The National Register. — London, England, 1808-05-22 00:00:00

1 L. i 4 I +. _ . v , i .1 ' 1 '• P g it • 334 gives one the idea of nothing but a steward at a public dinner with his wand, exhibiting his politeness by his affectation of grace. The left hand is spread with an expression of the most thorough imbecility even to the tips of the fingers. The figure of Prieto is painted almost as big again as the figure of any one of his sons : a very forcible illustration indeed of the com plaints which Nestor was always making about the degeneracy of the human race. But even this single figure does not pre serve its proportions : for the foot is fitted to the bodies of the smaller figures in the same picture. In short, we can find no one point on which to praise this work of Mr. West, except the mere execution, which certainly has a great deal of neat ness and flourish. But the picture at best is only like a writing master's copy, a long word of nonsense, beautifully penned. 7. Zara, deserted by Hassan the Camel Driser...-S. WOOD FORDE R. A. Farewell the youth whom sighs could not detain, Whom Zara's breaking heart implored in vain: Yet as thou goest, may every blast arise, Weak and unfelt as these rejected sighs, dec. Collins's Second Oriental Eclogue. To dwell on this charming picture would he some relief, after vexing ourselves with a contemplation of that which we last mentioned. But it unfortunately happens that what is really excellent affords little room for amplification. Where no faults are to be found, it is impossible to furnish such shadows as shall lend a contrast to the lights of criticism : and a mere ennmeration of beauties would be no long er criticism, but description. We can therefore say but little of Mr. Woodforde's Mourner. The exquisitebeauty of this interesting girl, the me lancholy of her expression, and the softness of the general effect, leave us nothing to wish, unless that like Prometheus, we could bring the fire of heaven, and animate a creature so fascinating as Zara. 107. The Angels appearing to the Shepherds.—J. Noarst coTE, R. A . And suddenly there was with the Ang el a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God ; saying, gory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. St. Luke, Chap. 11. v. 13, 14. The Artist has here produced a painting, which if it do not soar to the glory of the sublime, has at least the merit of the burlesque. True humour, it is said, is scarce in our times : and therefore a droll artist ought to be commended, even though he may have been droll without intending it. The general effect of the picture is that of the blue smok that boys make round a candle by squeezing wet orange peel upon the flame : and in the middle of this smoke float some chubby cherubs, exhibiting, for the edification of the Shepherds below, the divine promise, which is given in the motto of the picture. But what makes this more amusing is, that the promise is ex pressed, like the motto of the Garter, on a piece of ribband : and not only expressed on ribband, but expressed in Latin. Yes, in Latin has the painter expressed the message sent by Heaven to the poor peasants of Bethlehem : and in a blue storm has he ar ranged that soft season, When Jordan hush'd his waves, and midnight still Watched on the holy tow'rs of Zion Hill LAW REPORTS. BISHOP'S COURT, DOCTORS' COMMONS, MAY 20. BISHOP (HIS ►MAJESTY'S PROCURATOR) V• STONE. This day the Rev. Francis Stone, Rector of Norton, in Essex, was called upon by the Court (Sir W. Scott) agreeable to its directions, to appoarand revoke his error, for having preached n Sermon at the Parish Church of Danbury, before the Archdeacon of the Diocese, wherein he maintained doctrine contrary to the established law of the Church of England ► by denying the Holy Trinity, the Divinity of our Lord and Saviour, and the atone ment by the death of Christ. The Registrar of the Court then read a written paper, signed by Mr. Stone, to the following purport :—That he was not aware by preaching this Sermon before the Archdeacon, he was of fending against the Act of Parliament passed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; that he was well persuaded that the Or daining Bishop authorized him to preach as he did, and that he promised and engaged not to offend again in like manner. It was contended by the Learned Civilians, on the part of the pro secution, that this was no revocation of the Rev. Gentleman's error. The Rev. Mr. Stone then addressed the Court at some length, the tenor of which neither affirmed and maintained such doctrine ► .instead of being a revocatiao of it. