The Sun. — London, England, 1855-05-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE. bryo Titian was promoted to another academy pre , sided over by a certain Mr. Hall, at Pocklington; after remaining in which retreat for about two years William Etty was taken home to be —appren ticed. Apprenticed be really was, when between eleven and twelve years of age, on the Bth of Oc tober, 1798, to a* Hull letter-press printer ; Etty's master in the craft being Robert Peck, publisher of the Bull Packet, a local Monday newspaper. Wonderful now is it to remember of the future artist, !renowned among so many living painters of cele brity, that no less than a tenth of his life wa s p asse d (inertly for his artistic fame) in Mr. Peck's Hull 1 printing establishment. The happy day of his re lease arrived, of course, at last—the " golden hour of twelve " struck at length on the 23d of October, 1805, when William Etty was emancipated from the uncongenial thraldom of his apprenticeship. Not, however, before he had faithfully discharged every duty requiring to be fulfilled " to the satis faction of the Master and the credit of the Ap prentice," as was set forth in so many words by Robert Peck in his endorsement of the youth's in dentures. Nearly a month after the date of that endorsement, Etty was still working as ajourney man printer. At length the signal came or the dawn of his ambition—the summons arriving at Hull from a beneficent uncle, Mr. Bodley, of the firm of Bodley, Etty, and Bodley, gold-lace merchants. Thereupon in his nineteenth year, William Etty fairly commenced his career of fame, arriving in the winter of 1805 and 1806, in what he calls the " dear city" of Loudon, whence he was ultimately to return home to die in his native York, with the ripened and lasting glory of having established his name among the blazoned catalogue of our more illustrious Academicians. Although his parents were Methodists, and possi bly may have been Whigs or Radicals into the bar gain, William Etty was, it appears, in politics a Tory, and in religion a member of the Church Establishment. We all know what he was in Art. More particularly all those are aware of the posi tion Etty really attained as a colourist, and as a delineator of the " human (form) divine" who en joyed the luxury we well remember to have par ticipated in ourselves, during the summer of 1849, when so many of Etty's paintings were collected together in the Adelphi, within the compass of a single exhibition. A glorious show—the last of the artist's triumphs—the crowning one among a— 1 4:4 Of fp.. . WILLIAM ETTY. u . lt to ~ . .Christ, Ill " EttY / R.A. By Alexander Gil sitit% dift e 2 vols. David Bogue. dop ro d conaprehend how any one could lik e the 0 eliberately to the composition of a work Net bet that here submitted to our consideration. ill ? it itself, th e subject chosen by Mr. Gilchrist biographn sufficiently attractive : namely, the kade k i e ' i c l . 'William Etty, the late distinguished the act,abstr Not but that an art-memoir is, in tereet t o at all times fraught with peculiar in wen, 'al TA of .11 ratantelligent among the analytical Pena th ° litee•E. eciall when it so hap 'as• ak th e art •.-A . Y instance oded • memoir, as in the i before 14 located t re , _ o the celebration of a man gifted, art . eott Peet; beyond the average of many emi- Deeitiozi teraPoraries. No --the species of corn- I SPertai r , wh ich/ by right, the present volumes A --/ 48 an • ead illustrative specimen, we admire ; to he treated the selection herein made of the theme _. eenat eat.ed of as an example in this same species (70etie posnion. Wll differ 4 he d in the pro at we rere n t til t. Th under notice is something wonderfully Ow i t A 1 e source of our bewilderment, as to iiidia'at'll4l poss•hi ...„' 1, 4a1 i 7, L. I ,Y h ave come to pass that any . cet e ow „ 1 his sicker senses could—we repeat it la!lke th e _&`_. uellberately to the composition of a work a l is etT u er e a e b h i ere submitted to our consideration -4°44 Ba n e ) 1 ?Ot in the general character of the tao__ art-biogra h t• *t articular cha lk ki a ioe „, Py,uoinis p , . 1 41 ttty , e , 'unnal narrative of the ' Life of Wil est e 4ek out briefly, and simply, and candidly, 4 a lite ledge it, in the style of the work perti4iai, anythingra- otnposition. Anything more ver';ersely, and more affected, anything more ' eloo s i 4 " ,1 yet, at ' I Y, pr e We must admit, too, more o 0 posterous than the mannerism of the face, ,Production f last, from " Pre recoil '° !` A ime _,;. r,o , m first to . I le , ecti oo. .c, "III; we cannot easily recall to our eee ued LY a 84t is as if the two volumes had been t r ,: e4 tri e e , sort of a Brummagem imitator of the , ereo„,e e ieerant of tki e j .r, l a Teuffelsdroch, and that, • 11 44 a Moment of more than ordinary hal -1 • on. Do-. e ' in re g r et ., -1-1-onestly spoken of, the entire work 8 th ao ," to style literally nothing more nor ‘4oo • ~a rlyee f • ' 14 letter s /Pilfelfairly out-Oarlyled. A plienome dis ' • those iev '. and o tt tingutshed by more o . f . 4,, , e rtio tis or 1 er.Y needless, and horribly distorting 4 (1 truo Phraseology, by more of those curt t ° l lt • ca ted ontosentences, by more of those idiomatic 44 4 • /18 of la quirks 40 quldditie,. n gunge , more of those idle d ae tk r tlons of lingua ose "sooterkins of wit 'an e e ,,,u straws, e xtravagance, which flaw as I ..Zeat of the and flies, and mud lumps the amber 9 4 , ,,ereb er t 4Ahilosophy of Sartor Resartus. We it 1 ) & 8 ' 8 of Wiji'nig in any way comparable to the the h William 'Etty" in these particulars, unless -ek e . hardly -le 11 , 1 40, 4 441 1% u Yea se caricature mannerisms adopted oo,„ - ' 4 11 of the ael'o from the writings of the ThZ 4 Pho r of ejtord Protector , by an anonymous N I - , e tlisei n i ie boy -poet, Thomas Chatterton. IAW 4 8 tho; of, Mr. Carlyle would actually ap oh„ 41:eod;,• the y recognised his genius only it ,e r ,,,,,_, io es. /,, 'fi l i, '' l ---wi th "re speak of their idol, be it tie intellect,i reverence for the scope and depth c but With little short Ne e iri ptfor , something very ci fash r his style of composition. After the a, Ne 10 0 ..... L. , .. lihi r pae ao • h ad they been among the votaries of gotPect q 1841--they would infallibly have wor fo e Phcest • for, r lii,, L . 0 8, not for his god-like vigour— tooth, of the the spouse of Beauty, and the N u> for thee everlasting thunderbolts, but, for -1,.111a of „ splaw foot and the bandy leg—the 1 5 7411 01. let little accident of his on the. island of , t L4 h 4 l'iler 11(1 .go has it fallen out that the avowed Niat t j . h oey ron - -c4ttY., more ridiculously even than ae,ll- 'kil o , -41' biographer of Ohatterton, has emu 'elahr,"'aB Carlyle (save the mark!) by the care 'al -r ated • • • dramatic freaks and l e affe etat . Mimicry of his 4 % f „ jesti h 4 ,,i'' th e cation. of everything here written 1 led 4a,,,Y1i40, grotesque affectations of out-Car y as. 'eki t ' B air sot ()ll the part of Mr. Gilchrist, readilyp gith4qed, T lirlinlinbered might be very alto- Ih at e r a s u 't were invidious, however, and more kii i , a fel,. ?necessary as invidious, to quote Our 4 'et'' , eritetices by way of illustration. ~,t e d 1, "'later be remem i'ki ~ 'S' tbp, nal grandfather, it may biography, '4 17. 4 ro pe s; r eaders of the present of Hayton, / e 'he e r b r it!]bi re 44 er at the village being a -4 sthe: ri ght ;, - ;. -h ls paternal grandfather • hamlet of Holme- N I . Sp a i di u the neighbouring of the former teth l ate C a l ligMoor. Speaking the ro - (11 ;" : ers i''',erl ev) an d his wife Jane, as p 4,, el4 aft ° e r - " 41 d;t one Calverley Rudstone, Esq. 444 :----(ilTelitioned), Mr. Gilchrist writes . affe l c- , t44•°erailileoelir unique claim, it seems, their . on ) 1- a u r i a r ' C„ l ay in authorship of this bright, tlii 44 '''r ' being they, ' without whom 1 Ilt, Well e be y , „ this, could any %w., h e it. Than , ci la Yisa p ti e v'n r. lik e 41 4 , 0 re preposterous ? Nevertne ,,-"jitn4'll,oo%i-y. "„nis, Etty's biographer can yet --a • ci ° `" eB '' ( -11 er his hero's Diaries as "mere lte t., 11 lo 1 . log Co r i n - ' e , tegtie S " s aid ) 3 adding • a little further on .nco gibv-"4.iSt Nee---..ato ' J ournal with copious 2 fro" ai 14 ° re th r4o at pi t ' talking yet later of greatourr ntsnt 'lee a 41 44) 44 g r aZ itigl Y) a s s "no - a n cc,, This clai ms W here f: . r of ri, )flarian, or logician." 04 wer l e ii. 14 6), uoento,r,ic who could ?peak . thus, whose blank r lit y . iatri osi 1 a man like Etty : based uCount '"no c io e ' not extrinsic ; a m all 'llse „ f erf o aok or pretender, nor the proxy or ' l l a " the ~„ r abond fide ~ a - t ble.'" Andwhose a6o)Benteue l°Arieties-of 0a . could result Pelf )'' b e i , u c h a punctuation (ii. ins 1 , 41 1ng th ~3 the one here subjoined _ -4 4 'Nor 4 'a-st ten sof his life the Il e tere nlon 8 there spent, yea rs from constraint likAtte not .._3! , ;.....,.and hecared free nottovisit where v7113,1„..„,wn011y at of hi s "' a lly r etire his ease and master N ee k,.10,e,1ed a mong the happiest of his fellow,- ntu r , 17'4' One Whose style could efflo tett"'4-....“--,°wer down the page into the ill, fellow to 1141,44. florid prose same excerpt from a Aod r4 like • Niece of unc t'' an represent , th • Writ er am date , may 4 00 4 Writ ` a 'ing Aut Ipleasures there." s c at N er o f th . 3 ~ umna bejocose tieopio i ns tc di • i florid prose"—to ... , cohere eo,,asiu eJnnet notes," sorrowful over his th e •E[atait ee," and supercilious at hisbeing iliWhole eharia4l' Protest' against all this with itti oti . ...aro a ,,_, ing the'im 'We i n "u fervour of an unaffected in tlit , 4 9tr y . „_., 11 , et nevertheless heartily commend ettrl.aateriaia wh,_, "a 1 Mr. Gilchrist has collected cone in wh .°l his narrative, and the skilful k c • 4* . leh he has grouped those materials of v: a illib ed Vaal hia Bcrutinisingly from the right point tiZ.to th. kernoir of William Etty will re ,le h a attain' we reader throuh all the la bee Ze °f th mannerisms, the la tid lear, {l°ll e writer ' s °f th h ah the t, ~x e of his . e artist's genius through ) tii k r , orkiihi , 11 fe, from its obscure rise in the of h i l l* a td :e v'easegate to the period when, after Il lor!, 4 iste r .,,, i)llaliding as it advanced, the current k"' of death b eta ding engulphed, on the inevitable fro Etti l , abe, b y It is the l the eof s i k the ocean of eternity. . (se ao two years and upwards —viz., Nth • t h of Ma r h Itka 100 In a r ~ C / 11 787, when William Etty tt t Amity of ten, fourth among fife sons) kta it ' to h e N s n• 20, Feaseaate in the city of lif t , :,tity ~e f I ,„ 3 th of November,' 1849, when in the kl -, au -Lori ( h • d after a of rea l i tt . e expire peacefully It' • . ing labour and remunerative fame th . I titlu o a,„ elov erg of the spot henceforth to Ow eh ;ill% of artclassic that of his birth-place. .k 0 e th t., . 