Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

|

:

ceived, or Timur Bec pursued, in their rage cured the free navigation of the former | essay was reported to have been written for conquest. Neither the disastrous issue of river by the possession of Delhi, Agra, and by Mr. Barrow, and the composition would the expedition to Egypt, nor the attain- Calpee, with an important tract of country not discredit a more veteran writer. It ment of the first office in the state, could along its right bank. Besides these acqui- must indeed be admitted, that a public man, moderate the views of this restless spirit, sitions, our Government obtained the greater having free access to Government docuwho, instead of applying his power to the part of the province of Bundelcund, the ments, can scarcely fail of interesting his restoration of general tranquillity on the whole of Cuttack in Orissa, and the most readers, when he undertakes to describe, by basis of sincerity, employed the short in- valuable territory in Guzerat; thereby se- authority, the objects contemplated by miterval of peace, after the treaty of Amiens, curing the navigation along that immense nisters, in equipping an expensive armain planning new schemes of aggrandise- coast from the Ganges to the Indus, while ment for the purposes of extending science ment, and laying a train for kindling the in the Deccan our frontier received an in- and prosecuting discovery. In addition to flames of war with tremendous fury on crease equally important to the security of this, there is always something attractive in the plains of Asia. The position which the our own dominions and those of our allies. a new and paradoxical hypothesis-such French occupied in the finest part of India, Such were the beneficial results of this as the notion advanced by Mr. Barrow, that where the blind and aged Emperor was en- brilliant war, the particulars of which are the nearer a ship advances towards the Pole, tirely at their disposal, and their direction now for the first time amply and luminously the less obstruction she will experience from of the military concerns of the trading brought to the view of the British public, floating ice that the whole of our anstates, held out a flattering prospect to in a manner which does the highest credit tient navigators were mistaken in their opithe ambition of Napoleon, whose agents to the military and political talents of the nions relative to Greenland and Baffin's were in consequence soon actively at work writer, who was actively engaged in the Bay: that the accumulation of ice in the vithroughout every part of the country, sow- scenes he has so ably described. Seldom cinity of Spitsbergen, is dispersed by a vioing disaffection among our subjects, and sti- indeed have we had the pleasure of perusing lent effort of nature about once in every mulating the native powers to acts of hosti- a work combining so much reflection with four centuries that the Danish Colony, so lity. On the part of the British government the detail of martial operations, as in the long lost to the mother-country, may still the utmost moderation was observed, present instance. The writer, in his motto be restored to a communication with the though not without a due degree of watch-from the Roman historian, characterizes his rest of Europe-with many other supposifulness, and such precautionary measures volume as the faithful record of great ac- tions equally ingenious and amusing. Havas were deemed necessary to guard against tions; and, we may add, that he has nar-ing at his command all the advantages arisany sudden explosion. Lord Wellesley, rated them in a manner suitable to the im- ing from the best official information, towho was then at the head of the adminis-portance of the subject. Tam Marti quam gether with ample means for satisfying tration in India, had long penetrated into the Mercurio, is no easy or common coalition; public curiosity, was it necessary that Mr. designs of the Marhattas, and he was no and though we have some good military his- Barrow should attempt to bolster his own stranger to the intrigues of their French tories, the generality fall far short of that production by undervaluing the publication auxiliaries. Without betraying, however, exquisite model of chaste simplicity exhi- of a humble contemporary? Yet that he apprehensions of danger, or making an os- bited by Cæsar. By this observation we did so is sufficiently evinced by the spirited tentatious parade of martial preparations, do not mean to institute any thing like a letter of Lieutenant Chappell to Mr. Gifthis great statesman digested a comprehen- comparison between two productions ne- ford, wherein he has completely exposed sive plan, which, in the event of war be- cessarily very dissimilar, but we have no Mr. Barrow's animadversions upon his coming indispensable, should prove effec- hesitation in saying, that the Memoir of tual to the security of the British territo- the War in India is constructed on that plan ries, and subversive of any confederacy that which would have met with the approbation might be formed against them. Accord- of the severest critics of antiquity. The auingly, when the enmity of Scindiah, and the thor very properly introduces his narrative hostile intentions of the Marhatta states, be- with an historical and statistical account of came too plain to be mistaken, and too for- the country, abstracted from authorities of midable to admit of partial operations, this undeniable validity, and condensed with scheme of military policy was put in force, equal perspicuity and impartiality. Having and at the same moment of time all the thus laid open the grounds and reasons of confederated powers, great and small, na- the war, which on our side was rendered tive and alien, became the objects of at- imperative after great forbearance, the tack. While General, afterwards Viscount, scheme digested by the British government, Lake, marched upon Delhi, taking in his for insuring a speedy and glorious terminaway General Perron, who was strongly en- tion of the contest, is stated with precision. camped under the walls of the impregnable Thus prepared, we are led into the field, fort of Allyghur, Major-General Wellesley, beginning of course with the march of the now Duke of Wellington, made a rapid Commander-in-chief, under whom the movement against the combined Marhatta author served throughout the whole of this force in the Deecan. Both measures were war, as he afterwards did in that which crowned with a success unparalleled in the the noted Jeswunt Row Holkar had the military history of India; and a war, which temerity to wage against the English, on spread from Bombay to Bengal, was by this the dissolution of the Marhatta confederacy. plan of co-operation brought to a glorious (To be continued.) issue at the end of four months, comprising within that short space, four general battles, eight regular sieges and stormings of ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. fortresses, in all of which British valour prevailed over accumulated obstacles, the combination of formidable powers, and every advantage arising from local position, military means, and numerical strength. These signal successes added to the British empire the Marhatta estates between the Jumna and the Ganges, and se

