The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-03-27 00:00:00


aQalsa into the grossness
g.sal principle had previ tttt sly
state of curly iguurauce
our separation from
eve:, thing connected witr
Pultilme. 'vas arptally abhorred, am! eradicated
the saute keen eeffer detestation
ed, superstitious, or *Shim
thus considered as tni/ much
mash: to voluptuonsuesi, r-
east atl•three arts were It
Cllllfelltil, with a firm- hatred, which has been
s: smote set amelinelited by time. At • peeled
when-estimation leas re ufined to a few, iiit:ol refire.
nrodissiners of the groat author of Christianity
might haturally have led to a snperstitious adore-
iiiii of him ; but now, when knowledge is so ani-
s rrsAty diffused, pittures could reify excite pints
and sympathetic rememhrances, instead of absurd
mud islolatious worship 11.
These thoughts naturally occur In one at a time
when new Churches are &hoist to be built, when
Government is Ingiuniuglo teed itself for that
ntensive, and the measure has been strenuously re•
1111111111111 l from the Throne. It is a fact that
t be denied, that historical painting his never
yet, as insulter countries, leen snot d by public
• neouragement. that consequently it has never
taken its rink in the opinions of the nobility or the
profile, and* its 'intelllecisill value and power have
or course niver 'been suffieiently impressed had
AU the Sits been'equally neglected, painting could
snit with tidy justice complinn of what she bail only
'shared in 'common with the others ; but as archi-
!tectare, Sculpture, and portrait-painting, have ever
been plitipeeed and fostered by public outmost,
it is only asked whether. under such circumstances,
an attempt to interest Prteliarnent and the nation
for the painting of the country, can with any jus-
tice be considered intruding or premature ? It is
s-rident that there is and has been a disposition to
*whit the art for some years, because all the leading
men of the empire, refined by education or elevated
by birth, have horn long assembled at the British
Institution for that purpose; but it is evident also
that we cannot be. by their individual efforts alone,
us great in painting as we are in oiler arts and
sciences, unless opportunities are given by Govern-
ment for works as great as the works are, in those
nits and sciences in which we already excel. It is
evident that the public fails, Churches and Castile-
dials, are the only places fit for such works, and
Burt the expo' or painting from our Churches,
and the admission of sculpture, is partial and un-
just : that no re:,son cen be given why sculpture
should he admitted to illustrate the actions of
heroes iu w..r, and why painting should be exclud-
ed, when it can SU ably exemplify the miracles of
the Divine Founder of Christiauity, and develope
the moral obligations of his suhlinie religion :
that by the admission of painted window., and the
almost utiiversal allowance of altar pieces, It is
provid, that the Dignitaries of the Church have
relaxed from the severity of their ancient prejtid cc.;
and that consequently impost reason can be given
why, if painting is ad ' ted at all, as it is. it
should not he admitted in its highest stale of note!.
lecenal perfection, in 'preference to a state that is
'both disgraceful and itiefficient ; that the propen-
sity to consider the art us a mere decoration, therein
ranking the efforts of the great painter with those
.of the white-washer, the gilder, or the cabinet-
tifiker, is wesk, thoughtless, and absurd : that the
periods of the world' in which art his been most
brllinutly patronized. and has most gloriously dis-
played itself. are ever referred to, in the history
of mankind, as the most enlightened and hotel-
4ertital of the world, thereby proving the value
of the art, as tendiug to raise those nations who
have the most encouraged it, the highest in the
scale of intellectual grandeur : that though it
is evident, employment will t of create genius if it
do tint exist, employment is necessary to foster it if
it doe 4, as there is no example in oilier commie, of
great painters without great patrons. for there the
governments of the period assisted the genius of
the period, and it was by this gradual progression
of thiosys, that art was able to shine forth with its
full v'gritir is Greece and Itoryf, each previous
period affording a foundation for the sub-squeal
one to build oil, as excellence has ever heen, and
ever will be, the result of accumulated exiieris
ence.
If the ilistreites of the Country were such, that
• nothing could be set aside for the encouragement
of genius, of course palming would without re-
inotaitnince acqniese in the general neglect ; but as
thousands have been and are yearly devoted by
Parliament for the protection of sculpture and ar-
chitecture. it is only asked, if painting has not as
strong a claim on the support of Parliament and the
nation, both from the great power of the art, as
well es from the iosign;ficence of the sum required
to assist it? that fur this half century every assist-

