The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

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WEnTaIoRELAND.
TUE Utsenstom SiA Da.—The Lancaittrauardian
says that the Lords of the Admiralty have given their Con-
pent to the construction of an embankment from the Cartrucl
side of the Ulverston Sands to the Beck Scam, a distance of
about throe-quarters of a rei e.
DORSETAIIRE.
TUE TYLNEY LONG POLE. WELLESLEY PROPERTY.
—The Exeter Ftging Yurt says : That portion of the
spit, ndid dowry situate in Donatshire which the ill-starred
daughter of. Sir Tylney Long Pole brouubt Mr, Wellesley
(now hued Morningtont is to he disposal of. it is a fino
property, contiguous to the Earl of Oxf,rit's. On one of the
s• st.ds a mansion, in good condition, a great part of
which is said to have been built by the Saxon king.
Athelatun,"

Af to Arts.

ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION.
There is no concealing the fact—this year's exhi-
bition is no advance on Loner exhibitions. This after all
is only an everage displey of our British school. Critics will
of course think differently; sad there are several fine pic-
tures wieeh they will at once spy, al to, and with perfict
safety, is support of the particular view they delight to take.
The (stela bed favourites tether support than add to their
preview, reputation., and the younger ones who are rising
into node • make little advance on termer years—very little
more indeed than to justify their friends and the public in
thinkiag the :r previous [too.' opinio: s properly bestowed. In
the meantime we must continue to wait. The
accomplielimeats of art are not obtained without
many years of uninterrupted study without a steady
dote ran etion to adhere to the great principle which Hogarth
acknowl.dged, and which we find (amusingly enough, when
we remember the slow appreciariou of his works in the ranks
of the It ,s al Academy), with llogarth's name attached to it,
as the moo.) on the title-page of the preset. t catalogue—
" True art can only be learucd in one school, and that school
is kept •y nature."
Thirty out of the forty royal academiciens are exhibitors
on this occasion. The absentees are Sir M. A Shea (the
-president), Mr. J. M. W. Turner ( whose eccentricities and
fine qualities all will regret), Mr. It. Cook, Mr. Dyes (the
newly-elected ILA.), Sir Richard Westrnacett, and the five
architects usually absent, viz., Sir It. Smirke, Mr. Hard-
wick, Mr. Barry, Mr. Deering, and Mr. Cocker. 11. All the
associates are exhibitors. Tilers are thereto.' fifty exhibitors
within the ranks of the Royal Academy, centrihuting alto-
gether 167 works. The total number of exhibitors a 840;
and the total number of works exhihi.ed 1,474. The
academy contribution is, at first blush, only a small propor-
tion out of the number exhibited, but when we consider that
the whole 167 are chiefly on the line, we easy at once de•
termine that they will eogege, as indeed they deserve to do,
a nromin nt importance in the present exhibition.
There are two great attempts, and by names deservedly
distinguished. One alone has been successful. We allude
to Mr. Cope and to Mr. Herbert. Mr. Cope has pointed the
dying Wolsey received at the Abbey of Leicester by " the
reverend abbot with all his convent." The readers of
Shakspere and of English history will renumber the soenee
but Mr. Cope has made very little of it. 'the figures are of
the size of life, and there is a careful displey of all the inci-
dents and circumstances likely to revive the scene • the
grouping, too, is occasionally good ; but there is a sad want
of character and of a real purple throughout the whole
composaion. It is also feeble iu colour, and in the groups
by the convent door somewhat too clue (almost slavishly
ao) to the famous Van Dyck in the National Gallery.
It is no advance on what the English school had 'teem-
p'ishe d sixty years since. Weft tool Barry, and others of
the mueh belied Boyden Shakepere Gallery painters, a ere
just as good. We are sorry to write thee, not so much be-
cause the picture was a commis-ioa from Prince Albert, l ut
for another and better reason, because Mr. Cope is really a
deserving artist, from whom better thing• were expected,
whereas by this production his reputation has been thrown
back at least a year. The great artist of the exhibition is
Mr. Herbert, R.A , who contributes but one work, No. 77,
" St. John the Baptist reproving Herod,"—" For John said to
Herod : ' It a not lawful for thee to have thy brother's
wife.' " The whole composition is in the severe style of the
early Italian school, and the story told—as all the early
paiuters managed to tell their stories—unenistakeably. St.