NORTHERN SKETCHES.

To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. The last Number of the Quarterly Review, published in February, contains a luminous article on the Polar Ice, and North-West Passage into the Pacific Ocean. This able

Narrative of a Voyage to Hudson's Bay." It is not my intention to enter more fully into this subject, but as every thing in the least connected with regions lying within the Arctic Circle must at the present moment be peculiarly acceptable to your readers, and as Ice Bergs, and Whales, and Esquimaux, are becoming common topics of conversation, this curiosity respecting the productions of Northern Lands, may induce you to admit a few remarks upon the Rein-deer of North America, the most numerous race inhabiting those vast deserts which extend from the boundaries of Canada to the Frozen Ocean. Having been for many years a Fur trader, employed in the vicinity of Lake Winnepeg, and the Stony Mountains, I had frequent opportunities of making observations, which may serve materially to illustrate the natural history of those remote countries. It is not my intention to publish these Notes in a volume by themselves, I have neither time

nor inclination suitable to such an undertaking; but, as your Journal possesses an

Although we are not aware of any official authority assumed by the Quarterly Review, and do not coincide with our Correspondent's opinion on several points, our love of impartiality, and the value of his subsequent facts, insure him our few unimportant alterations, which we adopt in thanks, and an immediate insertion, with only a order to avoid controversy in a publication which

we find too limited for rational entertainment and information.-ED.

extensive circulation, and has obtained a highly respectable character for ability and impartiality, a few pages of my memoranda shall be occasionally transmitted to you for insertion.

Naturalists have never sufficiently explored the various habits of Hyperborean animals. The providential sagacity and foresight of the Beaver, have, it is true, been made the subject of many an exaggerated description; and the Polar Bear has been frequently eulogized as a striking instance of instinctive affection; while the fleetest and most beautiful inhabitant of the desert, still remains

"unhonoured and unsung."

Mr. Chappell affirms, that "the rein-deer of North America are evidently of the same species with those of Lapland;" but, with all possible deference to the authority of an eye-witness, to whom the prince of modern travellers, Dr. Clarke, has recorded such high testimonials of respect, it will perhaps be possible to point out many peculiarities in the rein-deer of America, which are not observable in those of Lapland. For instance, Lieutenant Chappell has himself noticed, that the deer of Hudson's Bay migrate annually towards the Southern countries in search of a milder climate, where they may bring forth and nourish their young. Having accomplished the object for which they instinctively traverse pathless savannas and cross foaming torrents, the deer again turn their timid glances towards the North, and, for some inscrutable purpose, retrace their periodical journey, retreating again to those wild and desolate tracts on which scarcely ever was "imprinted the foot of a man.' Thus we may observe, that in the Northern parts of America the rein-deer are continually passing and repassing the numerous rivers with which the whole of that continent is intersected. But we have no evidence of this being the case in Lapland. On the contrary, it may be confidently asserted that no annual migrations of a similar description occur amongst the same class of animals in the North of Europe.

Although the rein-deer supply the Esquimaux and other American tribes with the greater part of their scanty subsistence, yet they are extremely wary and difficult to obtain. The easiest way of procuring venison is by lying in wait upon the banks of rivers, which the deer are compelled to swim across in prosecution of their periodical journeys, and then, by attacking them in the water, to secure a whole herd at one time. This method has been accurately described in the "Narrative" to which I have already alluded. But there are many other means pursued by the Indians for the same purpose, as may be discovered by a reference to the voluminous works of M'Kenzie and Hearne.

