The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-25 00:00:00

(From tho Journal der Dehitsof Wednesday.)

The discussion on the St. Domingo Indemnity finished, in fact,
with a triumph for the Opposition. Villele. who had remarked
the efrect of the excellent extempore speech of In Bourdonnaye,
took a decisive part immediately. Ile abandoned his friends and
the doctrine of the absolute right of the Crown to make cessions of
territory, and, without di►puting the doctrires of the Opposition,
contented himself with moving an adjournitent, pretending that
the great question of the inalienability of territory ought to remain
in myverious uncertainty till necessity should require its more Sc.
curate determination. l'he rights of the country are preacived,
and that was all that was of consequence. By this hold manceuvre
Villele, even in yelding, had the appearance of victory, and Te
Dom was sung in both camps.
(From the DO: of AS'ednesday.l

All the plots have originated out of Russia, and have gained no
access except amorg young men of a very liberal education.
Young men educated is the most celebrated establishments of

Alexander have very ftequently been implicated ; but not a single
pupil of the ca•dccant colleges of the Jesuits has as yet appeared
in the lists.

The indulgence which has been so liberally extended to
merchants and tnanufacturera, with regard to the payment
of excise and other duties, in cases where the failure of
the Country Banks may have put it out of their power to
observe their usual punctuality, cannot fail to have its
effect on the receipt of the Revenue for the current Quarter ;
but the deficiency thus occasioned will come into the next
Quarter, and the commerce of the country will, in the
mean time, derive a benefit commensurate with the indul-
gence thus granted. The aspsct of sfrairs is brightening
considerably in the manufacturing districts; and when we
consider the great command which the capital of this
country gives her in the general market of the world, we
may rest satisfied that she will soon find the means of over-
coming all her temporary difficulties, and recovering her
former strength and vigeur. One oldie strongest signs of
returning confidtuce is already visible, which is, that the

THE BRITISH PRESS.

capitalists are gradually increasing their deposits at
their different bankers ; many who lately kept but a few
hundreds, have now as many thousands; the fears which
had led them to retain the greater part of their cash in
their own coffers having now subsided. The reforming
aFirit of the Government, both as it respects the commer-
cial code and the administration of criminal justice, has
likewise the good effect of generating confidence of another
kind, which cannot but have a beneficial influence on pub-
lic affairs, that will extend itself, more or less, to every
part of the system.

CITY, FAIDAT EVF.NING.

bia being Good Friday, the Stock Exchanges and
Lloyd's were closed, and no business was done on the
Royal Exchange.

The private account yesterday of the state of the King's
health was, " His Majesty is doing extremely well."
The Duke of York transacted businesson Thursday at
his office in the Horse Guards.
On Thursday the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Vic-
toria, and the Princess Feodor, with their Royal High-
nesses attendants, left the King's Palace, Kensington,
for Claremont, on a visit to Prince Leopold for about a
week.

Prince Leopold honoured Mr. Baring, of Upper Brook-
street, with his company to dinner on Wednesday. A se-
lect party were invited to meet his Royal Highness.
On Thursday Prince Leopold left his residence in Pall-
mall, for his seat at Claremont.
On Thursday Earl Bathurst left town for Brighton.
His Lordship's stay there is expected to be for a fortnight.
Yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer transacted
business with the Earl of Liverpool, at his house in White-
hall,

Mr. Secretary Peel entertained the Cabinet Ministers to
dinner on IVellnesday, at hia house in Privy Gardens. All
the Cabinet Ministers were pretreat, with the exception of
Lord Bexley.
Despatches were received on Thursday at the Secretary
of State's office for Foreign Affairs, from Lord Granville,
our Ambassador at Paris.

