those who have excelled in the same Employ, to discover what Lights they have struck out, and to avail himself of their Improvements, from which tis to be hoped he will derive great advantage. After what I have said, I need not use many Arguments to induce you to cultivate an Acquaintance with him, and to shew him every Civility in your Power. In a visit I lately made to Charles Town, South Carolina, I saw Mr. Bambridge, who is settled very advantageously there, and prosecutes his Profession with Reputation and sucess. Your Friend Mr. Powel1 is well. With great Regard I am, Sir, Your most Obedient and Very humble Servant, SIR, A Monsieur L'Abbé Grant 2 JOHN MORGAN. PHILADELPHIA, Novr. 24, 1773 Tis now a long while since I did myself the honour of writing to you. tis much longer since I have had the honour of hearing from you. The Bearer Mr. Copley intending for Italy will probably see you. Glad am I of an Oppertunity of introducing him to your Acquaintance as an Artist in Painting. I put him on the same footing with my Country Man Mr. West, in which I believe it will be found I have not disparaged that now justly celebrated Painter. I think it an Honour to America that such an illustrious Pair have been produced in this Country; who by the strength of their own Genius, and without the assistance of able Masters have deservedly acquired Reputation amongst the first Rate Painters in the Mother Country. Mr. West has already enjoyed the benefit of improving himself since his Genius shone forth, in the Schools of Italy, and in Studying the best Models, and works of the first Masters. This is what Mr. Copley is now in persuit of. Time will make manifest whether 1 Samuel Powel. * Peter Grant (d. 1784). See Dictionary of National Biography, XXII. 400. he is as capable of improving those advantages. For my own part I have an exalted Opinion of his Genius, and think him even superior in that respect to some of those whose works he is now gone to study, tho' I am perswaded his Genius will receive great helps from the Works of Art, those almost super-natural Exhibitions to be met with in Italy of Raphael, Angelo, Corregio, Titian, Guido, Dominicino, Guerchino and others. I perswade myself you will be much pleased with Mr. Copleys Acquaintance, and that you will chearfully assist him, as far as lays in your power, to procure Access to whatever is most worthy of his Study, Observation or Pursuit. I have lately been on a public Mission from the Trustees of the College at Philadelphia to Jamaica to extend the knowledge of this Institution, and the advantages it may be of to such of the youth whose Parents may think proper to send them here for education, and to procure some Assistance towards establishing it on the most extensive and permanent foundation. I was there but about ten Months, in which time, I procured Subscriptions for carrying on the Design to the amount of between four and five thousand pounds sterling, and a Number of their Children are since come over to study at the College of Philadelphia, and others are preparing to follow. My fellow Traveller Mr. Powel is well and joins me in the warmest Wishes for your Wellfare. I am with unfeigned Regard, Dr. Sir, Your much obliged Affectionate Friend, and most obedt. humble Servt. JOHN MORGAN. SIR, Dr. John Morgan to Isaac Jamine au PHILADELPHIA, November 24, 1773. I did myself the Honour of writing to you about four months ago by Mr. Bingham from this place, which I hope came safe to hand. This will be presented to you by Mr. Copley a very celebrated Painter from Boston, who proposes very shortly to sail for Italy, with a View of improving himself in that art, from the helps that are to be met with there, and from studying the works of those immortal Genii who have shone forth so illustriously for their skill and Imitation of Nature. Mr. Copley may justly be looked upon as the greatest Painter we have ever yet had in America. I do not mean to except Mr. West, who was doubtless far short of Mr. Copley at the time he left America, however considerable his improvments were after he had the advantage of Studying in Italy. Perhaps History cannot furnish a single Instance of any Person, who with so little Assistance from others, and so few Oppertunities of seeing any thing worth studying has by the force of his Genius and by close Application to study Nature, arrived to such preheminance in Painting as Mr. Copley. Although I have not the least acquaintance with Mr. Copley, nor ever seen him in my Life, yet from some paintings I have seen done by him, and Accounts of others who are no mean Judges, and have seen more of his performances, as well as from his excellent moral Character, I am perswaded you will be much pleased with his Acquaintance. Several of Mr. Copleys friends and my own have apply'd to me, without his knowledge, for Letters of Introduction to some Gentlemen of Weight and Character in Italy whose acquaintance might be the means of making his Merit better known, and thereby securing to him the greater Advantages and procuring him the best Oppertunities of gaining information of and access to what may be most worthy of his Study and Persuit. Knowing of none to whom I can with so much propriety recommend him on these Acc'ts as to you, I have taken the Liberty, my good Sir, of begging the favour of your Countenance and Patronage of this worthy person, from whose Acquaintance I doubt not you will derive great pleasure. I should not wonder to hear some time hence, that others who resort to Italy to study the Labours of those departed for ages past, should be very ambitious to be made acquainted with this living Artist; and if some who are esteemed Masters, should condescend to study a little the works of one, appearing under the Character of a Student or Novitiate. But I leave it to yourself, who are so good a judge of Merit, to decide for yourself. Wishing you all possible Happiness, I remain, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and much obliged humble Servant, JOHN MORGAN. Copley to Jonathan and Isaac Winslow Clarke1 DEAR SIRS, [December 1, 1773.1 On my return to the Meeting (after making an apology for so greatly exceeding the time propossed by me when I left it,) I made use of every argument my thoughts could suggest to draw the people from their unfavourable oppinion of you, and to convince them your opposition was neither the effect of obstinacy or unfriendliness to the community; but altogether from necessity on your part to discharge a trust commited to you, a failure in would subject you to ruin in your reputation as Merchants, to ruin in point of fortune your friends having engaged for you in very large sums; Nyours affectionately un- Graad Parke that you were uninfluanced by any persons what ever, that you had not seen the Governor that Day (this last I urged in answer to some very warm things that were said on this head in which You were charged with acting under the Imediate influance of the Governor which in justice to you and him I undertook to say from my own knowledg was not true.) I observed you did not decline appearing in that Body from any Suspicion that your Persons would 1 Sons of Richard Clarke and brothers-in-law of Copley. See Sabine, Loyalists of the American Revolution, 1. 316. not be intirely safe. But as the People had drawn the precise Line of Conduct that would sattisfy them, You thought your appear[an]ce in that Meeting would only tend to inflame it unless you could do what they demanded from you, which being impossable you thought they aught not to insist on; that you did not bring your selves into this Dificulty and therefore, aught not to be pressed to do an Act that would involve you in Ruin, etc. I further observed you had shewn no disposition to bring the Teas into the Town, nor would you; But only must be excused from being the Active instruments in sending it back. that the way was Clear for them to send it back by the Political Storm as they term'd it, raised by the Body as by that the Capt. could not unload it, and must return of Coarse, that your refusal by no means frustrated their plan. In short I have done every possable thing, and altho there was a unanimus vote past Declaring this unsatti[s]factory yet it cooled the Resentment and they Desolved without doing or saying any thing that showd an ill temper to you. I have been told and I beleive it true, that after I left the Meeting Addams1 said they must not expect you should Ruin your selves. I think all stands well at present. Before the temper of the People could be judg'd of, we sent Cousin Harry to your Hon'd Father to urge his Imediate Departure to you. You will see him this Day. I have no doubt in my own mind you must stay where you are till the Vessel sails that is now in, at least; but I beleive not Longer; Then I think you will be able to return with Honour to Town, some few things in the mean while being done on your part. I had a Long and free conversation with Doc'r Warren, which will be renued this afternoon with the addition of Col❜l Hancock. Cousin Benj'n Davis is to be with us. I must 1 This is doubtful. [Note by Copley.] |