• " Mien we from the Catholic Church of
Rome," says Reynolds," many customs, indifferent in them-
e. Ives, were considered as urine, for no other reams, per-
haps, bat beeline they are adopted by the communion fount
which we separated. Among the excesses which this senti-
ment produced may be peritonea the impolitic exclusion of
all ornansems from our churches. The violence and acri-
mony with which the separation was made being now at an
end, It Is high Si.. to amuse Mot reason, of which our seal
sector* to Isovedepeived as. Why reams should nut appear
pleasing :Mid 'assiable in its apmedagea, why the House of
shoold'hot appear as well ornataeuted sad as costly as
soy pi. 'vale holm made fire tansy no good mama, I believe,
can be ass.gneil. Tiiis troth is ackwowledgesi is regard to
in Protestant as well as in Owner)
I'olllolllol : Churches are always the most meguifi-
weer plaices in every city : and why the inside shooed nut
• c0meep.,,,,1 with its exterior, in this and every other Proles-
tam cousitri., it would he difficult for Psolestdhis to state
auy reasonalsr.• muse. Natty other teasel's bare bees as.
signed why Ilbste,..y Pointing has never *perished in Aim
Ontioilry ; but wilts ruck a rsxson at hand we reed nut look
farther."—Reradde Tour to l'landers,vol. ii: p. 340.
t " Tour Committee cannot dismiss this interesting sub-
ject without submitting to the attentive rousideratiou of the
Minis. how highly the cultivation of the Fine Arts has too.
tritons:al to she reputation, character, and dignity of reel,
tiorernmeot by which they have been 'scones: ad; anal bow
-intimately they are connected with the advancement of every
timid saleable in grienre. Literature, soil PhilsiesrphY. la
contempliiii,‘ the iMporlanee and spitiolosir to which so
small a Republic as Athena rose, by the genius and energy
of her rititeln, exerted vs the path of such Inman''', it is
impassible to overtook bow transient the memory and fume
of e•temleil smirker; and of mighty coonnerars are, in CUM-
puisoa of these who bare remitted inronsideratile +sales
anal inlMMOrtiliz.4l, their own onuses by Owns pore
411.15."—/ /fere/ ofeeninil.'q on P:lgii Ilarbter, 11116

public recep%
. -
MI the works 'dressily produced. by which the
country has been rescued from the stigma of in-
capacity anti unjust doubts of its genius. have ever
been the result of the •entliitaiissin of individuhls
who have devoted themselves with the spirit of the
Decal ; and though the historical painters are and
ever will be ready so still to devote themselves. no
'blame ought surely to he attached to them for
seising every opportunity of a public nature to in-
terest the tuition in favour of that art, whose excel.
lencelill parties are forced to own is eetiential to its
greatnesa, them endeavouring to remove the needleta
obstructious from the path of the younger men who
are rising, which all those who are established in
the art have but too fatally experienced.

AMERICA.

FEB. 4.

Cobbett is here; hut the Papers do not state cor-
rectly the object of his petition—it 11144 1114111'1g to
do with the snit of Dr. Rush. Tlw object of line
Memorial is of this stature :—Colihett published an
article concerning the Chevalier Yruju, sarcastic,
but not libellous to any shape, though it certainly
meant more than it expressed. was the
Chief Ju■ticc tit 11141 period, and wring his ann-in-
law attacked, he caused process In he issued, reepoir-
ing bad of Cobbett, to appear and :mover au indict-
men', sud mraistinse to keep the peace. lied was
given. A bill was brought before the Grand
Jury, who returned the bill iptoreinams. After this
quashing of the snit, which, of course, put an end
to it, upon soother publication COM! er ii iii g
• p►ocess was issued fur a rofeiture of recoginzaiice
upou the bad given in the suit quashed.

IIARRISCURGII, TAIL 19.
The Senate this, clay resumed, io Committee of
the whole, the consideration of the Itcport in favour
of William Cobbett ; whets the Committer new
they reported against the Report of the Committee,
and the question on agreeing to the Report of the
Committee of the whole war decided by Veal and
Nays, as follows, viz.—Year (.30, Nays 9.
As coon as the Senate hail dreitlvil 'pima the
claim of Mr. Cohbett, who was present its the gal-
lery, lie immediately cause forwaid and pre.ented
to the Speaker a letter, a hick was read before the
Senate as funnies, viz.—

