My Dear Brother

Please to remember that you, Miss Veronica, Miss
Femie, Sandie & Jamie are to favour us with your com-
pany to our turky on monday the 2d of January.

You mentioned last night that you wished us to
dine with you on Christmas day; be so good as to let
me know if you are still in the same mind, that I
may direct my operations accordingly, Yours

Tuesday

T. D. Boswell

Sir. J. R. His Father was very fond of drawings he drew himself/, & loved to encourage his children in drawing. His two elder sisters did little things (Q WHAT ) & he copied them. He used to copy all the frontispieces & plates in Books particularly those in Plutarch's Lives. But his great fund of imitation was Jacob Catt's Book which his Grandmother a Dutchwoman had brought over At eight year old he read blank 's Perspective which taught him it so well, he has never studied any book on it since. He drew the school at Plympten which is founded on granite pillars (Q) & he did it so well that his Father said "Now this exemplifies what the Author says in his Preface that by observing these rules a man may

do wonders; for this is wonderful." He than began to try likenesses of relations & friends--rubbed them out & did them again. When he read Richardson's Principles of Painting he was struck with admiration of the Art--thought it beyond all others--thought Raphael beyond Pope & all eminent persons--and indeed (said he /smiling/ 20 Decr. 1791) I have indulged that notion all along. He did not employ himself much in Landscape. He has done one of Richmond not very well (Q where) and one of which Lord has. But he observed that he wished only for as much of it as to form a background for a Picture. Mugus said he continent minus ; & every historical painter must be able to paint both portrait and landscape. He had I thought too mechanical a notion as to painting; for he held there was no particular for natural genius & that any child/not defective in organs / might be taught to do a Portrait some better, some worse no doubt. He

He entered to paint with Mr. Hudson in E blank Teneaster.

While with him Cox the Auctioneer was selling Lord

Soon after