Hogarth was one of the most absent minded of men. Soon after he set up his carriage, he had occasion to pay a visit to the Lord Mayor. When he went, the weather was fine; but he was detained by business till a violent shower of rain came on. Being let out of the mansion house by a different door from the one at which he had entered, he immediately began to call for a hackney coach. Not being able to procure one, he braved the storm, and actually reached his house in Leicester Fields, without bestowing a thought on his carriage, till his wife, astonished to see him so wet, asked him where he had left it. HOGARTH’S MARCH TO FINCHLEY. Hogarth disposed of this celebrated picture by lottery. There were eighteen hundred and forty-three chances subscribed for; he gave the remaining one hundred and sixty-seven tickets to the Foundling Hospital, and the same night delivered the picture to the governors. HOGARTH’S UNFORTUNATE DEDICATION OF A PICTURE. Hogarth dedicated his picture of the March to Finchley to George II. The following dialogue is said to have ensued, on this occasion, between the sovereign and the nobleman in waiting: “Pray, who is this Hogarth?” “A painter, my liege.” “I hate painting, and poetry too; neither the one nor the other ever did any good.” “The picture, please your majesty, must undoubtedly be considered as a burlesque.” “What! burlesque a soldier? He deserves to be picketed for his insolence. Take his trumpery out of my sight.” HOGARTH’S MANNER OF SELLING HIS PICTURES. Hogarth supported himself by the sale of his prints: the prices of his pictures kept pace neither with his fame nor with his expectations. He knew, however, the passion of his countrymen for novelty--how they love to encourage whatever is strange and mysterious; and hoping to profit by these feelings, the artist determined to sell his principal paintings by an auction of a very singular nature. On the 25th of January, 1745, he offered for sale the six paintings of the Harlot’s Progress, the eight paintings of the Rake’s Progress, the Four Times of the Day, and the Strolling Actresses, on the following conditions: “1. Every bidder shall have an entire leaf numbered in the book of sale, on the top of which will be entered his name and place of abode, the sum paid by him, the time when, and for what picture. 2. That on the day of sale, a clock, striking every five minutes, shall be placed in the room; and when it has struck five minutes after twelve, the first picture mentioned in the sale book shall be deemed as sold; the second picture when the clock has struck the next five minutes after twelve; and so on in succession, till the whole nineteen pictures are sold. 3. That none advance anything short of gold at each bidding.