The following particulars have escaped the notice of every traveller who has published an account of this portion of the globe:-No animals exhibit more sagacity in eluding pursuit than the rein-deer of Hudson's Bay: it has been indisputably

| ascertained, that they never lie down without taking the singular precaution to describe a number of circles, decreasing inward, thus, toward the central spot on which they intend to repose for the night, so that the dogs wherewith the Indians invade their retreats, are compelled, in following the scent, to pass repeatedly round the sleeping herd, and thereby to warn the watchful sentinel of approaching danger. One of the most remarkable methods of hunting is that practised by the Indians near Lake Winnepeg, on the first setting in of the winter frosts. No sooner are the ponds and morasses frozen sufficiently hard to sustain a man's weight, than the natives set off in pursuit of deer. The affrighted animals finding themselves pursued, immediately quit the woods and strike for the open spaces, where they are less incommoded by their antlers. But the ice, although it be capable of bearing the huntsman, is yet too thin to support the plunging of flying rein-deer, and it consequently gives way at every blow of the hoofs. The labour of extracting its legs soon tires out the terrified animal, which is speedily overtaken, and speared to death by

its

pursuers.

Should the foregoing observations meet your approbation, I shall speedily transmit you some further extracts from my Collec

teana.

PETER CHASSING.

THE EDINBURGH REVIEW. MR. EDITOR,

mination I have been able to take of the matter, it appears to me that the writer has not understood his subject, and has bewildered himself with his Cocker or his Ready Reckoner, and that in fact the 94 out of 10, which he mentions as being relieved, are in fact the exact proportion of those out of 10 that are not relieved, instead of those that are. In charity I would willingly have supposed that it might have been a typographical error, when I first saw it in figures, but when I find on page 501 the following remark, I am compelled to view it as a misrepresentation wilfully and knowingly made to serve a particular purpose: "Such is the extraordinary picture exhibited, on the highest authority, of the richest, the most industrious, and most moral population, that probably ever existed. MORE THAN NINE-TENTHS OF ITS WHOLE AMOUNT occasionally subsist on public charity."-The extreme accuracy in the Edinburgh Reviewer's calculations is not confined to the article on the Poor Laws, for in page 451 in the same Number, in noticing Mr. Ellis's Account of the Embassy to China, some notable instances occur, which, if you think worth inserting in your valuable Journal, I will communicate. Your obedient Servant,

J. J.

LEARNED SOCIETIES. OXFORD, May 16.-On Saturday, the 9th instant, the last day of Easter Term, the following Gentlemen were admitted to Degrees:

Masters of Arts.-Mr. Anthony Mervin Reeve Story, of Wadham College; Rev. Joseph Cuming, of Oriel; Mr. Charles Miller, of Merton.

Bachelors of Arts.-Bertie Entwisle Jarvis Esq. of Christ Church, and George Brian, Esq. of Exeter Coll. grand compounders; Mr. Henry Lewis Majendie, Mr. John Michael Severne, Mr. John Symons Pering, of Oriel College; Mr. Walter Powell, and Mr. Ellis Roberts, Scholars of Jesus College; Mr. James Monkhouse Knott, and Mr. John Clarke Jenkins, of Lincoln College; Mr. William John Gilbert, Scholar of Brasennose College; Mr. Robert Salkeld, of Corpus Christi College.

On taking up the last Number of the Edinburgh Review (58,) my attention was attracted by its notice of the Reports of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Poor Laws; a subject you will readily admit to be of the highest importance to this country, and one that should have confined the writer of the article at least to the truth. In a journal taking so high ground as that Review does, it may naturally be concluded that some of its readers form their conclusions upon its deductions, without examining the premises upon which they are grounded. Any misrepresentations, therefore, either wilfully or ignorantly made, are calculated to do mischief, and that mischief may be great in proportion to the circulation of the error. The Reviewer asserts, page 500,"That the total of persons relieved annually in On Wednesday, the first day of Act England is 940,026. That the populu-Term, the following Gentlemen were adtion of England and Wales appears to mitted to Degrees:be by the last return, 10,150,615; so that the number of persons relieved from the poor's rates appears to be 194 in each ten of the population." Thus, with a most glaring negligence of arithmetic, and defiance of manifest fact, he asserts what every schoolboy can refute. But, for the Reviewer's satisfaction, I will, with your permission, state it thus, and admit for argument, that even if the number of persons relieved amounted to 1,000,000, and the population, as he states, 10,000,000, it would then only be one in ten; but, upon the closest exa

The whole number of Degrees in Easter Term was-D. D. 3; B.D. 2; M.A. 35; B.A. 34; Matriculations 99.

