Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1830 edition. Excerpt: ... pictures; not with any intention of exposing it for sale, but merely that it might be seen by the public: unfortunately there was no space for it, and it was never unrolled. An etching was to have been made from it for Hayley's Life of Mr. Romney; but the head of Christ was only taken, and that very imperfectly, and I never knew what became of the canvass after. In the Milton, which he was in the habit of studying, all the most striking and picturesque passages are marked, or underlined, by him; so that it may be regarded as a valuable painter's book. Mr. Romney was naturally of a placid and easy disposition, and it was only in the decline of life, when his health was impaired by application, and his feelings ruffled by peculiar circumstances, that he manifested that morbidness of feeling, which Mr. Hayley has been so particular in noticing, The love of retirement, combining its influence with this diseased state of his mind, soon began to generate visionary and expensive schemes, which, instead of ministering to his comfort, aggravated his infirmities. He had lived so long in peculiar habits, that he had lost the just conception of that happiness, which results from retirement; its impressions, however, still DEGREESremained on his memory, but distorted and exaggerated by the influence of a distempered imagination. From his youth he meditated'on retirement; it was a family propensity, or (as some, perhaps, may think) failing; his father felt its influence, and my sentiments will appear from the following Sonnet. My Wish. O may it be my happy lot to dwell With sweet Retirement, nymph of placid mien, (Far from the proud, the heartless, and the mean, ) In some sequester'd and romantic dell. There wrapt in visions, by bright fancy's spell, Oft
