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 afterwards 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 plaister, 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 acceptance of my statues of Mars and Venus, affords me an opportunity which I gladly embrace, of acknowledging the many obligations I have to the Society. It was your approbation which stimulated, and your encouragements which enabled me to pursue those studies which a disadvantageous situation had otherwise made difficult, if not impossible. Believe me, gentlemen, I never think of the Society without gratitude, and without the highest idea of the principles on which it is

formed and which justly place it among the institutions that do honour to human nature-raise the glory of a nation-and promote the general good of mankind."-To this letter the Society sent a polite answer, accompanied with their gold medal, on the reverse of which is inscribed EMINENT MERIT.

His first Work in sculpture is in Christ-Church College, already mentioned. The first Figures he executed in marble, are at the Duke of Richmond's at Godwood. His first Monument is that of Mrs. Withers, in St. Mary's, Worcester.

In the year 1777, he was employed to prepare a model of a monument to be erected in Guy's Hospital, Southwark, to the memory of the Founder. It was this work, that chiefly recommended him to the execution of Lord Chatham's Monument in Guildhall. This latter gave such general satisfaction, that he was presented with a handsome gratuity, after the sum agreed for was paid.

The next year, in which he became a Royal Academican, he finished the monument of Mrs. Draper. About the same time he began a marble statue of Mars, from the model which he had before exhibited the commission was given him by Charles Anderson Pelham, now Lord Yarborough; but it was not completed till the year 1786. Some time in this year (1780) he executed the

two groups for the top of Somerset House, and also the Monument of Lord Halifax, placed in the north transept of Westminster Abbey.

In the year 1781, he began the statue of Judge Blackstone, for All Souls College, Oxford; and, the next year, that of Henry the Sixth, for the Anti-Chapel at Eton.

There was something so singular in the manner in which he received the order for this statue, that I hope to be excused if I mention the detail. A gentleman called upon Mr. B. who appeared like a distressed clergyman applying for relief. The great respect which he had for persons of that description, and the satisfaction he felt in relieving them, induced him, with his usual complacency, to ask this stranger to enter and be seated.--He had not continued long, before he began to ask,

66

Pray Mr. B. have you been at Rome?"-Mr. B. answered in the negative. "I suppose you have been at Wilton, to see the antiques there?"-No.After two or three more such questions and answers, he said, with his patience almost exhausted, "Have you ever been at Westminster Abbey?" On Mr. B.'s replying yes, the stranger said, "I may, however, as well walk to your rooms, and look at your works." He examined them attentively, saying, as he passed, "Well

very

well-excellent-and all this produced without going abroad!-But I can tell you one thing, and that is, you have no need to go." He then

gave an order for a bust of Henry the Sixth for Eton College, and paid down half the price.

66

After this was executed, he wrote a polite letter of approbation, saying he had but one fault to find with the performance, which was, that it was not carried down to the feet, (or a whole length). Soon after he called again on Mr. B. and informed him, that he had left a sum of money in his will, for a statue of the above-mentioned King, to be placed in the Chapel of Eton College: But," said he, " upon second thoughts, it seems I had better have it done while I live; and you should set about it immediately, but that I know your custom is to have half the sum paid down at giving the order: now this is not quite convenient to me at present; but I think I could let you have 1001.”—“ Pray, sir," said Mr. B. " don't let that be a consideration-you have always shown yourself a man of honour-I shall leave every thing to your convenience, and make the design directly.""I think," said the gentleman, after a pause, "I can let you have 2001.:" after thus demurring, he paid down the whole customary deposit before he left the house.

In the year 1783, the inhabitants of Jersey, having determined to perpetuate the memory of the gallant Major Pierson, who fell in the defence of that island against the French, the execution of the monument was committed to Mr. B.

It may here be remarked, that, in the different

competitions with rival artists, Mr. B. has been almost always successful; there being but one exception out of sixteen instances.

Of the works which Mr. B. exhibited at the Royal Academy, the following may be enumerated: statues of Mars and Venus:-a colossal bust of Jupiter:-a colossal statue of the Thames: -several small figures in marble; and a monument, since placed in the Cathedral of Bristol, to the Memory of Mrs. Draper, celebrated by Sterne under the name of Eliza.

When Mr. B. exhibited his statue of the Thames just mentioned, it was noticed by a certain great Personage, who, after having expressed her admiration of it as a work of art, enquired, why he could not "avoid making it so frightful a figure." He replied, " Art cannot always effect that which is still within the reach of Nature-the union of beauty and majesty."

But the most important work hitherto presented to the public by Mr. B. is the monument of the Earl of Chatham, erected in Westminster Abbey. This was begun in the year 1778, and finished in 1783. It may perhaps be produced as an instance, not only that true genius is the growth of the British Isle; but that it may be fully ripened in it, unassisted by foreign aid.

When young, Mr. B.'s abilities as an artist were not called in question, except with respect to the Antique; of which some affirmed that he under