THE POLITICAL EXAMINER. Party is the madness of many for the gain of a few.-Pors. HAYTI. WE were not pleased the other day to observe the tone of the Message of the Columbian VICE-PRESIDENT to Congress, respecting the Black Republic. The Haytians had, it seems, earnestly sought from Colombia a recognition of their independence, which the Government of the latter had refused, for fear of giving offence to France. We think this neither politic nor generous. The Colombians have nothing to fear from France- -or rather, they have neither more nor less to fear, whether they recognize Haytian independence or not. The French Government, as a part of the Holy Alliance, would crush liberty in South America, if it could, as it would crush liberty every where else: its desire to do so is bounded only by its means; but the acknowledgment of Hayti by Colombia would add nothing to those means. The Ministers of CHARLES X, it appears, already send spies to Colombia, as well as to others of the new Republics, for the purpose of course of fomenting dissensions, and finding out their weak points. Does it then become the Colombian authorities to abstain from doing an act of justice and consistency, for fear of offending a Government which is so conducting itself towards them? Do they dread invasion? The Holy Alliance has already abundant longing to attack them-their only security (happily an ample one) is their power of repelling attack. Do they apprehend injury to their commerce? An idle fear-since France is too much alive to her own interests to refuse commercial intercourse with Colombia, because the latter throws another impediment in the way of the now hopeless re-subjugation of her former colony. The French BOURSONS may have a hankering after their old dominion in St Domingo-they may be reluctant entirely to abandon the idea of once again re-possessing it: but every thing shows, not only the insanity of the project, but their own conviction of its desperate character. They were viling the other day to treat with the envoys of President BOYER for the recognition of Ilayti, on condition of a merely nominal supremacy heing reserved to the KING of FRANCE: they seemed anxious only to escape the humiliation which a formal sanction of "successful rebellion" would inflict on legitimate pride. Though we cannot however see the smallest injury or even danger to Colombia from a recognition on her part of Haytian independence, we feel strongly the beneficial importance of such a step to the Black Republic. It would have put an end to any remaining hopes of re-conquest that may be entertained in France; it would have raised Hayti in national rank; it would have led the way to a like recognition on the part of other commercial nations; it would have greatly tended to restore confidence and tranquillity to the free Blacks, who now are in a state of uneasiness and active martial preparation. And would not the doing all this have been both honourable and useful to Colombia herself? Nations find their account in good character, as well as individuals. To set the world a noble example by an act of generosity and spirit, may redound to the profit as well as to the honour of a state. By the proposed recognition, Colombia would have gained respect from both her friends and enemies: even the French Ultras would have been inclined to treat her with greater consideration. She would have obtained the warm gratitude of the Haytians, and secured the lasting advantage of their commercial preference. We see what joy the acknowledgment of their independence by England has diffused among the Colombians themselves, though it had long been certain that it was coming, and though the United States had the benefit of setting the example. But how much greater would be the effect of a first recognition upon a people unjustly contemned and neglected as the Haytians have been, a people shut as it were out of the pale of nations, not by insignificance or barbarism, but by a most galling prejudice? we have now formally admitted as complete and final. Nor can any dread of the effect of an open treaty with the emancipated negroes upon the minds of their enslaved brethren in our colonies, be admitted as a reason against making one. The wretched slaves already know of the independent existence and prosperity of the Black Republic near them; and whether we enter into formal commercial relations with the latter or not, the effect of the contrast with their own condition, in respect to personal freedom and happiness (which is all they can be supposed to think of) is neither increased nor diminished. The uuenlightened Africans in our West India islands cannot understand the niceties of diplomatic etiquette; it would be difficult to explain to them how the residence of a British Consul or Envoy at Port-au-Prince strengthened the securities of the Haytian State; but even if they could understand it, such an evidence of liberality on the part of the Whites towards the negro race, would surely tend to soothe rather than to irritate their minds; their esprit de corps would be flattered; they would feel the same sort of gratification which a poor Irish Catholic would derive from the returu of a rich one to Parliament, after the repeal of the law of exclusion-the sense of belonging to a degraded caste would be mitigated. It is now sixteen years since the French were finally expelled from Hayti, after a succession of sanguinary and devastating wars between thein and the Blacks, which had endured from the commencement of the French Revolution. In these sixteen years, "the Haytians have made a progress in civilization and intellectual improvement, nearly, if not