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.

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    *794 Burke and Sir Joshua Reynolds January 30.—The [Royal Academy] Club was very full to-day, 23 members present. Stothard came for the first time. Hoppner talked a good deal abt. the Duke of Clarence, with whom He passed a week at Petersham 2 or 3 summers ago. . . . Hoppner says every day after they had dined, the Duke took him to walk 10 or 12 miles. Mrs. Jordan affords very little entertainment in Company. Her thoughts seem to be engaged abt. something not present. Very ignorant as to informa¬ tion, excepting in what relates merely to the stage. Jack Bannister [famous actor] affords entertainment by his talent for mimicry, and by retailing jokes, but is in respect of understanding an ordinary man. Garvey [R.A.] said Sir Watkins Williams Wynne [who once owned the painting by Poussin recently acquired for the Louvre] bid in a very spirited manner for Pictures at the sale of John Hunters Pictures. Mar¬ lows, St. Angelo, and the Companion (a pair) sold for 20 guineas. Wilsons for 42 guineas (His 25 guinea size). Marlows, London Bridge, Water¬ works, sold for 8 guineas. Note.—Marlows Pictures fall in value, Wilsons rise. February 1.—Dr. Rees, the author of the Continuation of [Ephraim] Chambers Dictionary [first published in 1728], a Dissenting Clergyman, sat to Dance this morning for a Profile. [This portrait is not mentioned in the Dictionary of National Biography. He told us Dr. Chauncy left him an annuity in the French funds of 100, but that He had not reed, anything in the 2 last years, and did not suppose he shd. receive any more. From his conversation He did not appear to hold Democratic principles.* About 2 o’clock, Lady Inchiquin [Sir Joshua Reynolds’ heiress sent and desired to speak with me immediately. I found Mr. [Edmund_ Burke, Mr. Drew [solicitor, Gray’s Inn], and Lord Inchiquin together. In the Library Lady Inchiquin spoke to me alone, and was much agitated by a conversation which had a little before taken place relative to the * Dr. Abraham Rees (1743-1825), a Welshman, won great distinction in the Dissenting circles in London, having been for long head of the “ Three denominations.” In 1775 Edinburgh University bestowed the D.D. degree upon him. His “ New Cyclopaedia,” begun in 1802 and completed in forty-five volumes in 1820, brought him many congratulations.