0 ~_ -uranclt as recently with out• tp e ,estahle / and more used 4 4 t • ' th e fathe r of Etty (he himself. . 9 4 With . .44 kill a Painte ' p r ide of the coincidence) 1 3,, el.. vi, asides r 8 . old Matthew u t a ctia, i t see ."3 being a miller, inger ti4R . , Oel ta ; Moreover, a baker of g of Ni/tbreaa'3l.-rated gingerbread, in those parts, lit-.ark --. you 0 14, 4 et d, gbt plentifully by the poundweight tl e , , Zile, - '„ Ye) and carried home by the Yorkshire ill , Yen o l'g, and all, for the delight of theirstd oi t etood --naired, ro oy - cheOked children. The lit t i at W all the "Mount," not far beyond the q aced in gingerbread warehouse bein, ! I:.• 20' it aforesaid, within the City walls, k tlte r of th e Peasegate. There the " Poetic t piety Ni s b"." man Form," as Mr. Gilchrist bri,bl have 'nu, not only first drew breath, but may . I 0 :4kih 0 Ire ther e also " first tried his 'prentice tils , 4 th e il lid e ' 4 3' h a However Paternal gingerbread." .., Wir e r th e ye been, there William remained br of lio care of his mother, Mistress Esther, v er il h eice n r est Matthew Etty, the York ginger tathleY, r o , e ' and daughter of plain William Cal -11; titztev 0141 aker of llayton, but cousin, at the (' a r tone' e L 1 110 letiO magnificent a personage than Ne e4 t h0 0 ,; 3 1 , v , e.rleY Rudstone, Esquire, of the 13 ti phi,isan't in the same village—high, mighty, t o lir a ri l pant B,_l3iember of the county squirearchy ! t 13,0 the ,c,:!etch of his mother's face has revealed et' Ilooket,"_age of a sibyl, with lips compressed, tee ee a eo et ,_and nose almost hookedly aquiline. N o to beec"'4,ance deemed by Sir Thomas Law t44 ~a 'ace for a Madonna." Incongruously ke , I° leeli e c ev er) with which description- comes ©fernse'er ° no of Mr. Gilchrist, to wit, where ef :Ii t , ll'4 with the fact that Mistress Esther, i) th e b ,i'e scp-tire, child of the ropemaker, spouse % , oy ai aKe r of . the toth ' Ae a a e . . gingerbread, and mother of _4 041,, Worn illiciatt, " wore the breeches ; and 4 ' . . r l 11 3 „ 4 th , mi but that the said breeches ac *,4oes ,alcarne her," at least so far as that incon thc'il li141:Tellt can fairly be-said to become in any bt: beloerillnin. From the fostering care of taeclie,w..,P.arent -- beloved in spite of the 1 4 t ehed , , L William appears to have been first de,,, 1 ., Pt b, „_.•_L the tender age of three, to a school 4 th ' Al op r 3. M ason hard by the paternal bakery N.et.. easegat of 111 elatl, e. Later ' on, he seems to have been ol io .7 rem oved from the hornbook tuition , q i „ ahe ed ~ scoolmistress to a. somewhat more Welnitableaderar in the then reputable, but now i , jem i , e, 0 " 4 4 er " ke • • Co y of Bedern, where one A r. kit re PG his little flock' in order t oral ore formidable implement than a - 0 4. ,,, cr oo k '44 A , / the elastic ferule of an in 'l4g°4lle. Thence, yet later, the ea - ~► ~; his many brilliant successes—for, a; we have seen, before the close of the November of the same year he had expired. Orthodox we have already described Etty as being both in regard to Toryism and the Church Establishment. Nevertheless it is impossible not to observe throughout his correspondence the evi dence of a romantic attachment to the genius of Roman Catholicism. His tender love of his Art was something extraordinary. His ever-gentle and ever-lively affection for his native city, " dear old Ebor," was no less remarkable. Yet to neither of these can we assert his devotion to the abstract ideal of the Papacy to have been subordinate. As to his Art—we know how William Etty ex ulted over his escape from the printer's office to the painter's atelier. How he rejoiced over the first presentation to him of a box of water-colours. How his heart was gladdened when Uncle Bodley paid down a hundred guineas on the 2d of July, 1807, for the privilege of placing him as a pupil for one year under - Sir Thomas Lawrence. How his toil was lightened on the 29th of October, 1814, by his nomination as A.R.A. ; and yet more, how his whole soul became sunned with joy on the 19th of February, 1828, when the magic initials R.A. marked his elevation from the lion — our of Associate to the dignity of Academician. Nay, yet more, we cannot but remember in reference to the last -and greatest of his artistic successes already parti cularised—we mean in regard to the collective exhibition of his works in 1849 at the So- ciety of Arts' Gallery in John-street, Adelphi— we cannot but remember, we say, in reference to that noteworthy occasion, how the painter (writ ing to one of his friends) proudly acknowledged that sitting "down in a chair in the midst of these my children "—" I then felt it to be something to be William Etty." Beyond all which we cannot but recognise his enthut4astic passion for his Art as perhaps most significantlytestified, among all these especial indications of it, by the circumstance that a little later on in that same year, 1849, as he stood in the midst of his works—his " children," as we have seen he tenderly designated them—Etty was observed to be "in tears"—on the morning of the clearing away after the close of the Exhibition. Again, as to York. Etty's unflagging affection for his birth-place, and everything relating to it, was manifested during his life by - a multitude of incidents of which we have here preserved to us the commemorative particulars. How continually he spoke of his native city as having been the na tive city also of Flaxman, the sculptor, and of Alcuin, the learned. How he struggled hard, and, in preter of Nature's glories in colour—' some measure be it said, successfully, to secure the preservation of the ancient walls surrounding Ebor, ;ogether with the four antique bars and barbicans - - the North Bar of Bootbam - , the South of Mickle fzate, the East of Walmgate, and the West of Monk—treasures to Etty, ,t hotigh rubbish - to the York Corporation. How genially he cried out, through a sanguine letter to a favourite correspon dent on the 21st of , July, 1843, in the then vague but cherished anticipation of ultimately removing from London to a permanent residence in his birth place— " Happy Willy Etty, in the thought of living in dear old York !" A dream realised in the end, but, as it unhappily chanced, only on the very eve, as it were, of the painter's dissolution. Further than this, Etty's love for York we find betrayed in the most copious effusions of tenderness through every reference made by him, and such references are frequent—to that archaeological cynosure of neighbouring eyes, that (to him) architectural pa ragon of perfection, his beloved York Minster—to his travelled, Yorkshire, fancy, noblest, and grandest of all God's cathedrals. Thus we find Etty execrating, as a fiend or demon of de struction, the " crackbrained fanatic Martin" (brother of the celebrated painter), who set fire to his glorious minster in the February of 1829. Thus, again, we find him " bursting into tears" when, years afterwards, he hears that, on the 22d of May, 1840, the same magnificent edifice was partially destroyed by a second con flagration. While, nine years further on, we find him apostrophising the same, holy structure, in im passioned hyberbole, as his " Bride"—she " whose Brow is bound round with rubies and sapphires, with amethysts, with emeralds"—she " who is so lovely to mine eyeS, so dear to my heart, so captivating to my imagination !" It is indisputable, however, that, besides his Art, besides his birth-place, possibly we should rather say because of his tender affection for both York and Painting—William Etty cherished a deep, and earnest, as we have remarked already, a "romantic" and enthusiastic love of Catholicism. Although to ;he last a staunch and orthodox Protestant ! And so we find Mr. Gilchrist talking of his (Etty's) "pre dilection for the Catholics." We find Etty himself dilating warmly upon "that ancient and truly poetic religion"—the Roman Catholic. We find him " attending mass," and reading with gusto the " Ages of Faith"—in fact, as his biographer calls him, "an Amateur Romanist." Indeed, Mr. Gil christ candidly avows, in reference to Etty's ethi cal predilections—" Its sympathies were all with the religion of the Old 'Times, with the builders of York and Westminster, the painters of the Vatican, of the Sistine, and of the Palaces of Venice"—the " Ancient Faith," as Etty himself called it, " that of Alfred, St. Augustine, St. Bernard, St. Bruno, and Fenelon—not forgetting Michael Angelo, and a host of other good and great men." To it he was wont to insist the world was indebted for the second existence of " sculpture, music, painting, and archi tecture." To it, moreover, he maintained that we (English) were indebted 'for the " introduction of Christianity." Wherefore, knowinv all these ardent sentiments of his in reference to Catholicism, it is assuredly not by any means marvellous to over hear Etty nt one time exclaiming indignantly— " They call those which produced these noble works (such, of course, for example, as York Minster). the darker ages ;" adding, " with all their gaslight I' defy them to prove theirs lighter." Neither is it wholly bewildering to hearken to him at another ejaculating passionately, "Oh ! Holy Mother. Church ! dear Catholic •Church ! how deeply I venerate thee--thou who produced such glorious efforts"—as (say) the beloved York Cathedral. It is observable in all this how strongly the enthusiasm of the artist burnt through prejudices, however seemingly incombustible in their nature, through hereditary methodism and individual orthodoxy— religious antipathies and political predilections— 'burnt, so to speak, perennially upon the altar of his heart, the vestal fires of homage to the Sublime and Beautiful. As the biographer of William Etty, as the nar rator of his personal history and the celebrant of his artistic genius, Mr. Gilchrist has the indisput able merit of bringing the man as he actually was in life before us, vividly in all his more or less re markable characteristics. Everybody who reads these two volumes, however cursorily, before ap proaching their conclusion, has acquired an intimate acquaintance with the individual of whom they are commemorative. William Etty stands before us in propria perso na —hi s dress slovenly—his frame short, broad, and avvkward ; his head large; his brow massive; his face long in the jaw and pitted with the small-pox ; his eye s light hair creatures," thick wild, wild, and