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.

    129/464 (page 85)
    1795 The Prince of Orange and the Prussians January 2.—Wyatt [R.A.] told me that He dined yesterday at the Architects Club, when Hatfield was balotted for [? George Hadfield, the architect, who exhibited occasionally at the Royal Academy from 1781 to 1795]. There appears one black ball against Hatfield which excluded him.—Wyatt said it is certain that either Soane [afterwards an R.A. and a Knight], or Brettingham, put in the Black ball.—He speaks highly of Hatfields manners and promising abilities.—Wyatt was morti¬ fied at the rejection & told the members that He would Black ball any candidates that should hereafter be proposed, as He found a recom¬ mended person was rejected witht. a reason being assigned. Holland, proposed Hatfield, & Wyatt, recommended him. January 6.—G. Nicol [Scottish bookseller and publisher] told me He had much trouble with Hayley* while the latter was writing the life of Milton [published in 1796]. Hayley first produced a life written in so strong a spirit of republicanism that Nicol told him He could not print it. Hayley made alterations, but said He would print at a future time, as first written.—Hayley is a violent Republican. Opie [R.A.] expressed his surprise at Beechey [R.A.] having raised his price to 30 guineas a head. He said that his pictures were of that mediocre quality as to taste & fashion, that they seemed only fit for sea captains & merchants ; whereas Lawrence & Hoppner had each of them a position as it were of gentility in their manner of painting. January 9.—Great indignation is felt at Wilberforcef having joined the opposition or rather at his having moved the amendment. Pitt had some notice of his intention, but Windham [Secretary for War] knew nothing of it, previous to his speaking. Windham expresses his opinion strongly, & says if miscarriages take place Wilberforce will have * Hayley, versifier and biographer of William Cowper and George Romney. Of Hayley Southey said “ everything about that man is good except his poetry.” His poems were popular in their day, and he refused the Laureateship on Warton’s death in 1790. t William Wilberforce, philanthropist and anti-slavery advocate. After the fall of Robespierre, in 1794, Wilberforce, thinking peace was possible, deserted Pitt and moved the Amendment against continuing the war with France, and again, in 1795, he spoke in favour of peace, which defection very much upset the Prime Minister, who, however, some time afterwards became reconciled to Wilberforce.