_George Taylor_ was a famous boxer, who died _February_ 21, 1750. A writer already quoted speaks of him in these terms: "_George Taylor_, known by the name of _George the Barber_, sprang up surprisingly. He has beat all the chief boxers but _Broughton_. He, I think, injudiciously fought him one of the first, and was obliged very soon to give out. Doubtless it was a wrong step in him to commence a boxer by fighting the standing champion: for _George_ was not then twenty, and _Broughton_ was in the zenith of his age and art. Since that he has greatly distinguished himself with others; but has never engaged _Broughton_ more. He is a strong able boxer, who, with a skill extraordinary, aided by his knowledge of the small and back swords, and a remarkable judgement in the cross-buttock fall, may contest with any. But, please or displease, I am resolved to be ingenuous in my characters. Therefore I am of opinion, that he is not overstocked with that necessary ingredient of a boxer, called a _bottom_; and am apt to suspect that blows of equal strength with his too much affect him and disconcert his conduct." _Godfrey on the Science of Defence_, p. 61. On _Taylor's_ tombstone in _Deptford_ church-yard is the following epitaph: Farewell ye honours of my brow! Victorious wreaths farewell! One trip from Death has laid me low, By whom such numbers fell. Yet bravely I'll dispute the prize, Nor yield, though out of breath: 'Tis but a fall--I yet shall rise, And conquer--even DEATH. The idea, however, is all that can merit praise in these rough outlines by _Hogarth_. Some graver critics, indeed, may think our artist has treated the most solemn of all events with too great a degree of levity. 9. Nine prints of _Hogarth's_ Tour from drawings by _Hogarth_, &c. accompanied with nine pages of letter press. The frontispiece of this work (Mr. _Somebody_) was designed by _Hogarth_, as emblematical of their journey, _viz._ that it was a short Tour by land and water, backwards and forwards, without head or tail. The 9th is the tail-piece (Mr. _Nobody_) of the same whimsical nature with the first; the whole being intended as a burlesque on historical writers recording a series of insignificant events intirely uninteresting to the reader. "Some few copies of the Tour," says Mr. _Walpole_,[1] "were printed by Mr. _Nichols_ in the preceding year. It was a party of pleasure down the river into _Kent_, undertaken by Mr. _Hogarth_, Mr. _Scott_, and three of their friends, in which they intended to have more humour than they accomplished, as is commonly the case in such meditated attempts. The Tour was described in verse by one of the company, and the drawings executed by the painters, but with little merit, except the views taken by Mr. _Scott_."