By printed proposals, dated _Jan_. 25, 1744-5, _Hogarth_ offered to the highest bidder "the six pictures called _The Harlot's Progress_, the eight pictures called _The Rake's Progress_, the four pictures representing _Morning, Noon, Evening,_ and _Night,_ and that of _A Company of Strolling Actresses dressing in a Barn_; all of them his own original paintings, from which no other copies than the prints have ever been taken." The biddings were to remain open from the first to the last day of _February_, on these conditions: "1. That every bidder shall have an entire leaf numbered in the book of sale, on the top of which will be entered the name and place of abode, the sum paid by him, the time when, and for which picture.--That, on the last day of sale, a clock (striking every five minutes) shall be placed in the room; and when it hath struck five minutes after twelve, the first picture mentioned in the sale-book will be deemed as sold; the second picture when the clock hath struck the next five minutes after twelve; and so on successively till the whole nineteen pictures are sold. 3. That none advance less than gold at each bidding. 4. No person to bid on the last day, except those whose names were before entered in the book.--As Mr. _Hogarth's_ room is but small, he begs the favour that no persons, except those whose names are entered in the book, will come to view his paintings on the last day of sale." The pictures were sold for the following prices: Six Harlot's Progress, at 14 guineas each £.88 4 0 Eight Rake's Progress, at 22 guineas each 184 16 0 Morning, 20 guineas 21 0 0 Noon, 37 guineas 38 17 0 Evening, 38 guineas 39 18 0 Night, 26 guineas 27 6 0 Strolling Players, 26 guineas 27 6 0 -------- 427 7 0 At the same time the six pictures of _Marriage à-la-mode_ were announced as intended for sale as soon as the plates then taking from them should be completed. This set of Prints may be regarded as the ground-work of a novel called "The Marriage Act," by Dr. _Shebbeare_, and of "The Clandestine Marriage." In the prologue to that excellent comedy, Mr. _Garrick_ thus handsomely expressed his regard for the memory of his friend: