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Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #54693.
The work is a sprawling miscellany of anecdotes, illustrations and personal recollections that John Thomas Smith assembled under the title A Book for a Rainy Day. From the opening declaration that his pages are a “salmagundi” of assorted pieces, the reader is warned that the volume will wander through a catalogue of etchings, portraits and contemporary prints, each linked to brief narrative notes on London life, art and society between 1766 and 1833. The introductory material explains that the present edition, first issued in 1845 and revised in 1905, incorporates Smith’s own marginalia and extensive annotations drawn from a range of nineteenth‑century reference works. It also clarifies that the chapter dates are thematic rather than chronological, and that Smith’s voice is that of a garrulous chronicler who records “trivial facts of to‑day which become piquant to‑morrow.”
Smith writes in a conversational, almost conversationally rambling style that mirrors the diary‑like habit of an eighteenth‑century London “gossip” who moved among artists, actors and aristocrats. The prose is peppered with references to well‑known figures such as Dr Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mrs Siddons, and the numerous plates listed give the book a visual texture that will delight readers who enjoy illustrated social histories. Those with an appetite for the texture of everyday life in Georgian and early‑Victorian Britain, collectors of prints, students of art history, or anyone fascinated by the quirks of urban customs, will find Smith’s lively, anecdotal narrative both informative and entertaining.
The opening · free to read
ROYAL ACADEMICIANS REFLECTING ON THE TRUE LINE OF BEAUTY AT THE LIFE ACADEMY, SOMERSET HOUSE. ” ” 14 From a Drawing by ROBERT CRUIKSHANK.
THE DELIGHTS OF ISLINGTON ” ” 17 From the Engraving by CHARLES BRETHERTON of the Caricature by HENRY WILLIAM BUNBURY.
“SING TANTARARA--VAUXHALL! VAUXHALL!” ” ” 24 From the Drawing by ROWLANDSON (Microcosm of London).
GEORGE WHITEFIELD ” ” 32 From a Painting by NATHANIEL HONE, mezzotinted by GRENWOODE.
JOHN RANN ” ” 38 From a Contemporary Print.
LONDON BEGGARS: JOHN MACNALLY ” ” 45 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH.
LONDON BEGGARS: A SILVER-HAIRED MAN ” ” 52 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH.
LONDON MATCH BOYS ” ” 58 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH.
IMAGES ” ” 63 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH.
THE ROYAL COCKPIT ” ” 68 From a Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON.
DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON ” ” 78 From the Drawing by THOMAS TROTTER, done from life, and engraved by PRISCOTT.
“PERDITA” ROBINSON ” ” 83 Transcriber’s Note: this picture was omitted from the original book’s list of illustrations, and has here been added.
MRS. SIDDONS ” ” 85 From the Portrait by JOHN KEYSE SHERWIN, engraved by the painter.
BENJAMIN WEST, P.R.A. ” ” 91 From the Painting by GILBERT STUART in the National Portrait Gallery.
CAPTAIN FRANCIS GROSE ” ” 105 From the Drawing by DANCE, engraved by RIDLEY.
COVENT GARDEN ” ” 108 From the Print, “Morning,” by HOGARTH.
UMBRELLAS TO MEND ” ” 115 From an Etching by JOHN THOMAS SMITH.
CHRISTIE’S AUCTION ROOM ” ” 120 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (Microcosm of London).
AN OLD LONDON WATCH-HOUSE ” ” 126 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (Microcosm of London).
SIR HARRY DINSDALE AND SIR JEFFERY DUNSTAN ” ” 129 From Contemporary Prints.
ELIZABETH CANNING’S IMPOSTURE ” ” 135 From a Contemporary Print.
RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN ” ” 147 From the Painting by JOHN RUSSELL, R.A., in the National Portrait Gallery.
J. W. M. TURNER, R.A. ” ” 152 From a Water-Colour Drawing by JOHN THOMAS SMITH in the British Museum Print Room.
GEORGE MORLAND ” ” 157 From a Drawing by ROWLANDSON.
THE REV. ROWLAND HILL ” ” 161 From a Drawing by THOMAS CLARK, engraved by WILLIAM BOND.
JAMES BARRY, R.A. ” ” 168 From the Portrait painted by himself, in the National Portrait Gallery.
THE OLD HOUSE OF COMMONS ” ” 173 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (Microcosm of London).
NEWGATE CHAPEL ON THE EVE OF SEVERAL EXECUTIONS ” ” 178 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (Microcosm of London).
THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE ” ” 181 From a Caricature (based upon a Drawing by BARTOLOZZI) in the National Portrait Gallery.
LADY HAMILTON ” ” 184 After a Painting by ROMNEY.
GIOVANNI BATTISTA BELZONI ” ” 188 From the Painting by WILLIAM BROCKEDON in the National Portrait Gallery.
BARTHOLOMEW FAIR ” ” 193 From the Drawing by PUGIN and ROWLANDSON (Microcosm of London).
CHARLES TOWNLEY ” ” 198 From a Painting by JOHANN ZOFFANY, R.A., engraved by WORTHINGTON.
JAMES NORTHCOTE, R.A. ” ” 205 From a Drawing by JAMES LONSDALE.
WILLIAM HUNTINGTON, “S.S.” ” ” 212 From the Painting by DOMENICO PELLEGRINI in the National Portrait Gallery.
MRS. JORDAN IN THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY GIRL ” ” 222 From the Painting by ROMNEY, engraved by JOHN OGBOURNE.
HENRY CONSTANTINE JENNINGS (OR NOEL) ” ” 233 From a Contemporary Print.
DAVID GARRICK AND HIS WIFE ” ” 243 From the Painting by HOGARTH, engraved by H. BOURNE.
DR. OLIVER GOLDSMITH ” ” 257 From the Drawing by HENRY WILLIAM BUNBURY, engraved by BRETHERTON.
THE WIG IN ENGLAND: A MACARONI READY FOR THE PANTHEON ” ” 265 From a Contemporary Print.
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