NOTES.

(1) In allusion to the picture of this celebrated actress as the Tragic Muse. It is in the possession of William Smith, Esq.

(2) The portrait of General Elliot, Lord Heathfield. It is in the National Gallery.

(3) The picture of Thais with a torch, was painted from a beautiful girl named Emily Coventry. She went to the East Indies, and died. there. The picture was sold in 1781 to Mr. Charles Greville for one hundred guineas: it afterwards came into the possession of the late Earl of Dysart.

(4) Cleopatra dissolving the pearl, was taken from Kitty Fisher, a noted courtezan, about the year 1760. The picture is in the possession of the Earl of Morley.

(5) Sir Joshua painted two pictures of the Gypsey Fortune-Teller. That here celebrated is in the possession of the Duke of Dorset.

(6) The picture of the Death of Cardinal Beaufort was painted for the Shakspeare of Boydell.

(7) The Cauldron scene in Macbeth, painted for Boydell's Shakspeare.

(8) The picture of Ugolino, in the possession of the Duke of Dorset.

(9) The picture of the Infant Jupiter, in the possession of the Duke of Rutland.

(10) Hercules strangling the Serpents, painted for the Empress of Russia.

(11) Sir Joshua painted four pictures of the Calling of Samuel, all of which have been engraved. The finest is in the possession of the Duke of Rutland.

ΤΟ

THE KING.

THE regular progress of cultivated life is from necessaries to accommodations, from accommodations to ornaments. By your illustrious predecessors were established Marts for manufactures, and Colleges for science: but for the arts of elegance, those arts by which manufactures are embellished, and science is refined, to found an Academy was reserved for Your Majesty.

Had such patronage been without effect, there had been reason to believe that Nature had, by some insurmountable impediment, obstructed our proficiency; but the annual improvement of the Exhibitions which Your Majesty has been pleased to encourage, shows that only encouragement had been wanting.

To give advice to those who are contending for royal liberality, has been for some years the duty of my station in the Academy; and these Discourses hope for Your Majesty's acceptance, as well-intended endeavours to incite that emulation which your notice has kindled, and direct those studies which your bounty has rewarded.