The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-24 00:00:00

WINDSOR, SCNDAY, APRIL 523.

This morning his Majesty's suite and household attended
Divine Service at the chapel attached to the Royal Lodge,
which was performed by the Rev. Dr. Sumner, the Bishop
of Lien'laffelect.
This afternoon, soon after four o'clock, his Majesty and
suite arrived in two phaetons at the Castle, from the Royal
Lodge. after attending Divine Service at the private chapel;
the King proceeding by the retired rides in the Park u
usual. Ilia Majesty viewed those parts of the improve-
ments and alterations in the Castle which it is inconveni-
ent to inspect in the course of the week, when the work-
men are employed. A number of spectators from Windsor,
as well as visitors, were attracted to see his Majesty, who is
!outing very well.
Count Woronzow arrived at the Castle about nine
o clock, from the Royal Lodge.
The complete restoration of his Majesty's health affords
the highest satisfaction to every class of his subjects. The
constant excursions which the King takes, in the rides in
the Great Park, have much contributed to this desirable
event. The interest which the King feels in the magnifi-
cent alterations of the Castle, and the picturesque improve-
ments in the neighbourhood of the Royal Lodge, leads his
Majesty frequently to inspect the works at those places, acid
also at Virginia Water, where preparations are making for
an elegant fishing house, for some time past building by
Mr. Tebbott, the King's carpenter, in the late Queen
Charlotte's Mews. It is in a great state of forwardness,
and is to be completed by the commencement of the fishing
masun, when it Is expected the King will resume the
amusement of angling.
Considerable alterations are taking place on the Ascot
Heath race-course, in preparation for the ensuing races,
when it is expected his Majesty will attend. The Duke
of York's stand is to be removed from its present position,
and placed by the side of the King's. The races com-
mence on the 6th of June, when great sport is expected.
'fhis being the day appointed for the celebration of his
Majesty's birthday, the same was observed by the morn-
ing being ushered in with the ringing of bells, the firing
of guns, &c. in the Bachelors Acre. 'fo.morrow there is
to he a grand simmer in the Town-hall, in honour of the
day, and in the evening there will be a general illumina-
tion.

This afternoon, the band of the Life Guards, who are
quartered herr, played on the Terrace, where the company
were very numerous.

Yesterday the Princess Augusta attended Divine Service
at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace.
The Duchess of Kent, the Duchess M Gloucester,
Princess S3phia, and Princess Feodure, visited the Princess
Augusta yesterday.
On Saturday Prince Leopold gave his first grand dinner
this season to a numerous party, at his residence in Pull-
man Among the distinguished guests present were the
Bishop of London, Earl Morley, Lord Prudhoe, Lord
Frederick Beauclok, Earl of Carlisle, Mr. Charles El-
lice,M.P. &c.

The Earl Of Liverpool and the Earl of liarrowhy tran-
s:tried business yesterday afternoon with Mr. Secretary
Canning.
Yesterday Prince Esterhazy transacted business at the
Foreign Office.
Last night Viscount Fordwick left town with despatches
from the Foreign Office, for his uncle, the lion. Frederick
Lamb, the British Ambassador at Madrid.
We are sorry to hear that one of the most respectable
firma in the booksclling business, in Paternoster-row failed
un Saiorday. ,

EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY OF PAINTERS
IN WATER COLOURS.

This exhibition is undoubtedly one of the most inte-
resting in London, as it sliews the great perfection to which
the art of painting; in water colours has been carried in this
conntry within the last few years. Every body must re-
collect the time when a painting in water colours, if not
despised, was at least regarded as belonging to the lowest
grade of the art. This, however, is no longer the case.
Persons of considerable talent have confined themselves
exclusively to this branch of the fine arts, and the conse-
quence is, that the painter in oils no longer possesses that
great superiority which he mice enjoyed. 'Film are a few
artists, such for instance are Fielding, Robson, and Ste-
plianofF, who can produce quite as grand an effect in
simple water colours as it is in the power of any oil painter
to bring about, notwithstanding the superior means and
materials of the latter.

