the standard; near him is the eye of Osiris | which surround it, and there is never any in the world; but I must confess I was not as the symbol of Providence and Justice; question of priests in these representations. a little astonished to find the noblemen and and next it the sacred venomous serpent, The form of this funeral offering is every citizens so wealthy, and their houses so as the symbol of the spirit of the universe, where the same, and the sense is also pretty mean and pitiable. Though in England the Lord of life and death. clear; it consists of the lotus flower, the manufactures are carried to the highest III. The Corpse in the Grare.-This is symbol of eternal life, and the resurrec-point of perfection, yet painting, sculpture, the representation of the corpse which is tion. The soul makes this first offering to and architecture, are more backward than depicted on several mummies and other Horus and the inferior deities, to obtain in any other kingdom in Europe;-but in monuments; that is the mummy on a bier their intercession with the superior ones, a country where people of exalted rauk usually formed in the shape of a lion; un-Isis and Osiris. Horus appears here there- abandon themselves to intemperate drinkder which stand four Divinities represented fore as the guardian Divinity, at the en- ing and dissipation of every kind,-where as jars, while one or two Genii are em- trance into the sanctuary. The soul thus the grand object of the nobility is to purployed about the mummy. Respecting this figured, stands here before the altar, on chase votes to obtain seats in parliament, picture, which is found upon all mummies, which a bright fire burns, over which again it is not surprising that the arts and there has been much debate, because the the significant lotus flower is seen; in the sciences should be neglected. character of the good and evil Genii was hand it holds a pot with a plant, which has The best nobleman's residence in Lonnot distinguished. They have the wolf's the same signification as the gardens of don cannot be compared to one of secondhead, the dog's head, that of the sparrow- Adonis, in the festival of Adonis among ary rank in Paris. Except St. Paul's Cahawk, and the sow's head of Isis, as sym- the Greeks, namely, a type of the resur- thedral, Westminster Abbey, and the new bols. The genius with the wolf's head, rection of the flesh, in the sense of the Waterloo Bridge, there is no public edifice who here stands upright next to the mum- Scriptures; that the just shall rise again worthy of notice. A small triumphal arch my, holds a goblet in his hand, which con-like fresh leaves; that they shall flourish is to be erected in St. James's park, which tains the beverage of oblivion. The same like cedars and palm trees. This image of will doubtless be an excellent specimen of opposition of Genii appears in the four jars the flower-pot is found even now on all English architecture, for the elegant design under the bier,* the lids of which consist oriental tombs, on which flower-pots are of M. ****, of Ghent, was rejected for no of a hawk's head and a sow's head as good carved. Behind Horus, to whom the of other reason than because he was not an Genii, and of a wolf's head and a cat's fering is made, stands the Thirsus, with English artist. Thousands of Englishmen head as evil Genii. The question now is, the sacred veil, which we shall find again are at present travelling in all quarters of to determine the meaning of this represen- below. The hieroglyphics over the head Europe;-is it not astonishing that none tation. The form of the bier in the shape probably contain the prayer of the soul that of their men of learning should import to of a lion is explained by the circumstance makes the offering. their native country some of the beautiful of the fable (Mythe) in which a lion carries V. The mediating Divinity.-Four Genii models of architecture which they see on off the corpse of Osiris: the meaning of with a green feather in their hands, doubt- the continent? Can they pass through the good and evil Genii opposed to each less belong to the inferior divinities, whom Autun without admiring its triumphal arch? other we may follow into Ismaclism, like the soul invoked, in order to pass, through There is a noble design which they might many other Egyptian doctrines which have their means, into the community of the copy. The grand entrance gate of Berlin, been transferred into it. According to this, blessed. Whether they represent the four which is in the Doric style, might likewise the soul as soon as it lies in the tomb elements in the seasons, it is evident that be worthy of their notice but they will has to suffer the pains of the grave, that is they are imploring and interceding for the bestow no attention on the magnificent the appearance of a Genius, who puts to departed