Dr. _Morell_, an intimate friend of Mr. _Hogarth_, who was applied to for information, returned for answer: "His excellencies, as well as his foibles, are so universally known, that I cannot add to the former, and would not, if I could, to the latter. I should think we lived in a very ill-natured world, if the whims and follies in a man's life were to be exposed, and his oddities and mistakes, _ubi plura nitent_, seriously condemned. But the unhappy affair of _Sigismunda_ requires animadversion. And I will venture to say that even this _Sigismunda_ would not have deserved so many hard things as have been said of it, if Mr. _Hogarth_ had timely and properly observed the caution--_Manum de Tabula_. But it was so altered, upon the criticism of one Connoisseur or another; and especially when, relying no longer upon strength of genius, he had recourse to the _feigned_ tears and _fictitious_ woe of a female friend; that, when it appeared at the exhibition, I scarce knew it again myself, and from a passable picture it became little better than the wretched figure here represented. In my opinion, I never saw a finer resemblance of flesh and blood, while the canvas was warm, I mean _wet_; but, like that of real flesh, as soon as it was chilled, the beauty wore off. And this, he said, could not be helped, as no colours, but those of pure nature, as _ultramarine_, &c. would keep their natural brightness. But it is granted that colouring was not Mr. _Hogarth's_ forte; and the subject we are upon is a disagreeable one." [57] The first sketch in oil for _Sigismunda_, and a drawing from the finished picture, are in the possession of Mr. _Samuel Ireland_. [58] At the Club of Artists, it was not unusual to reproach _Hogarth_ with want of due attention to the Ancients, whom he always affected to despise. It accidentally happened that Mr. _Basire_, whilst this plate was in hand, was employed likewise in engraving, for the Society of Antiquaries, two plates of an antique bronze from the collection of Mr. _Hollis_, so remarkably grotesque, that Mr. _Hogarth_ very readily consented that his plate should be postponed, and declared, "he could not have imagined that the Ancients had possessed so much humour." [59] Some subscriptions were actually received, and the money returned. The munificient Mr. _Hollis_, who was one of the subscribers, refused to take back what he had paid; and it was given by Mr. _Basire_ to a public charity. [60] Two other little pieces are ascribed to him; the distich under the subscription-ticket for his _Sigismunda_, 1761, 'To Nature and yourself appeal; Nor learn of others how to feel.' And the following well-known Epigram: