CHAPTER III. AN ARTIST'S FAMILY.

Although Alexander Nasmyth had to a considerable extent lost his aristocratic connection as a portrait painter, yet many kind and generous friends gathered around him. During his sojourn in Italy, in 1783, he had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Sir James Hall of Dunglass, Haddingtonshire. The acquaintance afterwards ripened into a deeply-rooted friendship.

Daring the winter season Sir James resided with his family in his town house in George Street. He was passionately attached to the pursuit of art and science. He practised the art of painting in my father's room, and was greatly helped by him in the requisite manipulative skill. Sir James was at that time engaged in writing his well-known essay " On the Origin of Gothic Architecture," and in this my father was of important help to him. He executed the greater number of the illustrations to this beautiful work. The book when published had a consider able influence in restoring the taste of architects to a style which they had heretofore either neglected or degraded.