The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-21 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

DIORA MA.
We believe we have seen moat of the sights of London,
from the Elgin Mat bles and the Raphael Tapestries down
to the ingenious artist who cuts you out a very ill-favoured
likeness of yourself in the space of eleven seconds with a
pair of scissors, and Bonaparte's Tambour Major, who
takes sixteen times the trouble that ever drummer took
before, for the purpose of playing sixteen times worse
than any utht r drummer in creation. As we said we have
seen most of the sights of London, and have found many
of them little better than vanity and vexation of spirit.
We sometimes think of giving the world a selection or
.fasciculus of our experience in this way in the shape of a
neat pocket volume, to be entitled, " Hoaxiana ; or, the
Sight Saer's Fade Mecum." Be that as it may, the
public are scarcely aware of the obligation they arc
under to us who take the trouble of catering for
their amusement, by acting as prceguytateres of
every visual and intellectual banquet, and inform-
ing
them beforehand what is safely seeable, and what
is a bore. We set off on one of those preliminary ex-
peditions last Saturday, for the purpose of having what
is called a private view of the new picture which is to be
exhibited to public gaze to-day at the Diorama. We were
really disappointed. " Order the Coachman to drive to
the Park--shan't go to the Dioratna."—" Wait a little, fair
Madam ; there are two ways of being disappointed."
" IVell, but isn't it bad ?" Yost shall hear. We did
expect to find a picture of Holyrood Chapel, and we were
disappointed, for we found what we were at the first glance
almost disposed to think the ancient and venerable ruin
itself. We advise none of the deputation from the Sister
Island to visit this exhibition, lest they should be tempted
to step into,the picture to say their prayers. There is a
truth, a reality in the perspective, which, added to the me-
chanical contrivances of the flickering lamp on the old mo-
nument—the actual twinkling stars--the neutimi of the
full moon, and the low strain of music stealing through the
air, makes the scene almost the Thing which it pretends to re-
present. This Chapel, which we believe originally formed a
portion of the Abbey of Sainte Croix, built by David I. of
Scotland, suffered considerable dilapielationa at the period of
the Reformation, and subsequently at the Revolution. It
underwent some repairs so late as the year 1816, and is
considered a very beautiful specimen of Gothic architec-
ture. We should observe that M. Daguerre, the very
clever artist who has produced 'this picture, has bad the
good taste to represent the ruins as they appeared before
the repairs of 1816, and by this means secured a more
picturesque and interesting effect to his performance.
At the moment the view u disclosed, a female figure
is perceived standing in a pensive and contemplative
attitude before a dilapidated altar, on which is placed
the lamp already mentioned ; the flame of the lamp
is so contrived as to throw an intermitting light over
the figure, which produces a very pleasing effect. The
disk of the moon is observed just clearing the gable
wall of the chapel, till at length the whole orb becomes
visible, and casts a flood of light over one side of the
broken arches. As the moon rises it becomes partially
covered with vapoury clouds; its orb appears enlarged
(as in nature), and gives out that peculiar blurred and
watery light, tinged with constantly changing hues, which
is observable in the autumn and winter months. On the
whole, we look upon this new view as one likely to become
as great a favourite with the public as the best of the old
ones in this very interesting Exhibition, which produces
some of the best and grandest effects of old De Louther-
bourg's Eidaphusikon, but on an infinitely enlarged and
therefore improved scale. For our own part we were go
much gratified by the first view, that it is highly probably
we shall become converts to the Scottish doctrine of second
sight, and at some future opportunity pay another visit to
the Ruins of Ilolyrood.
" John, do drive to the Diorama !"