“Dear Sir,—A celebrated Spanish philosopher, Sancho Panza by name, I think says, ‘He is a wise father who knows his own child.’ And some other equally celebrated personage observes that ‘books are often more learned than their authors.’ These remarks were brought to my mind by the line you favoured me with from Strawberrry Hill; for most assuredly there is an original picture of Henry, Earl of Southampton, at Woburn Abbey; and from Mr. Walpole’s book it was that I first learned such a picture, painted by Wireveldt, existed there. He mentions it, I think, in the beginning of his second volume.
“I knew of the picture at Bulstrode; and three years ago went there on purpose to see it, with a view to have it engraved in honour of Shakspeare; but it is so disagreeable a picture that I gave up all thoughts of it; and then got a copy made from a bad impression (the only one I could get) of a print by Simon Pass, in the year 1617. At the time this print was engraving for me, I sent down a proof to the Duke of Bedford’s steward to compare it with the picture; and from his account of the correspondence between them, had no doubt that the picture at Woburn was a genuine one. On examining it this evening—for I am just now arrived at my inn after walking through the apartments—I am convinced that I was right; and lament much that I had not the pleasure of your company to this place to make a drawing. However, I will not yet give up the point; but hope to do something in it when I return from Ireland. There is here like-
