his success would have placed him, t in the estimation of the wise, whatever might have been his external condition, high in the catalogue of worthy and useful members of society.

THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH.

Ir has justly been observed, that as art, never made a poet, so nothing but nature can make a painter. There must be a native inborn genius to give any person a pre-eminence in these exquisite graces and accomplishments. It is, however, pleasing and instructive to mark the early bursts of genius which indicate the turn of mind, and lead men to marked distinction, either as elegant writers or artists.

Thomas Gainsborough, one of the most original painters ever produced in this, or any other country, was a native of Sudbury in Suffolk, and borative born in 1727.

He discovered very early a propensity to drawing. Nature was his teacher, and the woods of Suffolk his academy. Here he would pass

his mornings in

a sketch of an

a marshy brook,

solitude, making antiquated ́ ́ tree, few cattle,

a

a shepherd and his flock, or any other casual objects that were presented. His genius appeared confined to landscape scenery till accident furnished him with an opportunity of displaying his powers in repre'senting the human countenance.

In the neighbourhood of his fa ther lived a very respectable clergy

man of the name of Coyte. With the sons of this gentleman young Gainsborough passed much of his time, and from the instructions of Mr. Coyte received considerable advantage. In one of these visits, there happened a violent commotion in the family, on account of the clergyman's garden having been plundered of a very large quantity of wall-fruit, and much pains was taken, but without effect, to discover the thief.

Young Gainsborough having risen, one summer morning at an earlyhour, walked into the garden to make a sketch of an old elm tree.. He had seated himself in an obscure corner, and had just taken out his chalk to begin, when he observed a fellow's head peeping over the

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