I received this explanation from an ingenious friend.--The late Mr. _Rogers_ explained it thus: "Mr. _Pitt_ is represented in it sitting at his ease [in the position of the great Sir _Isaac Newton_ in _Westminster-Abbey_], with a mill-stone hanging over his head, on which is written 3000 _l._ in allusion to his saying, that _Hanover_ was a mill-stone round the neck of _England_, on account of the expences attending it; and his afterwards adding himself to the public expences by accepting a pension of 3000 _l._ a year. He is firing a mortar-piece levelled at a Dove bearing an olive-branch (the symbol of peace) perched on the standard of _England_; and is supported by the City of _London_, denoted by the two Giants in _Guildhall. Hogarth_ is flogging _Wilkes_ and _Churchill_, and making them dance to the scrapings of a fidler; designed to represent a Nobleman [Earl _Temple_], who patronized them in 1763, and who, for his unmeaning face, has ever been described without a feature. See _Trusler's_ Preface, p. vii." [72] It may be worth observing, that in "Independence," a poem which was not published by _Churchill_ till the last week of _September_, 1764, he considers his antagonist as a departed Genius: "_Hogarth_ would draw him (Envy must allow) E'en to the life, WAS HOGARTH LIVING NOW." How little did the sportive Satirist imagine that the power of pleasing was so soon to cease in both! _Hogarth_ died in four weeks after the publication of this poem; and _Churchill_ survived him but nine days. In some lines which were printed in _November_ 1764, the compiler of these Anecdotes took occasion to lament that "----Scarce had the friendly tear, For _Hogarth_ shed, escap'd the generous eye Of feeling Pity, when again it flow'd For _Churchill's_ fate. Ill can we bear the loss Of Fancy's twin-born offspring, close ally'd In energy of thought, though different paths They sought for fame! Though jarring passions sway'd The living artists, let the funeral wreath Unite their memory!" [73] The _Monthly Reviewer_ unintentionally reads _supper_, instead of _dinner_. As to this article of minute intelligence, whether it be true or false, it was communicated by Mrs. _Lewis_. [74] Mr. _Walpole_ once invited _Gray_ the Poet and _Hogarth_ to dine with him; but what with the reserve of the one, and a want of colloquial talents in the other, he never passed a duller time than between these representatives of _Tragedy_ and _Comedy_, being obliged to rely entirely on his own efforts to support conversation. [75] The most solid praise, perhaps, that ever was given to our artist, was a legacy of 100 _l._ "for the great pleasure the testator had received from his works." [76] Originally begun for a portrait of Mrs. _Cholmondeley_, but altered, after one or two sittings, to the Queen. [77] See p. 9.