i8

HINTS of OCCURRENCES , &c.

myfelf at a (mail di(lance from the (hore, and compleated my drawing. The fame curiofity however prevailed,though with lels inconvenience to me; a greater number of men, women, and children, affembled on the bank ofthe river, than the town Teemed capable of containing. Their conduft was very like what voyagers relate of harmlefsfavages, and all circumftances confidered, our fituation and communication with them was pretty much the fame as ifthey had been natives of Otaheite. This plate, befides Tefield caftle, reprefents the fort of Pfaltz, which is not vifiblefrom the point of view at which my drawing of that place was made: nor had I the choice of a fituation from whenceI could properly have introduced it, without facrificing, in a great degree, the pi&urefque beauty which diftinguiffies thefubjeft of the fifth plate. I had great pleafure in perceiving that I fhould have an opportunity of introducing it here,without departing from a juft and corre& reprefentation of nature; againft which I have not fuffered myfelf, in thefubje&s of this colle&ion, to tranfgrefs in the flighted: inftance. The grandeur and variety of the obje&s compre-hended in this Angle view, feem indeed, even to myfelf, to require a pledge that the compofition of it is not a merework of imagination; and as many fubje£ls will occur in the perufal of this work that may equally feem to be theprodudions of fancy, I muft intreat my readers to bear the declaration I have here made in their remembrance; andwhilft they contemplate the feenes before them with admiration, to give me the credit only of having faithfully copiedthem from nature.

Notwithstanding the inconveniencies we experienced at Oberwefel, I found fufficient inducement in the fubje£ts itafforded my pencil to prolong my ftay for fome days. The church of St. Martyn having attra&ed my notice, Idetermined to make a drawing of it: but finding it impoflible to effect my purpofe, without ufing fome expedientto prated myfelf from the intrufions of the populace, I applied by figns to a ftout robuft fellow, who feemed very fitfor the oecalion, to undertake the office of a centinel; he feemed totally ignorant of my meaning, and I was halfinclined to relinquiffi my delign; but the fight of a few fhillings enlightened his underftanding, and engaged him veryheartily in my fervice. He paraded round me with a large ftick, which he brandiffied with great dexterity, and aseffectually fecured me from interruption, as if I had been guarded by a file of mufqueteers.

Having fucceeded fo well in my negociation with my guard, and finding the hours irkfome that were not employedin drawing, which required fome intervals of relaxation, I made ufe of the fame method to inform my landlord that Iwiffied to procure a violin. He readily underftood me, and in half m hour introduced a man with a violin in eachhand; who, to my fatisfadion, addreffed me in French, which was enough to enfure him, in our fituation, a very cordialreception. He was himfelf a performer, and offered to accompany me. I afked him, if he played at fight ? on hisanfwering in the affirmative, I produced a duet; but perceiving by his firft efforts to play it, that he miftook mymeaning, or over-rated his own abilities, I obferved to him that I underftood he had profeffed to play at fight; he

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