THE PICTURE GALLERY.

I was this morning walking in the gallery when Sir Roger entered
at the end opposite to me, and advancing towards me, said he was
glad to meet me among his relations the De Coverleys, and hoped I
liked the conversation of so much good company, who were as
silent as myself. I knew he alluded to the pictures, and as he
is a gentleman who does not a little value himself upon his
ancient descent, I expected he would give me some account of
them. We were now arrived at the upper-end of the gallery, when
the Knight faced towards one of the pictures, and as we stood
before it he entered into the matter, after his blunt way of
saying things, as they occur to his imagination, without regular
introduction, or care to preserve the appearance of chain of
thought.

"It is," said he, "worth while to consider the force of dress;
and how the persons of one age differ from those of another,
merely by that only. One may observe also, that the general
fashion of one age has been followed by one particular set of
people in another, and by them preserved from one generation to
another. Thus the vast jetting coat and small bonnet, which was
the habit in Harry the seventh's time, is kept on in the yeomen
of the guard; not without a good and politick view, because they
look a foot taller, and a foot and an half broader. Besides that
the cap leaves the face expanded, and consequently more terrible,
and fitter to stand at the entrances of palaces.

"This predecessor of ours, you see, is dressed after this manner,
and his cheeks would be no larger than mine, were he in a hat as