don't know how it is, but you have a way of managing your tints unlike every body else. Here, take the palette, and finish the head.' 'I can't, sir.' 'You can't?' 'I can't indeed, sir, as it is; but let it stand till tomorrow morning and get dry, and I will go over it with all my heart.' The picture was to go away the day after the morrow; so he made me promise to do it early next morning.

He never came down into the painting room until about ten o'clock. I went into his room bright and early, and by half past nine I had finished the head. That done, Rafe (Raphael West, the master's son) and I began to fence; I with my maul-stick, and he with his father's. I had just driven Rafe up to the wall, with his back to one of his father's best pictures, when the old gentleman, as neat as a lad of wax, with his hair powdered, his white silk stockings and yellow morocco slippers, popped into the room, looking as if he had stepped out of a bandbox. We had made so much noise that we did not hear him come down the gallery, or open the door. 'There, you dog,' says I to Rafe, there I have you, and nothing but your back-ground relieves you.'

"The old gentleman could not help smiling at my technical joke, but soon, looking very stern, Mr. Stuart,' says he, 'is this the way you use me?' 'Why! what's the matter, sir? I have neither hurt the boy nor the background.' 'Sir, when you knew I had promised that the picture of his majesty should be finished to-day, ready to be sent away to

morrow, thus to be neglecting me and your promise! How can you answer it to me or to yourself?'

"Sir,' said I, 'do not condemn me without examining the easel. I have finished the picture : please to look at it.' He did so, complimented me highly, and I had ample revenge for his, 'It will do well enough.'

STUART'S SCHOLARSHIP.

Trumbull, speaking of Stuart as he knew him in London, says, "He was a much better scholar than I had supposed he was. He once undertook to paint my portrait, and I sat every day for a week, and then he left off without finishing it, saying, 'he could make nothing of my d-d sallow face.' But during the time, in his conversation, I observed that he had not only read, but remembered what he had read. In speaking of the character of man, he said, 'Linnæus is right; Plato and Diogenes call man a biped without feathers; that's a shallow definition. Franklin's is better-a toolmaking animal; but Linnæus' is the best-homo, animal mendax, rapax, pugnax.'"

STUART'S RULE OF THE PAYMENT OF HALF PRICE AT THE FIRST SITTING.

Stuart thus explains how he came to adopt a custom, which, when practicable, commends itself to others. "Lord St. Vincent, the Duke of Northumberland, and Colonel Barre, came unexpectedly into iny room, one morning after my setting up an inde

pendent easel, and explained the object of their visit. They understood that I was under pecuniary embarrassment, and offered me assistance, which I declined. They then said they would sit for their portraits; of course I was ready to serve them. They

then advised that I should make it a rule that half the price must be paid at the first sitting. They insisted on setting the example, and I followed the practice, ever after this delicate mode of their showing their friendship."

STUART'S POWERS OF PERCEPTION.

Stuart read men's characters at a glance, and always engaged his sitters on some interesting topic of conversation, and while their features were thus lit up, he transferred them to his canvass, with the magic of his pencil. Hence his portraits are full of animation, truth, and nature. This trait is well illustrated by the following anecdote. Lord Mulgrave employed him to paint his brother, General Phipps, who was going out to India. When the portrait was finished, and the general had sailed, the Earl called for the picture, and on examining it, he seemed disturbed, and said, "This picture looks strange, sir; how is it? I think I see insanity in that face!" "I painted your brother as I saw him," replied the painter. The first account Lord Mulgrave had of his brother was, that insanity, unknown and unapprehended by any of his friends, had driven him to commit suicide. Washington

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Allston, in his eulogium on Stuart, says, "The narratives and anecdotes with which his knowledge of men and the world had stored his memory, and which he often gave with great beauty and dramatic effect, were not unfrequently employed by Mr. Stuart in a way, and with an address peculiar to himself. From this store it was his custom to draw largely, while occupied with his sitters, apparently for their amusement; but his object was rather, by thus banishing all restraint, to call forth, if possible, some involuntary traits of natural character. It was this which enabled him to animate his canvass, not with the appearance of mere general life, but with that peculiar, distinctive life which separates the humblest individual from his kind. He seemed to dive into the thoughts of men-for they were made to rise and speak on the surface."

STUART'S CONVERSATIONAL POWERS.

Dr. Waterhouse relates the following anecdote of Stuart. He was traveling one day in an English stage-coach, with some gentlemen who were all strangers, and at first rather taciturn, but he soon engaged them in the most animated conversation. At length they arrived at their place of destination, and stopped at an inn to dine. "His companions," says the Doctor, were very desirous to know who and what he was, for whatever Dr. Franklin may have said a half century ago about the question. asking propensity of his countrymen, I never noticed

so much of that kind of traveling curiosity in New England as in Britain. To the round-about inquiries to find out his calling or profession, Stuart answered with a grave face and serious tone,

"I sometimes dress gentlemen's and ladies' hair" (at that time, the high craped, pomatumed hair was all the fashion).

"You are a hair-dresser, then?'

"What,' said he, 'do I look like a barber?'

"I beg your pardon, sir, but I inferred it from what you said. If I mistook you, I may take the liberty to ask you what you are then?'

"Why, I sometimes brush a gentleman's coat or hat, and sometimes adjust a cravat.'

"O, you are a valet, then, to some nobleman ?'

"A valet! Indeed sir, I am not. I am not a servant. To be sure, I make coats and waistcoats for gentlemen.'

""O, you are a tailor ?'

"A tailor! Do I look like a tailor? I assure you, I never handled a goose, other than a roasted one.'

By this time they were all in a roar.

"What are you, then?' said one.

"I'll tell you,' said Stuart. 'Be assured, all I have told you is literally true. I dress hair, brush hats and coats, adjust a cravat, and make coats, waistcoats, and breeches, and likewise boots and shoes, at your service.'

"'O, ho! a boot and shoemaker after all!'