The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-29 00:00:00

EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

We were yesterday favoured with a private view of the
Exhibition at Somerset House, and although perhaps it has
not quite so fine a display of pictures in the higher class of
art as that of last year, it is still a very fine exhibition, and
shows that our artists are making advances commensurate
with the patronage which is so liberally bestowed on them.
‘Ve miss our favourite Wilkie, and are sorry to say there
is nothing in his particular style to make amends for the
loss; but we have an exquisite specimen from the pencil of
Mr. Stothard, in a Fete Claimpttre, No. 16, which for
female grace, richness of colouring, grouping, and all that
could be desired in such a subject, places this amiable
artist in a point of view, higher perhaps than be ever stood
before. He is the father of' poetic painting iu England, and
may be justly styled the English Raphael.
Mr. Briggs, the Associate, has two very fine subjects,
Othello relating his adventures, No. 31, and The first inter-
view between the Spaniards and Peruvians, N 0.135; the lat-
ter an exceedingly tine picture, in all the great requisites ; its
drawing is faultless, and in expression, colour, and group-
ing, it is perhaps the finest picture in the rooms.
Leslie has a subject front Don Quixote, No. 60, which
will add much to his well-earned fame: the story is ad-
mirably told, but we think the Don too tall ; and we could
have forgiven the artist if he had departed a little from the
truth of the story, and not made the beautiful Dorothea
kneel to a suns culotte, which the I)on literally is. The
expression of the bather is beyond all praise, the colouring
is very fine, and we are quite sure, while our artists paint
such pictures, they cannot want patrons.
Pickersgill, R.A., has a very lovely picture, which, by
some strange mistake, is omitted in the Catalogue, hut was
ticketed during the forenoon as Medora, from Lord Byron's
Bride of ithydos, No. 168. It represents the love-sick fair
pensive in her apartment, looking out on the waters,
which are tinged with the silvery light of the moon. It
forms a great attraction, is placed in an admirable situation,
and shows the artist to be taking a very decided lead in his
profession.

Newton has a very good picture from the Beggar's
Ope,a, Machcath upbraided by Polly and Lary, No. 206.
The contrast between the two females is excellent, and the
Captain is dressed in the costume of the time when
the opera was written. This is a subject to which
we observe greater attention paid every succeeding year,
and cannot be sufficiently commended; it is particularly
conspicuous in young Mr. Bone's picture of IY,/se/ at the
Court of Francis the First, negotiating Me meetink of that
King with Henry the Eighth of England, at the Field of
the Cloth of Gold, No. 355, a capital picture ; and in
Cooper's Battle of Zutphen, 1586, No. 11, where the de-
tails of the armour and accoutrements are so correctly given
as to defy the criticism of even Dr. Nieyrick himself. By
the bye, we believe Mr. Cooper and many others of our
artists are much indebted to tile liberal feeling of Dr.
Meyrick, which induces him to throw open his house for
the inspection of that unrivalled collection of ancient
armour, the property of his son. This picture of Cooper's,
painted with so much truth of effect and finished in all its
minute details, we rather think demanded a more conspi-
cuous situation than has fallen to its lot.