TO TOT 110 N. TUT !MITE ATO NOCVT 011 IRTTRTTENTA-
TI YTS OT TTIF COMMON %I' !Mall Or TXN NS% LV•NI.II, IN

°ANIMAL AMIZMItLY MET :
THC PLIITIOA OW WILLIAM COITRWIT, rvamsnyvir,

Tllll iDTD DAY Or AVIDWASIV, 181$

. .
Most retprrffully shrank,
That your l'etstiusier has beard, with issedsprcvdible sur-
prise, that the Xe'sate of the 014.11111/11Neulth has rejected the
Petition lately presented to that honourahle body by your
l'elitioner; that seeing the A Igrrisit enormity of the injus-
tice of which he cousplaissed, he conti'lently hopes. that
sorb rejectiou has arisen from some great walsourterstasol-
Mg as to the eircusnstaucts of his case; that he. there-
fore, moat respectfully, but must earnestly pra's, that the
Ilonoutable the *rate will, without toss of limn, he
pleased to permit hiss to appear is person at the 16:11.of
their Ilowstarabk Haase, tlwre to wapport the prayer of Isis
said Petition; that he feels the more rossfida•ssce in the
waakiag of this respectful request. since it appears that his
Petition has been imposed apes. arguniessi% ads 'Aso trusts. the
laws and usages of Fasglawd, where similar r•gneats soldier
similar eireonestaaces, are wryer reflood; nod he finally
begs leave to be permitted to state (whirls he sloes with Ilse
ghost profound respect), that a sedvse of duty towerils Isis owe
beloved country and his Sovereign. his love of tells and
justice, his attachment to real mud Isis hatred of ►ham
freedom, arc the princial motives of this Isis most respectful
Petition. %%M. CO B B

The foregoing Petition war laid on the table.
On Thomlay Win. Cobbett arid a Petition to
the I lotwe of Itrineort►taticr+. prit)ing that hivvaee,
which had been defeated iu the Seinite, might be
investigated by the Hutto... The Pt tition, we sire
iliforined, *II. considered rather note, orun. by 11w
Members. A moog other things he says, England
Ins% had her Jr thies, and Pruu•ylvauiu her
11Pliessis." and, by it►vidieus compartsanm•, made
out that Mii.ean was the worst of the two—ex-
pressions not very palatably to massy of the Mem-
bers : be that as it may, without wailing for a decl-
aims on his Petition, l►e took stage immediately
after, and left the town.

[As Mr. Cobbett• has returned to Phil:1(141 Ilia,
we presume lie had no ho •e of being permitted
to plead his cause st the bar *I the Semite. It
would have been an indulgence heretofore unknown
in our Legi,luture.]

Extract of a letter to the Editors of the Federal
Republican, dated St. Mary's, .sth Frit. 181tl:-
1 have not much to mono 0000 i o .iroe at !present,
ouly to 'offsets' you that Asory is making sill loos,ilole
baste to quit the place; oar troops sire sill Nion-
featly employed on the necessary avocations of
cantonment; sill is quiet at Amelia. The ITioi-est
States shop rieburss, C 1111 l 'nodose I leolley, and brig
Exterprize, Capt. Carney, are st anchor in Amelia
harbour—the United States b:ig Saranac, Captain
Elton, and schooners Lynx moil Tartar, with the
revelsose cutter from tiavanuah, are all lying at the
mouth of the river ; likewise the United States
brig Prouret4eits. Ao Englirli brig, called the
Neptune, arrived here a few days sego, with eight
slaves on board ; she was seised by the Enterprise,
and is now at anchor in Amelia liarbour ; sioalltss
small Spanish brig likewise arrived, boot of little
value; she is inns at Amelia discharging."
WASHINGTON. FEB. I*.
CONGRES.,S.--IN SEN AT

The Senate took up the Report el the Committee•
or Finance, on the in►puiry referred to then., lush.
the, expediency of rept:J.lllg the duty on salt, and
in concurrence with that Rel ort. it was
Rewired—That it is not expedient to repeal the law im-
posing a duly uu salt.

uorsr. OF REPIIF.SI:TATIVER, Fen 19.
The Speaker Wit •belbre Noose go-Report
from the Tre:hut), Depurtmeittotnting the items of
the expenditure auk, the Couttbissionrib appalit-

THE BRITISH PRESS.

to which the excess of a anee it" been giccn to sculpture, while daring dist
intily 1.41 them, when in • whole peta•4ol•pre. is astissaaaos of tiny public i
or uuedocated atiperrti. timisty --Nova* Alien- voted to the aid of pointing, 1,
*owl- *eh froteettala le now .only staked for divan, I
pm the Catholic Church, as US her 4011rifsairoaded to the other 'art& vitt. to
ith it, however tasteful or admit it lute churches, cathedrals, and public build-
honed, and eradicated with iugstarbete sculpture has been ever admitted, and to
station es what was bigot- honour the country. where the conntry by paintinz
thitrery. Pictures were has never yet been honoured; an that gigantic
indivi-
noclt tending. to pleasure, dual efforts clay not be yearly made which are of sto
and aculpftisi to idolatry ; effect, mid are forgotten as soon as the mason is
it first-banished froin the over, for want of • place of public reception ; for I
. .