up in the morn'g, dress, go out see such a variety of objects, that the Day is spent before it seems well begun. I am invited to dine allmost every Day. since the Day I arrived in this place not more than three or four Days has passed that I have not had a perticular invitation to Dine, and from Mr. West and Mr. Rooke I have a general invitation at all times that I am not otherwise ingaged. I am fallen into a much larger Circle of acquaintance than I could have expected. at this season all the Nobillity are out of Town, or I should no doubt be known to more of them than I am at present. I have been treated with great politeness by Lord Gage. Lord Grovesnor has been very polite to me, also. I dined with him last Sunday week, at his house in Town. the next Day he went into the Country. Lord Gage is also gone to his seat at bright Hamsted, where his Lordship pressed me to go in my way to France. he told me the stage came within 4 miles of his seat, and if I would write him a line to acquaint him with the time I should be there, he would send a Servant to fetch my baggage and desired I would bring any Gentleman I might have as a companion in my Tour, to his house. there is a great deal of Manly politeness in the English. there is somthing so open and undisguized in them that I can truly say exceeds rather than falls short of my expectation. Sr. Thos. Rich is married. he came to Town a few Days ago and called on me. on mon[day] I breakfasted with him went to see some Pictures and than Dined with him on the same Day. To Morrow I have an invitation to breakfast with Sr. Joshua Reynolds, than go with him to see the Ceiling of White Hall, Dine with a Mr. Watson, etc., etc. I menshon this to give you some Idea of the politeness of my Friends in this place and the manner of my Life while I am thus Idle: I might have begun several Pictures if it would have consisted with my

plan, but I must see Italy first. I am therefore determined not to take any one subject the King has got till I visit that place. if nothing meterial should prevent me I shall very soon leave this place. I wish I could have a letter from you first. Sukey says in one I have had from her that you wrote by the same oppertunity, but it has not come to hand. you must Direct to be left at the New England Coffee House. I suppose you expect I should say somthing on the Pictures I have seen, but the field is so large I cannot yet begin it. I see so much that it is impossable to know where to begin, but do you go on as you are in your practice; but observe one peice of advice, to turn as much as possable Delicate Womens faces so as to have as little shade on them as may be. dont make it faint, but let it fall from the front of the face into those parts of less importance, as you will find it in Bentivoglio's portrait, and I think it is so in Mrs. Sidley's Picture at Capt. Phillips's, which by the way I believe the face to be painted by Van Dyck's hand by what I have seen here. I would have you very carefull to preserve as much as possable broad lights and shadows, only turn the face so that it shall be all aluminated, or as much so as possable. at the same time let the shade fall some where else. what if you should try somthing for an Exhibition? I would have you also observe to get into your Picture an hew of Colours that is rather gay than otherwise, at the same time rich and warm like Bentivoglios. but be carefull that you intersperse some cool Colours of the Green and white with yellow, etc., so as to give it the Colouring (when the whole mass of the Picture is taken together) of the Rainbow and be carefull as you go towards the bottum of your Canvis to mannage your objects that they do not take the eye. Scumble them down so that when you Vew the Picture the Center shall predominate. I think in Diana's

figure in your Room you have an Example. observe her leggs how they seem to run out of observation, from her head and breast Downwards how gradually her figure seems to lose it self. but I must wish you a good night. in the Morn❜g I will add a little more if I can.1 I would send you Sir Josha. Reynolds's Lectures if I was sure you had not them; but if you have not they are well worth your possesing. I think them the best things of their kind that has been wrote. in my next I will send you a receipt for making a retouching Varnish, and wish you to send mine for making Spirit Varnish by the next oppertunity. I have not seen your Aunt, but shall to morrow write to her and send your letter. I am sorry you did not give me a Direction to the Person that transacts her business. She lives 72 Miles from this and I have been loath to take such a tour unless I could take it in my way to somthing else at the same time. however I will write and shall hear from her no doubt in a few Days. I will not neglect your Interest any more than my own and hope you remember what I left in Charge with y[ou] and will conduct your self agreable to it. I have your well being as much at heart as you can possable have it yourself. be very Active, Study incessantly, and practice continually, and you will find your advantage. remember it is [not?] anough to be a painter; you must be conspecuous in the Croud if you would be happy and great, and you must learn to rid off work. Inclosed is some Acct. which you will take care of. I have not been able to write to our Dear Mother but will do it soon, tho I consider my Letters to you the same thing only differing in name. I beg she will accept my most Affectionate Duty and Love. I am, Dear Harry, your Affct. Brother,

J. S. COPLEY.

1 The handwriting changes.

DEAR BROTHER,

Copley to Henry Pelham

LONDON, Augt. 25, 1774.

Please to send enclosed to Gov. Hutchinson the drawing I took of him with a pencil some years since. you may if you please keep a copy of it.

I shall set out in about four hours for Brighthemstone and from thence take shipg. for Diepe in France etc., etc. God bless you. Your affect. Brother,

MY DEAR HARRY,

JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY.

PARIS, Sepr. 2d, 1774.

Copley to Henry Pelham

I have now the pleasure to inform you of my safe arrival in this City that I am in Spirits, am grown much fatter than you have ever seen me. I know not how it happens, but I beleive there is somthing in the Air of France that accilerates or quickens the Circulation of the fluids of the Human Body, for I already feel half a Frenchman in this respect. I left London on the 26 of Augst. and reached Bright Helmstone in the Evening of the same Day, and was there detained by bad weather till the 29th, when I and my companion imbarked on board one of the Packets, and in about 11 hours we arrived at Dieppe in Normandy. from thence we set out Imediately and reached Torst1 at noon, from thence to Rouen where we Slept. Rouen is the Capital of Normandy, and you might expect I should give you some account of it; but we did not reach it till dusk, and at four oClock the next morning left it to pursue our rout. so I can only say the Streets are so narrow and the buildings so 1 Tôtes.

high, all of Wood and in the Gothic or rather no stile, that in passing through the streets it seem'd like going through an Arch. for the Houses seem almost to meet at their Tops their oposites; But we pushed on our Way, resolved to lose no time and reached Vaudrieul1 to Breakfast, and for the first time missed the Tea. we were served with Eggs, Chese, and Wine, etc. from this place we went on to Gaijon2 where we dined in the true French stile, or we would have Dined if we could; but the Victuals was so badly Dressed that even Frenchmen complained of it. however this did not move us in the least. we went on after Diner to Vernon, there made a short Stop. thence to Bonnières, where we had a good Supper and good Beds. We now live altogether in the French Stile. Deserts are brough[t] after meals as regular as the Table is laid. at 4 oClock next morning we went on to Roboise,3 from thence to Mentes, than to Meaulen 5 where we dined, than began our last Stage to this Great City where we arrived in the afternoon. we passed many Towns which would be tedious to mention. all Normandy through which we passed is very fertile and full of delightfull Landscapes. The hills are covered with Vines. I think from Normandy to Paris not so rich a Country, though it is rendered more butifull by the many Towns and Seats that are interspersed through out it, and the fine River Siene, by which we rode many miles, adds much to the beauty as well as convenience of the place. We provided a Knife and fork for our Pockets before we left London, for the People always Carry a knife about them in this Country. so none are laid on any Table. Wine is drank out of Tumblers; but you must know those French Wines are not so strong as our Cyder. no other liquor except a little Warter is drank sometimes mingled with

4

1 Vaudreuil.

2 Gaillon. • Rolleboise.

4 Manset. 5 Meulan.