criticks; but while he has reverenced the "Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere, he has been sensible of the absolute pro- It is an invidious and unpleasant task to follow a translator through his labours for the purpose of discovering errors to which all may be liable who undertake similar pursuits. We shall therefore leave this Translation in the hands of the learned Critick, to compare with the original, and merely recommend it to the English reader, as possessed of many beauties, and with as few de fects as the nature of the verse will perhaps permit. In describing the indications of approaching storms Mr. Deare has been very happy in the following lines:. the sea-birds now, And those around Caïster's Asian meads, human industry, wrought in wood, in stone, in metal, in compositions of various descriptions, in silk, in wool, in cot ton, and in other less usual materials. Each of these, different articles, however simple be its texture, and however mean its destination, is capable of uniting to the more essential requisites of utility and comfort, for which it is more immediately framed, and with which it can consequently on no account dispense, a certain number of secondary attributes of elegance and beauty, which, without impeding the chief purpose of the object, may enable its shape and accessories to afford additional gratification both to the eye and to the imagination." Although Furniture is thus proved to be susceptible of utility and beauty combined, Mr. Hope thinks that such was the paucity of taste in this country, the English were contented to let a set of sole upholders," ignorant of every principle of elegance, sketch the designs for the various articles, which were consequently destitute of taste, and only distinguished by "a few wretched ideas and trivial conceits;" and even those, he asserts, were borrowed from the worst models of the degraded French school of the middle of the last century. Every kind of Furniture, he adds, was either absolutely destitute of ornament; or, if any attempt at embellishment was made, those embellishments were entirely foreign to the rules of design, without repose of surface, distinctness, and contrast of outline, and opposition of decoration and plainness; Chok'd with thick fungus, gleams unsteady affording the eye of taste either lively, in short, the whole was incapable of Now scud along the surface of the main, 103. Household Furniture and Interior Decoration,executed from Designs by Thomas Hope. folio. Longman and Co. 1807. THE paper and type of this magnificent volume are equally excellent; nor are the engravings less so, though they are only outlines. Such, at least, is our opinion as British Reviewers. It now remains for us to shew, from Mr. Hope's own words, in what particular instances we differ from him as to the superiority of the execution. The Introduction consists of twenty pages; and of this it is our intention to give the Reader a competent idea, by an abstract of parts, and quotations from others. The following truism will not be disputed: "Under the general denomination of Household Furniture are comprised an infinite variety of different productions of permanent, or unfading enjoyment. The attempts thus censured rendered each description of articles for domestic use expensive, but not beautiful; and the sameness and insipidity of them became digusting long before "their extreme insolidity and flimsiness" reduced the possessor to the necessity of replacing them; indeed, according to Mr. Hope, "the inanity and tameness of their shapes and appendages already completely tired the eye and inind; and left these no other means to escape from the weariness and the disgust which they occasioned, than an instant change for other objects of a more recent date and a more novel construction. By these means large sums were expended on transient and unworthy objects, which might have been em ployed 1 ployed in procuring substantial and lasting ones, increasing, "in endless progress, the opulence of the indivividual, and the wealth of the community." If, perchance, a man in a small degree enlightened entertained a wish to emerge from the barbarism of the day, and conceived an idea which he wished to have embodied, not a manufacturer was to be found throughout the country who could understand or execute it: hence he was compelled to import "the refuse of foreign manufactures;" or, if he proceeded in obtaining "the choicest productions of Continental industry," the act became a tacit acknowledgment of our inferiority, and the ba lance of trade was turned against us. The lamentable state of the Furniture of this kingdom caused Mr. Hope considerable regret; and have ing thought proper to "appropriate a little repository for the reception of a small collection of antiquities, Grecian and others," he determined to form a few articles which should unite utility and elegance, and at the same time accord in some degree with the productions of antient art they were intended to accompany. In undertaking this design, he flattered himself that his attempt would introduce a revolution of taste in the Fur niture then used, which in the sequel might prove of far greater advantage to the community than his individual gratification, and render the draughts man, the modeller, the painter, and the