entirely filled with debates in the Chamber of Peers, on the Law of Indemnity, and in the Chamber of Deputies on the Law of Sacrilege. This most unpopular law is stedfastly opposed by the liberal and independent Members, and it seems likely that the discussion will be of some continuance, for they are engaged in sublime theological enquiries, says Benjamin Constant, in his speech on the 14th, where they fulfil rather "the functions of the Fathers at the Council of Nice, than those of Deputies of France." Another Deputy, M. de Geres, begins his oration by talking of Cato, of Socrates, and Aspasia, and on being called to order and reminded of the question, he justified his rambling by the example of his colleagues, and finally proposed an amendment to the article inflicting the punishment of death, and to substitute confinement and hard labour for life. The amendment was rejected, and the article passed. There appears every probability that the tyrannical and iniquitous law will receive the sanction of the Chamber, and become an indelible stain on the French criminal code.

It is stated as a report, that Lord Strangford is to proceed to Milan to assist at the Congress, which the foreign journalists persist in asserting is to be held there, to deliberate on the affairs of Turkey and Greece.

THE ARMY AND MILITIA. What is generally termed the "Mutiny Act," is just printed, in its customary form, for circulation through the army. The following are the additions introduced into the Act this year: "And be it further enacted, That if any officer, serjeant, soldier, or other person shall at any time wilfully and knowingly enlist any man to serve in his Majesty's regular forces, or in the forces of the East India Company, who at the time of such enlisting shall be enrolled or engaged to serve in the militia, every such enlisting shall be deemed null and void; and every officer, serjeant, soldier, or other person, to whom any person shall offer himself to enlist in his Majesty's regular forces, or in the forces of the East India Company, shall ask such person whether he does or does not belong to the militia; and every Justice of the Peace or Magistrate before whom any person shall be taken, for the purpose of being attested under the provisions of this Act, shall, before he shall attest or swear the recruit, read or cause to be read to him the notice contained in the schedule to this Act annexed, marked D. D., and shall examine him as to whether he does or does not belong to the militia, and shall require the recruit to sign a declaration in the form of the said schedule; and in case any militia--man, at the time of offering to enlist as aforesaid, shall deny to the officer, serjeant, or other person recruiting for men to enlist and serve in his Majesty's regular forces, or in the forces of the East India Company, that he is at the time of his offering so to enlist a militia-man then actually enrolled and engaged to serve, or in case any militia-man shall deny to the Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, by or before whom he shall be taken to be sworn and attested, that he belongs to the militia, every militia-man so offending, shall on conviction thereof before any one Justice of the Peace of the county where the offence was committed, or elsewhere in the United Kingdom, either upon oath of one witness, or upon his own confession, or upon the production of the attestation, and the before-mentioned declaration of such person certified by the Secretary of War, or Deputy Secretary at War, be committed to the common gaol or house of correction, there to remain without bail or mainprize for and during any time not exCORN EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, APRIL 18. ceeding six months, over and above any penalty or punishWe had good arrivals of wheat last week, and a large quantity of ment to which such person so offending is or shall be other-English and Irish Oats, but of other grain the supply has been moderate. wise liable; and every person so offending shall, from the day on which his engagement to serve in the militia shall end, and not sooner, belong as a soldier to the corps of his Majesty's regular forces, or of the East India Company's forces, into which he shall have so enlisted: Provided always that every such person shall be liable to serve within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the regiment, battalion, or corps of his Majesty's regular forces in which he has so enlisted, during all the time the militia to which he shall belong shall remain disembodied, or shall not be called out for training or exercise."

Added to clause regarding "Reward for taking up de

serters :"

"Provided also, that no fee or reward shall be taken by any Justice of the Peace or his Clerk for or in respect of any information, examination, commitment, or any such report as aforesaid, in relation to any deserter.

"Any man who is enrolled in the militia, and who upon offering to enlist into the army denies that be belongs to the Militia, is liable, upon conviction before a Magistrate, to be committed to prison for six months, over and above any other penalty or punishment, which he may thereby incur for obtaining money on false pretences.'

There is no alteration in the Articles of War.

General Mina and his lady arrived at Stonehouse on Thursday se'nnight, from Hatch-court, near Taunton, the seat of T. Clifford, Esq., at whose house they had been on a visit for a short time. He has been recommended by Sir Astley Cooper to try the air of the neighbourhood, and the use of the tepid sea-baths, his health being in a precarious state. We sincerely hope he will find benefit from the change. His arrival was so private, that it was not generally known until a few days since.-Plymouth Journal.

