The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-02 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

STATUE OF MARQUIS CORNWALLIS,
BY 14111 TWO 111ACON5.
The progress of the Fine Arts always marks the
civility and advancement of a people ; and as that
branch, in which the chissel, with all the graces,
confers more durability than the pencil, is the last
to attain perfeEtion, its various produetions ought
to be examined, recorded, and criticised. The more
southern nations had long been accustomed to pre-
dict, that the climate of England was too cold, for
statuary ; and it must be confessed, that for many
years our BEZNINIs were but little superior to the
stone-cutters of Italy. The Royal Academy, and
the Society of Arts, added to the encreasing opu-
lence and taste lof the island, have, however, at
length, produced Artists who may justly boast of
having caught some of the true Promrthean flame.
The names of Wilton, Nollekins, and Hanman,
arc no longer unknown on the Continent, and that
of the late Mr. Bacon,--" a Briton born, a Briton
bred," is familiar to the first amateur: in Europe.
Although a prey in early life to chilling penury,
and obliged, at one time, to submit to the drudgery
of moulding shepherds and shepherdesses in china,
and at another, of burning rude statues in artificial
stone, yet when he had attained the twenty-third
year of his age, he dared to attempt the difficult
task of giving animation to marble, without ever
having visited Italy, or passed beyond the bounda-
ries of his native isle. Such was his success, that at
a single bound, he aspired to praise, if not to per-
fection, and at length fixed his character for life,
by the public exhibition of his MARS, in or about
the year 1770.—At his death, (which occurred in
August 1799) among other objects, he had that
under his chissel which is the subject of the present
memoir, and it has been complesed by a son, who
promises to equal the father in point of talents,,
taste, and execution.
The statue of Marquis Cornwallis, formerly Go-
vernor-General of India, may be justly termed
colossal, as, reckoning from the plinth, it is exactly
eight feet in height ; but this effort of art is impro-
perly termed a Lroup, for although there are two
other figures, FORTITUDE and PRUDENCE) yet
they are, with great judgment, lett under, and do
not come in contact with the eye, until inspected
closely, and with some degree of minuteness.
The Marquis is represented as dressed in a Ro-
man toga, an olive branch in token of peade fis
allusion to the treaty of Scringapatam) with on
hand, while a sheathed sword is held negligently in
the other. The attitude is at once easy and digni-
fied ; the likeness is also correct, and indeed what
is usually denominated striking ; the limbs are bold,
yet natural ; the drapery descends in ample but
graceful folds, and the sandals arc eyed with a.
classical air. Great attention has been paid to the
face, and even the identity of a mole is preserved
with scrupulous exactness. After viewing the figure
at a proper distance, two defects seem to presenn
themselves; on approaching nearer, and becoming
more familiar with the principal objett, the first to
the emblem of peace, which appears to be bronzed;
but on enquiry, it has been found, that the climate
' of Calcutta would soon corrode and destroy the
fine feathery marble leaves ; and it is more than
probable, when the Iranch is made to assume *
white hue, so as to blend wish the adjoining mass.
and held with a free air, as in the statue destined
for the India House, that, instead of disgusting, it
will infallibly please.
The second subject of criticism may appear more
fastidious, perhaps, than just; it is occasoned by
the sword, which being antique, with the sheath
terminating in a srhall pointed ball, occasions pain
by its position, it being pressed against, and seem-
ing actually to indent the groin.
The cornucopia, appositely displays a profusica
of the fruits and the bread-coin of Asia, and the
emblematical female figures placed at the base, are
well displayed, especially that of PRLDENCE, with
her twisted serpent.
Vie whole is executed in Carrara marble ; the
height of the pedestal is seven feet, and the per.
pendicular measurement from the ground to the
extremity, fifteen.
Many other figures, in the apartments in New-
man-street, attract and even arrest the attention of
the /11:11 of taste. The monument intended to com-
memorate the death of Captains HUTT and HAR-
I; ev, who were killed during Lord Howe's memo-
rable engagement with the French fleet, pessessce
characteristic beauties that cannot be beheld without
peculiar delight by a great naval nation. It may
be affirmed without the dread of contradiction,
that the rigging masts, ropes, sails, guns, and
hull of a ship, were never so accurately cut, or so
professionally displayed before, in marble.
It is impossible to contemplate the fine whole-
length figure cf Sir William Jones, destined for
St. Paul's, without recurring by analogy to his own
noble ode to the freedom, dignity, and indepen-
dence of MAN; and when we behold the spaitez
model of the great Earl of CnArnAm, (the origi-
nal is in the Abbey) we are tempted, in the lan-
guage of Cowper, to exclaim-
-46 Bacou there
" Gives more thait female beauty to a stone.
" And Chatham's eloqulmce to marble lipa."
In the Exhibition Room, is a large model of the
equestrian statue of William 111. which when cast
in bronze, and placed in the centre of St. James's-
square, will prove one of the noblest ornaments of
our metropolis.

