[23] Mr. Townley, under the signature of a connoisseur, wrote the following lines to Mr. Hogarth on his _Analysis of Beauty_:-- "How could you dare, advent'rous man, To execute so bold a plan, Or such unheard of truths advance? At once so rashly to oppose Those fierce, outrageous, hardy foes, _Fraud_, _Prejudice_, and _Ignorance_! "To their despotic, cruel sway, Fair Science long has been a prey, All _modern art_ they trampled down; The rising genius they deprest, The British taste they turned to jest, And damn'd at once--because our own. "The slavish principle _I_ caught, The southern land of merit sought, And learn'd to think, to see, to say Eager I ran through every town, Penn'd every observation down, And gather'd judgment by the way. "On foreign tales and terms of art, On scraps of French, got well by heart, And _learned guides_, was my reliance; With light and shade my head I fill, The _style_ of schools was all my skill. _The painter's name_ was all my science. "Thus deeply tutor'd, I return'd, And o'er my tasteless country mourn'd; I pitied first, then laugh'd and sneer'd; Then curs'd the crude unfinish'd tints, The statues, busto's, vases, prints, When lo! th' ANALYSIS appear'd. "I smil'd and read; grew grave--read on; Was pleas'd; the truths apparent shone; Nor could my prejudice resist 'em. _The Line of Beauty_ I survey'd, The arguments I fairly weigh'd, And then acknowledg'd all your system. "With reverence, and respect, like you, The ancient works of art I view; But, like you, see with my own eyes; Abhor the tricks so grossly play'd, Lament the science sunk to trade, And dealers from my soul despise. "Pursue, unrivall'd yet, that art, Which bounteous nature did impart (Ne'er to be so profuse again): Our sons, in time to come, shall strive Where the chief honour they shall give, Or to your pencil or your pen." Hogarth had previously presented this gentleman with a volume of his prints, in return for which he received the following very flattering testimony to his talents:-- "TRINITY LANE, _Feb. 28, 1750_.