altogether, unparalleled in the history of the world." Such are the words of a Report made by its committee to a Society in the United States called the "American Convention for the Abolition of Slavery and the Improvement of the African Race;" a report which contains many interesting facts in support of this cheering view. Public free schools are established in the island, to a greater extent, as compared with the wants of the population, than in European countries. The ability with which the journals are edited, we have before remarked upon in the Examiner: some editors in the United States (we learn by the Report just quoted) refused at one time to believe that the real writers of the Haytian papers could be the negroes who were the ostensible ones; but the fact has been established upon satisfactory evidence. The rate at which the population has increased is very remarkable, and supplies the most conclusive proof of internal prosperity and the comfortable condition of the people. In 1790, the number of Blacks and Whites together, in both the Spanish and French districts, was, by a high estimate, 665,000 in 1824, according to the official census, it was 935,335; giving an increase of very near 50 per cent. in the space of 35-years, 17 or 18 of which were passed amid the most horrible civil wars. This progress will appear the more important, when we recollect that the enslaved population in the British colonies, taken altogether, is annually decreasing. The state of the labouring class in Hayti is perhaps a better test than any other circumstance, of the happy and flourishing condition of the Republic. "Trying the condition of the Haytians by this test" (says the American Report already referred to) "it would appear decidedly better than that of the people of any European nation; and the citizens of the United States would be able to boast of no striking predominance. The wages of labourers in the Haytian seaports are one dollar per day; and the price of provisions nearly the same as in our own ports." The industry of the emancipated negroes is apparent from the rapid increase and very considerable amount of their exports and the r commerce. After abundantly supplying its inhabitants with provisions of all kinds, Hayti in 1822 exported coffee, sugar, and cotton, to the value of more than two millions sterling; imported to the amount of nearly three millions; and levied 678,000l. in custom duties upon the imports and exports. The arguers for the perpetuation of negro slavery in our West India islands, have always relied mainly on the pretended fact, that emancipated Blacks would never support themselves by their labour:-that pretence (like the equally absurd one, that the free negroes would never even maintain their numbers without importation !)—is now annihilated. The Haytians have vindicated the character and capabilities of the African race, in a manner which has surpassed the anticipaticns of their most sanguine advocates among the Whites, and which History will certainly record as astonishing, even in comparison with the progress of other nations. If however Colombia is to blame for adopting the suggestions of narrow-minded timidity, in preference to a consistent, spirited, and respectable policy, there are other countries which have not even the excuse she puts forth. England and the United States are above all fear of the offence France might take at an act justified by notorious circumstances, due to their own character, and conducive to their interests. On the principle professed by both-that of regarding On the first day of the present session of Parliament, Mr. BROUGHAM actual independence as a sufficient ground for recognition-the ac- very properly noticed the non-recognition of Haytian independence, knowledgment should have been made years ago, before Colombia or in connection with the ministerial self-glorifyings in regard to the acMexico had attempted that separation from the mother country which | knowledgment of the South American Republics. Ministers however 1 THE EXAMINER. carefully avoided the topic: what indeed can they say, in the midst of their treaties with Colombia, Buenos Ayres, &c. founded expressly on the principle of actual independence? There is one thing in particular which ought to inspire the British government, and the British people, with the kindest feelings towards the Haytians. It is, that with all their opportunities, and their natural sympathies with their enslaved brethren, they have never once attempted to disturb the tranquillity of our West India islands, nor given the slaves the slightest reason to expect their support or countenance in any attempt to throw off the yoke. We conclude this article with a summary of the most recent intelligence from Hayti: it is not a little gratifying, that almost every successive arrival from that island brings further corroboration of the truth of the strongest representations which have been made of the prosperity of the people, and the admirable policy of their government: "By letters from Port-au-Prince, we learn that the Emigrants who had arrived there from the United States have been not only well received by the Government, but that every facility has been afforded by the native inhabitants. As most of the Emigrants are of the Protestant faith, it was feared at first by the President, that there would be some difficulty in inducing the Haytians to associate cordially with them. This fear, however, was vain every where the most tolerant spirit is evinced. General BORGELIA, at the last anniversary of Haytian independence, strongly recommended this line of conduct,observing that the Emigrants, although professing another creed, were children of the same FATHER, whom they worshipped with equal fervour, but with different rites. General INGINAC, the Secretary of the President, a man of colour, has recently commenced a literary and political work, called Le Propagateur Haytien, which is written in a style that would not disgrace the inost enlightened man in Europe. The agents of the Mining and Trading St. Domingo Company had arrived at Port-au-Prince from England, and had been favourably received."