2. Masquerades and operas. _Burlington-gate. W. Hogarth inv. & sculp._ Of the three small figures in the center of this plate, the middle one is Lord _Burlington_, a man of considerable taste in Painting and Architecture, but who ranked Mr. _Kent_ (an indifferent artist) above his merit. On one side of the peer is Mr. _Campbell_, the architect; on the other, his lordship's postilion. On a show-cloth in this plate is also supposed to be the portrait of King _George_ II. who gave 1000 _l._ towards the masquerade; together with that of the Earl of _Peterborough_, who offers _Cuzzoni_, the _Italian_ singer, 8000 _l._ and she spurns at him.[1] Mr. _Heidegger_, the regulator of the Masquerade, is also exhibited, looking out at a window, with the letter _H._ under him. The substance of the foregoing remarks is taken from a collection lately belonging to Captain _Baillie_,[2] where it is said that they were furnished by an eminent Connoisseur.[3] A board is likewise displayed, with the words--"Long Room. _Fawks's_ dexterity of hand." It appears front the following advertisement in _Mist's Weekly Journal_ for _Saturday, December_ 25, 1725, that this artist was a man of great consequence in his profession. "Whereas the town hath lately been alarmed, that the famous _Fawks_ was robbed and murdered, returning from performing at the Dutchess of _Buckingham's_ house at _Chelsea_; which report being raised and printed by a person to gain money to himself, and prejudice the above mentioned Mr. _Fawks_, whose unparalleled performances have gained him so much applause from the greatest of quality, and most curious observers: We think, both in justice to the injured gentleman, and for the satisfaction of his admirers, that we cannot please our readers better than to acquaint them he is alive, and will not only perform his usual surprizing dexterity of hand, posture-master, and musical clock; but for the greater diversion of the quality and gentry, has agreed with the famous _Powell_ of _The Bath_ for the season, who has the largest, richest, and most natural figures, and finest machines in _England_, and whose former performances in _Covent Garden_ were so engaging to the town, as to gain the approbation of the best judges, to show his puppet-plays along with him, beginning in the _Christmas_ holidays next, at the old _Tennis-court_ in _James-Street_, near _The Haymarket_; where any incredulous persons may be satisfied he has not left this world, if they please to believe their hands, though they can't believe their eyes."--"_May_ 25," indeed, "1731, died Mr. _Fawkes_, famous for his dexterity of hand, by which he had honestly acquired a fortune of above 10,000 _l._ being no more than he really deserved for his great ingenuity, by which he had surpassed all that ever pretended to that art." Political State, vol. XLI. p. 543.