sandy : " one of the oddest-looking says Mr. Gilchrist ; wh at a young lady would ea " a sight"—yet with a' countenance, too, giving 1. " revelation of energy and " sign manual of genius there power,"legi bletrue-born S onea t r vg u i e * - Igo; ai Yix44lAo Xorkshirea l ui - 51103 k is the ~tv.,1 ~ William Etty with whom Mr. Gilchrist renders his readers agreeably familiar. Boswell-like he reveals his hero to us even in reference to his little homely, domestic peculiarities. Such as his insa tiable thirst for tea, or his delight in perching himself, in the Life Academy, upon a high hard stool, even when grown old and asthmatic. Beginning with his , arrival in London, we follow Etty into all his various lodgings in the metropolis, finding him housed in 1811 at 15, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, in 1812 and 1813 at 23, Pavement, Moorfields, in 1814 at Surrey-street, Strand, whence he removed in 1820 TO 16, Bishop's, otherwise Lambeth, otherwise Stang - ate Walk, Westminster-bridge, whence again in 1824 he finally removed to Buckingham-street, Strand. Finally, we say, because there Etty re mained to the last during his protracted residence in London—faithful during 23 years to that one abode, namely, from 1824 to 1847. Here it was in 1843 that we find him regaling Sir Robert Peel in his studio upon a luncheon of " beef and porter" —here during many a cosy evening he re freshed a gathering of brother artists with his favourite " dish of tea," and what Mr. Titmarsh calls the " domestic muffin," together with other the like frugal accompaniments. A glimpse is caught every now and then during the course of Mr. Gilchrist's narrative of the life of our great Painter, of one or other among his congenial con temporaries -- - thus linking together the times when Fuseli, and Lawrence, and ' Stothert, and. Haydon, and Hilton, and Collins, and Con stable, and Wilkie, and Leslie, and Turner, and Mulready flourished, bringing us gradually to our own days when Maclise and Stanfield, and East lake are among the more conspicuous of our art celebrities. The biographer of Etty of course makes due mention of the great Colourist's method of painting—recording in this way more' than one of his noticeable habits and peculiarities. It is thus, for example, we learn that Etty bought his forty guinea lay-figure from Huot of Paris, pro curing his brushes from Dagneaux, of the same capital, and having his canvass invariably prepared by Brown, of Holborn, from whom also he obtained his colours—those colours productive in his hands of so many miraculous masterpieces ! Although Etty once upon a time, when bothered to reveal soma supposed trick or artifice of his in regard to a " Medium," declared banteringly to his querist, " The only Medium I use is Brains"—we here discover that his canvasses were really always prepared "in a peculiar manner" with a " rough absorbent ground, tempora or fresco-like" his vehicle being composed of one part satu rated sugar-of-lead water, one part mastic var nish, and one of linseed oil, to which were occasionally added a few drops of turpentine. Upon this he obtained his effects "by passing a glaze over a solid painting, and when dry a scum ble of opaque colour over that ; when dry a glaze here and there," &c., &c.—taking off the glaze sometimes with his thumb, sometimes with a dab of his pocket handkerchief ; painting, in fact, says Mr. Gilchrist, " with nails, handkerchief, palette knife, as neither Model nor Connoisseur ever saw man paint before." After this extraordinary fashion, Etty, it seems, conjured up his miracles of art, and wen his high fame as the greatest of Eng lish Colourists. The only man, besides Rubens, who has been able to paint flesh, according to Mr. Gilchrist, during two centuries. Such flesh too ! that at Venice, in 1823, Martini signs with the point of a knife, " that if he was to prick Etty's painting of the figure, it would bleed." Such flesh that Constable avers, in London, in 1837, , smacking his lips like a cannibal— " You might eat it !" Astonishing though it may appear to us amateurs, it is no less true that Etty, in painting as he did, employed very few colours, deemed a very few all sufficient—Naples yellow, Indian red, light-red, lake, terre verte, raw umber, burnt ditto, black, and a little vermillion. Armed with which, his brush and his palette, he painted, according to the notion of the Italians, " with the fury of a devil and the sweetness of an angel." So that we find him gaining many a soubriquet ex pressive of good-will, or wonder, or admiration, as the case may be, during his stay in Venice—called palette to go when he heard the roar of cannon at a distance, and the rattle of musketry ! " In which picturesque situation--a situation expressive of his all-absorbing devotion to his art—let us close the door on our great Colourist. now, in regard to his rapidity, II Diavolo;" now, iu reference to his colouring, " The English Tin toret;" now, in pleasant allusion to his slipping one day into a canal—punningly—Canal-Etti. Alto gether Etty was upwards of a year a sojourner in that island city of the Adriatic, "sucking the sweets," as he said, from the efflorescence of Titian, Tintoret, Giorgione, and Paolo Veronese. Returning homewards from. Italy,fromFrance, and ultimately from Belgium, he became what his biographer happily terms " a successful anachronism"—the translator ro canvas of glowing flesh and blood—the inter- •" the Painter Of Nude Form—in its exhaustless varieties of out- line," its " shifting phases of beauty and splen dour." This, moreover, in spite of so much " prudish, or," says Mr. Gilchrist deliciously,— "which is the same thing—prurient delicacy" among his contemporaries! So truthfully•and pathetically, moreover, with all this, could Etty paint when he so pleased that a working man standing opposite his picture of Magdalena could say to its exultant owner—" I see, sir, what it is: I could look at it till my eyes run over." Gifted with the poetic or creative power capable of realising visions of pathos and beauty, such as the one thus appealing directly to the soul of the untutored artisan, Etty enhanced the potency of his inherent genius by the acquisi tion, through study, of many redoubtable artistic accomplishments. These were evidenced by the rapidity and precision of what may be called broadly his ample and remarkable poweri of mani pulation. Capacities like those enjoyed by Etty were only, however, the fruits of la borious and consistent application—sedulous at- CIYIL AND MILITARY REORGANISATION OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. THE RIGHT HON. LORD PANISIIRE, &c., &é. London, April 5, 1855. MT LORD, —As the startling disclosures of Mr. Roebuck's Committee will probably in, . your lordship to hasten the conclusion of your projecte, reforms in the constitu tion of the army, I am again emboldened to trouble you with a few observations relating to the construction of the "Medical Staff." In the present temper of the Western nations we may safely dismiss all apprehension of a precipitate peace. The war will continue till great events have occurred ; and we may, therefore, rejoice that your lordship's labours will not be suspended till the machinery of your wide department is perfectly readjusted. In my last communication I took the liberty of u r g in g her Majesty's Government to follow up, as an indispe nsabl e means of success, the appeal of your lordship to the gene rosity of the medical profession, by a simple act of justiceto that body—the elevation of several of the m oat distin guished amongst them to seats in the Privy Council, and the formation, ii; this manner, of a National Sanitary Board of great dignity and authority. Such a proceeding, whilst forming a graceful act of cour tesy to the medical profession, would call into existence an agency fitted to confer immense benefits on the entire po pulation. I also pointed out the great assistance to be derived from such counsellors iu remoulding the army medical depart ment, a measure now rendered immediately necessary by evidence published in the face of Europe, and exposing not only the apathy and incapacity of official persons, but the fatal ineptitude of the existing system. Your lordship's attention should be attracted to the fact, so discreditable to the Government, that no medical man of pre-eminent abilities or of European reputation holds a place either in the land or sea service of Great Britain ; and that, consequently, no greater care is evinced for our d e voted and expensively-trai n ed fighting men than was formerly taken of our parish paupers. The frightful calamities that have occurred at Scutari and Balaklava, the fruit of inferior professional ability conjoined with culpable negligence, would have had no existence had the executive been instructed on the choice of officers by such a competent body as "the Medical Com mittee of the Privy Council." Such eminent men would have exacted from the ruling powers a degree of deference to their opinions equal to what is yielded to the opinions of the bar in the selection of judges and of the law officers of the Crown. Parsimony and prejudice would not have been permitted to alienate from the service of our gallant troops, "the flower of the nation," the most accompli s h e d medical artists. I am confident your lordship will not misunderstand the motives of this free animadversion en the conduct of for mer Ministries. You are naturally anxious to remove from the Government and the nation the stigma which the late failures of the military medical staff have imprinted upon us, and you will kindly permit m e t o occupy your attention again with " a proposed new arrangement of the Army Medical Staff." I suggested that the ruling board or council of this branch of the military service should consist 'exclusively of eminent physicians and surgeons, presided over by her Majesty's Secretary of State for War, in whom the whole patronage of the department, modified by the agency of the Medical Committee of Privy Council, and the examining " Courts" of the Medical Colleges, should be vested. The new board, thus restricted, could be safely intrusted with the issue of regulations, the direction of promotion, the distribution and division of duties, the coll a ti on o f re cords, and the periodical publication of historical state ments, showing to prince and people the sanitary condition of the army. The want of unity in the old medical system was produc tiverequires that .it be of great inconvenience. The Guards, the Ordnance, motions, unembarrassed and the Line were subject to different medical authorities, and effective co-operation was consequently impracticable. e