The Hunliu4 of Chevy Chace, No. 292, by Edwin Land-
seer, is an admirable performance, where again we meet
with the same fidelity of costume; but its chief merit de-
pends on the spirit with which the animals are painted.
We think this the best work which has yet been produced
by this clever young artist.
Mr. Danby has one very fine picture, Christ waking on
Me Sea, No. 303. The effect produced by the light from
the lantern, which the incredulous fishermen are holding
up to recognise the Saviour, is most singular.
Alezande,'s triumphal entry into Babylon, No. 370, by
Ewbank, and the Destruction of a City by a Volcano,
No. 374, by S. Pother, are so rruch in the manner of
Martin, that we were at first sight deceived into a belief
that they were from his pencil, particularly as we found
them in the Ante-room, his usual station when he exhi-
bited at the Academy.
Here we also find a clever picture by Mr. Derby, Queen
Catherine Parr, after her reconciliation wills Ifenry VIII.,
sundicating the pardon of her enemies.
In the same room we find a picture by the President,
Sir Thomas Lawrence, the Portrait ,f a Child, No. 396,
which, had he produced no other work of art. we are sure
every person of taste and judgment would consider entitled
him to the proud rank he so eminently fills. Never surely
since the time of Sir Joshua Reynolds slid such a work as
this grace the walls of the Royal Academy. The picture
represents a sweet little girl (we learned she is the daughter
of Sir George Murray), who has just returned from a gar-
den, with a lapful of the most beautiful flowers, which
she is holding up, and looking you in the face with an ex-
pression of such sweet innocent witchery, that one is almost
beguiled into a belief that she will speak and ask you to
cull a nosegay. This inimitable performance we are sure
will prove one of the greatest attractions in the present ex-
hibition, and if any thing could add to the fame of the
masterly hand that produced it, this exquisite picture
would stamp Sir Thomas as the first artist of the present
age.—His portraits of the Home and Foreign Secretaries
claim our next notice, that of Mr. Peel being a " Bishop's
half," while Mr. Canning's is a whole-length portrait. The
latter is represented in the House of Commons, having
just risen to commence a speech; lie is dressed in a blue
surtout, with black pantaloons. silk stockings, and shoes,
and shows his fine figure to great advantage. The way in
which the figure is brought out exhibits great skill, and
this portrait, from its station as a centre over the fire-place,
evinces the estimation in which it was ,held by the Com-
mittee for placing the pictures.
We have also, by the Prtuident, portraits of the Mar-
chioness of Lanadown, Mrs. Hope, Lady Robert Manners,
Lady Wallscourt, and Lord Melville. The Marchioness
anti Mrs. Hope are both painted with that attention to all
the refinements of grace and beauty for which Sir Thomas
is so pre-eminently conspicuous.
The portraits by Pickersgill are Lord Lilford, Lord and
Lady Rodney, Sir Jacob and Lady Astley, a Lady, and
' Mr. Poole, the author of Paul Pry: they arc all admirable,
and, as already intimated, we are much mistaken if this
gentleman will not soon take a higher station in the arts
than many of his competitors imagine.
Sir William Beechey exhibits five portraits, Jackson six,
Phillips five, and Shee seven ; many of which arc very
fine, anti, if our limits permitted, should be enumerated.
We find that, in mentioning the historical subjects, we
forgot to name Etty's Choice (41* Paris, No. 24, which
is a picture of great writ, particularly in colour, although
we heard one of his brother artists jocularly tell him, he
ought to clip his Cupid's wings; their locality is rather con-
spicuous as concerns one of the goddesses.
There is a sweet picture by our favourite, Allan, from
the exquisite ballad of " Auld Robin Gray."
In the department of landscape, we have two by Con-
stable. A Mill at Gillingham in Dorsetshire, N0.1'22,
thews this admirable artist to take Nature alone for his
study. Nothing can exceed the truth of detail which
marks this line performance ; the plants growing by the
mill-stream are those only which would flourish in such a
situation, while those which are beside the corn-field are
the never-failing accompaniment of such a scene, and all
Painted with even botanical fidelity. The freshness which
is exhibited throughout, makes us feel ourselves in the
country, and almost wish to lie down with the shepherd
boy, to shrink from the crystal stream which gurgles by
him. We observe, among the groups of magnificent trees,
a couple of cushat doves, and the rustling which one of
them is making appears to attract, the attention of the
sheep-dog, who is raising his car and turning his head in
the direction of the sound. Who but an intent observer of
Nature could bring so many little accessories and circum-
stances together as are found in this inestimable work
of art ?

It is impossible there can be a greater contrast of colour
than is found between Mr. Constable and Mt. Turner, who
exhibit. three pictures—Cologne, No. 72; The Forum
Ro-
mnnum (for Mr. Sosne's Museum), No. 132; and another.
In all, we find the same intolerable yellow hue pervading
every thing ; whether boats or buildings, water or water-
men, houses or horses, all is yellow, yellow, nothing but
yellow, violently contrasted with blue. With greater
invention in his works than any master of the present day—
invention which amounts almost to poetry in landscape,
Mr. Turner has degenerated into such a detestable manner,
that we cannot view his works without pain. Ile is old
enough to remember Loutherbourg, whose red-hot burn-

ing skits were as repulsive as these saffron hues of his own.
IVe mention this not unkindly, and would wish Air. Tur-
ner to turn back to Nature, and worship her as the goddess
of his idolatry, instead of this "yellow bonze" which
haunts him.

