esting to the public. Portland-stone, marble, and other calcareous materials, are impaired, and in time defaced by the chemical properties of the atmosphere; but the high degree of fire given in the kilns to this stone, makes it resemble jasper, or porphyry. Frost and damps have no effect upon it-nor can its sharpness be diminished; on which account it claims a superiority of durability over any other material; a point certainly of the highest importance in a coun try subject to excessive damps.

This repository has been among the sources of encouragement to sculptors, and has given employment to the talents of Bacon, Rossi, &c. The group of Acis and Galatea in the gallery, on the ground floor, is principally, we believe, the work of the latter artist, and does great credit to his talents. Mr. Sealy has lately finished a colossal statue of his Majesty, which is to be placed in an appropriate situation at Weymouth: the height of the figure is from nine to ten feet. Young sculptors of rising merit may find employment in modelling, by applying to Mr. Sealy, at his manufactory, Narrow-wall, Lambeth, where there are many works worthy attraction.

Specimens may be seen throughout the metropolis: amongst others at Carlton-house, the Pelican-office, Lombard-street, and almost all the public halls. The statues of the four quarters of the world, and others at the Bank, at the Admiralty, Trinity-house, Tower-hill, Somerset-place, the theatres, and almost every street, present some of thirty years standing and upwards.

Scagliola, or Artificial Marble.

Mr. Richter, Newman-street, was one of the first artists who carried this ingenious art to its present perfection. In the chapel of Greenwich Hospital are eight columns of the Corinthian order, the shafts of which are of Scagliola, in imitation of Sienna marble, and made by Mr. Richter.

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS.

The Queen's Palace, in St. James's Park. Raphael's Cartoons, which were many years since removed from Hampton-court Palace to this house, were once the sources of great attraction; and the multitude that went for the mere purpose of seeing these chef d'œuvres of art, was inconceivable. Since they have been removed, (first to Windsor, and lately to Hampton.court, where they now occupy the room at first built for them by William the Third,) one great source of attraction has failed; there are still, however, a great number of very fine pictures, which will amply repay a stranger's examination. The days of seeing them vary as the royal family may be in town, &c, but information of the proper time may be obtained, by applying at the house, which cannot be seen on a Sunday; at other times, a compliment of a few shillings to the attendants will gain admission,

Together with the productions of the most eminent masters, the following modern works deserve particular notice:

In the Room adjoining to the King's Dressing Room. Painted by Benjamin West, Esq. late President of the Royal Academy.

Cyrus presented to his Grandfather. ·

Regulus leaving the Senate of Rome, and returning

to Carthage.

Death of Chevalier Bayard.

Death of General Wolfe.

Death of Epaminondas.

Hannibal swearing enmity to the Romans.

The wife of Arminius brought captive to Ger manicus,

The Marquis of Stafford's Collection

Is, perhaps, the finest in England; it was princi pally formed from the works which once composed the celebrated Orleans gallery, and which, at the breaking out of the Revolution in France, were brought into this country. It contains one of the finest pictures by Raffael, several by Titian and Caracci; also some capital productions of the Dutch and Flemish school. The late Duke of Bridgewater, not long before his death, fitted up a gallery for the reception of the pictures, and they may be seen by permission, at the house in Cleveland-row, St. James's.

Lord Carlisle, Grosvenor-place,

Possesses a part of the Orleans collections before mentioned.

Northumberland House, Charing-cross,

Contains a variety of fine pictures; among which are Raphael's School of Athens, copied by Mengs; the Feast, and the Council of the Gods, from Raphael, copied by Battoni: the Triumphal Procession of Bacchus and Ariadne, from Annibal Caracci, copied by Costansi; and Guido's Aurora, copied by Masuccio, a scholar of Carlo Maratti. These pictures are of the same dimensions with the originals, and copied in a very masterly mauner. The famous Cornaro family, by Titian, is also in this collection. This house is one of the largest and most magnificent in London.

Devonshire House.

In this grand collection are some singularly fine works of Titian, Guido, Tintoretto, Salvator Rosa, and Rembrandt. The portrait of Phillip II. of Spain, by Titian, the picture by Salvator Rosa, and the Jewish Rabbi, by Rembrandt, are the most distinguished. The Salvator Rosa, in particular, is one of

the finest that can be seen by that master. The whole are well selected, and are amongst the greatest ornaments of the metropolis.

Marlborough House, Pall Mall,

Contains several fine pictures, particularly a whole length of Charles I. on horseback, by Vandyck, a portrait of the famous Duchess of Marlborough, and others, by Kneller, &c.

Lord Radstock's Collection,

Principally of the Italian school, of which his Guidos and Caraccis are wonderfully fine, may be seen at his house in Portland-place.

Lord Suffolk

Has some fine pictures, principally by the Dutch masters; and one by Leonardo da Vinci, which he takes great pleasure in shewing, at his house in Harley-street.

Lord Ashburnham's, Dover-street.

This Nobleman has three highly estimable pictures of Salvator Rosa, two very fine ones by Poussin, one by Rembrandt, Simon, and Rubens, and many others chosen with excellent judgment.

Mrs. Weddell's, Upper Brook-street.

This collection contains, among other valuable pictures, a very fine Virgin and Child, by Guercino, and a St. Francis, by Guido.

Mr. Angerstein's, Pall Mall.

No name is more celebrated as a collector of pictures of the ancient masters. This gentleman's collection is far from being the most numerous, but it is perhaps the most select of any in London, and has certainly been formed at the greatest expence in proportion to its numbers. Among its principal orna

ments are four of the finest landscapes, by Claude; the Venus and Adonis, and the Ganymede, by Titian, from the Colonna Palace at Rome; a fine landscape by Poussin; and other works by Velasquez, Rubens, Murillo, and Vandyck; to all which is added the invaluable series of Hogarth's Marriage a-la-mode.

Sir Abraham Hume

Has a most valuable collection, in which is a remarkably fine portrait, by Titian, several sketches by Tintoret, and other pictures, by Vandeveld, Vandyck; &c.

Sir George Yonge, of Stratford-place,

Has some very fine pictures by Rembrandt; an unrivalled Teniers; two pictures by Salvator Rosa; and others by Claude Lorrain, Guercino, Snyders, &c.

Lord Northwick's.

At his lordship's house, in Hans-square, is a picture of Christ disputing with the Doctors, by Leonardo da Vinci, and a fine picture by Annibale Caracci.

Mr. Troward, Pall Mall,

Has also a very fine picture, by Leonardo da Vinci. Earl Cowper

Possesses several fine pictures.

Lady Lucan's, St. James's-square.

A very good collection, among the finest of which are, a Salvator Rosa, several by Vandyck, &c.

Mr. Henry Hope's Collection,

Principally consisting of works by Rubens, Vandyck, Gerard Douw, &c. and others of the finest specimens of the Flemish and Dutch masters; also many admirable pictures by other masters, all of which may be seen, by applying at the house, in Cavendish-square.