This post is actually more of a plea.

William Hogarth's famous etchings depicting the downward progress of the rake were the result of an extensive tour he performed of London's environs, often very seedy environs indeed, in which he sketched what he saw. The result was, according to himself, several thousand sketches which then formed the basis of the ensuing work. A bit like photo-journalism but with the distinct disadvantage that a quick snap and then legging it was out of the question. In some of the places he hung out during this sojourn that disadvantage must have been very dangerous indeed.



What I did not know and only learnt recently was that he was accompanied on this tour by a chronicler who recorded Hogarth's progress (though not the rake's) in, of all things, the form of poetic doggerel. What an odd couple they must have made, and even by the standards of the day what a delightfully eccentric way to have chronicled their venture into London's low-life.

I have one snippet of the chronicler's output describing Hogarth in the Billingsgate district:

"Our march we with a song begin.
Our hearts were light, our breeches thin.
We meet with nothing of adventure
Till Billingsgate's dark house we enter;
Where we diverted were, while baiting,
With ribaldry not worth relating
(Quite suited to the dirty place);
But what most pleased us was his Grace
Of Puddle Dock, a porter grim,
Whose portrait Hogarth, in a whim,
Presented him, in caricature,
He pasted on the cellar door."

Isn't that lovely? Has anyone else found any more of this anonymous chronicler's work? Or maybe even discovered his identity?

From what I can gather this verse was written during Hogarth's trip to Gravesend,[or five days peregrination on the Isle of Sheppey] in which he was accompanied by four others, Scott, with Hogarth did the drawings, Thornhill, who did the map, Tothall, treasurer and caterer, and Forrest, who kept the journal.

So presumably one of them did the verse [ it may have been Hogarth himself, as he did write the occasional ditty]

Click frontspiece to read book;

http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Hogarth_s_frolic.html?id=m18GAAAAQAAJ

The poems are at the back of the book and were added by Hogarth's acquaintance, Gostling.

What a brilliant find - thanks Trike! So, Forrest was the chronicler on this jolly boy's outing!

Hogarth wasted nothing. I recognise some of the caricatures in this collection from both The Rake's and The Harlot's Progresses.

EDIT: Or was it Gostling? Now I'm confused.

Hi Nordmann,

The verses were by the Reverend William Gostling of Canterbury, who was sent a copy of the book [ printed and bound two days after the walkabout].

Gostling based his verses on Forrest's description of events.

The version in the Google books site, contains the Gostling verses.

Ah, that's taken the glosstling off it a bit ...

I'd read about the rhyming chronicler in a book about the history of satire which had a chapter about Hogarth. Seems the author couldn't see the Gostlings for the Forrest!