Masters of Arts.-John Eagles, Esq. of Wadham College, grand compounder; Rev. James Hooper, of Oriel; Rev. David Morgan, Rev. Thomas Morgan, Mr. John Hughes, Scholar, and Rev. Thomas Read, of Jesus College; Mr. William Milton Bridger, and Mr. Charles Thomas Longley, Mr. William Foster Lloyd, Mr. James Arthur Wilson, Students, of Christ Church; Rev. Jasper Farmer Baillie, Rev. Francis Brandt, Mr. Henry Latham, Mr. Roger Manwaring Manwaring, and Rev. Augustus Edward Hobart, of Brasennose College;

Rev. Joseph Bockett, of Trinity College; | the English newspapers) a short account of the
Rev. James Boys, of Wadham College. researches lately made in Egypt and Nubia by
Bachelors of Arts.-Mr. John Garbett, some travellers, extracted from a letter ad-
of All Souls' College; Mr. William New-dressed to M.Visconti. This account, though
land Pedder, Scholar, and Mr. Hugh More- very interesting, is far from satisfying the
ton Phillips, of Worcester College; Mr. curiosity which is, and always will be, excited
Sa muel Fenton, of Jesus College; Mr. by a country so rich in antiquities. It an-
Godfrey Bird, and Mr. John Billington, nounces as new, discoveries which belong
Scholar, of University College; Mr. John to the French expedition in Egypt. France,
Evans, Mr. Joseph Pitt, and Hon. John more than any other nation in Europe, must
Pratt Hewitt, of Christ Church; Mr. Fre- be interested in the investigations which shall
deric Gambier, Mr. George Hamilton Sey- be pursued in this classic country, since she
mour, and Mr. William Oldfeld Bartlett, has made so many sacrifices to discover its
Postmasters of Merton College; Mr. Oswald monuments, to study its climate and its
Feilden, Mr. William Best, Mr. David productions, and to display to the learned
Lewis, and Mr. John Walker, of Brasen- world all its antiquities, which, though they
nose College; Mr. William Hutcheson, of have been admired for these three thousand
St. Mary Hall; Mr. John Henry Coates years, were not the better known.
Borwell, and Mr. John Davies, of St.
Edmund Hall; Mr. Samuel Young Sea-
grave of Magdalen Hall; Mr. William Roch,
of Trinity College; Mr. Richard Higgs, of
Wadham College; Mr. David Jenkyns,
and Mr. Henry Clissold, of Exeter College;
Mr. William Heald Ludlow, and Mr. James
Gray, of Queen's College; Mr. Charles
Gray Round, and Mr. John Morton Colson,
of Balliol College; Mr. Richard French
Laurence, Scholar, of Pembroke College.
Thursday the Prize Compositions were
adjudged as follows :-

THE CHANCELLOR'S PRIZES.
Latin Essay." Biography.”—Mr. John
Leycester Adolphus, B. A. Fellow of St.
John's College.

Latin Essay." Quam vim in Moribus
Populi conformandis exhibeant Rerum pub-
licarum subitæ Mutationes?"-Mr. Samuel
Hinde, B.A. of Queen's College.

Latin Verses. -"Titus Hierosolymam expugnans."-Mr. Thomas Holden Örmerod, Undergraduate, Fellow of New Coll.

SIR ROGER NEWDIGATE's prize. English Verse.-"The Coliseum."The same, Mr. T. H. Ormerod.

CAMBRIDGE, May 16.-At the Congregation on Friday last, the degree of Bachelor in Divinity was conferred on the Rev. James Henry Monk, Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, and Reg. Prof. of Greek.

On the same day, W. F. Chambers, of Trinity College, Physician to St. George's Hospital, was admitted to the degree of Doctor in Physic; and the degree of Master of Arts was conferred on the Hon. Mr. Thellusson, of Trinity College, son of Lord Rendlesham.

The Norrisian prize for the present year is adjudged to the Rev. James Clarke Franks, M.A. of Trinity College, for his Essay on the following subject:-" What confirmation does the credibility of the Gospel History derive from the number and concurrence of the Evangelists?"

ARTS AND SCIENCES. Note on the Egyptian Monuments. By M. Jomard.

