Fix this text
THE
Fix this textAUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE;
Fix this textOR, COMPENDIUM OF
Fix this textReligions, Literary , and Miscellaneous Intelligence.
Fix this textVOL. I.]
Fix this textDecember 1, 1821.
Fix this text[No. 8.
Fix this textBIOGRAPHY.
Fix this textMEMOIR OF BENJAMIN WEST, ESQ. LATE
Fix this textPRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY
Fix this textOF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND AR-
Fix this textCHITECTURE.
Fix this textMR. Benjamin West was born on
Fix this textthe 10th of Oct. 1738, at Spring-
Fix this textfield, about ten miles from Phila-
Fix this textdelphia, and contiguous to the place
Fix this textwhere the Pearsons had landed.
Fix this textIt has been observed by Dryden,
Fix this textthat “ a happy genius is the gift of
Fix this textnature.” The truth of this remark,
Fix this textthe history of the most distinguished
Fix this textcharacters in literature, science, and
Fix this textthe imitative arts, tends powerfully
Fix this textto evince ; but in no case has it been
Fix this textmore fully exemplified, than in the
Fix this textearly history of young West, whose
Fix this textabilities were displayed under cir-
Fix this textcumstances, in every form of the
Fix this textmost inauspicious kind. The first
Fix this texteffort of his genius was made, when
Fix this texthe was under seven years of age, on
Fix this textthe following occasion.—
Fix this textIn the month of June 1745, it hap-
Fix this textpened that one of his sisters, who
Fix this texthad been married iome lime before,
Fix this textcame with an infant daughter, to
Fix this textspend a few days with her parents.
Fix this textThe child being one day asleep in
Fix this textthe cradle, Mrs. West invited her
Fix this textdaughter to go into the garden.
Fix this textThis invitation was accepted; and
Fix this textlittle Benjamin was left in charge of
Fix this textthe cradle and infant, being fur-
Fix this textnished with a fan, to prevent the
Fix this textHies from disturbing its repose.
Fix this text2
Fix this textBeing attentive to his business, he
Fix this textobserved the babe to smile in its
Fix this textsleep. This arrested his attention,
Fix this textand awakened within him a train
Fix this textof emotions which he had never be-
Fix this textfore experienced, and which no
Fix this textlanguage can adequately describe.
Fix this textUrged by the impression which he
Fix this textfelt, he seized a pen then lying on
Fix this textthe table, and endeavoured to de-
Fix this textlineate on a piece of paper, what he
Fix this textsaw, although at this time he had
Fix this textnever seen either an engraving ora
Fix this textpicture. His mother and sister re-
Fix this textturning to the house, he, ifi much
Fix this textconfusion, endeavoured to conceal
Fix this textwhat he had been doing ; but his
Fix this textmother pressing for a disclosure, he
Fix this textconfessed what he had done, pre-
Fix this textsented her with the paper, and en-
Fix this texttreated her forgiveness. Mrs. West
Fix this textsurveyed the drawing with much
Fix this textpleasing attention, and, turning to
Fix this texther daughter, said, “ I declare he
Fix this texthas made a likeness of little Sally.”
Fix this textPerceiving that he had not incurred
Fix this texther displeasure, as he feared, he
Fix this textthen offered to make pictures of
Fix this textsome flowers which she then held in
Fix this texther hand ; but whether this was
Fix this textdone, is rather uncertain.
Fix this textDuring the leisure hours which
Fix this texthis school afforded, he was permitted
Fix this textto draw with pen and ink, but
Fix this textneither himself nor parents had any
Fix this textthought of procuring more suitable
Fix this textmaterials. A favourable circum-
Fix this textstance, however, arising from ant
Fix this textunexpected quarter, soon supplied
Fix this textthe deficiency. Some Indians, who
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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Mansfield, Ralph. (1821). The Australian magazine, or, Compendium of religious, literary, and miscellaneous intelligence Retrieved April 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-641590266
Mansfield, Ralph. The Australian magazine, or, Compendium of religious, literary, and miscellaneous intelligence Sydney: Printed by Robert Howe, 1821. Web. 26 April 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-641590266>
Mansfield, Ralph. 1821, The Australian magazine, or, Compendium of religious, literary, and miscellaneous intelligence Printed by Robert Howe, Sydney viewed 26 April 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-641590266
{{Citation
| author1=Mansfield, Ralph.
| title=The Australian magazine, or, Compendium of religious, literary, and miscellaneous intelligence.
| year=1821
| section=2 volumes ; 19 cm.
| issue=Vol. 1 No. 8 (1 December 1821)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=Printed by Robert Howe
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-641590266
| id=nla.obj-641590266
| access-date=26 April 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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