how justly, indeed, it may be said, they were 
rejected, not only by the British public in 
general, but even by the nobility. A f'ew e1ni- 
nent literary characters were sensible of their 
importance, and lamented the neglect to which 
they were consigned; but the great body of the 
intelligent part of the nation neither felt their 
influence, nor were aware of their importance 
130 
the 
COIIIIIIGYCC 
and 
of the kingdom. 
renown 
Artists stood, if possible, lower in the scale of 
society than actors; for Garrick had redeemed 
the (profession of the latter from the degradation 
to which it had been consigned from the time 
Commonwealth ; 
of the 
but Reynolds, 
although 
in high repute as a portrait-painter, and affect- 
ing a gentlemanly liberality in the style of his 
living, was not so eminently befbre the public 
eye as to induce any change of the same con- 
sequence towards his profession. ' 
West found, 
011 
his 
arrival 
in London, 
American 
several 
families whdhad come across 
the Atlantic 
after 
the 
peace 
to visit 
their rela- 
tions, and he 
hearing that 
had the unexpected pleasure of 
Mr. William Allen, Governor 
B Q