Some time ago there was published in a French Journal (whence it was translated into

[ocr errors]

If the mummy of an ox has been found in a sarcophagus, there is nothing surprising in that; besides, to judge of it, we should have a correct drawing, if we have not the mummy itself. But what conclusion can we draw from it, for the denomina

brought to Paris several fragments of them, and there must be several entire ones in the British Museum, which we had put on board our vessels to be conveyed to France, when the capitulation gave up all our fleet to the English army. We may believe that if the learned Visconti, whose recent loss we deplore, had lived to receive M. Belzoni's letter, he would not have communicated it to the public without rectifying all these facts; he was too well acquainted both with the antiquities of Egypt, and the work published in France, to leave in this notice the name of "Sphinx" improperly given to these figures of moderate proportion, and he would have added, that they are engraved in the "Description of Egypt," (see the third volume of the Antiquities, It is now ten years since the " Descrip- pl. XLVIII. fig. 1 and 2.) Neither would tion of Egypt," printed at the expence of this celebrated antiquary have permitted his the State, began to be published. At that name to appear at the head of a letter, in time and since, there have been published in which the appellation of the "tomb of this work drawings of all the ancient edifices Apis," is arbitrarily given to one of the cawhich adorn that country, from Nubia to tacombs of the valley, of the tombs of the Memphis: a detailed description accom-kings; and that of the head of Memnon, to panies this grand picture. Two volumes one of the fragments of those numerous are dedicated to the monuments of Thebes, colossusses which are found standing or which can be compared with nothing in the thrown down among those immense ruins. world, for grandeur, and the style of architecture. All Thebes has passed, as we may say, before the eye of the reader, with its palaces, its temples, its obelisks, its avenues of sphinxes, its colossal columns, its catacombs, and the tombs of its kings, which are adorned with paintings in such excellent preservation. How could the French travellers, who to the number of forty visited this ancient capital, and inhabited its ruins for several months, avoid perceiving that avenue of sphinxes which M. Belzoni in his account pretends to have discovered? We are sorry to be obliged to point out a double mistake which he has committed. The statues of which he speaks are not sphinxes, they are figures of women seated, wearing the mask of a lion. It would be also giving a very exaggerated idea of them to compare them with the colossuses of the great avenues of Thebes. These colossuses, which have been likewise all called by the name of sphinxes, but improperly, are eighteen or twenty feet in length; what relation can there be between these enormous masses and statues of the human size? But this is not all: M. Belzoni fancies that he is the first who discovered these female statues. How can he have been ignorant that they have been noticed, measured, and described, long before? The French travellers, during their abode at Thebes, caused excavations to be made in a place on the right bank, to discover these statues. They were very much surprised at finding a great number of figures all alike, confusedly thrown together in a heap, between two walls; so that it was then and is still doubted, whether they had been placed there as in a magazine, or whether they had been precipitately buried at a certain time, as, for example, to save them from the ravages of Cambyses. Not only have we discovered, described, and made drawings of these statues, but we

tion of the tomb? Who does not know that the ox Apis (the object of a symbolical worship which is still inexplicable, notwithstanding the ingenious interpretations of Jablonski) was renewed every five and twenty years. This was said to be the duration of his life; after that time he was drowned in the Nile, and another ox, exactly resembling the former, was sought for to supply his place. How many tombs must have been required to embalm and deposit all these animals? In respect to Memnon, how could the new traveller, who has past a long time at Thebes, avoid seeing the numerous inscriptions engraved upon the legs of one of the two great colossusses of the plain of the Memnonium, and which attest that this is the statue which has borne in all ages the name of Memnon? Has he perhaps brought away the bust of it? No, certainly. There are several very large colossal heads of rosecoloured or black granite, lying in the sand; among them is one at the monument of Osymandyas, which was discovered in digging, and which we tried to carry away; time and events hindered it still more than the enormous weight of the figure. We left it with its face turned upwards, and very easy to be seen: it is of granite, and of exquisite workmanship. It is of a rose colour; the polish is admirable, and the style of the figure no less so (see pl. xxxii. vol. 2, of the Description of the Antiquities of the City of Thebes, by Messrs. Jollois and Devilliers.) The new traveller does not say a word of the colour of the stone, which hinders us from recognizing the statue in question. This, which has

been transported to the Nile after six months labour, is said to be ten feet high, from the breast to the crown of the head; but the block which I have just mentioned, measures to the top of the head-dress only two meters and a quarter, or six feet eleven inches of France, which do not make seven feet five inches English. Another still larger statue has been found by the same traveller: it is ten feet from the neck to the extremity of the head-dress; it deserved, as much as the preceding, the honour of being attributed to Memnon. This arbitrary appellation puts me in mind of the strange idea which General Menou had, to call by the name of Canal Antony, without any authority, a ford which communicates from the Mediterranean to Lake Maréotis, and which he had a mind to have dug in order to convey the French fleet from the port of Alexandria to that lake.