trol but that of the' Gene; ipal medical officer - T mouldedeffi e il i n toey one o f ; the erga n r , l f e r p e a e department Pi e t :l : t un: by the permanent attachment to particular regiments and not a lso strictly corps, of its members, who should be moveable from duty thrown tee h o n u i t . c i a n l high .Hi.s h t c o m d s u e t l y f , i n a d t e t p h e e n p d l e e n a t su e r f e al o l f e t e h n General in-Chief. al upon T h e t Parliamentary he m edimedical m an o f inquestduti duties s as relief another fruitful parent of mischief, in the imposition energies, which should, as in civil hospitals, be exclusively expended in investigating and watching cases,. in prescrib ing and in operating, are now dissipated in ments, in compounding medicines, filling minor con structingemploy- statistical tables, and in finanilp returns, functions that ought to be fulfilled by lcalexlations— officers, by an ancillary department, which re expensive would anxi ously recommend your lordship to establish. The proposed simplification of the and the more rigid definiti medical depart men t on of the duties, 8 a substitution of gen era l for regimental and Fg b est the particular hos pitals. A single medical staff demands a system. L arger es t a bli s h ments into which single hospital officers as well as privates are admissible, adapted in size and situation to each "corps d'armee" would be greatlythe more effic;ent than present distracted aggregate of petty s regimental re unions of the sick. The tr ea t ment of the patients would' be more effectual, and excellent sch lse s would be opened for the surgical novitiates. Tho duties of the medical staff being accurately and the ancill ar y functions being limited, imposed upon a newde partment, a more perfect concurrence of exertion would ensue, and a more stringent economy would be insured. The care of the sick and wounded, hitherto undertaken by a medl e y o f authorities, would be thus divided into two distinct provinces of duty. To prescribe and to operate " 41 9 0011 , tin PhYg9ins &AA lip - whibit to Pi* . • _ Mgt? __a -- - tention to the skeleton, to" the origin and inser tion of the muscles—sketching" from Albinus, drawing in the morning, painting in the evening, practising perpetually in the Life School of the Academy. His modus operandi he thus expressed in a few suggestive words of recommendation : " First night, correctly draw and outline the figure, only : second night, 'carefully paint in the figure (with black, and white,, and Indian red, for instance) :''the next, ll'aving' securecl . i“what has been done already] with copal, glaze, and then stumble on the bloom ; glaze in the shadows, and touch on-the lights carefully." That was Etty's method : to the detail of which he added—" And it is done"—triumphantly. After such a fashion, he painted—and painted too, how much, and how magnificently ! It is calculated that altogether in sketches, studies, single figures, groups, composi tions, still-life, portrait, landscape, Etty covered with his rapid pencil and brush—of panels, mill boards, and canvasses, not much less (Mr. Gilchrist thinks) than " two thousand." Almost enough as Etty himself conjectured to fill the great hall at Westminster. Among this prodigious variety of pic tures " Three times Three"—Colossal. Namely the three illustrative of the history of the Judith, together with The Combat, and Benaiah, and The 'Sirens, and ultimately the other three illustrative of the tragic career of Joan, of Arc. It can scarcely be woneered at in the presence of such habitual industry and sus tained powers of productiveness that Etty was enabled to leave behind, as the material products of his toil in art, his 'house in York, 17,000/. in the funds, and an almost invaluable collection of pic tures and other personal possessions. As an appropriate motto for the record of a life thus calmly, but resolutely, and energetically am bitious—a sentence scrawled by Etty in chalk at the side of one of his studies (representing "an Athlete striving upwards")—" To faint or loiter, when only a little effort"—has been here intro duced upon the title-page of his biography. Its significance is that inspiritingly comprised in the " Excelsior" of Longfellow. Occasionally, in these memorials, we have caught glimpses of some among Etty's immediate contem poraries. We find our artist, for example, avow ing his profound " veneration" for the genius of Turner, but protesting against his later works as " fiery abominations." Another moment we have him commending Frost (then an unknown student, not as now an eminent associate), speaking of him as " a very clever, modest lad." While in mentioning the name of the late lamented and gifted Pugin he exclaims enthusiastically, " There never was but one Pugin, one of the most remarkable men of his age. Architecture, painting, drawing, music, sing ing, all come alike to him. Besides, he is one of the best fellows in the world." An unaffected and deserved admiration, which must have enhanced the pleasure with which Etty, during the summer of 1838, attended , the opening of the Roman Catholic church of St. Mary; °scat, near Birmingham —an exquisite specimen of Pugin's skill in ornate deco ration. It may be interesting possibly to particu larise as amonc , the number of Etty's patrons one of the reputed originals of the famous " Brothers Cherryble" of Nicholas Nickleby— William and Daniel Grant, of Springfield, near Manchester. And interesting in another way to some among the connoisseurs of art to learn that about the only engraving after one of Etty's pictures, really prized and admired by that painter, was Sevier's charm ing stipple engraving of Venus Descending. As the one solitary incident of anything like import ance capable of being recorded in the equa ble narrative of our artist's not very stirring or chequered career, the July Revolution is, of course, duly Celebrated by Mr. Gilchrist—Etty having sojournedat the time in Paris, au quatrieme No. 4, Rue Michodierc. During the crisis of the revolutionary outbreak of 1830 in the French capital, we .are admitted for a moment into the glorious galleries of the Louvre, where we observe our artist tranquilly sketching in the midst of the din of civil battlo 7 ." once or twice cleaning kis TRE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVANING, MAX 7, 1855. up the wounded on the field, to transport them thence to the hospital, to cleanse, clothe, and feed the, patients, to dispense medicines and comforts, to preserve order and peace ; in short, to meet all the requisitions of the medical officers, would constitute the functions of the new combi nation to be named •" the Hospital Commissariat." In order to make the proposed arrangement perfectly clear, I will consider it as applied to a division of the army. The method of the Romans, imperfectly copied by some of the moderns, of regarding armies, as composed of large ELEVA I'ION OF THE MOST EMINENT PRACTI- integers . , has many advan tages over the English plan of loosely jointing such atoms as regiments into temporary TIONERS TO SEATS IN THE PRIVY COUNCIL. brigades and divisions TO THE EDITO R OF THE SU N. sma ll army, complete in a T ii h i e ls ß m om em an be l r e s g , io p n erp SIR,—I have to thank y ou for your courtesy in Publish - cised as one machine ; its commissariat and medicariat" ing my letter of last F e b ruary to Lord Panniure. It is perfect, according to th e sc i ence o f th e ag e. So nicely was, etu perpetually ly fact,e xr a-• true, his lordship has suffered from the " embarras de j were its several parts articulated together, that it was as richesses," for his volunteer advisers might well be called well adapted for duty in the field as in garrison ; for large " legion," out we may hope he has the discrimination " corps d'armee," as for small detachments. and the courage to carry out th e r i g ht measures. His If we suppose a brigade enlarged to the dimensions of a infirmity of the "gout "he has in less degree than had the Roman Legion, or of the late " King's German Legion," "great Earl of Chatham," the most energetic and success- and consisting of 7,500 men of all arms, it would be ne fal War Minister that England ever p o ssessed. It is to cessary to provide an hospital capable of entertaining all Lord Panmure's credit, as a liberal Scotchrnan, that he the probable casaalties of such a force during a campaign disapproves the " Scoticism " introduced by Drs. M'Gre. —not less, considering the augmented destructiveness of gor and Burnett into the medical staffs of the army and the recently improved ordnance, than a thousand sick and navy ; a system of favouritism towards one province of wounded. the empire which has proved highly detrimental to both To relieve such a mass of patients would occupy one services. This is an evil which can be speedily removed. physician, one surgeon-general, eight surgeons, and twenty My recommendations to the Government may be reduced assistant-surgeons, if the patients were accommodated in to the following topics : one building, or in contiguous edifices; but if they were 1. The formation of a "National Sanitary Board," dispersed, a larger number should be supplied at the dis to be invested with a "voice potential" in the medical cretion of the medical principal. At Alma the want of affairs of war and of peace, and to be formed by the dove- discipline and experience rendered a much larger propor tion of several of the most eminent physicians and sur- tional staff unequal to its work. goons 'of the United Kingdom to seats in the Privy Besides the ordinary establishment, to meet the Com- Council. missariat wants of such a force, the exigencies of the hos- By this measure the Government would be relieved from spital would fully occupy one medical commissary and two the sycophants and sciolists who have hitherto imposed assistants, six clerks, and ten dispensers. upon their ignorance. To satisfy the subordinate necessities of the " Medi 2. The Government ought to pay "the market price" cariat," or Hospital Department, "a company, or corps of for medical skill by the creation of valuable staff appoint- orderlies," should be formed ; consisting, for such a divi ments, and by raising the rate of remuneration in every sion of the army as I have described, of not Jess grade of the public m edical service. than two hundred men. These should be placed under The highest, remuneration accorded to any medical ap- the absolute command of the hospital authorities, and pointment under the Government is 1,200 i. a-year. S uc h would supply ward-masters, cooks, ward-attendants, rer an income is very commonly earned in private medial rants to the