John is full of earnest dignity and confirmed convic•
lion; Herod thoughtful, and all but persuaded; the
" brother's wife indignant and disdainful. Here
we have a great purpose carried out, and a pic-
ture set about in the high and severe style of art
successfully completed. The effect of such a picture on the
English school will be immediate and luting. Five Franciu
or ten Pietro Peruginos in our National Gallery could not
achieve as much. Such will ever be the effects of successful
Imitation among contemporary artiste. Leek at the number
of our Birmingham Lendsetrs, DISCUS/I, and Mulreadys.
Mr. Dickens hes more imitators than either Fielding or
Smollet.
Muck as we missed Mr. Eastlake in last year's exhibition,
we are somewhat sorry to see the picture he has contributed
to the collection for the present year. Ile has hut one worn.
(No. 02), " An Italian Peasant Family on their way to a
Villege Festival; Prisocers with Banditti." Persons ac-
quainted with Mr. Eastlake's style will teeny picture to
themselves the character of the composition from the very
title, without the assistance of one of our illuetrated weekly
periodicals. The Leads, male and (=male, are of the same
soft effeminate character—prettily but feebly painted. Nor
is it too much to say that the " kla:eriele for the
History of Oil Painting," and the recent " Contri-
butions to the Literature of the Fine Aro," are greater
accessions to ourt art-literature than this "Peasant and
Banditti " picture, to the glories of our English school of
painting. Mr. Mulready's chief contribution will long be
recognised as a successful effort in a favourite style. It is
called " The Butt," and was painted for that true patron
of English art, Mr. John Sheepshank.. A Butcher Boy,
with his empty tray, and a Boy with a basket of clothes have
stepped a couple of girls with a basket of cherries. Some
kind. of compact about the sale has evidently taken place—
and the Butcher Boy's mouth is made "the butt," at which
the boy with the basket of clothes shoots, with all the into m-
ous of one interested in knowing that it will be his turn
next. He has, however, made numerous misses, allot which
are recorded by the juicy marks of the cherries on the cheeks
of the eager " butt." The cherry girls look en and enjoy
what is going on with the tame delight which many will
witness on the countenances of the visitors
who stand before Mr. Mulready's truthful repro.
sentatiou of the scene. Ile colouring is most earn.
ful, and the sturdy coolness of tke butcher's dog,
who has made himself as much a butt for tie occasion as his
master, is an amusing incident in assisting the story. Atter
Mr. Mulready we may mention Mr. Edwin Lanelseer, who
contributes in all five works a Portrait of his Esther, a
fine grey-headed old man, full of character, and most care-
fully painted; "Alexander and Diogenes," a dog story, told
with all his accustomed skill in making the brute creation
play the parts of men—the eyes of the dog Dineenes most
wonderfully expressive; "An Old Cover Hack," a white
horse realty like life ; " Pincher, the property of Montague
Gore, Es t. ;" and " A Random Shot," a deer that has died
in the snow from a random shot while attended by her
young, who fancies she is still alive—a painful subject—
painfully treated—but with an effect of Hetet quite magical.
Leslie snakes but an inuifferent fieure. His lectures at the
academy have perhaps engrossed too much of his time, but
we could well have spared his " Shell from Words-
worth and Lander, and his " Lady Jane Grey
reading Plato," better represented by the ex c'l-
lent design by Stothard attached to the paoages in
Mr. Itegers's poems, which Mr. Leslie has selected for
illustration. The furniture and books in the library we may
remark in passing are quite untrue tothe period represented.
From the seven pictures by Etty it would be difficult to make
• particular selection of any one. Coming from Mr. Etty's
pencil, none are good. There is, however, fine colour in all—
flesh and jewels such as Etty alone can paint, but story rod
drawing aro alike unseen. 01 the four pictures by Maalise
we prefer " Mr. John Forster in the character of Kitely"—
a welloeonaidered and characteristic work, reminding us of
Ifs
euixeseful pictures of Zeffsey and Clint in the e atoe line.
Hie large picture of " Chivalry uf the time of Henry VIII.'
has been bought by Mr. P, to, M.P.; the female figure is
very elegant. Mr. Webster has a small picture entitled
"The Internal Economy of Deitheboes too small tar
exhibit his excellencies—and a larger work, " The Rubber,"
representing half a dosen country bumpkins playing at cards.