It is with much reason that M. Belzoni assures us that it is difficult to give an idea of the magnificence of the tombs of the kings at Thebes, and of the brilliancy of the paintings with which the walls are covered. In fact it is not possible to express or to imagine the lively colours which adorn these immense galleries cut out of the rock. The grandeur of these subterraneous monuments does not yield in any respect to that of the palaces and temples; so that it has been said, that what the Egyptians have done above ground can be compared to nothing, unless it he to the works which they have executed under ground. The tomb lately discovered appears to be curious; but it is very far from exceeding in extent all the others: a length of three hundred and nine English feet, or two hundred and ninety French feet, is very inferior to that of several of the eleven tombs of the Kings, which were visited and measured by the French literati. The largest of these, measures one hundred and twentytwo meters (three hundred and seventy-five feet ;) another, a hundred and fourteen meters (about three hundred and fifty-one feet) (see pl. LXXVIII. fig. 2, 3, Antiq. vol. 2.)

ill sup

Among things worthy of interest, we find in the traveller's account inaccuracies, or details which appear to be very ported. We ask, what may be those figures of a lion with the head of a vulture, which he has met with on his journey? without doubt he ought to have said, "the head of a sparrow-hawk." This chimerical figure is found in the Egyptian paintings and bas reliefs. As for the sarcophagus of alabaster, transparent as glass, found in a tomb, we must wish, for the advancement of mineralogy, that this extraordinary piece of workmanship may be soon brought to Europe. Perhaps when we see it we may be able to conceive how a piece of alabaster, thin enough to be transparent as glass, can be nine feet seven inches long.

It seems that the bust which has been conveyed to the Nile, and there embarked for England, is that of the statue of Osymandyas: all these uncertainties will soon be removed.

E. JOMARD.

I have not spoken in this note of the dis- | At first we thought the figures not sufficoveries which have lately been made in Nu- ciently aërial, and probably this is the bia, for, in order to form a decided opinion truth; but there is an expression and inon the antiquities of that country, we must terest about them that soon brings us to wait for the publication of the researches partake of their revel, and we forget any of Mr. Bankes, and those of M. Burckhardt, defect in the execution. Raeburn, we who has travelled three years under the think, does not display his usual felicity name of Sheykh Ibrahym, and who unfor- this year; and indeed it may be remarked, tunately died lately. The subterranean that most of the Scottish artists, who two temple of Y'psambul, which M. Belzoni seasons since occupied so marked a situathinks he has discovered, had been already tion, seem, like some of Ossian's heroes, to visited by several Europeans, particularly have been sleeping from that period till by Mr. Thomas Legh. It is towards that now on the clouds of their fame." Owen country and the Oases that the eyes of has some dignitaries of the Church, exceltravellers must be turned, who wish to lent liknesses; and we cannot conceive a employ their researches and their talents more delightful lounge for the expectants in a truly new and useful manner; for the of mitres than the Great Room presents, architecture of Egypt has been entirely for, undoubtedly, if the portraits tell the measured by the French artists. Only it truth, which, when they do not flatter, we might be wished that we had a greater may suppose they do, there is every appearnumber of hieroglyphical inscriptions, ance of some vacancies soon in the Bench though a great many have been brought to of Bishops. Those represented in the ExFrance; but it will be advisable to draw hibition look, for the most part, as if the complete scenes, or bring back the impres- cares of the church, or old age, had worn But as most of sions, in order to collect the hieroglyphics them pretty nearly out. with scrupulous exactness, if it is wished them have got more livings than one, we to do something that may not be entirely may be mistaken, and we would not encouuseless. rage too sanguine hopes of immediate patronage in Lord Liverpool, or of an opportunity of saying Nolo instead of Volo in any Dean or Prebend in existence. 119. The Happy Fox-hunter, by Cooper, is not in his best manner; there is too much landscape, and too little animal. Now, animal is his forte, and landscape is not. 121. Portrait of Himself, by F. Ferriere, is a very forcible head, full of truth and naWe dislike the size of it-it is neiture. ther life nor miniature; and though a man may be of the middle age, we know of no equivalent of bulk, and Mr. F. would not like to be thought a dwarfish lusus naturæ. 140. Hermia and Helena, by W. Allston, is a good effect from having looked closely at the ancient school; it is, however, rather imitation than competition, and its scattered and loose texture does not raise the reputation of the artist. 308. The Venetian Curiosity Shop, Mrs. Ansley. This is called a sketch, whereas it is a finished picture, and there appears to be more of affectation than of diffidence in the misnomer. Be that as it may, this is a very capital performance, an assemblage of rich colour and incident brought cleverly together, various, and skilfully contrasted. The buildings in the back ground are well managed, and the whole does honour to a fe

THE FINE ARTS.

