The incidents attending his voyage to Italy, and his introduction to the artists, virtuosi, and travellers at Rome, were still more auspicious. Taken in connection with his previous history, they form one of the most remarkable illustrations of the doctrine of fortune, or destiny, that is to be found in authentic biography. Without any knowledge of his abilities or acquirements, his arrival in the capital of Christendom, the seat of the arts, was regarded as an interesting event: his person was contemplated as an object of curiosity; and a strong disposition to applaud his productions, was excited by the mere accident of his having come from America to study the fine arts. A prepossession so extraordinary has no parallel. It would almost seem, as if there had been some arrangement in the order of things that would have placed Mr. West in the first class of artists, although he had himself mistaken the workings of ambition for the consciousness of talent. Many men of no inconsiderable fame have set out in their career with high expectations in their favour; but few, of whom such hopes were entertained, have, by a succession of works, in which the powers of the mind were seemingly unfolded with more and more energy, so long continued to justify the presentiments of his early friends. It is not, however, the object of this undertaking to form any estimate of the genius of Mr. West, or of the merits of his works; another opportunity, distinct from his memoirs, will be taken for that purpose; but only to resume the narrative of his progress, in his profession, by which it will appear that a series of circumstances no less curious than those which tended to make him an artist, facilitated his success, and placed him in that precise station in society, where, in this country, at the time, there was the only chance of profitable employment as an historical painter. Contents. Part II. Chap. I. Mr. West arrives in England.--Relative Condition of Artists in Society.--Mr. West's American Friends in this Country.--Of Governor Hamilton and Mr. Allen.--Circumstances favourable to their Reception in the Circles of Fashion.--Mr. West's Visit to Bath, and Excursions to see some of the Collections of Art in England.--He settles as a Portrait Painter.--Introduction to Burke and Dr. Johnson.--Anecdote of a Monk, the Brother of Mr. Burke.--Introduction to Archbishop Drummond.--Mr. West's Marriage. Chap. II. Some Notice of Archbishop Drummond.--Mr. West paints a Picture for His Grace.--His Grace's Plan to procure Engagements for Mr. West as an Historical Painter.--Project for ornamenting St. Paul's Cathedral with Pictures.--Anecdote of Dr. Terrick, Bishop of London.--The Altar-piece of St. Stephen's Walbrook.--State of public Taste with respect to the Arts.--Anecdotes of Hogarth and Garrick. Chap. III.