Whittock, Nathaniel: The Oxford Drawing Book, Or The Art Of Drawing, And The Theory And Practice Of Perspective: In A Series Of Letters Containing Progressive Information On Sketching, Drawing, And Colouring Landscape Scenery, Animals, And The Human Figure: With A New Method Of Practical Perspective: Detailed In A Novel, Easy, And Perspicuous Style, For The Use Of Teachers, Or For Self-Instruction. Embellished With Upwards Of One Hundred And Fifty Lithographic Drawings, From Real Views, Taken Expressly For This Work (Oxford , London, 1825)

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and, consequently, at an age when, in men of proper conduct, the physical and
mental powers are in a state of maturity, he fell into decay, and a premature disso-
lution closed his mortal career, in the fortieth year of his age.
The youthful and giddy minded, are too apt to compare their own conduct with
that of one, whose whole life was composed of short fits of exertion when driven to it
by the direst necessity, succeeded by long periods of idleness and intoxication, in-
stead of setting before themselves examples in which genius and industry are combined.
Following this fatal precedent, many a drunkard has endeavoured to pass for a genius,
and if reproached for his conduct, has, in derision of all sober advice, hiccuped the
name of Morland, and flattered himself that, like him, he should be able to astonish
the world in his lucid intervals.
You will observe that the touch is different in these animals from that of any you
have before done; and as the fleece of a sheep when in its natural state is nearly
white, it shews best when contrasted with dark shadows; from this circumstance,
sheep add greatly to the beauty of the foreground in a landscape.
Plate XLIX. contains parts of horses taken from the sketch book of Morland,
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