Mr. PELTIER, who has been indicted for a Libel.
against the Ftasr CONSUL, having been kept from
his usual labours for three months past, has ap-
pealed to his friends, and the public, for a subscrip-
tion to defray the law expences.
An English Nobleman of some celebrity, being
lately slighted at the Thuilleries, waited upon TA L -
LEVRAND to know the reason.—The latter frankly-
admittei, that the FIRST CONSUL, in his regard for
rro:ality, would not encourage any man who was
friendly to hazard-tables !
Considerable alterations have been made in the
interior of the House of Lords. A want of sufficient
warmth having been a long time felt, two tire places
have been coustruaed on the right of the woolsack;
a large one above the bar, anti a small one below.
The benches have been, in the mean time, removed,
and two compartments of the antient tapestry, re.
presenting the destruction of the Spanish Armada,
taken away, we suppose, with intent to restore*.
as the remainder of the tapestry stands, and is co.
vered over with matrasses, to preserve it from tbe
dust. The doors, passages, Sec. to the Douses of
Lords and COItifINA2S are .newly painted.

.~"ir

FROM THE LOYDON GAZETTE, Ftß. 1.

liltthall, March 20, 1802.

The King has been graciougly pleased to give and
grant unto his Excellency Thomas Earl of Elgin,
His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Ple-
nipotentiary at the Sublime Porte, his Ropil Li-
cence and Permission to receive and wear the
Insignia of the Order of the Crescent, given to
him by the Ottoman Emperor.

W& tebsll, Arvut 21, 18QQ.
The King has also been graciously pined to
give and grant onto his Excellency Sir John Borlase
Warren, rme% Knight of the most Honourable
Military Order of the Bath, Rear-Admiral of the
White Squadron of his Majesty's Fleet, and his
Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo-
tentiary to the Court of St. Petersburgh, his Royal
Licence and Permission to receive and wear the
Insignia of the Order of the Crescent, uansmitted
to him by the Ottoman Emperor :
And also to command. that these his majesty's

concessions and declarations, together with the
relative documents, be registered In his College of
Arms.

BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
Thomas 11.0.1, a( Pickwick-Lodge, Corsham, monster.
BANKRUPTS. •

John Boorman, of litedcorn, Kent, timber-merchant, to
annunder Feb. 4, it, and M.orch 15. at eleven, at Gadha
Looduo, Attornies, Mr. Dyne, Series:Ws lon, and Mr.
Baradand, Cranbruuk. Kent.
Falser Jackson, of Basinghall-street, factor, to surrender
19, and March 15, at ten, at Guildhall. Attorney,
Mr. Revers, No. 16, Braing-lane.
John Cooise, of Manchester, warehouseman, to surrender
Feb. 14, 15, and Mandl 15, at three, at the horse of John
Slone, the Star lou Manchester. Attontiva, Mr. Lee,
1 Templ;, or Messrs. G. and W. Nabb, So:
lacttorS, Manebeger.
Edward Toy, of Fymonfh-Dork, draper, to surrender
Feb. 4, at orar, 15, and March 15, at twelve, at Guildhall,
Landon. Attorney, Mr. Phipps, at Mr. Mangnallo,, War-
'OKA-square.
Juhn Jefferey, of Bridol, cutler, to surrender Feb. 15, 17,
and March 15, at eleven, at the White Hart Inn, linnd-
strect, Bristol. Attonnes, Mr. Edward Daniel and Son,
Songful, or Maus. Pearson, rump-court, Temple. •
John Garwood, Royston, vietualler, to surrender Feb. 8,
29, sod March 15, at ten, at Guildhall, London. Attortnes,
News. Higden and Sym, Currier's-hall, London-wall.
Leigh Pinnington, Warr:noon, corn dealer, to surrender
Feb. 24. 25, and March IS, at one, at the Ea"!e and Chile!
Inn, Warrington. Attorney, Mr. J. Leather, Aratriugtoo.