-Globe and Traveller. LITERARY NOTICES. Bacchus in Tuscany, a Dithyrambic Poem, from the Italian of FRAN- THE Bacco of Redi is a poem quite unique in its kind. It is a viva- "The conqueror of the East, the God of Wine, Pitch'd his blithe sojourn on the Tuscan hills; First feels the morning heat, Lo, on the lawn, with May-time white and red, He sat with Ariadne on a day, And as he sang, and as he quaff'd away, He kiss'd his charmer first, and thus he said:- Ran not with the grape's beside, What would life be (short of Cupid ?) Whirls his brains and wastes his thumbs. The God proceeds, to the end of the poem, in this exuberant style, numerating all the Tuscan wines, and distinguishing their respective lavours and merits, digressing occasionally into vehement denuniations of water, and all such " thin potations" as tea, beer, &c. We ill endeavour to extract a passage or two that will best bear separaon from the context Hah Paid) know it well,- The lovely line Muscadel; A very lady like treat, But somethings for me, too gentle and sweet: A bijou is For your trim Parisian dames; Of the lily and rose, Who rejoice the banks of the Thames." "Cups of chocolate, Aye, or tea, Are not medicines I would sooner take to poison, Down in Erebus, 'Twas the detestable Fifty invented it; To grind and to cook it, And to Proserpine all three presented it. Doats on a beverage so unseemly, I differ with the man extremely." Would make me lose my senses. But a truce to such vile subjects, With their impious, shocking objects. Let me purify my mouth In an holy cup of the south; In a golden pitcher let me Head and ears for comfort get me. And drink of the wine of the vine benign That sparkles warm in Sansovine;" &c. انور It is curious, and greatly enhances one's idea of the vivid imagination of the poet who could throw such an air of real enthusiasm into his descriptions, that Redi was not only a temperate man himself, but was wise and honest enough, in his medical capacity, to enforce temperance in his great patients. Indeed it seems he actually commenced a counter-dithyrambic in praise of Water, in which Ariadne was to have had all the talk to herself; but had not inspiration enough to get beyond the first paragraph. However, the prose-eulogists of the pure element have made ample amends for his default! The Preface includes a short account of the ingenious and amiable Italian poet. "Francesco Redi wis born at Arezzo, in Tuscany, on the 18th of February, 1626, of Gregorio Redi, a gentleman of that city, and Cecilia de Ghinci. He studied polite literature under the Jesuits at Florence, and the sciences at the university of Pisa; and soon obtained admission to the court of Ferdinand the Second, a liberal prince, who made him his physician. He continued till his additional excuse for the flattery which he bestows on the latter death in this office, under Ferdinand's son and successor, Cosmo the sovereign, a weak and pompous prince, who nevertheless had enough Third, whom he also instructed in physic. This may furnish an in him of the Medici family to be led into the encouragement of art and science. The flatteries, after all, are nothing to what those of Dryden and others used to be at the same period in England. Cosmoir the Third was given to eating and drinking, and had become very sick. and corpulent in the prime of life: it was thought he would not survive. His physician set him upon a Pythagorean regimen, and by temperance and exercise kept him alive and strong to eighty years of age. The Duke was very sensible of his diminished liver and in-. creased happiness. Redi took the opportunity of enlarging the Museum of Natural History, of which indeed he may be considere as the founder; the hankering which his master had after the table was converted into experiments on gardening and vegetables: vines were collected from all parts of the world; the reigning dishes were varied without peril; the sovereign's brains were enlivened without intoxication; and arts and sciences continued to flourish under the doctor's intellectual, and the duke's corporeal appetite-Our author continued all his life in the active pursuit of his profession. Nevertheless he found time, besides his celebrity as an experimentalist, to acquire great reputation in philology. He was a Greek and Latin scholar, and a busy collector of manuscripts. But above all, he was ever ready at the call of friendship, both in his profession and out of it. To judge from the praises of his countrymen, he partook of the wit and learning of Arbuthnot, the science of Harvey, and the poetry and generosity of Garth. His temperament was lively but delicate. Besides great fatigue, he suffered from visitations of hypochondria, and latterly from epilepsy; all which he bore with a generous patience, never being weary, to the last, of taking an interest in the welfare of literature and of his friends. He was found dead in his bed, after a short and placid sleep, on the 1st of March, 1697, in the 71st year of his age; so well had he managed an infirm constitution. But he himself has told hypochondriacs, (if it is any comfort to them), that they are long-lived. Doubtless both their life and their comfort depend