[3] The public are indebted for many of the particulars of Fuseli's early life to this gentleman, who died in 1816, and was a canon of Zurich. [4] Fuseli ever considered Richardson a man of great genius, and one who had a key to the human heart, and was very indignant, in the latter period of his life, with a gentleman who spoke contemptuously of Clarissa Harlowe. This person said in his presence, "No one now reads the works of Richardson." "Do they not?" said Fuseli, "then by G----d they ought. If people are now tired of old novels, I should be glad to know your criterion of books. If Richardson is old, Homer is obsolete. Clarissa, to me, is pathetic--is exquisite; I never read it without crying like a child." [5] "The Frank Intelligencer." [6] The late Mr. Henry Füessli, of Zurich, from whom the writer has received much information. Just as this Memoir was completed, this gentleman closed his mortal career. He died on the 1st of May, 1829, in his seventy-fifth year. Mr. Füessli was a landscape painter, and held the honourable situation of President of the Society of Artists at Zurich. He had been labouring for some years under occasional attacks of asthma, and died therefrom much regretted. [7] Mrs. Fuseli died at Zurich, 11 April, 1759, aged 44 years. She was a woman of a most amiable disposition, and respected by all who knew her. [8] "Do but the seventh part of what thou canst." [9] This charter, however, was never granted; the artists received the patronage of the King, and were by his command associated under the title of "The Royal Academy." Among its early members we find the names of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Wilson, who for talent in the several departments of the art in which they practised, have rendered their names immortal. [10] Fuseli wrote in pencil, under this figure, "Fuseli amor mio."--Mr. Ottley saw this still remaining in the year 1792, when he was at Bologna, and added "anche amor mio."--W. Y. Ottley. [11] This was a satirical drawing of the Painters in England at that time. [12] Doctor Armstrong died in September 1779. [13] Mr. Füessli died at Zurich the 6th of May, 1781. [14] I beg here to acknowledge my gratitude to Mr. Roscoe for having allowed me to peruse the letters which he had received from Fuseli during a period of more than forty years, from which I have gleaned much useful information, and have only to regret, I am sure, in common with every reader of this memoir, that he did not accede to my wishes of being the biographer of his friend. [15] The omissions in this and the succeeding letter, where asterisks are placed, relate only to the names of subscribers to the translation of Homer. [16] Samuel Johnson. [17] Ἀνδρασι πυγμαιοισι φονον καὶ κηρα φερουσαι· Iliad, iii. v. 6. [18] Των αυθ' Ὑρτακιδης ηρχ' Ἀσιος, ὀρχαμος ἀνδρων Ἀσιος Ὑρτακιδης.---- Iliad, ii. v. 837-8. [19] Iliad, v. v. 722-31.