CHEETENHAM, MARCH 23.—Our winter season is
drawing towards a close, and probably since this town has
been established as a place of public resort it was never so
full, which may not only be accounted for from the low
rents of houses and lodgings, (which are only half the
summer prices), but the necessaries of life are low in pro-
portion, from November to the first of May, but also from
its having become a winter assembly for those in high life.
As a proof of the fulness of the town now, there are very
few bills to be seen for houses and lodgings to be let. The
winter visitors will shortly leave, as invalids are beginning
to arrive for the benefit of the waters, and the different
wells are attended by them early in the morning. The
pumpers are at their posts soon after day light. Great al-
terations and improvements are making at the Montpellier
Spa, not only at the pump-room, but also in the walks
and rides, upon which several thousand pounds have been
expended, and which are in a great state of forwardness for
this ensuing season. Last Thursday the Countess of
Howth gave a grand ball, which was very numerously at-
tended by all the rank and fashion here. On Friday even-
ing Miss Cuningham's party was very numerously at-
tended. Col. Berkeley's fox-hountla had a most excellent
race on Tuesday from Grute Green.
Lady M. Montague say a, that " Vienna is the Paradise
of old woolen." May not this be said of Bath?
On Saturday evening Mr. Young concluded a successful
engagement of twelve nights at the Edinburgh theatre, in
the characters of the Stranger, and Megrim, in the inter-
lude of Blue Devils. The house was crowded, and Mr.
Young's performances received the usual meed of well-
merited applause. Mr. C. Kemble commenced an engage-
ment there on Monday evening, in the characters of Don
Felix, in the Wonder, and of Charles 11. iu the opera of
that name.
TAUNTON THEATRE.—Mr. Liston concluded his en-
gagement, which was for three nights only, on Friday last,
when the house was attended by an unusually numerous
audience, to witness his performances of Billy Lackuday
and Neddy Bray, the very able representations of which
characters excited the most unbounded applause. If to
provoke outrageous laughter be a sin, verily this gentleman
has much to answer for. It is not probable, that rewarded
as Mr. Liston is for the exertions of his rare merit by the
possession of an ample fortune, the public will much longer
have the benefit of his professional talents ; and it is there-
fore gratifying to the inhabitants of Taunton that in this
town, where his abilities were first cherished, and after a
a lapse of 26 years, they should have had the opportunity
of judging themselves of those efforts which they could
only otherwise have known by universally concurrent re-
port. It is pleasant to know that Mr. Liston is not merely
a first-rate actor, but a gentleman of courteous and unob-
trusive manners, of cultivated taste, and benevolent dispo-
sition. Before quitting the town lie eagerly sought out the
few surviving persons with whom lie formerly associated,
particularly an elderly female, at whose Wine he once
lodged, and bestowed on them the liberal prods of an
affectionate heart. Mr. Liston left Taunton on Saturday
morning fur Cheltenham, where he is to sojourn for a fort-
night, or the improvement of his health, which we were
glad to observe was manifestly bettered by his short stay in
this town.-7'aunton Courier.
COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC CHARITIES.—We under-
stand the Commissioners of Public Charities arc still in
this town, and that they are at present chiefly engaged in
inquiries relative to the various Salford charities; certain
proceedings respecting which, some years ago, are stated
loudly to demand investigation.—Manchester Mercury.
`VENT NORTH AND CO.'S BANKRUPTCY. —Relative to
one of the parties included in this commission of bank-
rupt, the Leeds Mercury has the following paragraph :
" The circumstances under which Mr. Hartley, the junior
partner in the York branch of the unfortunate establish-
ment of Wentworth and Co.'s Bank, appeared before the
creditors, is not generally known. For many years Mr.
Hartley has been a most active and industrious clerk to the
firm of' Townend and Rishworth, as well as to Wentworth
and Co. ; and about thirteen years ago, a small share of
the profits in the York Bank was offered to him, which was
guaranteed by the partners to produce not less than 400/.
per annum, for part of the term, and 500/. per annum for
the remaining. It appears that during the thirteen years
which have elapsed since these arrangements were made,
Mr. Hartley has derived no more than 1100/. from the
concern, over and above the stipulated remuneration for his
services. The balance on the private estate of Mr. Hartley
appeared to be upwards of 6,300/., of which the sum of
1,5001. was paid to the assignees on Monday last. From
this statement Mr. Hartley may be said to be the principal
sufferer, having by the bankruptcy been deprived entirely,
in a single day, of the reward of the industry and care of
a quarter of a century."
FLA-mourn BANC—On Monday last an adjourned
Meeting of the Commissioners under the commission of
bankruptcy against Sir William Elford and Co. was held
at Whiddon's Royal Hotel, Plymouth, to take the final
examination of the partners. The inquiry occupied the
Commissioners through that and the two following days.
In the course of Wednesday it came out that four of the
clerks were deeply in arrear to die bank, to the amount
altogether of 4,323/., and that three of these four had
incurred these debts by losses in the funds, the consequence
of rash and unthinking- speculations. The cases of two of
the clerks (Willis and Mallard) were severely censured by
the Commissioners. These individuals hail entered into
such speculations unknown to the partners, and incurred a
debt together amounting to 2,293/. The third clerk's
(llensham's) case admitted of some palliation, as the
transactions in which he was concerned were ut dertaken
with the knowledge and consent of Mr. Tingcombe: hie
debt was 8101. The debt of the other clerk (Rennells),
which amounted to 1,2001., was for money advanced by
the bank, and could be considered only as a common
transaction. By the account laid on the table, it appeared
that there was a deficiency in the assets of 1 t 1.,749/. ISt. 6d.
It was one time expected that the estate would pay 20s. in
the pound ; hut the many contingencies and uncertainties
arising out of an affair of this extensive and complicated
nature render it almost impossible at the present moment
to decide. 'There is Ile doubt, however, that the dividend
will be considerably under 10s.

THE EXHIBITION OF -:IIIE SOCIETY OF

BRITISH ARTISTS--SurioLK-STREET.

(We continue our remarks from the British Prrss of yesterday.)