upon their enjoying certain advantages, by the help of which may lead an existence both long and well recompensed; though Plato speaks of a man who, by treating himself with great prudence, succeeded in having a long-lived disease.' But these Greeks, with their gymnastics, had something in them of the insolence of health. They were right: they were for having no diseases which an early attention to exercise and to manly sports could prevent; and had reason to exclaim against the rest of the world for not better attending to the first requisite towards a happy life. Our author had a lively countenance, and was of a spare and chill habit of body, as he has pleasantly described himself in his poem." The Translator is aware of the great difficulty of his task. After all (he asks) "what is the Bucco in Toscana? It is an original, an effusion of animal spirits, a piece of Bacchanalian music." Conscious that its great popularity in Italy is partly owing to the subject, he nevertheless thought it possible to import something of its spirit and vivacity into our chill climate. To make it the more acceptable to the English reader, he has added very copious Notes, explanatory of the persons and places named by Redi, as well as of his singular epithets, and enlivened by references to passages in our own writers, and literary chat on various topics. "If I gossip over my subject,”he says," it is from the same feeling that induced the author to accompany his poem with the long annotations from which I have made a selection. It is an entertainment that requires garnishing, Over a great feast, we may be as quiet as aldermen; but a song and a light glass require the chatting which they provoke." Observations on Mr. Secretary Peel's House of Commons Speech, introducing his Police Magistrates' Salary Raising Bill, &c. &c. A week or two back, we gave some account of Mr. BENTHAM'S convincing arguments in this pamphlet against the proposed increase of the salaries of the stipendiary magistrates, and the proposed mode of selecting those functionaries. The pamphlet was not then published; and the venerable Author has since added to the former matter an examination of the Bill now in Parliament for raising the Judges' salaries, and some remarks on the County Courts,-both distinguished by his usual vigour and philosophical acuteness, and by more than ordinary humour and liveliness. The whole forms a very spirited and powerful brochure. t Remarks on the Legality and Expediency of Prosecution for Religious Opinion. By JONATHAN DUNCAN, ESQ. The general object of this book is sufficiently described by the title; but as there are many ways of accomplishing a purpose, we will briefly advert to the leading divisions of Mr. DUNCAN, who has summed up on the liberal side of this grand question with considerable industry and great occasional force. The author first grapples with the often-quoted dictum of Sir Matthew Hale in the case Rex v. Taylor, declaring Christianity to be part and parcel of the law of the land. Proving, by the way, that the Law of Libel, as it prevails in this portion as the rights of private conscience are respected. To prove the inutility of prosecution from history, takes up a third section, which position is forcibly illustrated by the impoverishment of France and Spain, owing to the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and the expulsion of the Moors. His concluding section Mr. DUNCAN entitles "Jurisdiction in matters of religious opinion controverted;" in which, on the foundation of the undeniable fact, that belief is independent of the will, he proceeds to show the absurdity and cruelty of punishing any man's expression of his teal convictions. In truth, all history proves, that in this direction, laws can establish nothing but hypocrisy and that heartless attention to mere forms under which opinion is perfectly free in an injurious sense, and shackled in every other. What was the rel gion of France, which the early storms of the revolution annihilated? A pageant, a very nonentity-and what in the end will be that of Spain and Portuga!? To the labours which give the leading title to this publication, is added "An Apology for the Vices of the Lower Orders;" which we suspect has been more hastily concocted than the previous part of the volume. Upon the whole, however, the entire book forms an honourable testimony of zeal in a right cause, and of an application of much reading and logical acuteness in support of a general principle of the very first importance and magnitude. [Joon Bull in America, &c. in our next.] Q. FINE ARTS. ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION. formance, and the second of a grand character, submitted by Mr. DANBY 287, The Delivery of Israel out of Egypt. As this is the third, masterly perto public notice, we may safely pronounce him an established painter of Poetic Landscape-the highest species of Landscape Painting, of which CLAUDE, NICHOLAS and GASPAR POUSSIN, and SALVATOR ROSA. are at the head. He divides this praise of pre-eminence among modern Artists with TURNER and MARTIN. We denominate it. Poetic in contra-distinction to the next class, the Historical, which though somewhat elevated in its style, gives the simple narration of Historical circumstance, unfrom Nature and the Historic page, which kindles enthusiasm in the mixed with that fervent feeling, that splendid and select combination spectator. Its canvass, like a clear lake in the noblest climes, reflects the beautiful and the sublime, not only in their intensity but in their novelty, so that the mind becomes enamoured of the scene-Such is MARTIN'S Creation; such is CLAUDE'S Enchanted Castle; such