_Portraits of Stevens and Cotton and Bunyan._--The plan of "NOTES AND
QUERIES" appears well adapted to record the change of hands into which
portraits of literary men may pass. I accordingly offer two to your notice.
The portrait of George Stevens, the celebrated annotator on Shakspeare, who
died in 1800, was bequeathed by him to a relative, Mrs. Gomm of Spital
Square; and at that lady's death, some years after, it passed, I have
reason to expect, into the possession of her relative, Mr. Fince, of
Bishopsgate Street. I have no farther information of it.
The portrait of Charles Cotton, by Sir Peter Lely, was, at the time (1814)
when Linnell took a copy, and (in 1836) when Humphreys took a copy, in the
possession of John Berisford, Esq., of Compton House, Ashborne, Derbyshire;
and the following extracts of letters will show who at present possesses
it:--
"Leek, 14th July, 1842.
"After Mr. Berisford's decease, I should think the portrait of Cotton
would fall into the hands of his nephew Francis Wright, Esq., of Linton
Hall, near Nottingham.