Market Austrian Bonds are 983 9; Chilian, 86; Colombian, 90§ 1);
Spanish, 23 4; Greek Scrip, 4; Mexican, pm.

CITY, 11 O'CLOCK-Consols for Account are 92. In the Foreign

THE LONDON MARKETS.

There is very little prime wheat at market this morning, and fetches a
better price than on Monday last. Barley is not plentiful, but it meets
heavy sale at last week's quotations. In Beans and Peas there is no
variation. In Flour there is no alteration.
Wheat, red (new)
Ditto old
Wheat, white (new)

Ditto old

Barley
Beens, small

Rye

......

Tick ditto

CURRENT PRICES OF GRAIN.

....

-5.-8.

54s. 70s. Pease, White....
Boilers
Maple....
Grey

58s. 76s.

-S.-S.

30s. 44s. Oats, Feed..

42s 44s.

42s 45s. 46s. 50s.

388.39s.

37s. 38s.

19s. 22s.

20s. 26s.

22s. 23s.

52s. 65s.

30s. 35s. Flour, per Sack..... Aggregate Average Prices of the Twelve Maritime Districts of England and Wales, by which Exportation and Bounty are to be regulated in Great Britain.

Wheat per Quarter, 68s. 7d.-Barley, 38s. 2d.-Oats, 23s. 7d.-Rye, 39s. 2d.-Beans, 37s. 10d.-Pease, 39s. 8d.

N.B. Some important communications have been the cause of the delay of this A CONCISE and PRACTICAL TREATISE on the GROWTH desirable work, for a few weeks after its announcement; but the preparation of a standard practical work, illustrated by above a hundred pages of copper plates clus, Tulip, Hyacinth, Rose, and other Flowers; including a Dissertation on and CULTURE of the CARNATION, Pink, Auricula, Polyanthus, Ranun has been attended with unforeseen solicitude; and the publication, when seen, Soils and Manures, and containing Catalogues of the finest and most esteemed will justify the length of time and the vast expence which has been employed Varieties of each Flower. in its preparation. To render it perfect, the author or his friends have visited By THOMAS HOGG, Florist, Paddington-green, Middlesex. every manufactory of note in Great Britain, and of course it includes every Printed for Geo. B. Whittaker, Ave Maria-lane. practical improvement.

NERVOUS COMPLAINTS, and DEBILITY.-The late cele- Captain Bombay Native Infantry, &c. &c. Author of " A Voice from India in

brated Dr. Fothergill, in the course of his extensive practice, encountered repeatedly such distressing cases of Nervous Complaints, that he was induced to direct his principal attention to the discovering an effectual remedy, the invaluable Medicine here offered to the Public attention, under the title of Dr. Fothergill's Nervous Drops," was the result of his efforts. To those who Oppression of Spirits, Head Aches, Loss of Appetite, Indigestion, Spasms, Tremors, Fainting Fits, and Debility or Relaxation of the System, it is con fidently recommended to have recourse to the above Medicine, by which they are assured of obtaining immediate relief, and by a due perseverance in it agreeably to the directions given, the complete re-establishment of their health. -Sold in bottles, at 4s. 6.; 11s.; and 22s.; by Butler, Chemist, 4, Cheapside, St. Paul's; Savory and Co. 136, New Bond-street, London; and by the principal In 3 very elegant vols. price 21s. boards, illustrated with many fine Portraits, Medicine Venders throughout the United Kingdom. Of whom may be had Dr. FOTHERGILL'S TONIČ FEMALE PILLS, found particularly serviceable in

No.899. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1825.

THE POLITICAL EXAMINER.

Party is the madness of many for the gain of a few,-POPE.
POLICE MAGISTRATES.

