(449) John Pine the artist, who published “The Procession and Ceremonies at the Installation of the Knights of the Bath, 17th of June, 1725;” folio, 1730; and, in 1739, “The Tapestry Hangings of the House of Lords,” etc. sat for the Fat Friar in Hogarth’s Gates of Calais, and received from that circumstance the name of “Friar Pine,” which he retained till his death.  E.

Letter 228 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(450) Berkeley Square, Nov. 7. 1781. (page 290)

Yesterday, Sir, I received the favour of your letter with the inclosed prologue,(451) and am extremely pleased with it; not only as it omits mention of me, for which I give you my warmest thanks, but as a composition.  The thoughts are just and happily expressed; and the conclusion is so lively and well conceived, that Mr. Harris, to whom I carried it this morning, thinks it will have great effect.  We are very sorry you have not sent us an epilogue too; but, before I touch on that, I will be more regular in my details.  Miss Younge has accepted the part very gracefully; and by a letter I have received from her, in answer to mine, will, I flatter myself, take care to do justice to it.  Nay, she is so zealous, that Mr. Harris tells me she has taken great pains with the young person who is to play the daughter, but whose name I cannot at this moment recollect.(452)

I must now confess that I have been again alarmed.  I had a message from Mr. Harris on Saturday last to tell me that the performers had been so alert, and were so ready with their parts, and the many disappointments that had happened this season had been so prejudicial to him, that it would be easy and necessary to bring out your play next Saturday the 10th, and desired to have the prologue and epilogue.  This precipitation made me apprehend that justice would not be done to your tragedy.  Still I did not dare to remonstrate; nor would venture to damp an ardour which I could not expect to excite again.  Instead of objecting to his haste, I only said I had not received your prologue and epilogue, but had written for them and expected them every Minute, though, as it depended on winds, one could never be sure.  I trusted to accidents for delay; at least I thought I could contrive some, without seeming to combat what he thought for his interest.

I have not been mistaken.  On receiving your prologue yesterday, I came to town to-day and carried it to him, to show him I lost no time.  He told me Mr. Henderson was not enough recovered, but he hoped would be well enough to bring out the play on Saturday se’nnight.  That he had had a rough rehearsal yesterday morning, with which he had been charmed; and was persuaded, and that the performers think so too. that your play will have great effect.  All this made me very easy.  There is to be a regular rehearsal on Saturday, for which I shall stay in town on purpose; and, if I find the performers perfect, I think there will be no objection to its appearance on Saturday se’nnight.  I shall rather prefer that day to a later; as, the Parliament not being met, it will have a week’s run before politics interfere.