An artist was sent down to Ealing to take her picture by stealth as she sat in church.
Two sittings were thus obtained without her knowledge.

In the third one, the artist placed himself boldly before her, and sketched, so that she could not but observe him.

We shall give the rest in Mackenzie's own words, as a remarkable specimen of the obtuseness, not to say indelicacy of feeling, which seemed to pervade the literary circles of England at the time:-- 'After prayers, Wright and his friend (the artist) were visited by an ambassador from her ladyship to inquire the meaning of what she had seen.

The reply was, that Mr.Murray must have her portrait, and was compelled to take what she refused to give.

The result was, Wright was requested to visit her, which he did; taking with him, not the sketch, which was very good, but another, in which there was a strong touch of caricature.