictated to our artist so absurd a resolution as that of quitting a walk he had trod without a rival, to re-enter another in which he had by no means distinguished himself from the herd of common painters.

[1] I learn from _The Grub-street Journal_ for _June_ 13, 1734, that the same subject had been attempted by an earlier hand, under the title of _The Humours of a Country Election_. The description of some of the compartments of this work (which I have not seen) bears particular resemblance to the scenes represented by _Hogarth_. "The candidates very complaisant to a _Country Clown_, &c."--"The candidates making an entertainment for the electors and their wives.--At the upper end of the table the _Parson_ of the Parish, &c."

[2] The intimate friend of _Hogarth_, at that time a Commissioner of the Admiralty; afterwards Sir _George Hay_, knight, Dean of the Arches, Judge of the Prerogative Court, and also of the High Court of Admiralty, who died _October_ 6, 1778, aged 63. He was possessed of several of _Hogarth's_ paintings, which are now the property of Mr. _Edwards_, and have been mentioned in p. 98. Our honourable Judge has the following character in a work of great authority.

On the trial of her Grace the Duchess of _Kingston_, for bigamy, before the House of Lords, in _April_ 1776, the present Lord Chancellor _Thurlow_ (then Attorney-General) thus speaks of Sir _George_ as a judge:--"The most loose and unconsidered notion, escaping in any manner from that able and excellent judge, should be received with respect, and certainly will; if the question were my own, with the choice of my court, I should refer it to his decision." State Trials, XI. 221.

[3] "Things unattempted yet in prose or rhime." MILTON.

[4]