MEMOIRS,
&c.

To encourage real genius, struggling against early disadvantages; to prove the solid benefits of a steady probity; and, above all, to exemplify the divine maxim, that Wisdom is justified of all her children, the following short Memoirs of the late JOHN BACON, Esq. are presented to the public.

This celebrated sculptor was descended from an ancient family in Somersetshire: his grandfather, John Bacon, was the son of William Bacon, who possessed a considerable estate near Wincanton, in that county. His father, Thomas Bacon, was a clothworker in Southwark, where Mr. Bacon was born November 24, 1740.

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Providence seems to have peculiarly favoured his infancy; for when he was about five years of age, fell into the pit of a soap-boiler, and would have perished, if a man, who then entered the yard, had not discovered the top of his head, and immediately drawn him out. About the same time he fell before cart, the wheel of which went over his right hand, and must have crushed it, had it not fallen between two projecting stones.

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There are, perhaps, but few persons who cannot recollect some impending dangers from which they have been snatched by a particular Providence. Such recollections not only become a duty with respect to our great deliverer, but experience confirms the very beneficial tendency they have in affecting the

heart, and pointing out its deep and various obligations.

When very young, Mr. B. discovered an inclination for drawing, common to children; but not pursuing it, he never made any great proficiency in

that art.

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He, indeed, at that time, was obliged to seek a support in the humblest station; but, even while a child, seeds of his future growth and eminence appeared. "I have often heard him mention," says his son, "that, when a boy, under the age of ten years, and playing at marbles or other games, his thoughts have been chiefly employed in the inquiry, whence arose the satisfaction he felt:' and, perceiving the weakness of its principle, his former pleasure has been turned into contempt toward himself and his companions, as the easy dupes of fancy-at this age, he concluded that happiness was in every man's power who could learn to discipline his own mind: and, on this plan, he made a sort of philosophical attempt to command his own happiness."

It, perhaps, need not be said that Bacon, the old Christian, excelled Bacon, the young philosopher, in his attempt to obtain true happiness; and we may add, that infant philosophers will attain to the summum bonum as soon as aged ones, who are not taught to look to a better resource than themselves.

In the year 1755, and at the age of fourteen, Mr. B. was bound apprentice to Mr. Crispe, of Bow Church Yard; where he was employed, among other things, in painting on porcelain. Mr. Crispe had a manufactory of china at Lambeth, to which Mr. B. occasionally went, and where he assisted. His then occupation, indeed, was but a feeble step toward his future acquirements, as he was chiefly employed in forming shepherds, shepherdesses, and such small ornamental pieces; yet, for a self-taught artist to perform even works like these with taste, and, in less

than two years, form (as he did) all the models for the manufactory, was to give an indication of no ordinary powers. But, as goodness of heart excels greatness of parts, a proof of his filial affection ought. here to be recorded: at this early period he principally supported his parents by the produce of his labours, even to the abridging himself of the necessaries of life.

Let children learn, not only from God's word, but also from facts like the present, how a dutiful and affectionate regard to their parents is marked by HIM on whom all events depend: It is sowing the seeds of future blessings-It is laying a good ground of expectation respecting their own children. Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee.

Mr. B.'s capacity, however, for greater things in his art than he had yet attempted, discovered itself on the following occasion. In attending the manufactory at Lambeth, he had an opportunity of observing the models of different sculptors, which were sent to a pottery on the same premises to be burnt. Small circumstances often give rise to the most important events in our lives. From the sight of these models, Mr. B. first conceived a strong inclination for his future profession. He applied himself to this attainment with the most unremitting diligence: and his progress was as rapid, as his turn for it was sudden and unpremeditated. This will appear from the books published annually by the "Society for the encouragement of Arts;" where it may be found, that, between the years 1763 and 1766, inclusive, the first premiums in those classes, for which he contended, were no less than nine times adjudged to him. first of these attempts was made in the year 1758, in a small figure of Peace, after the manner of the antique.

The

It was during Mr. B.'s apprenticeship that he formed a design of making statues in artificial stone, which

he afterward perfected. By these exertions, he recovered the manufactory at Lambeth, now carried on by Mrs. Coade, and which, before Mr. B. undertook the management of it, had fallen into very low cir

cumstances.

About the year 1763, Mr. B. first attempted working in marble; and, having never seen that operation performed, he was led to invent an instrument for transferring the form of the model to the marble (technically called, getting out the points) which instrument has since been used by many other sculptors in England and France.* Its advantage, beyond the instruments formerly employed, consists in its certainty and exactness-in its taking a correct measurement in every direction-in its occupying so small a compass as not to encumber the workman-and, in its being transferrable either to the model or to the marble, without having a separate instrument for each, as before was the custom.

At this time, Mr. B. lived in the city, where his family connections were; but, in the year 1768, he removed to the west end of the town: and it was then (being about twenty-eight years of age) in attending the Royal Academy, instituted that year, that he received his first instructions in his future profession; having never before seen the art of modelling or sculpture regularly performed.

Mr. John Bacon has communicated to me an anecdote worth recording in this edition. A gentleman who had been in France, seeing this instrument in use at Mr. B's, exclaimed with surprise, "So! you have got Mons. Hudon's instrument for taking points! I see you don't object to copying the French in some particulars." Mr. B. replied he was certain it was not a French invention. The gentleman insisted that he had seen it in use in France, in the study of M. Hudon, the Sculptor; who told him with some self-applause, that it was his own invention. The gentleman was not a little surprised, when Mr. B. assured him M. Hudon had first seen this instrument in Mr. B's study, and was so much pleased with its utility and novelty, that Mr. B. made him a present of one of them for his own

use!

J. P.

In the following year, the gold medal for sculpture, the first ever given by that Society, was decreed to Mr. B. He became an associate of that body, in the year 1770. His reputation was now well established by the exhibition of his statue of Mars: it recommended him to the notice of the present archbishop of York; who, having designed to place a bust of his present majesty in the hall of Christ-church college, Oxford, presented Mr. B. to the king, who was pleased to sit to him for that purposę.

Mr. J-, an old acquaintance of Mr. B. heard Mr. West, the present president of the Royal Academy, say, when he saw the model of Mars, (Mr. B.'s first statue,) "If this is his first essay, what will this man attain to when he arrives at maturity?" The same

friend also remembers, that when Mr. B. was modelling the bust of his majesty, the king asked him if he had ever been out of the kingdom: upon being answered in the negative, his majesty said, "I am glad of it-you will be the greater honour to it."

Mr. B.'s execution of this work, added to the fame he had already acquired, procured him the royal patronage; and he received an order from his majesty to prepare another bust intended as a present to the university of Gottingen. Her majesty was also pleased to give directions for a third; and Mr. B. has since executed a fourth, which is placed in the meeting room of the Society of. Antiquaries. He was soon afterward employed by the Dean and Fellows of Christ-church, in forming several busts for them; particularly those of the late General Guise, the Bishop of Durham, and the Primate of Ireland.

In 1773, he presented to the "Society for the encouragement of Arts," two statues in plaster, which, by a vote of that Society, were directed to be placed in their great room. On this occasion, Mr. B. addressed a letter to them in the following terms: "The honour you have done me, in your accept

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