The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-08 00:00:00

THE LATE MR. NOLLEKENS.

The. people. have heard a
,good deal of the
parsimony of Mr. NoLLEik.}:l4; his liberality is
less known. It may not tf amiss to observe,
that profuse people are seldom able to be liberal :
they generally expend too much on themselves to
have any thing to bestow on others. The fol-
lowing instance of liberality by Mr. N. are from
an account of his life in the 44 Annual Biography
and Obituary" for 1824 :
" In private life, Mr. NOLLEKENS was considered penuri-
ous. It frequently happens, however, that parsimony, in
trifling matters, is found to be perfectly compatible with gene-
rosity in things of moment. It was so in a great degree with
Mr. Nollekens. While he would hesitate to give half-a-crown
to the servant who had brought him a haunch of venison from
his friend the late Lord Yarborough, he would not scruple to
put five pounds into the hands of atiy distressed applicant whom
he thought deserving of relief. Numerous examples might be
adduced of his liberality in this respect. He had formerly an
uncle who lived in France, to whom he allowed thirty
pounds per annum ; and at various times he admitted regular
pensioners on his bounty. The following anecdote affords fur-
ther and very pleasing proofs of the great kindness of his dis-
position.

" A Mr. R----, formerly well known as the publisher of
some valuable antiquarian works, was for many years in habits
of intimacy with Mr. Nollekens. One day he called at Mr.
Nolleken's studio, and appearing much depressed, Mr. Nolle-
kens asked what was the matter. He complained of faint-
ness and extremely low spirits ; on which Mr. Nollekens said,
'Go to the pump, and get a glass of cold water.' The poor
fellow turned away with a big tear standing in his eye at
such apparently unfeeling advice; This silent reproach,
though unobserved by Nollekens, was noticed by Mr. Smith
(the father of the present keeper of the prints in the British
Museum), who was at the time Mr. Nollekens' principal
assistant. Immediately after the retirement of Mr. R—, Mr.
Smith told Mr. Nollekens that he. had unnecessarily wounded
the feelings of a distressed man. Nollekens, who had really
recommended the cold water as the best remedy for low
spirits, because it was that to which he himself had con-
stantly had recourse, was shocked to think that he could have
been so misunderstood, and went directly to the house of Mr.
.R._____., whom he found, no doubt, indulging in bitter reflections
'on his old croney's unkindness. ' Tell me what's the matter,'
said Nollekens; ' I recommended cold water to you, not
from indifference but as the best advice I could give you.
Tell me as a friend the cause of your a r iction.' Ile imme-
diately laid open his situation, and it appeared that he had
outlived the demand for his works, and that his circumstances
would compel him to quit a house in which lie had resided for
thirty years, and in which he had hoped to die. Nollekens
urged the propriety of his giving up the house and retiring to
cheap lodgings. This advice increased Mr. R.'s distress, which
Nollekens perceiving, thus closed the conversation—' Well,
well, remain in the house; keep your old study, and what
other rooms you want; let out the rest ; and here, take this
(giving twenty guineas, twisted up in a paper, and evidently
prepared for the purpose), and mind I will send you the same
sum every year while you live.'—Mr. Nolleketts kept his
word."