sculptor, essential service, by rescuing the productions of industry "from the hands of the mere plodding artizan." nius of superior artists at their outset in life, provide for those whose abilities were incapable of greater employment, and direct the judgment of the rich in selecting objects worthy of patronage; besides the advantages likely to be derived from the above causes, he hoped to divert the money of the rich into more dignified channels than mere sensuality and trivial amusements afford, and by degrees to expand the public mind, till each individual began to respect himself, as advancing in "virtue and patriotism;" which happy state would attract the attention of foreigners, and compel them to acknowledge our ge neral improvement. In proportion to the magnitude of this grand object were the difficulties of accomplishing it. So little had Englishren attended to the rich and splendid sources of ornament, "the visible and intellectual beauty" of 66 antique forms," that Mr. Hope was, able to discover "no one professional' man," possessed of sufficient knowledge in literature, or of the art of drawing, that might be capable of ennobling, through means of their shape and their accessories, things so humble in their chief purpose and destination as a table and a chair, a footstool and a screen. In this unfortunate and vexatious situation, Mr. Hope found himself compelled to undertake the laborious task of ranging through the whole labyrinth of Nature, from the humblest of vegetables," to the most complex form in human nature, in order to give a visible shape to his conceptions, and still more to employ that feeble talent for drawing which he had thus far only cultivated as the means of beguiling an idle hour." Nor did his trouble end here: when designs were completed, they were of little use to those who, ignorant of every principle of taste and effect of relief and concavity, were unable to model from a plain surface or drawing, particularly in an accurate and classic style, all the varieties of chimeras, griffins, terms, trophies, insignia of Gods and men, &c. &c. furnished by the specimens of antiquity yet extant, and which "gave to every piece. of Grecian and Roman Furniture so Mr. H. then enumerates many ways much grace, variety, movement, exby which his plan will unfold the gpression, and physiognomy;" he was GENT. MAG. Ju's, 1806. "Thus I hoped to afford to that portion of the community which, through the entire substitution of machinery to manual labour, in the fabrication of many of the most extensive articles of common -use, had for ever lost the inferior kinds of employment, a means of replacing the less dignified mode of subsistence of which it had been deprived, by a noble species of labour; one which absolutely demands the co-operation of those higher intellectual capacities which the former often allows to remain dormant, or even tends to extinguish; and one in which, consequently, the powers of mere machinery never can emulate or supplant the mental faculties of man." therefore. 8 therefore under the necessity of sending all his sketches to Italy, where they were copied in models and casts, but his most perfect conceptions were unavoidably lost through this means. Attend, Britons, celebrated for patient industry, and the excellence of your manufactures in general, to the voice of a man of taste and vertu, who sees with disgust your numerous deficiencies, and rouse from the lethargy into which you have fallen. Let no future writer have it in his power to say, with truth: "Like the race of draughtsmen and of modellers, that of carvers in wood and stone, and of casters in metal and composition, who, without being qualified to take rank among the professors of the higher branches of the liberal arts, the statuary and the painter, might still pessess abilities to execute objects of elegance, somewhat soaring above the commonest picture-frame or pier-table, and the commonest grate or stove, were al most totally wanting. Throughout this vast Metropolis, teeming as it does with artificers and tradesmen of every description, I have, after the most laborious search, only been able to find two men, to whose industry and talent I could in some measure confide the execution of the more complicate and more enriched portions of my designs; namely, Decaix and Bogaert: the first a bronzist, and a native of France; the other a carver, and born in the Low Countries." Although disappointed of the exccution of his best designs, it appears that those which have been accomplished produced public approbation and admiration, and clumsy imitations and copies of them in various ways, Alarmed lest those caricatures and misrepresentations should be mistaken for true resemblances of the superb originals, Mr. Hope thought himself bound, in justice to his talents, to publish his designs in the form before us. Here again he found a thousand obstacles to arrest his purpose: not an engraver to be discovered, ready formed by prior practice to treat with spirit in simple outlines, objects so new to the graver." 