"Be this as it may, almost everybody knows-and a man must be a Secretary of State, or at least a Cabinet Minister, not to know-that in this profession, above all others, success depends upon accident, at least as much as upon aptitude:-that it has for its proximate cause a certain opinion in the heads of attornies: and that, if external circumstances, altogether independent of inward endowments, do not concur in the M. PEEL's Bill for raising the salaries of the Stipendiary Magis-generation of this opinion, a man may unite the rhetoric of a Murray rates has passed the Commons without opposition in the House; with the logic of a Dunning, and, at the end of a long life, die, like Serwhich perhaps may serve as an additional proof how far certain legis-jeant Kemble the Reporter, without ever having clasped to his panting ative fallacies will go, even with the least prejudiced and most enquiring minds in Parliament. The purport of this measure is, to Taise the salaries of the Police Magistrates from 600l. to 800l. a-year; the plea, that such an augmentation will induce lawyers of high talent and character to accept the office, who will not serve for the lower rate of pay; the persuasive logic, that the administration of justice should be liberally provided for, and that there cannot be a worse economy than to give inadequate remuneration to judicial functionaries.

People "out of doors" however have not acquiesced in this measure and its alleged grounds with the same complacency as the Members of the Collective Wisdom. Mr. BENTHAM has scrutinised the aratter, has stripped the arguments of the Minister of their false colours, and has laid bare the real object of a proposal wrapped up in so specious a garb This illustrious writer has just issued a slight pamphlet, entitled “Observations on Mr. Secretary Peel's Speech, introducing his Police Magistrates' Salary Raising Bill." We never saw a piece of official logic taken to pieces in a more effective manner. With a natural consciousness of strength, the venerable author handles the Minister's fallacies with a good deal of humour, as well as vigour: to borrow Tom MOORE's facetious version of a slang phrase, this pithy brochure is "a first-rate demolisher."

breast the blessing of a brief.”

The absurdities are ludicrous into which Mr. PEEL is drawn by his rule of exclusión. You may indeed (he says) have the "refuse of the bar" for the 600l. a-year; but men of talent and character cannot be had under 800l. What follows? A man who has eaten the requisite dinners in a certain hall, and has been three years on the back or briefless bench in one of the King's Courts, is eligible to the office of Police Magistrate; while another barrister, whatever his talent and experience, if he have not so much business as would make him above taking 600l. a-year certain (with a good retired allowance in perspective) is to be reckoned among the "refuse of the bar," and therefore incompetent.

f

It is natural to expect, that in proposing this second increase of salary, the Minister would supply some proofs of the inadequacy of the former and present rates of pay. But no man in office ever insinuates the incompetence of an existing class of functionaries: the Servants of the Crown for the time being are always the best possible. Hence "the highest respectability" of the present Police Magistrates, and the "perfect satisfaction" they give the public. Defunct placeholders however have no such claim to ministerial consideration; and accordingly the original Magistrates with only 400l. a-year are unsparingly sneered at by Mr. Secretary PEEL, and their characters Mr. BENTHAM is very pleasant upon the money-scale by which blackened, in order to bring out more strongly the brightness of their the Home Secretary measures the competence of the differently-paid better-paid successors, Yet though he denounces them as "totally classes of Magistrates. The original salary was 400l. during which, incompetent," the sole proof he adduces consists of a list of their of course, there was total incompetence. It was then raised to 6007. trades or occupations. Of 12, it seems, three only were Barristers; which was an improvement; but to perfect the thing, it is to be 800l. one was a Major; three Clergymen; two Starch Dealers; one Glasgow What then! are the present thirty Police Magistrates incompetent Trader; two not specified. At all events, then, half were professional and not respectable? Oh no! If we are to take Mr. PEEL's word, men, the rest men of business; as to their competence or incomquite the contrary. "The present Magistrates," said the Right Hon. petence to fill the office of Magistrate, we have no evidence, and Mr. Gentleman, in introducing his Bill," were of the highest personal PEEL does not say a word. Mr. BENTHAM however happens to respectability, and performed their duties to the perfect satisfaction of recollect, that the Glasgow Trader, whose very occupation is adduced the country." Persons so competent and so respected being willing as a sort of proof of incompetence, was no other than the shrewd and then to serve the office for 600l. a-year, what becomes of the necessity industrious PATRICK COLQUHOUN, author of several well-known for the additional 2001. per annum each, to insure competent know-works having direct reference to the duties of his office. So much for edge and integrity! Mr. PEEL does not condescend to explain. On aristocratic sneers at tradesmen! e Minister's own showing, therefore, there is no ground for this new into the public purse; his Bill is superfluous:-but it is worse; it is mischievous

:

To form a proper opinion of the adequacy of a salary, it is necessary to know the quantum of labour to be paid for. Mr. PEEL says the duties of a Police Magistrate require "almost const int attendance.” What says a writer necessarily acquainted with the fact?—