ROYAL ACADEMY.

In our general view of the opening of the present Exhibition, we took a hasty glance at those pictures in the upper apartments, which seemed to press for most immediate notice. That we passed over many, was not to be attributed to their want of merit; but to other circumstances: some, such as West's, from their very conspicuousness, and the acknowledged rank and talent of the master rendering it immaterial whether we particularized them or not; others, such as Northcote's (No. 1. Prisoner at Sedgemoor,) from their requiring a more length ened critique than we could then allow; and still more, such as Beechey's, from their number and inequality. Dealing still rather in generals, at least so far as criticism is concerned, we have to notice No. 13. The Poacher detected, by W. Kidd, a clever and promising picture, though crude in colouring; and, if the artist is young (as we suppose he is, from not being acquainted with his name) certainly bidding fair to render him distinguished in the style he has chosen.

male hand.

A few of the pictures we mentioned before In the Antique Academy there are a mulimprove greatly upon us on narrower in- titude of subjects, of which we can only spection. Stothard's Fête Champêtre, and specify some fine enamels by Bone; excelHoward's Fairies, are eminently high in lent miniatures by A. Robertson, and by this list. The extraordinary effect and cha-Chalon and others; several good landscapes, racter of the former, the sentiment it effuses in the midst of its vivacity, steals insensibly over the fancy of the beholder, and we contemplate in it almost a paradox in the philosophy of mind-an artist declining into the vale of years exercising a more potent witchery of imagination than the most youthful Poet of our day. The latter is also a production of fine imaginative powers.

and well coloured and natural flower pieces, among the most remarkable of which is one by Mrs. Pope. The architectural drawings and designs are various and meritoriousWe see many of these plans for new buildings on paper, but by some accident or other we never see any of them in stone and lime. How is this? Gandy has an extraordinary thing, as he says, from Para

dise Lost, but we are of opinion it is from a kaleidoscope found it is utterly inexplicable, unless the artist has submitted to be magnetized, and this is a copy of one of his beatific visions.

In the Model Academy there is nothing to exalt the character of our native school in that department of art. Chantrey is inferior to himself last year, except in his

"animated busts,"-but this is rather owing to his subject (Lady F. Russell, a child) than to any other cause. Baily has rather advanced by a small Flora, which is well conceived, though perhaps in the extremities there is an imitation of the defect

rather than of the excellence of ancient sculpture. Flaxman has some feeling monuments; Turnerelli, his beautiful bust and likeness of the Princess Charlotte. Bacon, Westmacott, and other able contributors, preserve the even tenor of their way; but in none of all do we find any production which claims the eulogium we should be happy to have an occasion to bestow on our rising Sculpture.

SIR JOHN LEICESTER'S GALLERY. We fell into a mistake last week in our notice of Mr. West's picture acquired for this truly patriotic Gallery: it is not a Sketch for Death on the Pale Horse, but of a subject from the xixth chap. of Revelation, verse 11. The Opening of Heaven, and the Vision of the White Horse. The similarity of a part of this picture, and the crowded state of the apartment, which prevented a full view of it, led us into the misconception that it was one of those original designs, which we had formerly admired so much in Mr. West's own noble painting rooms, and which are often so greatly altered in their progress to the finished painting, that the error was easy, and the highest praise not misplaced.

fur

As we shall not probably have any ther occasion to notice Sir John Leicester's Exhibition, we take leave of it by recalling a very apt passage from Hogarth, one of whose pictures, by the way, as well as one of Stothard's and Wilkie's, would be good additions to his fine collection. When the Royal Academy was instituted, the royal patronage was justly held out by the advocates of that measure as a matter of great consequence; to which Hogarth, who was rather hostile to the Establishment, replied, (we quote the sense from memory-see Ireland's Hogarth Illustrated,) The Prince who wishes to encourage the Arts in this country, will best promote his purpose by forming a Gallery of one or more of the principal works of the greatest of each of the living artists in his dominions."

[ocr errors]

We could devise no higher eulogy on the course pursued by Sir John Leicester.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

Those characteristics of poetry, in respect to style and imagery, most esteemed in one particular tongue, are not easy to be con

Glitters your bride-Hurrah!" Then out, thou messenger of strife, Thou German soldier's plighted wifeWho feels not renovated life

When clasping thee?-Hurrah!

