Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, OR GENERAL AND COMPLETE LIBRARY .
' FOR MAY 1795 . j ,,., ' — ' . - ¦ ¦ ,.,,., — ____ Jl _ - ___ , ' MEMOIRS OF SIR FRANCIS BOURGEOIS , R . A .
IT has been observed in tin ' s work , that , as it is the design af Masonry to improve the condition and strengthen the virtues of mankind , an amiable man is in effect a good Freemason , though he may not have passed through the mysteries of the Brotherhood . The present object of our notice , therefore , has full claim to an introduction in this place , not only as an excellent artist , but as a man hi ghly esteemed for the . merit of his private character .
Sir FRANCIS BOURGEOIS , we understand , was born in London , in the year 1756 ; he is the descendant of a family of distinguished repute in the Canton of Berne , in Switzerland , and the name of BOURGEOIS ii to be found iu the archives of that place , among tiie persons who filled the first offices in the state , and who were conspicuous in the senate .
He was originally designed by his father for the militar ) ' profession , and was presented , when a child , to the immortal defender of Gibraltar , the late Lord Heathfield , who promised , that when the boy should arrive at __ suitable time of lite , he would procure a commission for him in the light dragoons ; Soon after Colonel JSOURGEOIS , a near relation , in Switzerland , sent for the child , intending to place him in a military academy ; but as the father of the latter could not
consent to part with his son at so early an age , he remained in England ; and adverting to his supposed designation to the profession of arms , he constantly attended the reviewing of troops , and made himself conversant with their exercises and manoeuvres , at the same time perusing such works as were calculated to acquaint him with the theory as well as the practice of the art of war . It was in thjs pursuit that our artist derived his ori ginal taste for that
profession in which he has since so , highly distinguished his talents ; fur during his attendance on all the martial evolutions that he had an opportunity of seeing , he endeavoured to portray what h . e beheld , and so far succeeded in his attempts to express the acti . on . _ 3 of the soir ch ' cry , particularly of the cavalry , that Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS ,. WILSON , and GAJN ' SROROUGH , to whom his abilities had recommended
him even at tb . is juvenile period , advised him to cultivate these very promising indications of future skill in an art for which . he evi-v dently manifested no . ordinary degree of genius . Incited by such , flattering encouragement front men so intelligent and so eminent iu their art , young BOURGEOIS began to think more of the peaceful pencil than , of the hostile weapon at . first intended for his hand , and in due time became a pupil of LOVT . IIERSOVB . G , whose PP 5 '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, OR GENERAL AND COMPLETE LIBRARY .
' FOR MAY 1795 . j ,,., ' — ' . - ¦ ¦ ,.,,., — ____ Jl _ - ___ , ' MEMOIRS OF SIR FRANCIS BOURGEOIS , R . A .
IT has been observed in tin ' s work , that , as it is the design af Masonry to improve the condition and strengthen the virtues of mankind , an amiable man is in effect a good Freemason , though he may not have passed through the mysteries of the Brotherhood . The present object of our notice , therefore , has full claim to an introduction in this place , not only as an excellent artist , but as a man hi ghly esteemed for the . merit of his private character .
Sir FRANCIS BOURGEOIS , we understand , was born in London , in the year 1756 ; he is the descendant of a family of distinguished repute in the Canton of Berne , in Switzerland , and the name of BOURGEOIS ii to be found iu the archives of that place , among tiie persons who filled the first offices in the state , and who were conspicuous in the senate .
He was originally designed by his father for the militar ) ' profession , and was presented , when a child , to the immortal defender of Gibraltar , the late Lord Heathfield , who promised , that when the boy should arrive at __ suitable time of lite , he would procure a commission for him in the light dragoons ; Soon after Colonel JSOURGEOIS , a near relation , in Switzerland , sent for the child , intending to place him in a military academy ; but as the father of the latter could not
consent to part with his son at so early an age , he remained in England ; and adverting to his supposed designation to the profession of arms , he constantly attended the reviewing of troops , and made himself conversant with their exercises and manoeuvres , at the same time perusing such works as were calculated to acquaint him with the theory as well as the practice of the art of war . It was in thjs pursuit that our artist derived his ori ginal taste for that
profession in which he has since so , highly distinguished his talents ; fur during his attendance on all the martial evolutions that he had an opportunity of seeing , he endeavoured to portray what h . e beheld , and so far succeeded in his attempts to express the acti . on . _ 3 of the soir ch ' cry , particularly of the cavalry , that Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS ,. WILSON , and GAJN ' SROROUGH , to whom his abilities had recommended
him even at tb . is juvenile period , advised him to cultivate these very promising indications of future skill in an art for which . he evi-v dently manifested no . ordinary degree of genius . Incited by such , flattering encouragement front men so intelligent and so eminent iu their art , young BOURGEOIS began to think more of the peaceful pencil than , of the hostile weapon at . first intended for his hand , and in due time became a pupil of LOVT . IIERSOVB . G , whose PP 5 '