The proposed ugmentation of salary is to be accompanied with twe regulations: the Police Magistrates are to be selected exclusively "A Magistrate attends at each of the offices from 12 to 3, and looks in from the bar; and no Barrister is to be eligible who has not been again in the evening. There are three Magistrates in an office, so that three years at it. What sort of security is by these regulations this duty is imposed upon each of them twice a week. We know that afforded for the compete, ace of the functionaries in question, is fully there is some business for which the presence of two Magistrates is necesexplained by Mr. BENTHAM. To be a Barrister proves in itself no-sary; but it is to be recollected that at almost all the offices, volunteer Magistrates are frequently in attendauce. We are convinced that a very thing more than the poss ssion of the following qualifications :large statement of the time each Magistrate needs be in attendance, is"Being of full age; paymen. of a certain sum in fees and taxes; and, every other day three hours in the morning, and twice a-week two hours on a certain number of days sprinkled over a surface of five years, in the evening."-Globe and Traveller, March 22. eating and drinking in a certain place, or therein making believe to eat and drink." As to the th. ee years' standing at the bar, what security for competence does that afford? In such a space of time many a Barrister, even among those who subsequently distinguish themselves, does not receive a single. brief. "After these three years, how long (shall we say) continues the time for junior openings, which require nothing but a few words got by heart, and half-guinea motions of course, which require not even that: "Leaving out of the question, however, the insufficiency of these qualifications to secure even Legal aptitude, or granting the possession of such aptitude to Mr. PEEL'S three year old Barristers, their competence to the magisterial office is still as far from being secured as eve T.

Now that a permanent provision of 600l. a-year is not enough to induce men of competent character and ability to fill a situation thus easy in regard to labour, is what will be believed by nobody who knows anything of the middle class of society, or of the number of talented and educated persons always seeking fit employment in this

country.

We have now seen-1. That the Minister's exclusion of all but Barristers of three years standing, is no security whatever for the requisite aptitude for the magisterial office. 2. That there is not a shadow of evidence of the incompetency of even the original 400l. a-year Magistrates. 3. That we have the Minister's own word for the perfect competency of the present 600l. a-year men. 4. That the proposed increase of salary would consequently be a pure waste of public money-which, though but a drop in the ocean as a matter of finance, mischievous as sanctioning a principle that would hold good for waste, ten or a hundred times as great.

Who does not know that there are certain points in respect to which ■ man may be very indifferently qualified for making his way at the bar; and yet, perhaps, be but so much the better qualified for the exercise of the functions of the office in question, being, as they are (with Mr. Jus- is tice BAILEY's leave be it spoken) the functions of the judge. Rhetoric is the leading talent of the barrister; logic, of the judge: and between the two, the strife is not much less fier than, according to the poet, be

What then is the real effect and use of this second 2001. a-year? Mr. BENTHAM has explained :-"The first increase did not bring th

bone is

the second will." Eight hundred a year will be worth the acceptance of honourable persons, for so many of whom the great families under the blessed borough-system have always to provide. There are usually in attendance some volunteer Magistrates who, partly for amusement, partly for the sake of paying court to the honourable incumbents, would be willing (as Mr. B. happily phrases it)" to yield thought, while the honourables would yield auspices."

In conclusion, Mr. BENTHAM proposes a very different plan for providing competent functionaries. He suggests that they should be chosen exclusively from the volunteer Magistrates before-mentioned. The qualifications would then be-previous admission into the Magistracy; and unpaid, but regular attendance at one of the offices. Under this arrangement, the best possible security for competence would be obtained,—namely, long study, and occasional practice, in the very field for which it is proposed to engage their services; and a zeal to prove themselves worthy of the expected appointment. We trust the more active members of the Upper House will not exhibit so much apathy or thoughtlessness in regard to Mr. PEEL'S insidious and corrupt Bill, as our virtual Representatives have done. We are almost persuaded, that if Lord HOLLAND, or Lord KING, would simply take the Home Secretary's Speech, and point out the contradiction, unfounded statement, and absurd inference, with which it abounds, the passing of the Bill would, if not eventually prevented, at least be so delayed as to allow time for the expression of public opinion against it.

"SAYINGS AND DOINGS."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER, LONDON.