too is the picture before us, in spite of its numerous tamely-drawn and not original figures, for they nevertheless have a large infusion of very applicable expression. They are spread over the fore and a great part of the middle ground. They abound in all the feelings of a people who have just escaped an bed of a sea with its waters forced up by a mighty East wind as a walk expected destruction from a powerful army, had passed unharmed the on each side were witnessing the awful return of those waters upen a pursuing and Lancorous foe. They are the feelings of a people who had seen and were beholding the sublimest spectacle, and whose mind'', were penetrated by profound veneration, and gratitude to their Dive Deliverer. Moses extends his miracle-performing rod over the sea, and the Ark of the Covenant appears in the distant vau of the multitudin ous line of the Israelites. This is an anachronism, for the Ark was not yet made. But it adds to the impression of solemnity from the supernatural light over it, and which preceded the camp by night. This light is so skilfully painted as absolutely to appear real. It shines with exquisite silveriness on the Ark, the priests, the people, and surrounding rocks. The throng of Israelites are spread along a rugged and rising shor where huge savage rocks frown on the more savage host of Egyptia who are distantly seen perishing in the awfully closing sea, and un dun expanse of cloud, ruefully charged and exploding with the Heaven, and its horizontal edge of an orange light, the solem off of a tremendous and eventful night.-This picture is the for 500 guineas, of the Marquess of STAFFORD. Jer a .res of reaking property, ut, with un of The Trial of Mr. HAYTER made a good picture of the Queen's Trial, common improvement, he, has now made a capital one Lord William Russel. The melancholy subject is pictu in the noble presence of the patriotic ancestor of th Russel-in the affectionate feeling, of the fine-minde e patriot family of d Lady Rachel, his wife, who is turning her head upward to him assistant hint, and has her dog stationed at her f as if giving him emblem of her devotedness to her husbandeet,-a well-conceived and the whisperings of the spectators-in t in the concerned looks Judge, who is a specimen of too many Jur e malignant face of the opposition to the assertors of Freedom, whees in their cruel or bind never Kings or their Mini an country, had its origin in the detestable Star Chamber, he ably shows sters have been the prosecutors. The drawing and the arrangement of its utter inapplicability and injustice in the punishment of opinion, and impressively enforced by the eloquent at the moral of the subject of the unfitness. of Sir Matthew Hale's authority to support so vast a impretain ; no fossed any ale ringwage of Art. That unject is his unsupported declaration. He next proceeds to prove the inex- RUSSEL to a premature death, as it has done the heroic RIEGO, and oth of the unsuccessful opposition and sympathy with the moral is to which brought the excellent pediency of such prosecution; and here we think him peculiarly suc-magnanimous Spaniards of the present times. cessful, both in his general and particular illustration. Nothing can cause of Liberty, and the lovers of the Fine Arts, will be much pleased The friends to the sacred be more clear than that, politically speaking, every country hat at this British toy subject so satisfactorily treated. Notwithstand pleased more or less, according to its freedom in this point, and that at this British fetory has so many examples of patriotism, it is a very the very moment nations are influential and prosperous merely in pro- thing to see such a subject on the walls of the Royal Academy. There is a power in Mr. Ross's picture, 253, Christ casting out Devils, PHANOFF. Among the best Landscapes and Sea Pieces, are-9, 4 which would most likely render his pencil efficient in less dignified sub- Woody Scene, by J. STARK.-119, Sun-set at Sea, with its grand vividjects. But the very common character of Christ and his Disciples, and ness and depth, by DANBY.-21, Dover, by CALCOTT.-92, Scene on the the grinning and contorting rage of the possessed maniacs, render the North Coast of Devon, by LINTON.-97, View from Richmond Hill, by picture in some respects offensive to good taste. HOFLAND.-113, Landscape, a Water Mill, by CONSTABLE; besides". Mr. WESTALL'S Mary Magdalene, &c. at the Sepulchre, 23, has a harsh-some Landscapes honourable to the executive taste of Lady Love and ness of feature, and a want of further pencilling in the filling up of the Sir G. BEAUMONT, Among the Historical Pieces, are some of NORTH/ outlines. The open nostril of his females here, and in his figure of Melan- COTE's, with his heart-touching tenderness and vigour; the beautiful i choly, in 64, L'Allegro, is more expressive of disdain than the intended Helen on the Scaan Gate, by WESTALL; and the rich and grandly, character. It is, however, favourable to character, in his Portrait of coloured and intensely characterised Judgment of Solomon, by Haydos. Lord Byron, 41, which, under this feeling, is as like the Poet as perhaps HILTON's elegant and animated Cupid nursed by the Graces, and Nature, can be. The L'Allegro is otherwise very illustrative of the exclamation, blowing bubbles. Hence, loathed Melancholy,"-and of the Nymph " Euphrosyne, or heart-easing Mirth ;" and the effect in form, expression, and colour, is appropriately elegant and lively. The taste of Mr. WESTMACOTT has been for several years past progressively improving in Sculpture. His former heaviness of manner is nearly got rid of, although 1043, Afflicted Peasants, has a