soul. A hand-breadth of the monuments they meet with, and prefer folit questions respecting its life, and then board over their head is broken off in the lowing their own bad taste; for they have leads it to judgment. Such a one therefore case here described; there is however still no more notion of architecture than of is the Genius near the mummy in the grave: visible the ends of the wings which belong-music. They do not scruple to expend in some instances the soul itself is repre-ed to the winged globe, the symbol of the enormous sums on objects, the value of sented visibly, flying out of the mouth of Spirit of the Universe, whom the four In- which they are incapable of appreciating. the mummy in the form of a little bird, or tercessors had implored for the reception of I went to view the new church erected at a butterfly. Often too, one sees at the head the soul. Marylebone, under the direction of Earl and foot of the bier female Genii in a prayGrosvenor. I thought it wretched; built ing attitude, probably deprecating the pains without any regard either to taste or prinof the soul in the grave. These are called ciples: the meanest architect on the conin Islamism, servants of God, were continent would have blushed at the very sidered as mediatrices, and were saluted, thought of proposing such a design. I likeby the persons praying, on the right and wise saw the new square in Waterloo Place. on the left. It is built of bricks and mortar, and will serve, perhaps, for a few years to charm the eyes of the Prince Regent, whose knowledge of architecture is not remarkably extensive. (To be concluded in our next.) ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. NEW VIEW OF LONDON. A monument is to be erected to the me IV. The Funeral Offering.-The soul appears here clothed in a human form, with a body quite red, which is evidently no hu-vations on foreign countries, so do man body, (for the mummy lies now in the foreigners make very free in their crigrave) but an unsubstantial image, which ticisms upon England. The following now surrounds the bird or the butterfly. appeared in a Ghent paper extremely mory of the beloved and regretted Princess This body resembles none of those on the hostile to Great Britain, and, though Charlotte of Wales. This statue is to be other side of the gate of death, and the it may be amusing to read, is so furi-executed by an English sculptor, instead of soul retains it, through all the following representations, till the highest beatifica ously intolerant and unjust, that we tion; it is also different from the Divinities cannot, in speaking of it, say even, Fas est ab hoste doceri. It is worthy of remark, that grotesque struggles between good and bad spirits for the souls of dying men are among the most common pictures belonging to the early times of the Christian Church. Monks and priests are generally driving away the latter by prayers, &c. though it seems often very doubtful how the contest is to end, ED. SIR, Bruges, Jan. 9, 1818. Curiosity induced me, a short time ago, to being entrusted to the most celebrated statuary in the world (Canova), who would have created a model fit for the study of young artists. It is a singular fact, that I never observed, either at Carlton House or the palaces at Windsor or Brighton, a single production of that eminent artist. A new Custom-House has recently been erected in the vicinity of London Bridge. It is built on an immense scale, and in a style resembling the gloomy gothic monuments of the ages of Ignorance. After having visited the two grand theatres (which are very inconsiderable with regard to size), and the shops, in which are deposited the rich productions of English commerce, I spent several days in walking about the town, without experiencing any other emotion than that of extreme fatigue. At length, heartily tired of a city in which all is noise, bustle, and confusion, I joyfully embarked on board a packet-boat, and returned to Bruges. LEARNED SOCIETIES. CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 30.-Saturday last, being Bachelors of Arts' Commencement, 186 gentlemen were admitted to that degree. The following gentlemen obtained academical honours on the above occasion: Caius. Trin. Warren Jes. Venn Qu. -- Beech Joh. Attwood Pemb. Skinner Jes. Fisher Trin. Jeremy Trin. Hutchins Pemb. Escreet Trin. D'Arblay Chr. Crombie Trin. Tyson Cath. Clarke Godson Greenwood Bene't. Hallewell Twigg Trin. Walter Memoriam Ricardi Vicecomitis Fitzwilliam FOR THE EPIGRAMS, SHAKESPEARE, HENRY VIII. Act 3, Sc. 2. "Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear;" "He would not in mine age THE FINE ARTS. No. I. THE ANGEL URIEL. Wm. Allston. The gorgeous form that now upon his throne The arch-angel Uriel............ Visit to the Sun. No. III. BATHSHEBA. D. Wilkie, R. A. sublime of art scorns the slightest approach to a mean passion. In the subordinate parts of this picture all the skill of Wilkie is displayed. The colour, the chiaro-scuro, and the whole tone is admirable, except in the principal figure, where the carnations the contrary, there is a monotony and heaare by no means sufficiently vivid, but, on viness which is very prejudicial to the general effect. THE BRITISH INSTITUTION. THE Gallery in Pall Mall opened on Monday, and public opinion, as far as it can be gathered, has sanctioned our preliminary remarks. Its general merit is acknowledged, and most of the pictures which we mentioned as peculiarly striking have been purchased by eminent Patrons of the Arts, the best proof that could be adduced of their excellence. Sitting, how- a subject of this class, and a cabinet picIt is hardly necessary to observe that in ever, in a sort of chair of critical justice-a ture, grace is at once the recommendation delicate and embarrassing situation we feel and the apology. Naked subjects, if not it to be-it behoves us to speak at least im-eminently refined, are voluptuous, and the partially, if we do not affect the garb of a technical style; and we proceed to offer such observations as a more minute examination of the pictures suggests. This purpose we have to preface with only one general remark, which we need scarcely say proceeds from as ardent admirers and warm friends of the establishment as the periodical press can boast. But it does occur to us that there is too great a predominancy of local landscape: not that landscape painting is not delightful, or does not afford scope for the display of first-rate talents; placed among the number of those producThis truly excellent work of art must be but that, as we take it, this Institution was formed on other grounds, its main purpose in which the artist or the writer pours out tions which are said to be done con amore: being to encourage those higher branches his whole soul upon the subject, and contions, which in this Protestant country particular effect. Its character and colourof the art, historical and poetical composi-centrates his powers upon a single object or lacked the patronage which individual ing warrant the approbation of every man wealth bestowed on portrait and landscape. of taste, and had he painted no other picIt does not, upon the whole, appear to us ture, this would justify us in looking forthat this distinguishing feature is suffici-ward to the artist as a credit and support ently adhered to, and we are rather inclined to our national school. There is a fine to think on the contrary, that, with all its breadth about the head, well preserved with merits, in the present exhibition works of all the brilliancy of colour, which we obimagination are rendered secondary to those serve in the best works of Rubens; one of of local scenery. whose studies (by the way) in the collection No. XXII. A CARDINAL. G. H. Harlow. of the late Dr. Hunter, which went along No. XXV. THE INFANT MOSES. In this specimen Mr. Jackson has approved himself an exquisite colourist. There is a lightness and transparency in the tones of the flesh, which are truly desirable in all subjects of this nature, and maintain a fine harmony with the back-ground. The marking of the neck is too sudden, and gives us the idea of a head separated from the body. XXIX. MEG MERRILIES. XXXVI. AN AFTERNOON'S NAP. skies and perfumed airs, the sight from the | party. We were standing below, and with summit was most noble, various, and pic-our backs to the sun. The unemployed turesque. This is the land of colours, and slaves were scattered round the edge of the the landscape was an immense panorama, circle, wrapped in their brown cloaks, that tinged in long sweeps of radiance, as if reached to the ground, and with their fixed each was the division of a map. Lombardy dark faces and unmoving figures, like so lay before us on the left, an endless expan- many monuments of stone. The sun was sion of the green of vineyard and fruit now touching the horizon, and broad gleams gardens; then came the true Italian view of fiery light were struggling through the of hills, touched with crimson lights, and heavy clouds that were rolling downwards in the intervals glimpses of three or four to the hill. In the midst of a sudden glare remote lakes, that looked like sheets of of rose-coloured and sanguine radiance, one sanguined steel. In front the sun was of the women advanced from the centre of stooping in full glory upon Milan, and the the dancers, who were grouped on the sumdome of the Cathedral rose among heavy mit. She was a tall and stately figure, and purple clouds, like a pillar of gold;-the must have once been very handsome. A Bolognese hills were the relief of this mag- Greek and stern profile, bold and rapidlynificent foreground, and they had the ad- moving eyebrows, large eyes of the deepest ditional depth of