SIR, AS the gentleman for whom the enclosed is intended did not favour the world with his address, I am puzzled how to communicate with him except through a newspaper. I got, indeed, a friend and relative in your city to search the Court Calendars and other guides; but he can find no such name. Hearing, however, from my correspondent a pleasing account of your attention to literary matters and general urbanity (as he styles it), I make free to hope you will print my letter to Mr. A. and shall look anxiously to your paper till it appears therein, and may possibly

continue afterwards to subscribe thereto; meanwhile,

Subscribing myself your humble servant,

TO ALFRED ALLENDALE, ESQUIRE.

V. N. V.

willing, if need be, and no other copy to be found, to purchase, at my
own risk, the book from our circulating library, and to prove the previous
existence of your Edward Musgrave. To do the knave justice, and I
expect credit for my candour, he has retrenched certain obscenities and
impious allusions, which I am sure you would not now publish. So much
only for his taste; but for his honesty, I have no notion, that because a
book was perhaps little read and less remembered, it should become com-
mon property; and that too, for so I'm assured, before the copy-right has
expired.
I am, Sir,
VOS NON VOBIS.
P.S. Having completed my letter (which I must say I have taken
some pains with, and am perhaps a little proud of), I just showed it to
our Doctor's Deputy, who yesterday arrived from St. Thomas's Hospital
in the great city. He tells me, that the John Bull Editor has left off
that I should only get bullied for my pains. This is a damper; and I
exposing "Humbug," and confines himself to the practice: moreover,
must wait some other opportunity. He also hinted, that possibly Mr.
Alfred Allendale and the Compiler of Sayings and Doings were as identical.
as Musgrave and Merton! If it were so, but I cannot believe it, I should,
as you dedicate your book "To the prettiest Girl in England," address
you, without altering the superscription, as "the most impudent
in the world."

THEATRICAL EXAMINER.

KING'S-THEATRE.

We have to hail the return of the performers to their proper field of action by the re-opening of the King's Theatre, which has relieved us from that miserable house they have lately occupied, in itself a foe to all musical sounds. We hope soon to record some new production in the way of Opera, at present we have only to notice a new ballet under the title of Cleopatre, Reine d'Egypte, which has given scope to the Scenist, and to the Ballet Master, who has shown great skill in his groupings and coups de thèatre, which has been more than usually effective. Otherwise we cannot say much in praise, for the subject is not a happy one, as it abounds with action rather than dancing, and has the common defect of representing characters with whom the dancing mania seems perfectly inconsistent. Why should Cleopatra be converted into a dancer in modern French costume, and, still worse, Octavia in one scene be all agony at the desertion of her husband, and in the next join in a sprightly dance with the most perfect non-chalance? But here we have Cleopatra in a ball-room dress, save and except the scanty limits of what may be justly termed her can scarcely be brought over the knee. Monsieur AUMER 100, should not forget, that Cleopatra was but a mortal, and therefore should not give as attendants upon her far-famed, but in this instance very trumpery galley, huge volumes of cloud to precede and follow her, and winged Cupids flying in the air. Great as her power was, it did not give her supernatural agency to boot. In spite of all its absurdities however, the ballet, with its aid of dancing, scenery, and pleasing music, was received with great applause, and will, we hope, prove productive to an establishment which seems to stand in need of COVENT-GARDEN.

P, Worstershire, 5th March, 1825. SIR-I have lately read a publication entitled Sayings and Doings. Now my aunt C, who lives retired at this place, and who is re-petty-coat, which scarcely amounts to a covering, and when seated markable for having read every novel that has found its way here within the last five-and-twenty years, and more especially for remembering what every body else has forgot, turning over the leaves of one of the volumes which she found upon my table, with a dryness which is peculiar to her, desired I would read a book called the Man of Sorrows. In my ignorance, I stared at my respectable relation, and began to doubt whether she had not gone the way of many maiden aunts, and was covertly reprimanding my employment, and recommending, under a figure, the study of the New Testament. But I mistook her meaning. The book she named, of which you, Sir, are the author, was indeed published in Leadenhall-street in the year 1808, and bears the motto," He was a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief." It proved, upon enquiry, to be still extant, obtainable here, and in very good preservation. Guess, however, my surprise, Sir, and what will be yours! to find the history of Edward Musgrave, the hero of your novel, identical with that of Henry Merton, whose tale is the longest in the recently published Sayings and Doings!