officers, am b u l ance d rivers , an d daily guards practice, whilst physicians and surgeons of eminence gain for the protection and police of the establishment. Con five, seven, ten, fifteen, an d twenty thousand pounds per stout exercise in their duties would teach them dexterity annum. "The reason why " is plain, therefore, of there and method, and the order and e ffi ciency of the whole being no Hollands, Pari ties, Brodies, Ciristisons, and machine would be thus insured. The segregation of these Fergusons found in the army and navy. men from the purely military service would produce coils 3. The opening of all eminent positions in the naval and teral benefits. Straggling, under pretence of assisting the and military medical departments to the competition of wounded, would be prevented. At Waterloo, in the lat the whole professien. Such a prospect of distinction would ter part of the day, nearly ten thousand men had fallen excite the emulation both of civil and military function- out of the ranks under this excuse. The conflicts of autho aries, and consequently lead to the attainment of great rity now frequently occurring between the medical staff personal skill and the improvement of the science. and the commanding officers of regiments would also An anonymous writer, under the signature of " Phio- cease. Medicus " (recently noticed with favour by the Time), According to this scheme, every corps or enlarged bri whilst adopting some of the views previously urged byne gale would thus possess its hospital. When several of these on the attention o f L or d P anmure recommends his Irrd- corps were united, the control of a general medical in ship to continue th e separat i on o f ! the military from he tendant, and superior hospital commissary, would furnish civil branch of the medical profession. He is evideitly the additional intelligence and authority necessary to the deceived by the old mistake that there is something in ni- successful conduct of the combined machinery. From these litary surgery which is not to be, learnt in civil life. 1 .10 moveable hospitals, convalescent or incurable patients late war, while it produced but one military surgeot of should be regularly drafted to permanent military hospi enduring reputation, John Hennen, who was carried offiy tale, that should be maintained in our foreign garrisons, an epidemic in the prime of life, gave birth to a delusi'n and at any convenient points in the three kingdoms, and that practitioners who might be dexterous in the use if placed in charge of medical men distinguished for their the knife, must necessarily possess all other medical exci- scientific acquirements or services to the State. lences. The public partook of the error, and a chair if In the case of small detachments occurring occasionally " military su rgery " was f oun d e d in th e University ,f in the colonies, or on outpost duties generally, the medical Edinburgh. As well might the Government have endowd care of the invalids could be accomplished by Assistant a professorship of "military bootmaking." Surgeons, furnished with medicine-chests, and, of course, Since, then, society is better informed. The universiy all serious cases would be transferred to the general hos has petitioned for the suppression of this useless chai ; pital. and it is now known that, even in war, the army does net The concentration and insulation of the army medical supply any lessons in surgery which are not equ a ly service into one independent system, would afford occasion afforded by the emergencies of common life ; whilst durig for restoring to the army, the old office of " physician to peace, paradoxical as the statement may seem, the se- the Forces; the suppression of which arose from the per genies of the manuf ac t ur i n g and mining districts constitue nicious error of supposing that the high therapeutic skill much better schools of military surgery than the medial of the physician in idiophatic diseases is necessarily pos establishments of the army. The questions of primary ad sensed by the surgeon. The habits of thought cultivated secondary amputations are perfectly familiar to these pr- in the two divisions of the profession are entirely different, vineial surgeons ; and as to the. subjects of gun-sht and the excellence of one is no substitute for that of the wounds and general "hygiene," do not the works of Hnntr other. and Hennen, and the suggestions of common sense, suppl. The proposed mode of recasting the Army Medical all the doctrine necessary ? Staff, though implying a higher remuneration for each This idea of making a distinct profession of militar o ffi cial, would secure a more effective care of our soldiery surgery has a meaning at. its root. The absurd arrogano at a less expenditure of the public money. To secure of the " Peninsular" surgeons has descended with then economy, it is not necessary to adopt the method of divided into the " Capulet vault" of oblivion.. Of the dead, what responsibility, which has been named "the system of check ever we may think, we should feel nil nisi bonum ; bu and counter-check," and which, by producing a perfect the half-pay list of the medical, as well as of other depart dead-lock in the entire mechanism of the army, has caused ments of the State service, whilst burthening the natio] such dire calamities. This scheme of documental evidence with a heavy expense, is one amongst many othe is based on the theory that every employe of the British means of Parliamentary influence ! How is a ministe Government, civil and military, except the gentlemen of otherwise to control refractory votes? the Audit-office, is a knave. ,Ifs ignores all the nobler 4. The reconstruction of the Army Medical Board ex elements of human nature, patriolfsm, professional honour, elusively of physicians and surgeons of eminence.—Sucl zeal for the serviee, and even common honesty ; and rests men have a congenial sympathy for merit. Sordid fears o for safety on artifice and cunning. being eclipsed do not haunt them, whilst they possess the True economy is realised by a speedy attainment of the intelligence and spirit necessary to the fair regulation or object in view. The Crimean expedition, impeded and all promotion, and for the utilisation of the professional re- but ruined, by the pedantic rules of the Audit-office, ex ports with which they are supplied. Their immediate hibits an amount of waste and loss, exceeding by many 'concurrence with the Secretary for War would be obtained times the value of all the peculations perpetrated during by his occasional presidence. the last war. 5. The filling all the primary appointments in the lowest Simple tabular statements, and accurate records of all rank by successful competitors in " contours" before the transactions, assisted by a little faith in the truth of men, examining " courts" of the medical colleges affords so ob- would be sufficient to prevent all delinquency and serious vious a security for the supply of good men that it is un- embezzlement. necessary to back the proposal by a single argument. As an apology for speaking with so much firmness, I can 6. The relief of the medical officers from all but purely only adduce the fact of having had opportunities of in technical duties will obviate many inconveniences. The forming myself of the wants of the rank and file under all valuable time now consumed in minor and irrelevant occu- circumstances, and of witnessing in operation the merits pations would be devoted to the greater care of the patients, and defects of all departments of the army—an institution and by the studious practitioner to original speculations. to which the nation is deeply indebted for its safety and 7. The concentration of all the medical departments of its glory. the army into one organ, and the proper articulation of In conclusion, my lord, I beg to say that I shall not each member of this service into regular subordination to cease to feel an interest in your lordship's arduous under one chief, is indispensable to its efficiency. The principal taking, and, as an obscure unit in the social multitude, medical officer should be absolute over his subordinates, seek opportunities of promoting the welfare of a noble and he should be independent of all authority save that of service to which I had once the honour to belong. ---I am, the general-in-chief, the dictator on the spot. The inter- my lord, most respectfully, your obedient servant, ferences of commanders of regiments, of quartermasters- D. O. EDWARDS. general, of military secretaries, of adjutants-general, and of generals of division, &c., seriously impede medical functions. 8. The auxiliary chilies which I have proposed tc transfer to a new establishment, to'be entitled "The Hos. pital Commissariat," I have explained at length in the subjoined letter, for which I have received the acknow ledgments and thanks of Lord Panmure. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Cambridge Villa, May 1. D. 0. E. DEATH OF SIR ROBERT HARRY INGLIS, BART. It is with feelings of the sincerest regret—feelings which we are sure will be shared throughout the length and breadth of the land by all who value the estimable qualities of the gentleman without fear and without re proach, the consistent politician, and the sincere Chris tian, that we have to announce the death of Sir Robert Harry Inglis, which melancholy event took place on Saturday night, at his town residence, 7, Bedford-square, after a short and painful illness. The deceased baronet was the eldest son of the first baronet, Sir Hugh Inglis, by Catherine, daughter of Harry Johnson, Esq., of Mitton Bryan, county of Bedford. He was born on the 12th of January, 1786, and was consequently in his 70th year. In 1807 he married Mary, eldest daughter of J. SeymoutPriscoe, of Penhill, Surrey, and succeeded his father in the baronetage August, 1820. Sir Robert Harry Inglis first entered Parliament as member for Dundalk, which borough he represented until 1826. In- that year he was returned for Ripon, and continued its representative until 1828, when the late Sir Robert Peel, having changed his opinions on Catholic emancipation, accepted the Chiltern Hundreds in order to give his constituents of the University of University,i3sstsi ehiei n x tnsi ri eaui r obts gdni:tshvdohae brought seatglct l ahto. conduct. t p s daee p i e o c r nn t g u t n th i ha t e y of t torc ue expressing occasion Protestant the their t Conservatives character r opinion his ofwhicht he Sir Robert H criel l mteo n htruiu g ,ftno l rea i tnra s biwa tel had even then achieved for him oeddu h r ,ht si ft motwror two years ayt o yi tpresepaomor largesxsee theirfno retirement Oxford ago, frowa isaf majority.or