being loaded with what black, a cheek of artificial crimson, and a seemed a growing thunderstorm. To all mouth of such dimpled sweetness as this nothing was wanting but a group of strangely contrasted with the haughty and banditti, or a procession of pilgrims; and, tragic expression of her general physiogas Fortune would have it, we were sud-nomy. We afterwards learned that she denly called from our aerial contemplations was a Turkess who had been sent among to look upon what might have been taken the menials of the Haram for some act of for either. Our guide, whom we sent to violence or revenge. She declaimed a soIn this the artist has not embodied our reconnoitre, soon returned, and told us liloquy of which we did not understand one idea of the Scotch gipsy. Smoothness of that they were redeemed slaves from Al-word, for it was in Arabic. She frequently painting does not accord with a character giers. They seemed a very ferocious troop; pointed to the Heavens, then cast her eyes of so much energy. As we shall hereafter we, however, were numerous enough not round, paused, listened, then gazed uphave to pay a tribute of applause to another to feel much alarm, and waited for their wards as if she saw some descending wonpicture by the same hand, we may be ex- coming, which was preluded by a general der; this closed with a prostration. A cused here giving an opinion that the pre-ira for the Bravi Inglesi. They were painter might have made a noble study of sent is a failure. about 40; some of them had been long in this subject, with the wild gesture and ilslavery, and bore the marks of an African lumined figure, the scarlet shawl that sun in their stained and withered complex- crowned her brow, like a wreath of fire in ions. We soon grew excellent friends, and the sun, and her countenance alternately heard a multitude of stories of the attack brightening and darkening as if with the spell under Lord Exmouth,-unmeasured praise within. She might have stood for a Casof English gallantry, and some strong de- sandra. As she rose the two parties comscriptions of the desperation of the Moors, menced singing in turn, and with the same and the slaughter within the walls. We style of gesture, turning from Earth to were generons, as they called it; and, be- Heaven. This singular pantomime was to fore parting, they gave a specimen of their represent the transmission of Mohammed's gratitude. They produced two women, sword from the upper world; and, whether whom, in defiance of all the laws of Algiers from the vengeance of their Moorish masand Mahommed, they had smuggled away, ters, or its intrinsic beauty, had been one in the general confusion of their departure, of the tasks imposed on such of the slaves and we were honoured with a dance. The sun as exhibited any "music in their souls" to was now setting, and we became impatient learn. The chorus, heard at another time of lingering among the hills, and rather and place, might not have produced any suspicious of night in such company. How very extravagant admiration, and its inever, they insisted that they should be per- strumental part was miserable; but heard mitted the honour of exhibiting their finest under all the circumstances, even the chime specimen of African accomplishment. They of the mandolines, and the sad and deep ranged themselves into two parties, with notes of the desert horn, breaking in among the exception of ten or twelve, who did not voices that in all their captivity were Italian, consider themselves equal to the display. seemed, in that place of solitude, and in A few moments were enough for them to the presence of the beings who had thembind their sashes round their heads into selves undergone the "perils by fire, and some resemblance of a turban; their cloaks flood, and chains o' the Moor," made up, were flung scarfed round their shoulders, as we all subsequently agreed, the most and we found ourselves in the presence of powerful effect that we had ever experienced what might be easily mistaken for a band from music. On parting they gave us the of travelling Moors. They had contrived words of their chant, which I send you to preserve some mandolines and a wild versified, from a literal translation by our kind of horn in use among the shepherds friend H-. on the borders of the desert. They found out a level spot on the hill side, and commenced with a species of chorus and a confused dance. This soon ceased, and they divided, One of the females headed each A very clever picture; full of spirit, whether it regards the character and expression or technical skill in the art. This little domestic intrigue represents a daughter engaged with a lover while her father is asleep -she is forbidding his entrance, as a dog, not sleeping so sound as his master, has taken the alarm. It is very humorously treated, and our attention is divided, but, at the