Now as it is hardly possible that such an accumulation of the miseries of human life could have been heaped in more than an individual instance (although there is more than enough for twenty of ordinarily passive capacities) I was not long in coming to the conclusion, that some anonymous adventurer had appropriated your work, passing it off as his own! Upon the discovery, I debated whether or not it was my duty to disclose to you this poaching upon your manor; and being a case of conscience, I resolved to consult our worthy Rector, who was happily then residing amongst us. This Gentleman I take to be a very exemplary member of the Establishment, adhering to what some people indecorously call a shovel hat, invariably (at the Rectory) drinking Port, and reading (at Church) the Athanasian Creed. As he sometimes honours me by a gracious nod of his reverend head, and occasionally favours me with a stray number of the Sunday John Bull, which he sends with an earnest injunction to read, keep clean, and return. I ventured to unfold my difficulty to him. Of course I apologized for intruding on his precious moments a matter which he might think so trivial, but that I knew a personage of his grasp of intellect could embrace small as well as great things. He listened to me with that suavity and dignity so becoming to the cloth, and outstretching his sacerdotal hand (which I observed was also of extraordinary grasp) he upheld, like another MILO, with reverence may I say, the last arrived Bull, and flourishing it with an impressive air, exclaimed, “This Sir, this is the vehicle wherein to show up the Humbug: am certain as to his own orthodox expression :) write to the Editor, and M Whehis-name will be sure to hear of it."

My resolution was immediately formed; and if the information I hereby ve is of any service to you or the world, I look for no thanks; but am

patronage.

X.

A NEW tragedy, called Orestes in Argos, was produced at this theatre
on Wednesday evening. We will commence our account of it by a
list of the Dramatis Persona, as it will serve to call up ideas in the
minds of most of our readers that will spare us minor detail:-
Ægisthus, Usurper of the Throne of Argos,
Orestes, Son of Agamemnon,
Pylades, his Friend,

....

....

......

Arcas, an old Officer of Agamemnon's,
Lycus, an Emissary of Ægisthus,
Clytemnestra, reigning with Ægisthus in Argos,
Electra,
Daughters of Agamemnon
Chrysothemis, and Clytemnestra,
Nemesis,

...

Mr. BENNET.
Mr. C. KEMBLE.
Mr. COOPER.

Mr. EGERTON.

Mr. EVANS.

Mrs. BARTLEY,

Miss LACY.

Miss JONES.

Miss HAMMERSLEY.

have all founded tragedies upon this affecting story of " Pelops' line,' Eschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Crebillon, Voltaire, and Alfieri, the avenging of the murder of Agamemnon. In the present instance, Alfieri and Sophocles have formed the principle sources. The tragedy opens with an incantation by Nemesis and the Furies at the tomb of Agamemnon, whose murderer, Ægisthus, reigns in Argos, in conjunction with the guilty Clytemnestra. The dignified Electra preserves, in the dress and shackles of a slave, the towering spirit of her race, and these three characters are developed in the first act with considerable force. Orestes arrives with his friend Pylades, the sole survivors from a dreadful shipwreck, bearing in an urn the ashes of the son of Agisthus, who had been slain in a base attempt to assassinate Orestes; which ashes it is intended to present to Ægisthus, as those of the son of Agamemnon, whom he is so anxious to destroy. In a beautifullyconstructed scene, which very closely follows Sophocles, Orestes discovers his sister Electra pouring out the annual libations, and deco

Among the chief Drawings are Mr. GLOVER'S, with his solar beamings; and Mr. AUSTIN'S, with his good counterpoise of colour, in 398 and 399, Docks at Liverpool. Also his Corn-field, which would produce a good harvest of praise were it not an express imitation of DEWINT. Mr. BYRNE's is a new hand and not unsuccessful.-Among the Engravings, MILTON now in the course of publication; that of Mr. G. COOKE, in his we distinguish the masterly hand of MARTIN in many illustrations of Rotterdam, from CALLCOTT;-and that of Mr. C. HEATH, in two finelytoned though otherwise not strikingly marked Prints, from HOFLAND Mr. LANE's accurate hand amuses us with many fac simile Drawings on stone from GAINSBOROUGH'S Chalks, and from pictures by NEWTON, JACKSON, &c. as do Mr. HAYTER and Mr. HARDING, from other Painters, Messrs. SCRIVEN, LUPTON, DAWE, and DEAN, have various ably engraved Portraits, &c. and Mr. SAY one from Mr. PICKERSGILL's beautiful L. BYRNE's amenity of style in two line landscapes are recorded in the Cupid. There are many entertaining book miniature Prints; and Miss book and volume of our brain."