Mr. Callcott has two pictures of large size and high
rank, the Quay at Antwerp, during the fair-time, No.
10",2, and DOM Fishing-hunts running fid, in the en-
(lmmo to Inntrd and mirsing the painter-rope, No. 16.1.
It is astonishing to see under what widow' aspects different
artists view nature. Here we have, in Mr. Callcott, the cool
fresh breeze of European scenery, while in Mr. Turner's
pictures we are in a region which exists in no quarter of
the universe.

.....
There are some fine pictures by Mesars.W. Daniell, W.
Westall, Jones, Howard, Reinagle, Drummond, Chalon,
and others.

In the department of Sculptitre, Mr. Bally takes the
lead, in an admirable group, Painting deriving in.spira-
lion from Poetry, decidedly the first work in the Aca-
demy. He has also several busts, among which will 5e
found an exceedingly, fine head of Mr. Stothard, lt.A.,
No. 1064, which we were informed had been executed for
the President. We also find the initnitahle veteran Flax-
man employing his classic hand on the k",ngenial subjects,
)fodelr ,!/. Michael Angelo and Raphael. Chantry has a
statue of Mr. Grattan, and another of Washington, both
of which to us appear very common-place, and very un-
equal to former works bearing his name. Indeed the gen-
tlemen of the profession make no secret in saying he has
been more indebted to others than to any intrinsic merit of
his own. We have heard this repeated often.
In the Library we find, as usual, a splendid display of
architectural drawings. Those by Mr. Soane are of the
highest class, and show the lofty conceptions of his classic
mind. We think this artist has been rather hardly dealt
with lately, by the Gentlemen of the House of Commons;
although we believe, " if the saddle were put upon the
right horse," Mr. Soane would stand nut only exonerated
from all blame, but deserve great praise for what he has
done. There are a great many beautiful Miniatures in the
Antique Academy, but want of room prevents us from
enumerating them. The total number of works of art ex-
hibited amounts to 1105.

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING.

BY EXPRESS.
NEWMARKET, FaIDAY NIGHT.
Match. ISM). T.Y.C.

. --.........-. .....
.
Duke of Granort's Pigmy. list. 41b. . - 1
.
Mr. U. Scott's Witch, B.t. 41b. . . 2
Won by a length.
Match. M. But. 51b. each. A.F.
Lord Tavittock's Leeway . . - 1
. .
.
Duke of Portland's Tory . - 2
•
Won in a canter.
Match. 200. kb. M.
Mr. Wortley's Reformer, Bat. 61b. - . - 1
Mr. Rowlett's Logic. B+t. 71b. . . • - 2

" Won by a length cleverly.
Match. 1W D.M. Bst. 41b. each.
Lord Exeter's c. by Whalebone - . 1
-
3.tr. Rogers's Jocko . - - - 2
•
Won by a neck. A fine race.

The Newmarket Stakes, colia Rst. 71b. fillies 80. 21b.—D. M. The

owner of the second florae to receive-100.
-
Duke of Grafton's Goshawk . . 1
Mr. Wortley's The Dragon—Calypso . - 2
Lord Exeter's c. by Cant tin Candid—Advance - 3
Mr. Barnard's Barul Munchausen
... . _

Won by two lengths.
Match. 100 h. ft. R. M.
The match between Lamplighter and,Swias Guide was not de-
cided when our account left.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