DIVID ENT) S
Feb. 23. John Brinnell, Newcastle upon Tyne, }ratter and
hosier, at eleven, at the Shakespear Tavern, Newcastle upon
Tyne.
March 22. Hugh Hamill, Cateatan-street, London, linen-
&ape:, at tan, at Guiklball.
Starch 12. James Niblock and George Burgess, Bristol,
linen.drapers, at eleven, at dr.: Rummer Tavern, in All Saints-
law.% Bristol.
Feb. 23. Thomas 011 yin and Joseph Mandevill^, late of
Bristol, merchants, at tw,:he, at the WLite I fart Inn, Broad-
s trixo, Bristol.
Feb. 23. William Gercri, Nfaur.t-row, Pentonville,
frable-kelser, at eleven, at Guildhall.
Feb. 21. Adam Scott, Workington, Cumb-rlarol, mercer,
at ten, at the house of 11,:tay Ssae.d, thu sign of the Breen
Dragon, Workington.
Feb. 23. Timms* (YR can, late of Bristol, merchant, at
Mitre. at the White Hatt Inn, Broad-street, Rri-tol.
Feb. 23. William Taylor, now or late of E.:thani, bent,
eorn-dealer, at eleven, at Guildhall, London.
Feb. 24. Peter Drinkwatev, Manchester, and Thomas
Dakeyne, of barley-dale, Derby, corn factors, at elovn,
at
the Star Inn, Manchester.
btarrh 1. Richard Goldsmith, New Bond-street, embr,i-
der, er, at ten, at Guildhall.
Feb. 21 John Green, of the Township of II unslett, York,
abaieslet at eleven, at the house of John Grr.sves, the Hotel,
in Leeds.

Cr_RTIFICATES.
):+..6 V.', William Farrar, Walsall, Stafford, eer.
Christopher Tong,, Liverpool, merchant.
Prier liepo, Liverpool, merchant.

Yesterday the Master and Wardens of the Bakers'
eotrpany attended the Lord Mayor at the Mansion-
House, to 52: the assize of Bread, and ordered that
the price be contiuned the same as last week, viz.
St!d. the Quarters Loaf.
The following letter,
I-
recnt eive
at d by
o: a merchant at
t
Bristol, from a correspondeJAuras, sh
that the reports of a dispute with the Spaniards
there, were not altogether without foundation, not-
tsithstanding subsequent accounts state that nothing
ttrious followed :

HOSOUI A% SEPT. 21., MI.

„The Spaniards have been applied to for giving
ap the New River and Rio Rondo. Their answer
was nearly as follows : —” So fir from giving up the
Northern Rivers, which they held by conquest, they
expected to receive orders from their Court to take
possession of the British settlements in Honduras."
The Subscription for the improvement of Bris-
tol Harbour 1; at length finally closed. It being
understood, that in addition to the a...'00,0001. already
stbscribed. the farther sum of AOOOI. was requi-
:ite, the whole teas raised in the course of a few
.Lys.
A most dreadful accident happened on Saturday
last at Sheerness : —Some Gentlemen had been on a
shooting party down the river, and had, it is sup-
posed, drank too freely of wine ; when they arrived
near home, six of them jumped all at once into
a small boat, which lay alongside the vessel,
in order to get on shore, by which unfortunate cir-
cumstance three of them were drowned. Medical
aslistance w:ts procured as soon as possible for the
Others, who, we are happy to state, arc fan re-
covering.
Last Saturday evening a labouring man had been
to the Borough Mar,:et, and bought a piece of
beef for his Sunday's dinner ; as he was going
through St. Saviour's -church yard, three fellows
stopper him, one put his hand to his mouth, and
another laid hold of his arm, while the third robbed
him of thirty shillings and his piece of beef; they
then knocked him down and run off'.
Mr. Justice Ghost in his charge to the Grand
Jury of Middlesex, in the Court of King's Bench,
on Monday, observed, " that they should be par-
ticularly anxious to check the publication of writings
and prints, immodest, licentious, or seditious, by
which the young might be seduced from the paths
of innocence, and the established virtue of the ex-
perienced might be shaken. He particularly pressed
it upon them as their duty to put down gambling-
houses, those worst pests of society, whoever might
be the keepers of them. His Lordship last of all
directed the gentlemen's attention to the waggons,
which frequently block lap the streets, containing
shows of wild beasts, dancing dogs, tumbling, &c.
He shewed these to be great nuisances, and pointed
out the way in which, by means of the petty consta-
bles, they might be cupprend.