The futures here aro larger and 'harder than usual with this
clever painter. I:wins exhibits " The Vintage in the
Claret Vineyards of the South of France," drawn with the
fidelity of a grape:grower, and coloured and arranged with
the truth and pr vision of an artist.
The associates pursue a steady course onward. Mr. Frost
bass scene from L'Allegro—quite equal to his " Comte.,"
bought Is her Majesty from the exhibition of last year. Mr.
E. M. Ward has two incidents from the Diary of Evelyn—
one representing " Highgate Fields dining the Great Fire
of London, in 1666 ;" and the other, Evelyn walking with
Charles 11. through St. James's-park, and witnessing the
famous interview between the King and " Mrs. Nellie as
they called en impudent comedian." The Highgate Fields
contain sufficient materials for balfa-dosen pictures by
ordinary painter?, for it is the fault (a rare one indeed) with
this rising artist geserafy to put too much into his pic-
tures, whereas when his range IA not so wide and his fancy
less excursive as in the King and Nell Gwynn, he accom-
plishes all he attempts and acbi,ves complete success.
The Highgate Fields is, howeee r, a work of very
great excellence true to the times—but not so well MEDICAL.
and warmly coloured as the Nell Gwynn. Another CHARIKO-ClOr HOSPITAL. Yesterday the annual
favourite, Mr. Frith, has a large picture of "An old meeting arms held in the bournxim of the hospital for the distribu.
woman accused before a country justice of the time ot prizes and norborary certioraris to the students most ensue.
oared la he various branchrs of intifiril study at this Inatitutton.
of James 1., of having bewitched a peasant girl." The Th
e were awarded r follows i—enscraletry Silver marl, Mr.
scene is laid in a bay-windowed chamber of the age of Henry Turnbull.—Materla Mattes : Miser medal, Mr. Dickinson ; oartillsoic
VIII. (not unlike the Presence-Chamber at Hampton of honour, Mr. slavery.—Anatomy (lien.): Silver medal, G. M. Young;
Court), and the story with its succession of incidents in toll certificate, Paternoster. Jun.: precise medal, &req.—Midwifery :
with gmat dramatic unity. The heads, too, are full of ohs- (en.) : Silver mlrousg ; artilleate, Paternoster. Jun. : Bronze
mortal, Terry • sisissi, Maislins. Wood and Hamtlton.—Physio-
ranter, the composition pleasing, and "P" etteloetiriee through ; • kw mak Laker; certuteatee, Mesas. Paternceter
on eenet elaborately etre, by tax sure •r Jun.: Seem medal, Br. es. Mensal ;
Stiagesusral ...Sierran sea asst i , , , P.c.whm;:. henna:

PHILHARMONIC SOCIRTY.—The third concert, lut
evening, began with the symphony lately composed by Spohr
for the society, sad now performed for the first time. It is
is a masterly work, strongly marked with the author's pecu-
liar manner, hit, on the whole, possessed of greater breadth
and freedom than his productions generally exhibit. Still,
however, as usual, it smells strongly e f the lamp, and ap-
pears to be the result of deep thought and great labour,
rather than the inspiration of genius. The author carries to
an extreme length the principle of unity of design, forgetting
that it mast also be combined with the principle of variety.