remnant of it; but it is full of graceful tenderness; so is 1,065, A Madonna and Child, which possesses also an elegance that belongs to the higher nature of the subject. The former is said to be imitated from RAFFAELLE; but we think that the Madonna and Child has more of his refined and unearthly spirit, or rather of the most pure and amiable of expressions among mortals, united with great personal beauty. The adjustment of all the lines, individually and as a whole, the angelic innocence, and mildness, and beauty of the faces and hands,-especially of a hand that is gently placed on the Child's head as a maternal protection, the perfect simplicity of breadth and of line in the robe, which, charmingly adjusted on the head as a hood, descends with consummate elegance to the feet, and delightfully discloses the almost angel it enrobes: these merits, with the fleshy texture and seeming ease of execution throughout, must rivet all eyes and charm all hearts that come before this group. It wants but a little more sharpness to render it complete; yet we think it one of the most complete of modern sculptures. BRITISH INSTITUTION GALLERY. Fine Arts, is exemplary. Notwithstanding his lameness, he was a long (The Water-colour Exhibition next week.) HISTORIC PAINTING.-MR. WEST. MR. EDITOR,-After having been honoured by his late Majesty's patronage and personal condescension during more than thirty years, and having been elected twenty-seven times in twenty-seven years, to fill the high and dignified station of head of the British School, as President of the Royal Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, in Engsi land, Mr. WEST's works were brought to another public test in 1805, on an occasion wherein the Royal favour and the elections of the Royal Academicians could not avail him. His pictures had, on that trial, to stand in public competition with the chef d'œuvres of his ablest contemporaries. This memorable crisis was produced in 1805, when the pictures in the Shakespear Gallery, formed by the taste, commercial enterprise, and public spirit of the BOYDELL family, were sold by auction. A reference to the The system adopted by the Directors is now an active one for the pro- WEST, if the decision of the hammer be admitted as any criterion of pubprinted catalogue will show that the results of the sale were in favour of motion of public taste and of Native Art. They have desisted from the lic taste or professional excellence in an Artist. So far the Artist who purchase of foreign pictures—a practice foreign to the proper purposes has gravely resorted to the argument of pounds, shillings, and pence, will of the Institution-and, resuming their previous practice, have begun to purchase indigenous works of the immediate day. They have bought not have to complain that I do not meet him fairly and publicly on his Mr. NORTHCOTE's Entombing of Christ; and for 1,000 guineas, Mr. HILown ground; although I cannot consider prices anywhere, and still less TON's masterly picture now in the Royal Academy Exhibition, of Christ in an auction-room, to constitute any just proof of an historical painter's crowned with thorns. It was justly observed by the late excellent Pre-genius or incapacity, in a country where historical painting has been for sident WEST,-and the sentiment must be echoed in the hearts of the 280 years under the ban of the State, and excluded from the church, Directors, and all who are enlightened respecting Art,-that " the encouuntil the public style has become an object of distaste and abhorrence in ragement extended to the genius of a single living Artist in the higher Institution. Prices and the decision of an auction-room are substantial its own proper field, in despite of all the patriotic exertions of the British classes of Art, though it may produce but one original work, adds more to the celebrity of a people than all the collections of accumulated foreign class of objects in which the public are most interested. I have, not long evidences of public opinion, liking, and dislike; and they fally prove the productions." Besides this deserved practical comedation of British Painting, they have attracted the public attention forcibly to the con- since, quoted these proofs for that purpose, but, beyond that, unless sideration of the extensive and energetic powers contained within the sustained by the intrinsic excellence of the favourite purchases (which is bosom of our country, by their presenting to the eye a portion of the not always the case) they only prove the bad taste of the purchasers, not productions of nearly all our Painters of superior talent, thereby not only ROMNEY, OPIE, BARRY, TRESHAM, FUSELI, NORTHCOTE, WESTALL, the merits of their prizes. WRIGHT of Derby, Angelica KAUFFMAN, showing the high capabilities of native genius for Painting, and (to SMIRKE, STOTHARD, PETERS, WEST, and REYNOLDS, were among the adopt the opinion of the Directors) "that the Collection evinces a degree of talent which would do honour to any age or nation," but that if the most popular British Artists employed in painting the pictures for that best exertions continue to be made by the Institution in favour of Native great national work, the Shakespeare Gallery; and in justice to the fame Painting, and the Government second the wise endeavour by an annual and national honour, I now reply to the Artist's argument of prices. and family interests of WEST, and in vindication of the British school.. advance from the public funds, the Art will, or at least may, gradually reach Italian excellence; indeed, Mr. HAYDON'S and Mr. HILTON'S pictures in this Exhibition already manifest that it does to a certain extent. The Exhibition has every variety of Painting-there are Still Life hy REINAGLE, Landseer, and FRASER; Animals by WARD, COOPER, LANDSEER and GARRARD; Landscape, and Landscape with charac-five pictures sold for 261. 