Recounting his early studies, while with the Linley's; that he could see pictures by
Gainsborough and
Hoare but no old masters; and so he goes back to London and hooks up with the men who populated his youthful months in the capital,
Cosway, Cross,
Mortimer,
Hodges, Jones and
William Pars; he recounts his reception by
Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A. and the encouragement this gave him.