"Give me leave to return you my warmest thanks for your kindness. Though my circumstances did not permit me to spend as many hours as I could have wished under your hospitable roof, every moment I passed with you and Mrs. Johnson, added some new obligation to those which you had already heaped on me and mine, and it will be one of my warmest wishes to be able to shew, at some time or other, that my gratitude lies deeper than my lips. "I have spent a day or two at Purser's Cross, which is the name of your Uncle's place; though in the neighbourhood of London, it is a sweet retired and healthful spot, and if he could be persuaded to spend more of his time at it, must be eminently conducive to his health. I hope Mrs. Johnson has not forgot her promise, to come and reside and nurse him there, as soon as it is in her power. * * * * * "Please to present my best compliments to all the friends I saw at your house, or in your company. "I am, dear sir, "Your obedient friend and servant, "Henry Fuseli." "Joseph Johnson, Esq." CHAPTER X. The Biographer's Introduction to Fuseli.--New Edition of Pilkington's Dictionary of Painters, superintended by Fuseli.--Establishment of the British Institution, and Fuseli's limited Contributions to the Exhibition there.--Subject from Dante.--Fuseli's Remarks on Blake's Designs.--His Lectures on Painting renewed.--Tribute of esteem from the Students of the Academy.--Letter.--Death of Mr. Johnson, and Fuseli's sympathy on the occasion.--Fuseli re-elected to the Professorship of Painting at the Royal Academy. In June 1825, Mr. Bonnycastle, late Professor of Mathematics to the Royal Military College at Woolwich, who had then been the intimate friend of Fuseli for twenty-five years, introduced me to him, having observed previously to this introduction, that I should find him a man of the most extensive knowledge, quickness of perception, ready wit, and acuteness of remark, that I had ever met with. This introduction was soon followed by daily intercourse between Fuseli and myself, which ripened into the sincerest friendship, and was the cause of my passing with him many of the happiest hours of my life. In the year 1805, some of the booksellers wishing to publish an improved edition of Pilkington's Dictionary of Painters, applied to Fuseli, through Mr. Johnson, to be the editor. In consequence of the solicitation of this friend, he accepted the task, but with reluctance, as he had a mean opinion of the work, and constantly designated its author a driveller. To the original he added a great number of names, and either re-wrote the lives, or inserted in notes the characters of most of the principal painters of the several schools.