A BOOK FOR A RAINY DAY [Illustration: JOHN THOMAS SMITH AUTHOR OF “NOLLEKENS AND HIS TIMES,” “A BOOK FOR A RAINY DAY,” ETC.] A BOOK FOR A RAINY DAY OR RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EVENTS OF THE YEARS 1766-1833 BY JOHN THOMAS SMITH EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY WILFRED WHITTEN WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM CONTEMPORARY PRINTS METHUEN & CO. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON _This Edition was first Published in 1905_ AUTHOR’S PREFACE The highly flattering manner in which my work, entitled _Nollekens and his Times_, was generally received, induced me to collect numerous scattered biographical papers, which I have considerably augmented with a variety of subjects, arranged chronologically, according to the years of my life. Some may object to my vanity, in expecting the reader of the following pages to be pleased with so heterogeneous a dish. It is, I own, what ought to be called a salmagundi, or it may be likened to various suits of clothes, made up of remnants of all colours. One promise I can make, that as my pieces are mostly of new cloth, they will last the longer. Dr. Johnson has said: “All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know, than not.” Lord Orrery, in a letter to Dr. Birch, dated November, 1741, makes the following observation: “I look upon anecdotes as debts due to the public, which every man, when he has that kind of cash by him, ought to pay.” J. T. SMITH. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS JOHN THOMAS SMITH _Frontispiece_ From an Engraving by WILLIAM SKELTON of the Drawing by JOHN JACKSON, R.A. NANCY DAWSON _Facing page_ 10 From a Contemporary Print. ROYAL ACADEMICIANS REFLECTING ON THE TRUE LINE OF BEAUTY AT THE LIFE ACADEMY, SOMERSET HOUSE. ” ” 14 From a Drawing by ROBERT CRUIKSHANK. THE DELIGHTS OF ISLINGTON ” ” 17 From the Engraving by CHARLES BRETHERTON of the Caricature by HENRY WILLIAM BUNBURY. “SING TANTARARA--VAUXHALL! VAUXHALL!” ” ” 24 From the Drawing by ROWLANDSON (_Microcosm of London_). GEORGE WHITEFIELD ” ” 32 From a Painting by NATHANIEL HONE, mezzotinted by GRENWOODE. JOHN RANN ” ” 38 From a Contemporary Print.