In _The Grub-Street Journal_ for _July_ 14, 1737, appeared the following paragraph: "Yesterday the scaffolding was taken down from before the picture of _The Good Samaritan_,[1] painted by Mr. _Hogarth_, on the Stair Case in _St. Bartholomew's_ Hospital, which is esteemed a very curious piece." _Hogarth_ paid his friend _Lambert_ for painting the landscape in this picture, and afterwards cleaned the whole at his own expence. To the imaginary merits of his coadjutor, the Analysis, p. 26, bears the following testimony: "The sky always gradates one way or other, and the rising or setting sun exhibits it in great perfection; the imitating of which was _Claud de Lorain's_ peculiar excellence, and is now Mr. _Lambert's_." [1] Of this picture Mr. _S. Ireland_ has a sketch in oil. 2. _The Pool of Bethesda_; large, by _Ravenet_ and _Picot_. A small one, by _Ravenet_, has been mentioned under 1748. Both very indifferent. Mr. _Walpole_ justly observes, that "the burlesque turn of our artist's mind mixed itself with his most serious compositions; and that, in _The Pool of Bethesda_, a servant of a rich ulcerated lady, beats back a poor man [perhaps woman] who sought the same celestial remedy." To this remark I may add, that the figure of the priest, in _The Good Samaritan_, is supremely comic, and rather resembles some purse-proud burgomaster, than the character it was designed to represent. On the top of the staircase at St. _Bartholomew's_ Hospital, and just under the cornice, is the following inscription, "The historical paintings of this staircase were painted and given by Mr. _William Hogarth_, and the ornamental paintings at his expence, A. D. 1736." Both pictures, which appear of an oblong square in the engravings, in the originals are surrounded with scroll-work which cuts off the corners of them, &c. All these ornaments, together with compartments carved at the bottom, were the work of Mr. _Richards_. Mr. _Boydell_ had the latter engraved on separate plates, appended to those above them, on which sufficient space had not been left.--_Hogarth_ requested that these pictures might never be varnished. They appear therefore to disadvantage, the decorations about them having, within these few years past, been highly glazed. _The Pool of Bethesda_ has suffered much from the sun; and _The Good Samaritan_, when lately cleaned, was pressed so hard against the straining frame, that several creases have been made in the canvas. * * * * * 1775. 1. The Politician [Mr. _Tibson_, lately a laceman in _The Strand_], from a sketch in oil, by _Hogarth_. Etched by _J. K. Sherwin_. Published _Oct._ 31, 1775. * * * * * 1781.