5s. less than WEST's Lear. TRESHAM's three teris: ic Figures and Sea Pieces, by ARNOLD, BARKER, CALCOTT, COLLINS, DANIEL LINNEll, Reinagle, DANBY, STARK, J. WILSON, LINTON; Portraits by BEECHY, LAWRENCE, SHEE, OWEN, PICKERSGILL, PHILLIPS; Domestic Life and Fancy Subjects by BRIGGS, BIGG, CHALON, COSSE, Mrs. CARPENTER, ETTY, EASTLAKE, FARRIER, FRADELLE, HOWARD, STOTHARD, STEPHANOFF, NEWTON, SHARP, PICKERSGILL, LEARY, LESLIE, DRUMMON. 9, WITHERINGTON, GOOD, WILKIE, FRASER; History by NORTHCOTE, ALS TON, HAYTER, GRAHAM, WESTALL, COOPER, HILTON, ETTY, JONES, MAR. TIN, HAYDON. Among the choicest of the Portraits are Lady L. Lamb, ten, and Kemble, as Hamlet, with his profound thoughtfulness, by Sir T. LAWRENCE.-102, The Artist, by JACKSON. sordid reasoning. I limit my present intention to an act of justice, that 9. Mrs. Russel, by PHILIPS.Of the Domestic Life and Fancy subjects are-2, Sun-rise, or the Piades; and 24, The Fairies, elegant and vivacious, by HOWARD.-27,heerfulness, and 29, Devotion, with a Guido execution and expression, by Mrs. CARPENTER.-28. Peace, with her amiableness and grace, and, 7, The Canterbury Pilgrims, with their various and powerful character, by STOTHARD.-84, Cupid, with Venetian beauty of colour, by PICKERS GILL.-17, Mary, Queen of Scots, and her Secretary Chatelar, by FRADE LLE.-88, A modern Picture Gallery, by WITHERINGTON.-98, The Parish Beadle, and 134, The Blind Fiddier, with their strong plebeian character-94, The Whisky Still, with its exquisite pencilling and Ostade-like colour-49, Chelsea Pensioners, The arrival of Madame PASTA has given life and energy to this with its joyousness, by WILKIE.-Le Malade malgré lui, hy NEWTON.45, Fishermen on the look out.-33, Departure of a Diligence, a brilliant establishment, which it was more than ever in want of, owing, in a lamplight and rich depth of colour, by COLLINS.-124, Poor Relations, great measure, to the capricious vagaries of Madame RoNzi, who with fine character of haughty reserve and of humility, by F, P. STE-seemed disposed to run riot in proportion to the difficulties with which WRIGHT'S two capital pictures sold at the auction of the Shakespeare pictures for 617. 19s. less than War's picture of King Lear in the Storm. ANGELICA's two pictures sold for 781. 14s. less than WEST's Lear. RomEY's three pictures sold for 471.3s. less than WEST's Lear. OPIE's Pictures sold for 927. 98. 6d. less than WEST's Lear. PETERS's four pictures sold for 1097. 13s. less than WEST's Lear. Eighteen of HAMILTON'S Pictures sold for 67. 8s. 6d. less than WEST's single picture of King Lear in the Storm! Respect for your limits and the lassitude of illness oblige me here to interrupt the course of my triumphant reply to the argument of pounds, cation, that if high prices are to be taken for decisive proofs of genius, shillings, and pence; but I pledge myself to show, in my next communiand low prices for a want of capacity (which I deny) WEST must be admitted by his professional censurer to have been the greatest Painter that ever lived in this or any other country. But I again protest against this of proving by evidences which defy contradiction, that WEST is esta- ALGAROTTI. THEATRICAL EXAMINER. KING'S-THEATRE. it was beset. The new comer will most probably bring her a little ever. DRURY-LANE. unequivocal. We ought to mention that Messrs. ARCHER, THOMP On Friday evening, BEN JONSON's Every Man in his Humour was revived at this theatre, in which that fine touch of strong comedy afforded in the character of the jealous Kitely, was most forcibly represented by YOUNG. FAWCETT was the Bobudil, and only wanted a little more personal flexibility to be all that is required; he cannot, at his time of life, be sufficiently vermicular. KEELEY'S Master Matthew was also very entertaining; and although we know not if there be authority for a slight use of the oral drawl of modern coxcombry, it served to link the manners of the two periods together, like the modern pronunciation of a Saxon root. The "gentlemanly melancholy" of the reign of Elizabeth, and the wax-work species of apathy assumed by the Witwouds and Foppingtons of the present day are in truth exceedingly akin; for at all times" Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works." FARREN as Brainworm, and MEADOWS as the "peremptory gull" Master Stephen, were also very diverting; but whether it is that, as Dr. JOHNSON says, mere fatuity is scarcely dramatic, we feel not the same interest in Lambskins and Master Stephens as in days which are gone by. Mrs. CHATTERLEY, as Dame Kitely, had little to do, but did it well. This revival was received with calm approbation. UNITED PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. A NEW Historical Play, on the well-known story of William Tell, was produced at this house on Wednesday evening, being the avowed production of Mr. J. S. KNOWLES, author of Virginius. We cannot prevail upon ourselves to minutely detail a plot which, whatever its CATHOLIC CLAIMS.-LORD ROLLE'S VERACITY. originality in some particulars, in its chief interest necessarily preOn the presentation of a petition against the Catholics by Lord ROLLE, serves that which is common to the general fact and tradition. In the Lord KING alluded to the attack made by the former on the late Member present production, the most affecting and effective situations are having endeavoured to stir up a spirit of turbulence and division in the for Waterford, whom he had charged with ingratitude, and denounced as produced by the separate capture of Tell and his youthful son, whom he place to which he had fled from Ireland for shelter. Lord KING said, that had employed to carry the signal of revolt to the conspirators. By a the gentleman in question had never fled from Ireland, but had served happy course of management, the feelings of the parent on the there during the whole of the Rebellion.