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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    to be well encouraged in America. Stuart, who is now at New York & well employed.—His prices are not so great as He had in England, but his expences are proportionately more reasonable. America thrives rapidly, towns increase in size, and people grow rich. Very bad accts. were received to-day from Flanders. The French have defeated the Prince of Saxe Coburgh, and Charleroi surrendered in consequence. Brussells, it is said, is also in their possession The Duke of Yorks Army of British and Hanoverians, seems to be in a dangerous situation in the neighbourhood of Tournay. It is said to consist of 12,000 men, almost surrounded by the French. A later account says, “ It appears the Allies are retreating from the French in every quarter.” July 2.—In the evening Banks [R.A.] called on me to solicit my signature to an address from Mr Roberts, Brother in Faw to poor Cozens, which is to be delivered to the President & Council of the Royal Academy. The object of it is to obtain some assistance from the Body towards subsisting Cozens who is under the care of Dr Monro witht. a prospect of recovery. Cosway, Northcote & Hodges had signed it. [£ 10 ios. was voted to him on July 6.] Cozens disorder is described to be a total decay of the nervous system. He appeared to be of a silent, hesitating, disposition, and of grave manners. Sometime since a total change took place, He became childishly noisy & talkative on trifles. He is described to be in his present state very cheerful. It seems Cozens married some years ago, and has two children, one 5 or 6 years old. [There was one child, Sophia by name. See later entries.] His marriage was not generally known.—Mr Roberts who married his Sister, has a place in the Exchequer. The news of this day, is a Duel on Moulsey Hurst between the Earl of Tankerville, and Mr. Edward Bouverie* in which the latter was wounded. Copy of the advertisement published by the Seconds of Lord Tan¬ kerville and Mr. Bouverie : “ Yesterday morning, in consequence of a previous appointment the Fourth] Earl of Tankerville and the Honble. Edward Bouverie met on Moulsey Hurst, and took their places at the distance of Twelve paces when upon Mr. Bouveries declining to fire, Lord T, by direction of us, who were seconds to the parties, fired, and wounded Mr. B, but we are happy to find not so dangerously as was apprehended. We cannot omit our testimony of the coolness and good conduct displayed by both on this occasion (signed) Chas. Nassau Thomas H. Bennett, Lieut. Col. first guards.” * The Hon. Edward Bouverie, the fourth son of the first Earl of Radnor, sat in 1774 to Gainsborough, who made a very beautiful study of the fourteen-year-old lad in a blue Vandyck dress. Lord Radnor greatly admired Gainsborough’s art. His account book shows that he paid the painter £63 on January 5, 1772, for his own portrait, and two years later Gainsborough received from him two hundred and fifty guineas for gix other pictures of the Radnor family, which included the “ Blue Boy ” already mentioned.