66 "All the mastery of the practised draughtsman had been woefully neglected in this country, where, in general, en gravers, contenting themselves with copying the productions of painters by mere rule and compass, possess not themselves, in the nobler art of drawing, any accuracy of eye, and freedom of hand." Mr. Hope, however, acknowledges. himself indebted to the exertions of Mr. Aikin and of Mr. Dawe, through whose assistance the plates were completed. "Still could not, under all the existing circumstances, the most sanguine disposi tion flatter me with hopes of producing in London a work at all comparable, in point of elegance of designs, and of excellence of execution, with that publication which at present appears at Paris on a similar subject, directed by an artist of my ac quaintance, Percier." A man who undertakes to review the works authors and artists think proper to introduce to the notice of the publick, would be extremely unfit for his office did he suffer himself to be deterred from the exercise of his duty by a fear of offending the persons thus censured. We therefore recommend our artists of every description to take Mr. Hope's correction in good part; at the same time advising them to study drawing, as an essential point in every branch of the arts. To which we shall add, Mr. H. found England in a state of barbarism with respect to Furniture; not a man within it seemed sensible of the fact; he alone had the laudable spirit to rescue it from this charge; he with infinite trouble produced the most exqui, site designs to our disgrace, not a Briton could be found to execute them. The same persons, however, caricatured them, and he then endea voured to do himself justice, but could not, as there are no tolerable engravers in the country in this style: yet he was "determined on ushering into light the present collection of plates, such as it was." Now, with all due deference to su perior judgment, we had conceived, before we read this Introduction, that we beheld in Mr. Hope's work, an honourable and magnificent specimen of what Englishmen can perform, in the manufacture of paper, in printing, and engraving; a specimen equally honourable to the artists and the house which published it. And so little effect has this well-written and modest Introduction upon us, that we shall incur but little risque in strongly recommending it to the pos sessors of every magnificent library as a work highly deserving of a place in them, and is a testimony of the abilities abilities of Mr. Hope in invention and design, and as an evidence of our rivalling the very best foreign productions of a similar description. There are sixty plates of outlines; and many of the objects are of extremely beautiful contour and decoration. 104. The Mysterious Language of St. Paul, in his Description of the Man of Sin, proved from the Gospel History, to relate, not to the Church of Rome, but to the Times in which it was written. With some Remarks upon Sir H. M. THIS pamphlet regards the description of the Man of sin, as given by St. Paul in the second chapter of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians. Various interpretations have been given. The Man of Sin has b. en supposed to allude to the leaders of the factious Jews who revolted from the Romans, to Caius Caligula, Titus, Simon Magus, Mahomet, and even to Wickliff and Luther. But since the Reformation, it has been so generally applied to the Church of Rome, that among Protestant writers there is scarcely one dissentient from this interpretation, except the late Mr. Jones; who, somewhat rashly in our opinion, applied St. Paul's description to the Revolutionary Government of France-we say somewhat rashly, and perhaps that worthy man would have thought so himself, if he had lived to see that the Revolutionary Government was but one step leading to another form of Government of a very different kind. Mr. Nisbett, however, has been led to consider St. Paul's description as alluding solely to the conduct of the Jews, and to the events of those times in which it was written, and has entered into a train of reasoning at once acute and profound; but whether it will be accom panied with full conviction on the miuds of those living authorities whom he opposes, we are not prepared to say. One thing is certain, that he has argued the point in a masterly manner, and with all the respect due to the venerable and learned writers, dead or living, with whom he has found it necessary to differ. 105. The Fallen Angels! A brief Reviews of the Measures of the late Administration, particularly as connected with the Catholic Question; to which is added, Advice to the Yeomanry and Volunteers of the Imperial Kingdom, to whom this Work is addressed. 8vo. BY the Fallen Angels, our readers need not be told, the Author means our late Ministers; but if his representation of their conduct be just, it may be doubted whether they deserve the epithet of Angels. Be this as it may, he has collected a series of very important facts and cautions respecting the objects of their political ambition, and especially their measures on what is known by the name of the Catholic Question. From various documents, he suggests a doubt whe ther the proposed relief to the Catholicks would be politick in itself, whether it be really the demand of the people, or whether it would afford complete satisfaction, if granted. He does not, indeed, expressly enter on these questions; but they are such as every reader will be led to ask, and concerning which he will here find a considerable mass of well-authentic ted evidence. Too many proofs and facts cannot be brought together on a subject so interesting to the welfare of the United Kingdom, and it is especially necessary to be able to distinguish between what a people naturally demands and what their leaders prompt them to demand, or, in other words, between the reasonable desires of a nation and the ambitious schemes of a party. