CHAP. 
XIV. 
Reflections.  Qlfw Qf Knighthood.  Nlr. W yatt chosen Pre- 
sident qf the Academ_1;.--- Restoration qf Mr. West to the 
Chair.  Proceedings respecting the Pictures for Windsor 
Castle.-- Mr. West's Letter to the King.  Orders to pra- 
ceezl with the Pictures.  The King's Illness.  "lVest's 
Allowance cut qj;--and the Pictures c0untermanded.- 
Deathvqf Mrs. West.-Death qf the Artist.  
HI4THERTO 
it 
has 
been 
mY 
pleasant 
task 
to 
record 
the 
series 
of 
prosperous 
incidents 
by 
which 
Mr. West 
W35 
raised 
to 
the 
highest 
honours of his 
profession ; 
and had he survived 
the publication of this voluine, I should 
closed the narrative with the last chapter. 
have 
But 
his death, 
which took place after the proof was 
-S8111; t0 me 
for 
his 
inspection, 
has 
removed 
an 
obligation which I had promised to respect 
during his life, while it was understood between 
us that the circumstances to which it related 
were to be carefully preserved for a posthumous 
publication. The topics are painful, and calcu- 
lated to alford a. far different view of human