same time, gratified between the earnestness of the girl and the profound repose of the father. We wish we could add that the contrast was as happily preserved in their colour; but the mellowness and richness of the sleeper and all around him is disturbed by the cold and chalky whiteness of the damsel. Upon the whole, the subject is full of vigour, and the relief a great improvement upon some of the artist's preceding performances. ORIGINAL POETRY. MONTICELLO. (From the MS. Journal of a late Tour on the Continent.) We had returned from our excursion on the lake with something like a determination, not the less sincere for its being less "loud than deep," to look for no more raptures in water excursions; but the evenings in this country are so proverbially fine, that one easily forgets the rufilings of the day. The sun was going down as we ascended the hill to the Casa Cavaletti, and, without the usual raptures on orange THE PROPHET'S SCYMITAR. The clouds are rushing wild and high! Along the horizon's edge a ring The storm descends again!-the peal- They come !-Whence swept that sound, so So sweet, it pains the mortal ear? A sound that on the spirit flings (That sound thou'lt hear no more, till rise The strain that told, from star to star, GENIE. Allah il Allah!--high in Heaven, CHORUS. Hail, holy Scymitar! thy steel GENIE. Nor mortal force, nor earthly flame CHORUS. Prince of the starry diadem, GENIE. "Twas edged upon the living stone SONNET TO HORNSEY. With what a werry fine aspec does that sweet Hemm'd prettily round with hill, and brook, and And stream, and wood, and wale, and all such Most beautiful, greet us Vilson!-rare place, where undone Whose copse and white-washt cottage, snugly Just like those werry pretty little Boxes Most beautiful!--and O, how it would puzzle Hill !--Enough :-O bare me hence, ere life shall sever, Ye Powers Dewine! that I may live for ever. TO WALTER SCOTT, WALTER. On hearing it said that he, like Buonaparte, had Oh why should they say that thy bright wreath That on Waterloo's plain, it has wither'd and Why couple thy name with a tyrant's degraded, luable information on the subject;-but PROFESSOR SEBALDUS RAN. "Utrecht, January 11, 1818. Oh no!--they still live-thou dear Poet of Na-in our High School with extraordinary re ture! (However detraction or envy abuse) In verdure they triumph o'er prejudic'd satire, BIOGRAPHY. PROFESSOR WALTER, OF BERLIN. MARY. The two following letters announce the deaths of two of the oldest Professors in Europe, both in the beginning of January He putation and success for the long period of 1818. who were acquainted with him,-his num- Π T SKETCHES OF SOCIETY. REMARKS ON THE MEXICO AND THE (By M. Sonneschmid.*) A person whose organs of speech have been rendered pliant by the difficult pronunciation of his own mother-tongue, will pronounce the most difficult words of the Mexican language in a pleasing and correct manner; but by no means attain the extremely fluent, rapid, and agreeable pronunciation of the native and real Mexicans. Thus, for instance, I myself, in the first years after my arrival in that country, pronounced the most difficult Mexican words, after once hearing them, so perfectly, that my Spanish friends living in Mexico were much surprised at it, and were not able to do the same. But after I had lived some years in New Spain, and spoken little or no German, my organs of speech were so spoiled by the easy and soft pronunciation of the Spanish, that I found it difficult and almost impossible to pronounce, with ease and propriety, a Mexican word that was at all difficult; as, for instance, Xicalquahuit! (the name of a tree peculiar to the country.) The same circumstance was the cause that, on my return to my own country, nobody took me for a German, and many affirmed that I was a foreigner, who had but just begun to learn German; though I had never forgotten the German, and still fancied that I pronounced it correctly. However, I suffered very much by it, and when I had been speaking German for a considerable time, felt unpleasant sensations, particularly in the jawbones, which are more frequently exercised in speaking our language than in speaking Spanish. From these remarks I think it clearly appears why the Mexican language should seem barbarous to a Frenchman, who perhaps did not even recollect that, in the Mexican as in the Spanish, X must be pronounced like G, Z like S, &c. I, at least, should be very much surprised if a Frenchman praised this language, which does not please the Spaniards, on account of their organs being spoiled, as I have said, by lowed to confine them, but by no means to inflict on them corporal punishment. TIFLIS. SONNESCHMID. From the journal of a German Traveller who has recently visited Tiflis, we extract the following observations on that city, and the part of Russia in which it is situated: I