HISTORICAL PAINTING.

R. H.

rating the tomb of their murdered father; and, contrary to the direction of the oracle, which had enjoined secrecy, he is led by his emotion to discover himself. He subsequently presents the ashes of the son of gisthus to his father, as his (Orestes) own; but is discovered by the arrival of a slave, who had accompanied the slain Prince. Thus undeceived, Ægisthus, disregarding the entreaties of Clytemnestra, orders him to instant execution. The fifth act details the rescue of Orestes by the people, and exhibits his encounter with, and immolation of, his father's murderer in the palace, having previously slain his mother unwittingly in the crowd. All is exultation until he is informed by Pylades of the latter act; when, reminded of the oracle, he becomes inspired by the furies, utters some verses of exclamatory phrenzy, sinks into the arms of his friend, and the curtain drops. This play is by the deceased Mr. PETER BAILEY, who some time ago so affectingly died in a coach, on his way to the Opera with a part of his family. As a classical adaptation, it will honour his memory; for it contrives to keep up a considerable interest, without materially deviating from the almost sacred story. The character of Electra, which, MR. EDITOR. I have heard that Messrs. Raphael and Benjamin West with Antigone, may pair off as one of the purest specimens of female de- the sons of the late President of the Royal Academy, transmitted through votedness that was ever portrayed, is finely sustained; especially in her the proper office a presentation copy of the gratuitous pamphlet―" On opening scene with Egisthus and the well-managed discovery of her the Probable Extinction of British Historical Painting, through the exclu- brother. It was performed with considerable force by Miss LACY, save sion of Pictures from Churches and other Public Edifices," to the King, that we now and then thought a somewhat calmer expression of resent- with a letter expressive of their humble and affectionate duty to his ment would have better suited the lofty superiority of Electra, whose pro- Fine Arts, their unreserved offer of their late Father's historical pictures, Majesty, and submitting to his Royal consideration, as the Patron of the found sorrow and deeply-seated thirst for avengement is far beyond the as a purchase for the National Gallery, by the Government of the common-place rage of the drama. The Orestes of C. KEMBLE was also country. The same unreserved offer is respectfully set forth near the finely conceived, and as energetically delivered a little exaggerated concluding pages of their gratuitous pamphlet. To this communication possibly in a few instances, which was rendered the more apparent, I am happy to hear that Messrs. Raphael and Benjamin West have been by the poet making him repeat very similar threats of vengeance honoured with a gracious acknowledgment from the Marquess Conyngsomewhat too often. His interview with his mother-the exact situa- ham, and their frank and liberal offer of submitting the valuation to a tion of Hamlet-and his discovery by Ægisthus, gave him some admi- Committee appointed by Parliament, has been some time in the hands of rable scope, and his exertions were very successfully correspondent: the Members of both Houses of Parliament. Thus, at length, that crisis, his departure to execution, in particular, was very powerful. COOPER, which I have foreseen and forewarned the country against, in a series of as Pylades, was calmly effective. BENNETT, in the Usurper, fell into The public style of history painting is in its last struggle. Knowing the publications from 1801 to the present moment, has at length arrived. his usual failing of excess, by which he loses more than any actor we public apathy and prejudice, I venture an opinion on this question, ever knew, by defeating the fine opportunities for gradation and climax, although I feel as a feeble osier opposed to the fall of a mighty building. which his physical capabilities so enable him to bestow. Clytemnes- I have earnestly stepped between this beloved Art and the grave of its tra, the Lady Macbeth and Gertrude of antiquity, was personated by extinction; but I feel the resignation of one whose mind is made up to Mrs. BARTLEY, but the character is not-possibly cannot be-ren- the apprehended issue. The young historical Painters, who entered dered effective in this stage of her guilty existence. There was but that high department with all the proud enthusiasm of honourable amone truly constitutional spark of the preceding ambitious murderess bition, in 1805, have been compelled, by public apathy and neglect, afforded, and that was ably conveyed. The character of Chrysothemis, gradually to abandon the public style as a snare of destruction. This evil the younger daughter of Agamemnon, a gentle girl, was given to Miss Institution. With the exclusion of pictures from public buildings as a has occurred notwithstanding the patriotic exertions of the British JONES, who performed it as gently. The opening incantation dis-wall of defiance before them, that meritorious body could not work an played the powers of