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. MAY 29. The Court was of opinion, it was not in its power to accept this written paper, or this verbal declaration of Mr. Stone, as a revocation of bis error, and therefore directed the Registrar to eater upon record, that Mr. Stone had declined to revoke his error, and persisted therein. The Court then informed the Rev. Mr. Stone, that the sentence of deprivation must be passed by the Bishop of the Diocese, agreeable to the Canon Law. The Bishop of London and the Bishop of Lincoln, accom panied by other dignified Clergy, then entered the Court, and after being informed by Sir W. Scott that the charges alleged against the Rev. F. Stone were clearly proved and established by the evidence produced, the Bishop of London proceeded to read the sentence, and afterwards signed the same, which de prived the Rev. Mr. Stone of his Ecclesiastical Preferments. COURT OF KING'S BENCH. TUESDAY, MAY 17. PAXTONS, COCKEREL, AND CO. V. SIR HOME POPHAM. The Court decided, that the bond for 3,500/. given by the lat ter to the plaintiffs, for goods, &c. on board the El Etrusco, hound to Ostend from Calcutta, was void, the consideration be ing an illegal transaction. THURSDAY, MAY 19. THE KING V. THOMAS APPLETON. The defendant was brought up to receive the judgment of the Court, having been convicted of a breach of Quarantine Law. The statute upon which he was tried affixes a penalty of 5001. for the species of offence be had been guilty of, and as he was not able to pay the fine. be was committed till the same should be satisfied an d discharged. IDE KING V. WILLIAM HUTTON. The defendant was the master of a coal ship, and was inform ed by the proper officer, while at Sunderland, that a general em bargo had been laid upon all vessels in that port, and that he must not sail. The defendant, however, chose to put to sea, saying that his vessel was in ballast, and the embargo did not attach. The defendant was ordered to be imprisoned three months in the King's Bench Prison. NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. Extract of a Letter from Captain Booth, of the ship Harver, from Pctersburgh for London, dated Helsingburgh, 2.lth 1808. " I arrived here this morning, and have made application to Sir Samuel Hood for convoy to go to Carlsham, which he has granted, and appointed a frigate and a brig to sail as soon as possible. It is reported the Danes have sunk some old wrecks in the passage of the Sound; but the Admiral is now surveying the Malmo Channel, and his intention is to pass the ships through them. Pilots are appointed at Falsterbo for the use of the men of war. The Admiral has given me orders to write to the ships at Carlscrona to come to Carlsham to join the convoy. The force here is six sail of the line, two frigates and brigs. Sir Samuel gives us a convoy no further than Gottenburgh, where we are to take the regular convoy ; he meant to place a line of battle ship abreast of Cronbnrg Castle before we passed." The following outward-bound fleets sailed on Sunday from Falmouth, viz. the West India fleet, under convoy of the lid lette ; the fleet for Quebec and Halifax, under convoy of the• Avenger; the Mediterranean fleet, under convoy of the Cam brian ; and theifleet for the Brazils, under convoy of the I..4,llt fling sloop of war. ON BOXING. The custom of Boxing appears to have gained ground very rapidly in this country during the last ten years; and for tl:e whole of that period the press has groaned with the invective of authors, who. in the excess of their morality. have found th.s amusement productive of infinite mischiefs to virtue, and of deep disgrace to Cie national character. We own that we have never been able to discover these evils. Every body knows that the Boxers are usually people of loose character, and dissipated ha bits, and we do not mean to dispute that the fact is SI) : LLit when it is recollected that they were people of bad morals be fore they became Boxers, it seems a little unreasonable to i,4yr that their bad morals are the result of their Boxing. They an' often the keepers and the servants oflow ale-houses ; the frieik, protectors, and landlords of idle fellow:,, vagrants, and even thieves: hut they would be all this, just as much if a subscrip tion purse had never been known to them. Now we maintaili, that, on the other hand, the Boxers actually do a considerable service, however unintentionally, to society at large. By Tv: eustoming all classes of persons (for young noblemen are nevi a. c.o.