Changing Hats
BARRY the painter was with Nollekens at Rome in 1760, and they were
extremely intimate. Barry took the liberty one night, when they were
about to leave the English coffee-house, to exchange hats with him.
Barry's was edged with lace, and Nollekens's was a very shabby, plain
one. Upon his returning the hat the next morning, he was asked by
Nollekens why he left him his gold-laced hat. Why, to tell you the
truth, my dear Joey, answered Barry, I fully expected assassination
last night; and I was to have been known by my laced hat. Nollekens
used to relate the story, adding, It's what the Old-Bailey people would
call a true bill against Jem.