Colored News.
London, England, 1855-08-11 00:00:00

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sth.—Thomas Gainsborough died 1788. This very eminent
artist, and one of the most distinguished ornaments of the English
school of painting, was born in 1727 at Sudbury, where his father
was a clothier. Like all the great favourites of genius, he dis-
covered very early a propensity to the art on which his future and
imperishable fame was to be founded. Nature, says one of his
contemporaries, was his teacher, and the woods of Suffolk his
academy, where he would pass in solitude his mornings in making
a sketch of an antiquated tree, a marshy brook, a few cattle, a
shepherd and his flock, or any accidental objects that were pre-
sented. From delineation he got to colouring, and after painting
several landscapes from the age of ten to twelve, he quitted
Sudbury and came to London, where he commenced portrait
painter. To education Gainsborough owed little. He was for
some time under the instructions of Gravelot and of Hayman,
whom he soon eclipsed ; and he was one of the few artists of
eminence this country has produced, who never were indebted to
foreign travel. His whole life was spent at Sudbury, Ipswich,
Bath and London. He took up his final residence in the latter
in 1774, where his fame increased with astonishing rapidity.
His excellence appeared in portraits and landscapes. His portraits,
it has been justly said, •vill pass to futurity with a reputation
equal to that which follows Cie pictures of Vandyke; and his
landscapes will establish his name on the record of the fine arts
with honours such as never before attended a native of this isle.
These subjects he painted with a faithful adherence to nature, and
it is to be noticed that they more nearly approach the landscapes
of Rubens than those of any other master. Gainsborough died of
a cancers and was interred, at his own request in Kew Church-
yard. In his last moments he paid a tribute to his great master;
almost his last words were " we are all going to heaven and
Vandyke is of the party." Gainsborough was rather capricious
and 'unsteady in his social connections. Although chosen a
member of the Royal Academy, he never associated with the
members. At the same time it is due to his memory to say that
he was a mau of great generosity. If he selected for the
exercise of his pencil, an infant from a cottage, all the tenants of
the humble roof generally participated in the profits of the picture,
and some of them frequently found in his habitation a permanent
abode. His liberality was not confined to, this alone : needy
relations and unfortunate friends were further incumbrances en a
spirit that could not deny : and owing to this generosity of temper,
that affluence was not left to his family which so much merit
might promise, and such real merit deserve.
6th.—Prince Alfred born 1844.
7th.—Queen Caroline died 1821. It is worthy of record that
the legal advocates of this unfortunate woman rose to the highest
judicial honours, viz., Lord Chancellor Brougham, Lord Chan-
cellor Truro, Lord Chief Justice Campbeil, Lord Chief Justice
Denman, Lord Chief Justice Tyndall, and Mr. Justice Williams.
It is also a gratifying fact that posterity is rendering some
small share of justice to her memory.
7th.—Bacon died 1626. Lord Bacon was born in 1561, and
was the son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, fur more than twenty years
keeper of the great seal. He was elected at Trinity College,
Cambridge, after leaving which he entered himself a student of
Gray's Inn, with the object of following his father's profession of
the law. In this profession, and in public life, he rapidly rose to
the highest eminence; and in 1619 he was made Lord High Chan-
cellor of England, and created Baron Verulam, to which title was
added, the following year, that cf Viscount St. Albans. Bacon's
political course, up to this time, had nut been very remarkable
for disinterestedness or independence ; and it was destined to
terminate suddenly in disgrace and sorrow. In March, 1621, he
was impeached by the House of Commons for corruption in his
high office ; and his own confession soon after admitted the truth
of the accusation in nearly all its force t on which he was imme
diately deprived of the seals, and sentenced to be fined, imprisoned
during the King's pleasure, and for ever excluded from parlia-
ment and all public employments. He afterwards obtained a
remission of the hardest parts of his sentence : but he only survived
till the Gth of Augu-A, 1626, on which day he died suddenly at the
Earl of Arundel's house at Highgate. Intellectually considered,
he was so great a man, that his character and conduct, as an
historical personage, are commonly, as it were by general consent,
in a very considerable degree overlooked and forgotten when we
mention the name of Bacon. It is worthy of notice, as a curious
evidence of how little the delinquencies and misfortunes of the
politician, memorable as they were, were some time after his
death known or noted in those parts of the world which were most
filled with the fame of the philosopher, that Bayle, in his Die-
tionary, published in 1695, and again in 1702, has given us an
article on Bacon, in which lie does not so much as allude to his
lamentable fall, being evidently ignorant that such an event had
ever taken place.
Bth —Death of George Canning 1827. Among those statesmen
whose political conduct and personal talents have promoted the
national glory of old England, few can claim more exalted distine.
tion than this highly gifted and illustrious individual. He was
born in 1770, was educated at Eton and Oxford, and commenced
his senatorial career in 1793. From 1796 till 1827 he was with
some few interruptions connected with the administration ; and
on the illness of Lord Liverpool he succeeded to the premiership.
The auspicious prospects, however, which had been entertained
by the nation, from his principles and abilities were soon clouded
by his death which occurred on the 7th of August. As a politician
Canning displayed the most liberal and enlightened views; and
as an orator he excelled in all that can convince the understanding
or captivate the fancy. He was the author of a mock heroic
tragedy, called " The Rovers," which caused a prodigious sensa-
tion in the political world when it first made its appearance.
Bth.—Lord Duncan born 1731. This distinguished naval officer
was born at Lundie in Angashire, in 1731. He entered the navy
at an early age, and in his 30th year became a post captain. He
distinguished himself at the siege of Havannah, and in 1797
shared in the victory of Rodney over the Spaniards. After rising
gradually through the intermediate ranks he became Vice Admiral
of the White in 1794• His subsequent victory over a Dutch
squadron, was rewarded by the title of Viscount and a pension of
£2OOO per year. He died in 1804.
Mt.—Birth of John Dryden. Dryden was the father of criti•
cism and the great improver of English versification. He was
born at Aldwinckle, Northamptonshire 1631. Having received
a liberal education he soon began to cultivate poetry, and published
some encomiastic verses on the death of Oliver Cromwell. tht
the restoration of the Monarchial power in 1660, he, with the
parasitical spirit natural to those who intrigue for patronage,
exerted himself and talents in eulogising the new-sovereign. This
soon recommended him to royal favour, by which he obtained the
appointment of poet laureat. He published various dramatic
peices, which stamped him as the first poet of the age, though
the licentious allusions with which they abound expase him to the
severest reprobation. He enjoyed high reputation to the period of
his death which occurred in 1700. His numerons works were
unrivalled for merit and fame during his time, and still con-
tinued to be highly popular. Dryden was buried in Westminster
Abbey in a grave next to that of Chaucer.
10th.—Gre(nteich Observatory founded 1675.
Captain Ifarryatt died 1848.

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