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Oxford, July 2. The Commemoration on Monday and Tuesday was unusually splendid. Upwards of 2000 persons attended the Theatre on Tuesday, when the poems which obtained the annual prizes were recited. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Cleaver, of Christ Church college (son of the Bishop of Ferns) for a Latin poem entitled Delphi. The second prize was obtained for a copy of English verses of superior merit, written by Mr. Rolleston, of University college, who was also last year a successful candidate for poetic fame'; and the last prize was given to Mr. Gray, á Bachelor of Orief college, for an admirable essay on the subject of “Hereditary Rank,”-On Tuesday morn ing the Heads of colleges and halls, accompanied by the Noblemen, Doc tors, and Proctors of the University, went in procession from the house of the Rev. Dr. Parsons, Vice Chancellor, to the Theatre; when Charles Severn Watkins, esq. was admitted to the honorary degree of A. M. presented by the Rev. John Mitchell, Fellow of Wadham college; and the Rev. Dr. Vincent was admitted to the degree of D. D. ad eundem, and was presented by the Rev. Dr. Hall, Regius Professor of Divinity. -- every part of that work to the new facts lately developed by the highlyinteresting and truly-important dis coveries of Mr. Davy. A third edi tion thus amended, and with other very considerable additions, is in the press, and will be ready for publication in the course of a few days. Mr. ROBERT BAUGH, of Llanymy, nech, near Oswestry, co. Salop, landsurveyor and engraver, intends publishing next month, a large nine-sheet Map of Shropshire, to be dedicated by permission to the Right Hon. the Earl of Powis. This Map is made from an actual survey, upon a scale of one inch to a mile, and has been the labour of near six years. The survey, it must be observed, is not confined merely to the limits of Shrop shire, but extends into the neighbouring counties of Hereford, Worceste, Stafford, Cheshire, Radnor, Flint, Denbigh, and Montgomery; comprehending an extent of fiftyfour by fifty-three miles, showing the connection of towns, villages, canals, &c. in the above-named counties adjoining Shropshire. Cambridge, July 7. Two of the Members' prizes, of 15 guineas each, are this year adjudged to Messrs. J. Carr. and George Burgess, both of Trinity-college, Middle Bachelors. There were not any exercises sent in for the Senior Bachelors' prizes. - The Commencement Sermons were preached on Sunday at St. Mary's church: that in the morning by the Rev. Dr. Middleton, Rector of Tansor, Northamptonshire; after which a grand musical piece was performed, composed by Mr. William Carnaby, for his Doctor's degree in musick. The afternoon sermon was by Dr. Pearson, master of Sidney college, when another musical performance took place, composed by Mr. Joseph Kemp, for his Bachelor's degree in Musick. On both occasions the church was very We cannot trust to the drawings of any anonymous Correspondent. Among much crowded: Wesley, the celea great number sent by one young genbrated organist, played several Vo-eman, is a View of Reculver Church, lontaries, to the admiration of the Congregation. Dr. ADAM CLARKE has been appointed principal Librarian to the newly-established Surrey Institution. A suitable residence for the Primate of all England has at length been provided near. Croydon. The present Archbishop, last Summer, bought Addington place, Surrey, the seat of the late Alderman Trecothick, with the money which resulted from the sale of the Archiepiscopal Palace, at Croydon, by Archbishop Cornwallis, with the assistance of some delapidations in the time of Archbishop Secker, which have been vested in the Funds for the above purpose. It will in future form a part of the See of Canterbury. Mr. PARKES has for some time been engaged in revising the Chemical Catechism, in order to accommodate INDEX INDICATORIUS, Though we do not entirely accord. with INVESTIGATOR, we see the force of his reasoning, and shall not be so obstinate as to persist in error. which would serve almost as well for a View of York Minster, or of Westminster Abbey. This specimen of what we have seen, prevents our using what we have not seen. A STUDENT OF NATURE would be much obliged to any one who will send for insertion an account of the present state of the far-famed Isle of St. Kilda, descriptive of the manners and customs of the natives, and stating the improvements supposes it might easily be accomplished introduced since Macaulay wrote. He by one who has access to Sinclair's "Statistical Account of Scotland," in which some account of the Island may be found in a volume published subsequently to the seventh. Mr. PARKES'S account of St. Mary's Waterlane-gate, Shrewsbury, &c. shall receive due attention. The Remarks of A MODERN on Heddesdon shall be inserted in our next; with an account of the Prisons at Norwich; Reviews of Colonel Hutchinson's Memoirs, Skelton's Sermons, &c. &c. AN |