Fuseli undertakes the Illustration of Cowper's Edition of Milton.--First notion of the "Milton Gallery" hence suggested.--Letter to Mr. Roscoe from Fuseli and Mr. Johnson.--Curious circumstances attending Fuseli's Election as a Royal Academician.--Sir Joshua Reynolds's temporary secession connected with that event.--Fuseli's progress in the pictures for the "Milton Gallery."--Controversy between Fuseli and the Rev. Mr. Bromley.--Subjects painted for "Woodmason's Illustrations of Shakspeare."--Subscription towards the completion of the Milton Gallery.--Letter from Mr. Roscoe.--Fuseli contributes to "Seward's Anecdotes."--His Visit to Windsor with Opie and Bonnycastle.--Anecdotes connected with that Visit.--Letter from Mr. Roscoe.--Mr. Johnson's Imprisonment, and Fuseli's adherence to him.--Anecdote of Lord Erskine.--Exhibition of the "Milton Gallery," and List of the Works composing it, with incidental Comments, &c.--Letter to Fuseli from his brother Rodolph.--Letter from Fuseli to Mr. Locke. The Shakspeare Gallery was now (in 1790) nearly completed, and hence Fuseli's commissions for this had ceased. The success which had attended Boydell, in his edition of Shakspeare's works, induced Mr. Johnson to issue proposals for publishing one of Milton, which should not only rival this, but, in point of letterpress, designs, and engravings, surpass any work which had previously appeared in England. Cowper had long meditated giving an edition of Milton's poetical works, with copious notes on his English poems, and translations into verse of those in Latin and Italian; and, indeed, he had made some progress in the undertaking. Johnson, who was his publisher, urged him to complete it; to which he assented, and Fuseli was engaged to paint thirty pictures, which were to be put into the hands of the ablest engravers of the time. Cowper proceeded with his part, and Fuseli laboured in putting upon canvass the sublime, the pathetic, and the playful scenes in Milton. That of "The Contest of Satan, Sin, and Death," was soon finished, and given to Sharpe to engrave. "Eve starting from seeing herself in the Water" was put into the hands of Bartolozzi. "Satan taking his flight from Chaos," and "Adam and Eve observed by Satan," were ready for the graver of Blake.