His Majesty's ship Rainbow arrived on the Bth of
February with the Lieut.• Governor, and sailed on the
10th for India. Lord Charles Somerset had taken his
passage for England in the China ship the Atlas.
The Cape paper of the Bth contains the particulars of a
gallant incursion of a party of English soldiers into Caffre
Land, under the command of Colonel Somerset, to attack
the kraals of " the Chief Neuka, and his mistress, T.
Shoosa, an aunt of Gaika's, and the oldest princess of the
blond royal," situated near the Buffalo Mountains, 20 miles
north-east of Wiltshire. After plunder-Mg Bonnet), an in-
nocent Chief, shooting a boy and a few women, for which
the Commandant appeared very sorry, the brave party suc-
ceeded in capturing a large quantity of cattle; anti after
restoring to the innocent Chiefs and others what they had
stolen, a booty of between 500 and 6110 head of cattle re-
mained, the consequence of the gallant enterprise. The
savages, as they are termed, appeared to have followed
close in the rear in the retreat, and succeeded in cutting
off one English soldier and a settler, both of whom were
instantly sacrificed to the vengeance of the exasperated
natives. No reason is given for the expedition, but we
imagine it was intended to repress cattle-stealing.
The following is the conclusion of this affair, taken from
the Cape paper :
" What advantages may accrue from this expedition we
cannot at present anticipate. The iintnediate results are
the capture of a few hundred head of cattle, of which only
a small number can be proved colonial; the diffusion of
distrust and alarm among the Caffre chiefs, and of general
dismay and apprehension among the frontier colonists and
Caffre trailers.

A public meeting of the inhabitants was called for the
I.Sth Feb., to establish a Joint-stock Banking Company,
with a capital of 50,000/. The traders and the growers of
wine were in a state of great distress, on account of the
wine duty imposed in England being high in •proportion
to that on wines from other countries, which had prevented
all the usual shipments from the Cape.

F. L. Holt, Esq., Barrister at Law, of the Middle Tem-
ple, and of the Northern Circuit, is appointed to succeed
Sir Griffin Wilson, Knight, in the office of Vice-Chancel-
lor of the County Palatine of Lancaster.
IVe are very glad to hear that a splendid sale of fancy
work, for the benefit of the distressed Spitalfields weavers,
will shortly take place; among the names of the ladies'
patronesses are several of distinction. In the annals of
benevolence we know of no exhibition that can recommend
itself with such forcible claims, for it is the offering of
taste and industry in aid of suffering merit.
Subscriptions for the relief of the distressed weavers of
Blackburn have been opened at the banking houses of
Mears. Cunliffe, Brooks, and Co. • Messrs. Hamtnersley
and Co.; and Messrs. Hankey and Co. The donations
have been liberal, but we understand that the distress is so
great, as to render further and immediate contributions es-
sential to secure the sufferers against actual starvation.
We are happy to state that the letters from 111accles.
field, received yesterday, represent that place as enjoying
tranquillity; but the distress of the weavers is described as
dreadfula

COM ET.—PALERAIO, MARCH 23.—The bealltifill comet,
which in the months of September and October, last year,
shone with such splendor in our southern hemisphere, and
then withdrew to amaze the savage tribes of the other he-
misphere, has now returned to our horizon. But it is now
shorn of its beams ; and, as if ashamed of its nakedness,
conceals itself from the eyes of the curious in the rays of
the morning twilight. On the Itith, however, it was ob-
served from our Royal Observatory, by Signor Caceratore,
about an hour and a quarter before sun-rise, between the
legs of Sagittarius ; its right ascension was 269 deg., and
south declination 47 (leg. 4rl miq. If the mountain did
not cover five degrees of the southern horizon of Palermo,
it might have been seen some days earlier.
By the Gacela da Colombia (Bogota paper) of Feb. 19,
we learn that the state of Upper Peru had prayed the
Congress to allow Bolivar to remain some years longer in
that country. No answer appears to have been given to
this request. In the unofficial part of the papers is given
an account of an address of Alvear, the envoy from Bue-
nos Ayres to Bolivar, with the Liberator's reply, in which
lie is represented to have spoken in angry terms of the
Emperor of Brazil. There is, however, no date to this
report; and the intelligence which is derived from Potosi
(where Bolivar was at the time of this conference), through
Buenos Ayres, is of much later date than that derived
through Colombia.
HAZARD AND Co.'s GREAT SUCCESS I—Hazard and
Co. shared and sold three prizes or twenty thousand pounds, drawn
the let of last month (March). Next 11reduesday (.May 3), six
prima of twenty-one thousand pounds, with other capitals, must all
be drawn. 'this is positively the last Lottery but one. Hazard
and Co 'a Offices, Royal Exchange Gate ; 26. Comhill ; and 324,
Oxffird.street ; and by their agents in all the principal country
towns.