"I have been blamed for censuring the indelicacies of _Flemish_ and _Dutch_ painters, by comparing them with the _purity_ of _Hogarth_, against whom are produced many instances of indelicacy, and some repetitions of the same indelicacy. I will not defend myself by pleading that these instances are thinly scattered through a great number of his works, and that there is at least humour in most of the incidents quoted, and that they insinuate some reflection, which is never the case of the foreigners--but can I chuse but smile when one of the nastiest examples specified is from the burlesque of _Paul_ before _Felix_, professedly in ridicule of the gross images of the _Dutch_?" In consequence of private remarks from Mr. _W._ this questionable position, as well as a few others, had been obviated in my second impression of the trifling performance now offered to the public: but as our author cannot _chuse but smile_, when the occasion of his mirth was no longer meant to be in his way, I would ask, in defence of my former observation, if moralists usually attempt to reform profligates by writing treatises of profligacy? or, if painters have a right to chastise indelicacy, by exhibiting gross examples of it in their own performances? To become indecent ourselves, is an unwarrantable recipe for curing indecency in others. The obscenities of _Juvenal_ have hitherto met with no very successful vindication: "Few are the converts _Aretine_ has made." According to our critic's mode of reasoning, a homicide might urge that the crime of which he stands accused was committed only as a salutary example of the guilt of murder; nay, thus indeed every human offence might be allowed to bring with it its own apology.--I forbear to proceed in this argument, or might observe in behalf of our "foreigners," that their incidents insinuate some reflections as well as _Hogarth's_. The evacuations introduced in _Dutch_ pictures, most certainly inculcate the necessity of temperance, for those only who eat and drink too much at fairs, or in ale-houses, are liable to such public and unseemly accidents as _Heemskirk, Ostade,_ and _Teniers,_ have occasionally represented. If we are to look for "Sermons in stones, and good in everything," this inference is as fair as many which Mr. _W._ seems inclined to produce in honour of poor _Hogarth_, who, like _Shakspeare_, often sought to entertain, without keeping any moral purpose in view. But was there either wit or morality in _Hogarth's_ own evacuation against the door of a church, a circumstance recorded by Mr. _Forrest_ in his MS. tour, though prudently suppressed in his printed copy of it? Perhaps, following Uncle _Toby's_ advice, he had better have wiped the whole up, and said nothing about the matter. Our worthy Tour-writer, however, was by no means qualified to be the author of a Sentimental Journey. He rather (and purposely, as we are told) resembles _Ben Jonson's_ communicative traveller, who says to his companion,