-Lord ROLLE replied, that he meant pretended condemnation of the boy to death, betray the truth, after to cast no reflection on the gentleman alluded to! He only intimated that which the scene of the apple follows, and in due course the escape of he had acted indiscreetly and improperly in taking the lead in making a Tell, the death of the Tyrant, and the delivery of Switzerland. We disturbance and division in the place.-Lord LIMERIC said, that so far forbear allusion to an underplot, which is made serviceable to the from this being the fact, the gentleman had actually advised his friends catastrophe, as in a dramatic point of view it possesses no other in-not to stir in aid of the Sidmouth petition!-Lord ROLLE said, that the terest. We follow we believe the general voice in observing, that gentleman spoken of had headed the opposition to the petition which he with much considerable force and eloquence, the style of this (Lord R.) had presented from Sidmouth! piece is too oratorical and declamatory. Another defect is, so entire the Duke of YORK, from Edmonton, who said he felt much pleasure in so Several petitions were presented against the Catholic Claims; one by a concentration of interest and character in Tell and his son, that doing, and heartily wished success to its prayers!-The Bishop of NORseconded as these parts were by the very excellent acting of Mr.WICH, in presenting a petition in favour of the Claims, observed, that he MACREADY, and the admirable tact and conception of CLARA had endeavoured to discover the cause of the opposition made to restoring FISHER, all the rest of the Dramatis Persona were thrown into com- the Roman Catholics to the enjoyment of their civil rights, and all the plete shade-a fault possibly in the genuine construction of a play, reason he could discover for this denial of justice to five or six millions of although one of little consequence to an audience when otherwise highly our fellow subjects was, their conscientious adherence to their religious excited. Certain of the dramatic situations are excellent: one principles. The petition he had the honour to present came from persons scene, in which Tell finds his son Albert practising at a mark, was who entertained more enlarged views of civil and religious liberty than performed with the most acute discrimination and marking by Mr. appeared in many of the petitions. The petitioners were Ministers of the MACEEADY. The nature with which he in the first instance directs Established Church; but being sincere friends to toleration, were conthe boy, and his bursts of energy when he tells him to suppose the sequently induced to address their lordships in favour of the claims of the mark to be Gesler, elicited from the audience a burst of merited Catholic brethren. The petition was signed by between eighty and nine clergymen; and he could assure their Lordships, that the petitione and most spontaneous emotion. Again; when the father and child yielded to none in their attachment to the constitution and the protestan are confronted, their endeavour to conceal the connexion, and establishment of the country. He could also say, that the number its discovery by a merciless order for the execution of both, clergymen who entertained the same opinion was great, especially afforded opportunities which were improved to the utmost-the Norfolk. powers of Miss FISHER producing an effect to which no youthful performer with common talents could in any proportionate degree have contributed. The apple scene also proved very attractive, but more possibly in the way of stage effect, than in consequence either of its probability or its nature. In the management or the plot, so as to naturally lead to these striking situations, Mr. KNOWLES has exhibited no common skill; it forms indeed the chief dramatic merit of the piece. Contrary to the usual practice of this dramatist, he has possibly erred on the side of poetry in the language given to Tell; but after all, as there is so much more of romance than of common nature in the whole story, we deem it partly excusable. Although the first and last acts in some degree drag, the interest and force of the intermediate incident materially covered the defect, and no disapprobation was expressed from beginning to end; on the contrary, when given out for repetition, the applause was loud and Lord HOLLAND presented a petition from the Mayor, Common Counc i and Freemen of Nottingham, in favour of the Catholic Claims, and anothe to the same effect from the Protestant Dissenters of South-place Chape Finsbury-square, signed by the whole congregation. GAME LAWS BILL. The second reading of this Bill was opposed, and finally thrown ou by a majority of 38 to 23. Tuesday, May 10. GETTING UP OF ANTI-CATHOLIC PETITIONS, &c. Earl GROSVENOR, in presenting a petition from Manchester in favour o the Catholic Claims, alluded to the manner in which the Anti-Catho houses, and when their origin was inquired into, no father was to be fou ones were got up, being, he said, hawked about for signatures at differen for them!-The LORD CHANCELLOR again averred that he had had band in getting up these petitions, though he was convinced that the of England were never more adverse to the Catholic Claims than at pies peo |