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.



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