s everywherep s m rer Parliament Never else, he reigned in the regard, the esteem, and the affec tions of all who knew him. (From the Times of this day.) The death of Sir Robert Harry Inglis, which it is our melancholy duty to announce to-day, is an event which will scarcely surprise those who were acquainted with the circumstances under which the last two years of his life have been spent. It may be remembered even by the general reader that, so far back as the time we have named, Sir Robert felt it his duty to resign his seat for the University of Oxford, feeling himself no longer phy isically equal to attendance upon his Parliamentary du ties. With _him those duties were not discharged in a careless or indifferent spirit. As long as he was equal to his task he performed it in a manner which might Save put to shame many an aspiring senator young sough to be his son. Whatever may be the difference if opinion as to the political doctrines of which Sir lobert Inglis was the embodiment rather than the repre entative, there can be no hesitation in saying that a more onscientious man never entered the !walls of Parlia sent, or one who acted a more consistent or honourable prt. It is needless for us to say that, from many of lis opinions we entirely disagreed, but we ever found lira an adversary with whom contention did not mean a lroil, nor argument ill-feeling or ill-blood. The expla stion of thin phenomenon—for so, we fear, it must be ailed—was simply this—that Sir Robert Inglis was es sntially a gentleman—prejudiced and dogmatic enough a times, but still a gentleman, who respected others be ciuse ho respected himself. There was in him a fund of god sense which always saved him from .the danger of gelding to the inspirations of the ultras of his party. Sr Robert Inglis did quite as much for the University o; Oxford as the ,University of Oxford for Sir Robert He never !pissed an opportunity of stating their case tempwately, yet firmly ; but the statement sounded very differently from the lips of the polished old English gentleman to what it did when fiercely urged by some academic recluse excited beyond the level of common sense by the unaccustomed stimulus of political discus sion. Tie disappearance of such a man from the scene should, taen, be a source of regret even to those who were consistently opposed to him in politics, inasmuch as in hint a " representative man" has disappeared from among us who, in all probability, can never be replaced. Destroy fifty " able politicians," and twice fifty able ad ministrators, and it needs but five minutes' search to re place them ; but we much question if there be any man in England who can take the place Sir Robert Inglis filled at representative of the University of Oxford. He belonged to Oxford as completely as the Bodleian. Passing from public to more private c o n siderations, it is but fair to his m emor y t o a dd that he was an ele gant wholar, both in classical and English literate, and, what is far more important, in eve b ry ens p y r o i It w a i u ll be u memory m embers of gotten either by his private friends man.relation, his place in the to Westminster, or saunterintg up t hi s buttonhole, ,and wit h p l r o i n g g ht inde c e h d ar h ita efo b r le e , rhi a ts n he d is l f e s u r t . house, with the fresh flower sa word for every one. He a genial smile and courteou for he deserved reg ret. In will be regretted universally , w ill be found a portrai t of this year's Exhibitionhichis admirably charac teristic of there the Legislature. We seem to see imoonow e t r olling down him by Richmond, ' ld ' w 11 to recall his features a nd ex the and respected Sir Robert i to the many who lov ed p r ession Harry Inglis. th e man, and will serve we The directors of the Bank of London have effected a purchase of the extensive and central premises called the Hall of Commerce, in Threadneedle-street, for their head banking-house. Mr. Frith, late vice chairman of the London and County Bank, has been elected vice obairulau of the Beak of Ludo. THE ROYAL ACADEMY DINNER. The inauguration dinner of the exhibition season of 1855 attracted, on Saturday, a brilliant assemblage within the walls of the Royal Academy. From two o'clock, at which hour the doors were opened, until six, Ministers of State, many munificent patrons of art among the nobility, and others distinguished in politics, law, literature, and science, con tinued to arrive, and to apply themselves with keen artistic relish to the inspection of the paintings in the various rooms. The " fusion" of rank, wealth, and Parliamentary eminence with the artist world was no less complete than gratifying, and many interesting groups might be seen in which politi cians of the most opposite opinione were discussing with ar tists, whose names are household words, the merits of the more remarkable paintings. At six o'clock about 180 gen. tlemen sat down to dinner in the east room, the chair being taken by the President of the Royal Academy, Sir C. L. Eastlake. It is a novel sensation to find oneself dining in a noble apart ment filled to the ceiling with paintings fresh from the easel of the artst and resplendent with gold and colour, but when the company rise to drink the toast of "the Queen," hun dreds of gas jets around the ceiling suddenly start into flame and astonish and bewilder the guests with the dazzling splen dour of the scene. The list of guests included the following :—The Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Chamberlain, the First Lord of the Treasury, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secre tary for War, the Secretary of State for the Colonial Depart_ ment, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Beau fort, the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis of Lans downe, the Marquis of Bath, the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis of Northampton, the General Commanding-in-Chief, the Marquis of Granby, the Earl of Cardigan, EarlStanhope, Lord Wrottesley, Lord Seymour, Lord Overstone, &c. The members of the Royal Academy present included most of the Royal Academicians and Associates. The PRESIDENT said—My lords and gentlemen, I have the honour to propose to you as the first toast, " The health of her Majesty the Queen." The toast was warmly received, and " God Save the Queen" was sung by the vocalists. The PRESIDENT—I have now to propose to you the " Health of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the health of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and that Of the rest of the Royal Family." (Cheers.) The Passmaxr then rose to propose " The healths of his Majesty the Emperor of the French and our gallant allies." He said, the cordial English welcome which their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of the French recently received in this country, and the full justice which has been rendered by public opinion to the bravery and perseverance of our allies, are evidences of national feeling which may conduce to the happiest results. The feeling has been reciprocated by the great satisfaction which that welcome has excited, and by the high appreciation on the part of our allies of the intepidity, and, to use their own term, the solidity of their British com rades in arms. ' (Cheers.) " Partant pour la Syrie," was then sung by the vocalists, The Passmsbrr—The toast which I have now the honour to propose is, " The Army and Navy," connecting with the army the name of the Commander-in-Chief, and that of the Earl of Cardigan; with the navy, that of the First Lord of the Admiralty. The toast was received with enthusiasm. Viscount HARDING& —I have great pleasure, on the part of the army, in returning thanks to you. It is true that when ever I have spoken on that subject before the war broke out I have always anticipated that when the day of trial should come, after a peace of 40 years, the British army would not be found deficient in those great qualifications by which, as soldiers, they distinguished themselves in the Penin sular war. I feel that if I were to speak of the dif ferent arms of which that army consists, each has a dis tinctive character, and if I were to enumerate them in the order of their precedence, I should show, first that the British cavalry have at all times been ready to face every danger, and, although I am not a cavalry officer, there is one here who distinguished himself in the highest degree in the charge of cavalry at Balaklava. (Cheers.) In that remark able charge my noble friend near me gained a name that will descend to posterity. (Cheers.) You will hear his thanks for that distinguished arm of the service, and for having his name so appropriately connected with the British army. I now come to the infantry and artillery. I have not the pleasursof seeing an officer of the artillery, but, as an in- fantry officer myself, I may express a confident opinion that the British infantry is second to none in the world—(cheers) —and, as a proof of the intrepidity and solidity of which our president has spoken, I may say that the British infantry has a system of its own, which, unless it should be adopted in the present war, is not practised by any other nation. They fight in attack and defenes in two ranks, or what is called in their order of battle, while the infantry of other armies fight in columns. The British infantry have that in trepidity and solidity which can alone enable them to adopt that system. It must be evident that it would be difficult to adopt such a system unless your soldiers were men confident in their courage, knowing that the honour of their regiment, and even of the army, depended upon their individual coolness and courage, and that upon their acting the part of steady soldiers the fate of the battle depended. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the artillery, I may truly say that I know no artillery which can be considered superior in all its parts to the British artillery. I say say so because during the last .40 years almost every power in Europe has applied Co the British artillery for instruction. The improvements they have intro duced have been copies of ours, and if I wished for evidence to attest the opinion of their skill, I should refer to the scene so beautifully described by an artist in another room. (The noble viscount referred to a picture by Mr. Stanfield, of the siege of St. Sebastian, with the British troops under Welling ton taking possession of the heights and Convent of St. Bar tolomeo.) lam sorry to detain you upon military subjects, but the Emperor of the French has noticed the bravery and good conduct of the allied troops. During the last six months the soldiers of the - two countries have been in the same camp living like brethren, and nothing can exceed the cordiality and goodwill that exists between the French and English armies. (Cheers.) We have had during the last week a proof of the good feeling between the two courts. The same feeling exists between the two camps, and, as this cordiality is founded upon mutual sentiments of re spect and regard one for the other, it is likely to be perpetual. (Loud cheers.) The Earl of CARDIGAN, who was warmly received by the assemblage, said hn was fully sensible of the high honour done him in coupling his name with the profession of arms, for which he had always felt a deep attachment and devotion, and with the name of a noble lord who had distinguished himself in every part of the world—(cheers)—who had held the highest civil as well as milita s ry appointments, and who had exhibited the greatest Prudence, judgment: dis- cretion, and knowledge of his duties as well at home as in the East. He felt sensible of the kind and flattering manner in which his services on a late occasion had been spoken of, but he had done nothing but lead a body of troops against the enemy according to the orders he had re ceived. He could not, however, but feel highly gratified at this and many other kind receptions which had been given him since his return. (Cheers.) _ _ Sir C. WOOD returned thanks for the navy. The PRESIDENT said that the next toast which he begged to introduce was the " Health of the foreign ministers who had deigned on this occasion to be their guests." (Cheers.) Mr. BUCIIANAN—After what fell from my noble friend (Lord Palmerston) on a former occasion, who said had no . . right to call myself a foreign minister at all—(a laugh)—l am inclined to think I haven righttoaddress you ; but although I might plead this privilege, I am not disposed to do it on this occasion. The foreign ministers who represent the different nations of the world at this court must be very ungrateful indeed if they did not feel sentiments of deep gratitude towards the British people and the numerous noble societies that adorn this , country. We have received the kindest attentions from all, and it is a natural and ne- cessai7 consequence that this should produce feelings of response, not only on our own part, but also on the part of the countries we represent. (Cheers.) We feel it to be a great privilege to be present on occasions of this kind. The arts have been brought to great perfection in this country, and when we review the pages of history we find one thing to be constantly the fact—that civilisation and, above all, liberty, are the best foster-mothers of the arts. (Cheers.) Painting and sculpture sprung into existence almost at once, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, when Greece became free ; and I believe it may be said to be a remarkable fact that they sprang almost at once to a point of excellence which has not since been exceeded in any country in the world. For my own part, not having bad an opportunity in my own country of seeing expensive galleries or many speci mens of the perfection to which the arta have been brought in this country, everything wears an air of novelty in this exhibition that has inspired me with delight, and I shall re member the present evening when I return to my native land as one of the most agreeable and instructive of my whole life. (Cheers.) But, although the taste and imagination may be gratified by the specimens of art here collected, I cannot help admirinc , that noble institution of E ng l an d , an E ng li sh dinner. (Cheers and laughter.) - I have enjoyed the privilege of feasting with you, and, after enjoying the feast of reason and the flow of soul, in surveying the pictures hung up on these walls, I have been highly delighted to enjoy a more material feast of this sort. I return you the thanks of my colleagues and myself, and I am sure I may also thank you in the name of every member of the diplomatic corps. The PRESIDENT then gave " the health of the noblemen and gentlemen who this day honour us with their presence." The Duke of ARGYLL—In the absence of the Lord Chan cellor, who expected to be here, I may say, in acknowledg ing the toast on behalf of the strangers present, without departing from the strict language of truth, that the open ing of the Royal Academy is looked forward to by all of us as the beginning of one of the greatest and purest enjoy ments of the year ; and when I say that I may add that it is an enjoyment not unconnected with our highest and deepest interests. Those who may enter these walls for the purpose of spending an hour of relaxation, and who wish to avoid all grave thought and reflections upon the serious business of life, will find here that it is the high province of art to ad dress itself to every and any subject. I cannot look around these walls without seeing how happy the opportunity has been appreciated by the members of the Royal Academy of depicting the virtues and glories of military character and military life; and I need only point to the picture behind me (Mr. Cope's picture of " Consolation") to show that they have also keenly felt the miseries and calamities of war. Mr. Pre sident, I am not competent to enter into any criticism of art in this country, but I believe the state of art can never be dissociated from the state of civilisation of the country in which that art is produced. I beg to propose that we drink to the " Health of the President, and Prosperity to Royal Academy." (Cheers.) rto thank you The PRESIDENT, on rising, was received with lo f ti o d r t eLec oi ri o n oi g_. He said—Permit mo, my lords and gentlemen, hers of the Royal Academy and on mylowdnopat honour, it is no less gratifying e to m l'o-htened for the honour you have done us. Wh' t judges to many of communicating the praises of en 1, ame, wii. if perm -tist and many a candidate for f favour 'hereafter. A young artist with increasing the arrange- raring, will be recognised l o e be t i l b those to whom Great efforts have been made y confided to put forward works YiesiVire:t means went of this exhibition has been t c ri huted. Would that those of merit, by whomsoever ceoensefui; would that such works efforts had been more successful, could, and consequent perplexities p ave been made as prominent as wishes in this respect, and I may not omit interfere with our w they deserve familiar regret that we cannot adequately to repeat the too esienrveeve;rybutinNsvtaTOf s display th e productions o f sculpture. I have now the h onour ~ The Health of her Majesty's Ministers as promo t e rs of art, the to propose sc i e nce, and education." , Viscount PALMERSTON—Before I proceed to return thanks n l a i t n e a d t i Stateson . ' on behalf of my colleagues and myself for th e t oast which the language, e, 31 i t u o i 3 t "ricee for i t n h e ex U P pres ident has been so good as to propose, I may b e permitted, distinguishedin friend lan been pleased to say that, on a recent oe • camel, I denied him the character of a foreign minister. To is true, for at a dinner at whi c h it was a cert a i n extent that the health of the foreign ministers, wheremy duty to propose friend was the only foreign • • , my distinguished hardly recognise him as a fore' minister present, I said I could gether an Englishman, for I igner, although he was not alto sentatives of a nation can never allow that the repre sympathie% affections, and are. foreigners whose language, with our own. _interests are so closely identical (Loud cheers,) Mr. President, behalf r,, on of my colleagues, I h With regard to one have now to return you my thanks. sident, who h a part of wh a t h as f a ll en f rom th e Pre s alluded to an opinion expressed by myself sad the W ate S' Ro e rt Peel as to the iladetrukor of the 'Pace for exhibition of some of the noblest works if modern art, I can only say that, entirely adhering to the Oak then expressed, yet if the observation had the Eir..an‘uk•wnica one may presume to attach to it, I may observe that; sitiiongis you have wisely provided us with an ample banquet in Com* mittee of supply, yet in the parliamentary sense of a comn.Ato tee of supply my right hon, friend the Chancellor of the 166.'" chequer would decline to admit that this is such a resolutiell i as in committee of supply would be properly proposed.ana • carried. (A laugh.) No doubt the Government of this emir • try ought to be the patrons and encouragers of art, yet I may the language of old, and say, « The blood of Douglas • can protect itself." When I look around and see upon these walls the results of rising and mature geniu s , I -cannot help thinking that, after all, artists may find their best patrons ilk their own genius, and the appreciation of that genius by the cultivated intellect of the country. (Cheers.) I cannot re strain myself from expressing, on the part of the Government, that deep interest in the success of art that has ever animated the Government of this country. It would be strange indeed if any man intrusted with the administration of affairs In thi s country should be insensible of the great value , of the pro.. • secution of the fine arts. It is impossible not to see h ow t h e fine arts contribute to the honour, the dignity, and the re• putation of a country. I may say also that they contd. o bute to the power of a country, because f the power win t er h eca: country depends upon the development country contribute to its power as nation. In mg country, and thus those who cultivate the intellect loo of k the round at the magnificent display which we have assembled s here to witness, various sources of interest necessarily present themselves to the mind. It is interesting to see such proofs -- - - of the t r i ump h o f the gen i us of the country. It i s i n teresti ng to anticipate the intellectual enjoyment that will be derived from the contemplation of these works of art when distributed .I others, their purchasers, and when they are exhibited to hope that the si g ht o f th ese no bl e wor ks, when they are sc a ttered over the country, may serve as a spark to kindle a bright flame of genius in many a youthful mind, in winch the elements of celestial fire might otherwise rem ain nude• veloped and lost. (Cheers.) The PRESIDENT next said—The toast which I have now the Exhihition." That such honour to introduce toe your notice is, " Success to the Paris as an i e t n enterprise, sa, promotefitted a i the i ti sfor objectst im el commerce, industry, sad of peace, and calculat ed art, should be vigorously prosecuted at this moment is one Mon ntanyproofs of the extraordinexs and by no means a solitary on energy of the Sovereign of I tense , while it is an evidence, Majesty