When in thy scabbard on my side,
Now Heaven has bid us ne'er divide,
I seldom glanced on thee, my bride;

veyed in a translation, without violating | Come forth! quick from thy scabbard fly, the rules of propriety fixed for the language Thou pleasure of the Soldier's eyeinto which the translation is made. There Now to the scene of slaughter hie, is great difficulty in avoiding, on one hand," Thy native home-Hurrah! the total annihilation of all that characterizes "O glorious thus in nuptial tie, the foreign writer except his mere words, To join beneath heaven's canopyand on the other, of writing what may be Bright as a sunbeam of the sky, almost deemed nonsense when given in a new dress, by too great a fidelity to the original: these extremes should be avoided in a good translation; and herein consists the principal art of making one. It is not amiss, however, when the genius of a language will allow it, especially for the gratification of the curious reader, now and then to give a translation as near as possible in manner and spirit to the original, even when it may seem new and uncouth if compared to productions written in the vernacular tongue. The following wild and singular poem of the celebrated German poet Körner, entitled "The Sword Song," written a few hours only before he was killed, on the 25th of August 1813, will exemplify this, and will no doubt interest those who are pleased with the bold imagery and the novelty of German poetry: it is rendered in every respect as near to the original as possible.

Thou sword upon my belted vest,
What means thy glittering polished crest!
Thou seem'st within my glowing breast

To raise a flame-Hurrah!

"A Horseman brave supports my blade, For him I shine, for him I'll wade The weapon of a freeman made;

For ever joined-Hurrah!

Thee glowing to my lips I'll press,
And all my ardent vows confess
O cursed be he, without redress,

Who thee forsakes-Hurrah!

Let joy sit in thy polished eyes,
While radiant sparkles flashing rise-
Our marriage day dawns in the skies,
My Bride of Steel-Hurrah!

C. Rg.

Note. In the Song from Körner which appeared in No. 68, the reader will substitute (4th line of last stanza) “ angel” for “hero.”

MAGIC.

"I can call Spirits from the vasty deep."

Through blood and death-Hurrah!" Indeed I've heardYes, my good sword, behold me free, I fond affection bear to thee, As though thou wert betrothed to me My earliest bride-Hurrah! "Soldier of Fortune, I am thine, For thee alone my blade shall shine

When, Soldier, shall I call thee mine,

Joined in the field?-Hurrah!"

Soon as our bridal morn shall rise,
While the shrill trumpet's summons flies,
And the red cannon rends the skies,

We'll join our hands-Hurrah!

"O sacred union!--haste away,
Ye tardy moments of delay-

I long, my bridegroom, for the day
To be thy bride-Hurrah!"
Why cling'st thou in the scabbard—why?
Thou iron fair of destiny,
So wild-so fond of battle-cry,

Why cling'st thou so?-Hurrah!
"I hold myself in dread reserve,
Fierce-fond in battle-fields to serve,

The cause of freedom to preserve

For this I wait-Hurrah!"
Rest-still in narrow compass rest-
Ere a long space thou shalt be blest,
Within my ardent grasp comprest-
Ready for fight-Hurrah!
"Oh let me not too long await
I love the gory field of fate,
Where death's rich roses glow elate
In bloody bloom-Hurrah!"

ANGELINE.

PROSPERO.

Aye, thou hast heard, that I Have held communion with unearthly things, And brought them to my bidding.-If 'tis so(And may it not?) perchance thou hast the power To carn the like advantage.

ANG.

I have heard That men (but 'tis a foolish fable) may By midnight study, and sharp abstinence, And self-giv'n torture, and unholy prayer, And base desertion of the God they serve, And yielding up themselves a penalty, Acquire a power to do--a world of wrong : But this is fable.

PROSP.-(Quickly.)

Be not too sure-for once
I knew a man-'twas in a distant country--
Who, fame did say, could draw the planets down
By his dark art: and I have heard that he,
At times, held converse with the winds (speaking
In some strange melody) and had the power
To bid them waft him from remoter shores
Their richest produce-Spirits he had, who
brought

Vast pearls, such as the expert divers find
Hard by Japan-and gems above all price.

Indeed!

ANG.

PROSP.

Aye-there were rubies, blood red-like suns Setting thro' mist-blue amethysts, too gay Or else like weeping maiden's eyes, or violets Wet in the spring-emeralds green (as grass By splashing fountains)-diamonds, like stars On winter nights-and gold in showers—all from

« AnteriorContinuar »