even knew an instance in which a Spanish officer of justice, in the actual exercise of his functions, was pelted with stones by some rioters of the lower class of he cansed corporal punishment to be indifferent casts: having obtained assistance, flicted on some of the ringleaders who were taken in the fact: for this he was not only deprived of his office, but sentenced to pay a considerable fine, because he was not authorised to act as he had done without the previous approbation of the royal government of the country (Real Audienčia); and this respectable tribunal never authorises corporal punishment till the afAs I mention the good Mexicans, ill-in-fair is enquired into, proved, and found to of this people; and it may therefore not be formed persons will perhaps pity the fate be a case calling for such remedy. I shall be happy if these few remarks useless to combat this error beforehand. should contribute to make people judge of Nothing so incessantly occupied my atten-nations, their character and relations, more tion as the condition of the natives of that favourably than has sometimes been the country. I often visited them in their case; and intend, at a future time, to comhouses, their huts, and in some caves inmunicate farther observations on that counwhich they live voluntarily and contentedly. try, which deserves, on many accounts, to On the great canal of Mexico, in the mar-be called the New World. kets, where numbers of them come for the purposes of buying and selling, I frequently mingled with them to observe them, and always found a very urbane, cheerful, and contented people, whom nobody, whether European or Creole, may abuse. They are, happily, protected by the laws. Whoever ill treats a Mexican, is immediately thrown into a prison as a criminal, and "Our caravan spent eight days in proseverely punished. Such occurrences, how-ceeding from Mosdak to Tiflis, a distance ever, are certainly very rare; for the of about 250 wersts; but if due attention Spanish nation is the most humane that I know, and its general characteristic is the journey might certainly be accomplished in were paid to the state of the roads, the greatest abhorrence of oppression of a one half the time. Tiflis is accounted one fellow-creature, whether his complexion be of the finest cities in Asia, yet the streets white or black, yellow or brown.† are so extremely narrow, that it would be Respecting what has passed in former impossible to drive a carriage through the times, I can give no testimony, though best of them. The houses, which have no every thing shews that many circunstances regular roofs, are built of the clay used for have been exaggerated, and represented in making bricks, mixed with gravel: the incredibly odious colours. I speak only of windows are small, and distributed without a later period of twelve years, and I have any attention to regularity. As the extergreat satisfaction in saying, that in my longnal walls of the houses are never plastered, and repeated visits to the Mexican mines the town presents a gloomy and even dirty and smelting-houses, I never found a slave appearance. The houses are generally two in them; and that many owners of mines stories high, and earth huts are exceedingly do not even punish the almost daily emnumerous. There are many churches in bezzlement of rich gold and silver ore, but Tiflis, but they are neither large nor splencontent themselves with taking back what did. The market, or bazaar, according to is stolen, and letting the culprits go, though, Asiatic custom, is held in one of the prinwhen they are caught in the fact, it is al- cipal streets, which is covered over from one end to the other with a wooden roof, intended apparently to protect the shops At from the scorching rays of the sun. the bazaar merchandize of every description is sold; fruit, vegetables, silks, shawls, and wine, are frequently displayed on the same stall. In one corner a sinith has established his workshop, from which the sparks the passengers. Tailors, locksmiths, and issue in every direction in the very faces of goldsmiths, pursue their avocations in the open air, except when rainy or windy weather obliges them to take shelter beneath the roof with which the street is covered. † Besides my own twelve years experience, I might confirm this assertion by the testimony of many impartial travellers, who have not gone as enemies to Spain and its Colonies. I will quote only Langsdorf's Observations on a Voyage round the World, in the years 1803 to 1207, Part II. :-"The rural, unaffected simplicity of these good people (at San Francisco) charmed us so much, that we immediately felt an interest in the acquaintance with the individuals, and took a lively share in the happiness of this amiable family." What is here said of one family, I can certify of the whole Spanish nation in Europe and America. |