Miss HAMMERSLEY to considerable advantage; impossibility. The second President, after having enjoyed the favour of but the second scene with the Furies was too long, especially as the late King during nearly forty years, and having been twenty-seven Mesdames Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megara, had evidently the honour times annually elected by the Royal Academicians to fill the President's of being entire strangers to four-fifths of the audience. For the same chair, left no other inheritance to his family but a few pictures, prints, reason, we think the concluding madness of Orestes might have been and drawings by the Old Masters, the house in which he resided, and the spared, which is scarcely a conceivable result to a modern audience. splendid collection of his unsold historical pictures. The fruits of his The diction of this tragedy appeared to us to be tolerably sustained, professional toils, at the entrance of his eighty-second year, were disap without much harmony of versification, or strikingly marked passages, foreigners, more than a century ago, after having lived like Princes, left pointment, bitterness, and embarrassment! Lely and Kneller, two regarded merely as writing. Upon the whole, however, Orestes in princely fortunes behind them. Even Jervas grew rich by the vapid Argos is the production of no common portion of intellectual skill and productions of his flimsy brush, as well as by his marriage. Hudson good taste, and we sincerely hope that it will prove beneficial to the realised a handsome independence, by the cold, tame performances of his Author's family. A poor Prologue, allusive to the decease of the plodding pencil. We need not therefore be at all surprised that Author, was recited by Mr. COOPER; and a miserable string of Reynolds, with a sense of grace, refined taste, elegant fancy, and the jokes, in which we hear of the bulls and bears getting among the splendid harmony of his colouring, was deservedly more successful than cows-a classic hit at the Milk Companies-and similar happy al- his predecessors. After having maintained the handsome establishment lusions to the bubble market, was delivered as an epilogue by of an independent gentleman, and kept a table for the best society, Mrs. GIBBS, who, however, was imperfect. Her good sense, we during upwards of thirty years, Sir Joshua was possessed of great wealth dare say, could not allow her sufficient patience to be otherwise. at his decease, but he enjoyed no more than the just reward of his merits. West, with talents for portrait painting, unluckily for his fortune but These extremely silly tale-pieces to tragedy should be done away with fortunately for his fame and the glory of his country, devoted his genius altogether. We must observe, better late than never, that in regard to history, and by the laudable ambition of excelling in the public style, to scenery and costume, the Management has exhibited much clas-he, in effect, deprived himself of a noble income, annually, for more than sical taste, although we think the colour, of the dress of Miss LACY half a century. To make a great sacrifice at once, is within the power might be much improved, even at the expense of a little accuracy, of ordinary minds; but to continue a constant sacrifice of interest to prinif authority has determined the one selected. The applause may be ciple, during nearly sixty years, must require an uncommon constancy and termed unanimous, for the single occasional interruption of an ap- great elevation of spirit. West saw Romney in the receipt of from three parently intoxicated individual can scarcely be taken into account. receiving from six to seven thousand pounds a year by the same popular to four thousand pounds a year by painting portraits, and Reynolds As, comparatively speaking, this tragedy should have a run, we trust branch of practice; yet the painter of Agrippina, who combined an that both good taste and sympathy will ensure one. Q. extraordinary union of placid temper with deep professional enthusiasm, continued to paint history, contented with the rank of Historical Painter to the King, and one thousand a year from his Royal Patron. By this magnanimous application of his powers, he continued almost alone to sustain the dignity of historical painting; but he deprived himself and his family, at a very moderate computation, of between fifty and sixty thousand pounds, or at, perhaps, a juster estimate, of nearly one hun dred thousand pounds, from 1764 to his decease in 1820.

FINE ARTS.

EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS.

THERE are some good bursts of light in Mr. WILSON's Landscapes, 109, 126.-Mr. CROME'S Dutch Boats, 153, have his usual pleasing breadth, but are barren in subject.-Mr. INSKIP's Naomi and Ruth has some appropriate feeling, but is rather tame.-Mr. LEIGH's Portraits remind us of REMBRANDT'S chiaro scuro, and they have a good choice of attitude.

Unfortunately for the British School and for the enthusiastic devoted ness of the late President, the great national calamity, which deprived that Master of his Royal Patron's protection, deprived him also at the same