[ *4* j

It is evident to you, Sir, that I do not mean to give
any thing like a complete lift of female artifts : nor would
it be proper to infert any of noble rank, who impart to,
and receive from the arts reciprocal honours. I could
add a long lift of fuch exalted artifts, but my defign is,
only to evince that the ladies may fucceed in allbranches,
and; in fa£t, do very honourably fucceed in mod.

Is it then without reafon the arts are honoured and
efteemed r In perfons of rank and fortune, they cultivate
and exalt the tafte ; they amufe and entertain the mind ;
they banifh that demon idlenefs, and contribute to the
elegancies of exalted ftation.

To thofe of middling life, they offer rational enter-
tainment, and mental improvement; and fhould Provi-
dence, by one of thofe tranfitions which no human ex-
ertion is able to prevent, reduce them to a fituation of
which at prefent there are no appearances, they may find
a refource in the arts, when perhaps, all others are
clofed. What fays matter of fact to this 1 I fhall
tranfmit an inftance or two, felected from among the
gentlemen.

Mr. W. was a young man of refpeclable fortune and
connections, and utterly thoughtlefs, when from his
natural inclination he attended to the ftudy of the prin-
ciples of art, that he fhould ever be deprived of his
paternal acres, or his property in the ftocks : an event
which however took place in a manner not much to his
credit. In this diftrefs he was advifed by one who
knew his fituation, to apply to profit the talent he had
cultivated. He accordingly painted and defigned por-
traits,