Volume 1

The Farington diary / edited by James Greig.

  • Joseph Farington
Date:
[1922?-1928]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Farington diary / edited by James Greig. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    124/464 (page 80)
    Hoppner, was elected on Monday last. He was proposed by Mr Sharp. Hatter [hatter put in afterwards in pencil], of Fish Street Hill.* Dr Griffith mentioned his intention of proposing J. Taylor [a former editor of the Morning Post] but found He would not pass the Balot. December 19.—Tyl er told me to night that at his end of the table [at the Royal Academy Club] it had been suggested that it would be liberal and proper, to admit such students of the Academy as had reed, gold medals, and had been abroad at the Academy expence, to be Honorary Members of the Club.—But not to be admitted but by Balot. The Students of the Academy are subscribing a shilling each to pay for advertisements of thanks to Messrs Boydells and Macklin, for the privilege granted them to go into their picture galleries witht. expence. December 21.—Lawrence, I called on, and went with him to look over the House He has taken in Piccadilly.—His landlord is the Honble. Mr Butler. The House was built by Novosielski. It cost £5000, and the ground rent is 93 guineas a year. Lawrence has a lease for 40 years from Christmas, with liberty to quit at the expiration of each successive 7 years. He is to pay £250, for the first 7 years. 250 guineas for 21 years, and 300 guineas a year for the remainder of the term.—The Taxes are abt. -£80 per annum . . . Dance says the House Lawrence has taken is ill built, and the Offices below very bad and inconvenient. Soane [donor of the Soane Museum] told me He was sent to Rome by the Academy in 1778. He did not live upon the £60 a year [fees], but on his return in 3 years was abt. j[ 120 in debt.—Before He applied to the Academy to be sent to Rome, He waited on Sir Wm. Chambers, who He prevailed on to shew some drawings which He had made to the King, which Sir William told Soane his Majesty approved, and directed that He shd. be sent to Rome by the Academy. Soane considering himself certain of the appointment gave up the situation He was then placed in. When Sir William moved this business in the Academy Sir Joshua Reynolds opposed the appointment of Soane, unless it came regularly by election of the Academicians and carried his point after a contest with Sir William. In consequence Soane was formally called upon by letter from the Secretary, as being one of those who had gained a premium and others also reed, a similar notice.—That the Academicians might be capable of comparing the respective claims, the drawings of each as offered were again brought before them.—Soane had 17 votes out of 20. He went abroad in company with Brettingham, the Architect, who also had (60 a year allowed him by his Father.—Soane gave 2000 guineas for the Freehold of his House in Lincolns Inn Fields, and rebuilt it.—He told me He entertained a very respectable opinion of Sir Wm. Chambers, not¬ withstanding what his friend Yenn, said to the contrary.—I said from * Richard Sharp (1759-1835), known as “ Conversation Sharp,” was the son of an English officer, a partner in a West India house, and afterwards a member of a firm of hat makers. Amassing a considerable fortune, he took a keen interest in politics and literature, and knew Johnson, Burke, Rogers, Sir James Mackintosh and other eminent men, who used to gather at his house at Mickleham, near Dorking. Sydney Smith called him the Bishop of Mickleham, and Wordsworth said Sharp knew Italy better than any he had ever met.