In the year 1770, a boy named Buckingham, presuming upon his father's acquaintance with Sir Joshua Reynolds, called on the president, and asked him if he would have the kindness to paint him a flag to carry in the procession of the next breaking up of the school. Reynolds, whose every hour was worth guineas, smiled, and told the lad to call again at a certain time, and he would see what could be done for him. The boy accordingly called at the set time, and was presented with an elegant flag a yard square, decorated with the King's coat of arms. The flag was triumphantly carried in procession, an honor as well as a delight to the boys, and a still greater honor to him who painted it, and gave his valuable time to promote their holiday amusements.
BURKE'S EULOGY.
Burke, in his eulogy on Reynolds, says, "In full
affluence of foreign and domestic fame, admired by
the expert in art and by the learned in science,
courted by the great, caressed by sovereign powers,
and celebrated by distinguished poets, his native
humility, modesty, and candor never forsook him,
even on surprise or provocation: nor was the least
degree of arrogance or assumption visible to the
most scrutinizing eye in any part of his conduct or
discourse."