The present exhibition of the Society of Painters in
water colours is, unquestionably, better than any that has
preceded it. There are really very few piet•ses which do
not deserve noticing; and from that fact, perhaps, results
the difficulty we feel in tnaking a selection. Robson, how-
ever, and Fielding. both in the number of their ipicturea
and in the beauty of them, may be regarded as the artists
who deserve more particular attention than the rest.
Among Robson's pictures, Liles Water, Cumberland, A
Scene at the outlet ,ff /./ya Ogren, North IVales, (:rouse-
shooting in Brendalhane, beck laihnuitr, and The Upper par:
of Loch Lomond, are perhapsithe most striking. There is
only one fault in Robson 's pictures: he makes the heath
at once to) much varied in its colour, and that colour lie
makes too rich and vivid. Gastineau, who in this style of
painting is next to Robson,
-- long° tied proxining intervene,
excels the latter in a faith Al representation of the herbage
of those wild and mountainous scenes which they are both
so fond of painting.
The pictures of Copley Fielding are almost beyond
praise. His Buy of Naples, Corra- I inn, A Galen(' Wind,
with a View of Portsmouth from Spithrad, and the View
looking across Plymouth Sound from under Mount Edge-
esimbe, together with its compan:on, Plymouth Sound,
Mount Batten on the right, the citadel on the left, Mount
Edgeeumbe in the distance, are certainly not to be equalled
by anything of their kind in the exhibition. We cannot
maibly fancy the art to be carried farther than Copley
Fielding has carried it in the depiction of sky and water.
The swelling sea in the Gale of Wind, as also in the views
near Plymouth, must attract the attention and surprise of
every spectator. _

Gistineau has some very good pictures. Ediabarghfrom
the Old Rank of Scotland, the Castle of Gloom, and a View
in Me Highlands, are among the beat.
The Pirate's Isle, by Cox, the Harbour of Dieppe, by
Wiehelo, Bamboroogh Castle, Northumberland, by Varluy,
the View from Riehtnoad Hill, by Barrett, and Receiving
Ships at Portsmouth, by Prout, are very excellent pro-
ductions.

Besides these, there are a conaiderah le number of pictures
by Varley, Barret, Nestleld, Cox, Hills, Turner, &c. &c.
which certainly ought to be noticed ; but with our limits
it is quite impossible to do justice to every picture, or to
every artist._

S:, plianoff has two pictures, in the colouring of which
he surpasses any of his previous works. The one is called
Robens and Me Alchymist, and it is founded upon a story
related in Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting. The figure
of the Alchymist is, perhaps, too stout, and his counte-
nance too contented for a mad and speculative philosopher.
The figure of Rubens is excellent ; and there is a very re-
markable air of beauty and of elegance in the lady and the
child who are introduced into the group. The pride with
which Rubella is pointing to his pictures, and telling the
Alchytnist that lie had long since found the art of making
gold with his pallet, is extremely well expressed.
The subject of the other picture is taken from Lalla
Rookh, and represents Feramorz relating the story of a
Peri to the Princess and her attendants, in the Valley of
Gardens; Fadlatleen being in one of his most lofty moods
of criticism. The figure of Fadladeen is very admirably
conceived, and as well executed. The whole picture is
remarkable for the elegance and beauty of its grouping, and
the splendid colouring which adorns it. Fcramorz looks
as ii he were telling a story, and the Princess looks as if
she were in love; Fadlatleen is amusing himself with
drinking sherbet, and seems as if he were anxiously await-
ing the conclusion of the tale in order to begin his criticism.
The attendants are almost as beautiful as their mistress,
who is gracefully reclining upon a couch ; and, in a word,
the luxuriance, the beauty, and the elegance of the whole
picture, are excellently adapted to the subject.
Richter's picture of Annette and Lapin (the original we
suppose) is also in this exhibition. His oil painting upon
the same subject, in the exhibition of the Society of British
Artists, is so well known, that any description of the water
colour painting is unnecessary. We must, however, ob-
serve, that we think the story better told in this than in
the oil painting; but they are both very good.
In Wright's Scene from King Lear, there are some well
drawn figures, end a great deal of character. Walker's
picture, of Greek:el:icing their Cattle from an approaching-
enemy to a place nt. softly, presents a good deal of imagina-
tion, which is well executed. The Welsh Peasant Girls,
by Cristall, are well drawn ; but his sketches, represent-
ing Theseus destroying the Minotaur, Cadmus slaying a
Dragon at the Fount of Dirce, and Hercules dragging
Cerbcrus from the Infernal Regions, have very little merit,
either hreomposition or imagination, though they are,by no
means badly drawn.
Miss Byrne has a clever little picture of a dead canary,
and her wiled fruits and flowers areextremely faithful to nature.
The private view of this exhibition was very numerously
attended, and many of the pictures were purchased within
a quarter of an hour after the room was openkl.