attaches to the deve, of the imp or t ance w hi c h hi s and the progress o f th e art :P lent of comm erc i a l ac tivity with the toast " Success to the P ?eg, theretor e , to connect " The health of the Universal Exhibition:* Trade." tCsP resident of the Board of Lord Right Hon. STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that the department over endeavouredthos to induce those who which he was placed had earne s tl y those who were connected with art an d fine works of modern art to send their works to w P bo a Paris for s8"1 admiration of the people of France; and th ere, he undeir;fsotroO h n d. e they were likely to produce an impression i n fi nite] what might have been expected. At fi rs t , when tteyeyoe,°. placed upon the walls of the Exhibition, there, was a dl r p sition to sneer at the English school of art as Of inferior 1' ° .nd. - insignificant character. But as these critics gazed and be came more familiar with the genius and skill of English artists that feeling was materially altered, and he had no doubt they would appreciate English art as it deserved. He was con vinced that the more the works of our artiste were seen, the more highly they would be appreciated in Europe, and the higher the reputation of the school would stand. (Cheers.) The PRESIDENT—I have long felt that the votaries of the fine arts have a .debt to pay to those distinguished members of the legal profession who, on this and on other occasions, have honoured us with their presence. I have now the honour to propose the " Health of the Lord Chief Justice." Lord ClostrzEtr, was afraid the lawyers could not be con sidered as engaged in cultivating a sister art, although they were no doubt a good deal employed in giving colour to that in which they were concerned. (A laugh.) But still they did assist the sister art, for Chief-Justice Gascoigne had fre quently adorned these walls while committing the Prince of Wales to prison—(laughter)—and no longer ago than that year he (Lord Campbell) might be considered as engaged with that refractory jury who would not make up their' minds in finding a verdict. But lawyers were not such barbarians as not to take pleasure in the divine productions • of their art. For himself, he was pleased with the progress of British art, and was delighted to see it thus advance from year to year. During the long vacation a taste for the fins arts could be somewhat indulged, and during his rambled upon the continent at these periods he had seen the picture exhibitions at Brussels, Berlin, Dresden, Milan, and Naples. He was proud to compare these w ith what he had witnessed in Trafalgar-square , and although it might be flattery to say that our artists had excelled or equalled the great masters of former days, yet he thought that the Englishschool was equal to any existing school of painting,,and in some respects ex celled them all. (Cheers.) The PRESIDENT next said—The next toast which I have to' submit to you is " Prosperity to the City of London, and the health of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." In expressing our sense of the services which the Lord Mayor has formerly rendered to the fine arts, I take this opportunity of con gratulating his lordship on a recent memorable event , whenhe had the honour of entertaining their Majesties the Em peror and Empress of the French in the City of London.! (Cheers.) The visit of their Majesties to this country and to , the City of London may be regarded as a pledge of alliance between two generous nations—an alliance no less important with reference to the future advancement of the arts of peace than for the immediate object of united. energy in war. (Cheers.) The LORD MAYOR had ever felt that to be a citizen, and a useful one, was a noble position, and he hoped that by in tegrity he had arrived at his present proud post. The citi zens of London desired to be distinguished as patrons of the fine arts. (Cheers.) The PRESIDENT next proposed " The Institute of British Architects, and the health of its noble president, the Earl de Grey." Earl DE GREY returned thanks. The PRESIDENT—The toast which I have now to recommend to your notice is the Royal Society and the health of its noble president, Lord Wrottesley. Lord Weorrzsur returned thasks for the compliment paid to the oldest and most dignified society in the metropolis. This toast, from the lateness of the hour, was the last, and the company dispersed, many remaining to inspect the pic tures in the various rooms, all of which were brilliantly minated for the occasion. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE... The Agincourt, 72, is ordered to be fitted as a receiving- - ship at Plymouth, for the instruction of newly-raised seamen and boys. The American merchant ship Amazon, of 2,000 tons, Capt. Hovey, from Now York, the 12th of April, for London, was off Plymouth on Saturday. Her cargo consists of a quantity of bacon on Government account, wine, tobacco, oilcake, resin, staves, oars, &c. Of 180 passengers, 47 landed with a small mail at Plymouth. The screw steam-transport Tynemouth (No. 202), Lieute nant Adam D. Dundas, R.N., Commander, arrived at Ports mouth on Saturday, from the East, and went into harbour in the afternoon to land her invalids. This is one of the squa dron of Mr. W. S. Lindsay, M.P., and is admirably adapted for troop or sick transport service ; the medical staff who have inspected her state that she shows more cleanliness in her arrangements than any ship yet arrived at Portsmouth. The number of sick is 219, more than have been brought home in any transport since the war commenced. The fol lowing officers also came home in the Tynemouth. Capt. E. Faulkner, 30th Regiment ; Capt. H. A. Vernon, Royal Artil lery •, Captain B. O'Rrien, of the 77th ; Captain Purcell, of the 51st ; Captains Carden and Kent, of the 77th ; Lieu tenants E. C. Antrobua, of the 50th ; T. L. Irby, of the 90th; the Hon. R. Harbord, of the 71st; Lieutenant W. A. Cam bier, R.N. from her Majesty's ship Diamond; Lieutenant W. R. B0;214012, from her Majesty's ship Vulcan; S. W. Delme Ratcliffe, from her Majesty's ship Hannibal ; Messrs. J. H. Treleaven and H. Purchase, second-class Royal Naval Engineers; Mr. A. Markham, passed midshipman, from the Royal Albert ; all the latter on promotion. The sailing-transport Lancashire Witch, Captain Mollison, embarked at Portsmouth dockyard on Saturday, for the seat of war in the East, the following :—Captain Murray of the 10th Hussars (commanding officer on board), Captain Daven port and Lieutenant Fitzgerald of the Ist Royal Dragoons; Lieutenant Bird, of the 10th Hussars ; 66 men and 125 horses of the Ist Royal Dragoons, and 50 men and 5 horses of the 10th Hussars from Hounslow and Canterbury cavalry depots. The ship was to sail this morning. The sailing-transport Dunbar, Captain Scott, from London, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Friday afternoon, with the third detatchment of the Polish legion, wider command of Captain Kostecki. The hospital ship Belleisle, Commander Hosken, was towed on Saturday from Hamoaze into Plymouth Sound, and is appointed to sail to-day for the Baltic. The new screw steamer Oneida, belonging to Messrs. V. J. Fairclough and Co., which recently arrived at Liverpool from the Clyde, as well as the screw steamer Dido, belonging to the Cork Steam-packet Company, are about to be surveyed by the Admiralty agent at Liverpool, with a view to their appropriation as troop and store-ships. The screw-steamer Kangaroo, repairing at Liverpool, has been re-engaged 131 Government. The steam-transport Medway, belonging to the Royal Mast The Company, will embark horses at Southampton this day:., e has been fitted with boxes for 221, by the Messrs. WI with the nAecceosrrsaresypoanedeoinmgpannuimmebnvwf jadterinentrro,his for the Crimea. The Medway will get away to-mo togetherw .Ivera THE DAPPER. On the Port-Admiral at Sheerness being informed on Fri; day last of the situation in which the gun-boat Dapper was last seen, ho immediately ordered tho steam-vessel Lizard, Lieutenant Christopher in command pro tent., Li z by Mr. George Brockman, Master of the Wildfire, as in pilot guu overboard, charge, to proceed in search of her. The Lizard fell in with the Dapper near the Gunfleet-sond, and they arrived at Sheer• ness at 11.30 p.m. on the same day. The Dapper was i n a very leaky st ate. The saving of the Dapper is entirely owing to the indefati gable, zeal and judicious management of the Commander. engineers, officers, and crew of this vessel, all of whom - in a perfectly oxhausted state on her arrival at were Sheerness. Several attempts were made to get the heavy but, owing to the heavy sea, the strength of insufficient to accomplish it. the crew were THE S EA SERVICE MORTAR VESSELS. The four se a service mortar ves se l s, destined for the Black sea' in Compan y, an d un d er charge of the Odin steam-frigate. Captain James Wilcox, arriv e d a t Sheerness yesterday from. Woolwich. Captain Julius Roberts, of the Royal Marino Ar• tillery, under whose directions and on whose design the i y have been fitted, is expected there to-day to inspect them previotuf to their departure. These vessels are - all cutter rligtd in 6 very substantial and se aman li ke style, and appear well calm. shell, lated to carry their intended armament,' atamunitl6lll shot. tits. ...USTRALIANTtN Baines THE A D AMERICAN MAILS.—LITEIe, Captain.'C by packets. and Th C c POOL, SATURDAY. at eleven a.m e Australian Mails were dispatched Lang, the unusually large, amount' Royal Mail steam-ship Oliver Crawford belonging to Messrs. James om xt p a a y ny m 's ai r s la car ek ri tll ou li t ne by of th A is u s s h tr ip a l ar ian e 70 tone weight. She also carried 88 0 , mg to about 350 bags, or n early passeng ers, amongst whom were the new Solicitor General of Van Diemen's Land, and Sir George Steph en and lady, who intend joining the portion of their family already settled in Australia. Sir George Step hen has, for a lengthened period, resided and practised as a barrister in Liverpool, and leaves with the respect and esteem of all the inhabi tants. He is brother to the popular lecturer and author, o T ni h m e e O re l l i a v l er LLaawnchad Sir James Stephen, but more generally known to the literary and commercial world as the author of "The oßPfreicaren:ligipeocl,etsienoidgf . The being in capital sailing trim a is' and " Anti-Slavery t ex i o p ect oo . t d ons to ma k e a fast voyage. At .one Comstock, p.m.,the' United States e s e l n ed oo for n. tin ma il s team-ship Baltic, Captain New York with the weekly mails, fo the Western st sailed I t • 108 pump ---- --- - ri i and a full cargo on freight. - $ 4 . 00