He adheres elossly—ws might almost say doggedly—to the
'saliva with which he sets out ; treating it, indeed, with
great ingenuity and skill ; hut a long movement, so ma-
naged, becomes monotonous from the want of route fresh
ideas in its course. The allegro movement struck us as the
best; the subject which pervades it is melodious and grace-
ful, and bears rcpetitioa better than the subjects of the sub-
sequent movements. The pow atogio which follows
has something of an ecclesiastical character, with con-
siderable grandeur of effect. The scherzo is re-
' markable for a violin ob!ipto passage of great
difficulty, which was brilliantly executed b 7 Mr. Ilia-
glove. This symphony was followed by an air from the
Zaire" of hlercadwate—notbing in itself, but finely sung
by Tamburini. Then came a pianoforte concerto, composed
and performed by Mousieur Emile Prudent, an eminent
Parisian pianist. liaise performer of great executive powers;
but his concerto. which was of great length, wee, we he‘itate
not to say, utterly worthless. A more tedious string of sum-
mon-place pavers and unmeaning difficulties it bus never
been our fortune to hear. Such an exhibition is discreditable
to the Philharmonic Society ; and it is the more discreditable
that, for the sake of suea thinpe, our own performers of the
highest merit are excluded. Why has Mr. Ilolmes never
performed at the Philharmonic concerts? or Mr. Lindsay
Striper, or Mr. Jewson, or Miss Kate Leder t Betides these
there are others whom we could name, any ono of whom
could perform a concerto, of Beethoven, or Mendelssohn in a
manner which would gratify every lover of the highest order
of classical music. Madame Oriel then sang an air from
the " Briganti," by Mercedante ; and Beethoven's sub-
lime overture to "Leonora," supeeb,y executed and
loudly encored, teeminwed the first part. The se-
cond part began with hl,eart's lovely symphony in E
flat, which was listened to with evident delight. The de-
licious minute and trio were encored. Grid then sang
Costa's air, " Dall 'sail° della pace"; a piece which she is
much its the habit of singing at concerts. It quite in the
modern operatic sty le, and its florid postage!, show off the
fair singer's brilliant execution. The duet from " Semite-
mide," familiar to every opera-goer, " Se la vita," was aung
by Grisi and Tsmburint ; and Cherubini's overture to " Les
Deux Joureeea" concluded a concert of a very chequered
complexion.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL
CANIDRIDO/L MAY I.—The Vice-Chancellor has given
notice, that at the congregation on Wednesday, the 111th hot., a
grace will be proposed to the senate to present en eddrens to the
Queen, exprensuig the loyalty uno edvachmest of the university to
her Majesty's person and government.
MILITARY.
MILITARY COLONISATION AT HUDSON'S BAY.—It being
the Intention 01 government to establish a military colony at Fort
Garry, Iluitnimb, flay, on a similar principle to that In New Z.ealind,
the waretury ai war has lamed the f doming conditions, upon which
military pen-loners will to enroll. d for service In that colony : --The
eaniiilittes must not exceed forti.fire years of age, fire feet nix niches
in height, of a robust frame, and medically approved of. No objection
will be made to married men having families., provided the number of
children aloes not exceed three. The pensioners will be enrolled to
nerve seven years, will receive pay at the rote of In. Id. per day for a
private, Is. Gil. fur a corporal, and In. lust for re it I grant, In addition
to their pensions, to commence frvni lbe period they are called on to
leave their homes till they embank, with a frt e conveyance for them-
wives and Mollie% at the 1 oblle expense. A tree pa sage to
Fort Garry, ash nalons on the voyage, will be given them.
Previous to thcir quitting Eoglond, an advance of two months' pen-
sion, and a further advance of one menth'e pennion for each child will
be given to purchase ao outfit for the voice% On uniting at Fort
Garry, each pensioner will be provided is Ilia qourtera in or near the
Fort, end will he atm entitled to a tetnporary gnat of land, not ex-
ceeding 20 acorn for a private, ao ton corporal, and 40 to a sergeant,
of a description fit fur tillage, and within two ii Hoc of the Fort. Ad-
vances of money will be made fur the purchase of furniture, Ike., but
these advances will ba di ducted from the pension. The pensioner,
during the first year of service, will receive pay from the Hudson's
Bay Company at the rote of 7e. per week (if a private), and of as. a
week during the following year, in return foe which he will be liable
to be employed during the find year three days in each week and nix
days in each month during the second year' either in public
work., or in drilling militia. or In such duty as the governor shall
direct. Corporals and eerguints will receive an extra remuneration
at the rate of la per week for the former, and Is. for the latter, dur-
ing the find year, and half the 0M0,40t during the second year. The
men are also to attend military exercise, without pay, twelve dap: in
each year, and on every Hunday for minter at church parade. At the
termination of the seven years, fur which the enrolment ma made, the
land in to become the abstuote property of the pensioner, but the cam.
, posy can reclaim the land within six 7,ia.3 Wit Paying to '.'c pensioner
1 the present value of it, or giving a grant of lams of treble the . stent
at a greatet Matinee horn the furl. Medical attendance will be pro-
vided at the expense of the company, and if wounded or diftbled
in the execution of their duty, they will be entitled to additions.'
ranks.
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on• ,^nal
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