193. Manfred—a lower rollry in the Alp-12 ratarart—
J. AlawriN. This distinguished artist moves in a sphere
of his own, and he differs oftentimes as much from him-
self as he does front his brethren. His pictures never re-
mind you of anything yon have seen before—except from
his own pencil ; nor have anything in them that you are
ever likely to see again, except from the same creative
fancy. The cause of this is, that he chooses subjects
which have no concern but with heroic or poetic nature;
he accordingly revels in the regions of his own imagina-
tion ; his colouring is often matchless in its effect—its tints
are varied and rich even to profusion—hut they belong to
enchanted land, we tiever recognize in them any thing of
the ordinary dress of our mother Earth. 11corza,for in-
stance, in his landscape gives us the ground we tread upon
—the heath-bell and the mountain-heather have the
bloom which naturally belongs to them ; but from the
scenery of Mr. Martin everything like simplicity is dis-
missed; it is beautiful undoubtedly, but its beauties are
not those of real nature, they are adapted to " aerial knights
and fairy dames," and excellent as they are in their way,
they are yet so unreal and monotonous that even his
powerful and peculiar genius—to which alone they are
suited—will soon exhaust them. The following is the
subject which has given bit th to his present production:—
" Manfred—lt is not noon : the sunbow's ',Rya still arch
The torrent with the many hues of heaven,
And roll the sheeted silver's waving column
O'er the crag's headlong perpendicular,
And fling its lines of foaming light along,
And to and fro, like the pale courser's tail,
The giant steed, to be bestrode by Death,
As told in the Apocalypse. No eyes
But mine now drink thin Right of loveliness;
I should he sole in this sweet solitude,
And with the spirit of the plate divide
The homage of these waters: I will call her.
[Manfred takes some of the water into the palm of his hand, and
flings it in the air, muttering the adjuration. After a pause, the
Witch of the Alps rises beneath the arch of the sunbeam of the
torrent. I
Beautiful Spirit ! with thy hair of light,
And dairaling eyes of glory, in whose form
The charms of Earth's least-mortal daughters grow
To an unearthly stature, In an essence
Of purer elements: while the hues of youth,—
Carnation'd like a sleeping infant's cheek,
Itock'd by the beating of her mother's heart,
Or the rose tints, which summer's twilight leaves
Upon the lofty glacier's virgin snow,
The blush of earth embracing with her heaven,—.
Tinge thy celestial aspect, and make tame
The beauties of the sunbow which bends o'er thee."—
Manfred, Act 2, St. 2.

- ,
It is easy to perceive before-hand that such a passage as
this may be treated ad libitum. It it like that description
of texts which may be made just as applicable to one dis-
course as another. The poetry itself has a very suitable
no-meaning about it, that comes admirably in aid of any
painter who may attempt to give its " airy nothing" a
" local habitation" on his canvas. The sun, we apprehend,
shines much the same over the Alps as elsewhere: if it has
any " lines of %x/ming light" in those mountainous regions,
they are of a kind that have never yet been visible elsewhere ;
but when we learn that the sun's rays fling this foaming light
" to and
.fro, like the pale courser's tail, the giant steed to
be bestrode by DEATH, as told in the Apocalypse,"
we think the simile might well frighten an ordinary
painter from his easel. The immortal WEST has personi-
fied DeATit on the Pale Horse. What would this great
genius have said to this sample of the bathos? Apart
from its subject there is much grandeur of effect in this
picture of Mr. Martin's ; the splendid approach of light is
managed in a very masterly manner, and the tone of colour
is throughout consistent and impressive. The figure of
MANFRED, standing on the extremity of the rock, is—like
all the figures of this artist—ill-drawn, and, in other re-
spects, defective ; neither are the colours of the rainbow
well blended. But, after all, there are parts about this pic-
ture which give us an idea of the perfection of the art.

29. A Contented Cobler—by ALFXANDER FRASER, is
happily imagined ; no son of Crispin can be personified
with a mind more at ease ; it is plain to see that he keeps
all the cares of the world at arm's-length ; stalled theology
itself is not fatter, nor will wishing ever waste him to a
shade. Mr. FRASER is a Scotch artist, and if he goes on to
improve as he has done for these last few years, he may soon
place his productions by side those of his indolent country-
man WILKIE, without exposing them to any disadvanta-
geous comparison.

130. A City of Ancient Greece—the return of a victorious
Armament—NV. Li ON. This picture is admirably well
constructed; it is distinctive and in keeping throughout.
The general effect of sun-light is pleasingly given, and the
transparency of the water deserves equal praise. The ar-
rangement of the figures, too, is managed with great judg-
ment; a little more colour would, perhaps, improve them.

lit. Dead Gante—G. STEEVEXS. Although in some
parts rather hard, this is a production of very great merit.
We wish the cat could be removed from the window, as
it detracts from the general excellence of the piece.
216. /Innate and Lubin—H. ItICnT£FI. The two prin-
cipal figures of the piece are given with the artist's usual
felicity. The demure silence of the damsel is perfectly in-
telligible, and the most profound metaphysician could not
give a more philosophical account of his feelings than is
pourtrayed in the harmless countenance of Lubin. In
both, his dramatic pencil has done justice to the tale of
Marmontel. We cannot say so much of the physiogno-
mical expresssion given to the features either of the
athletic clergyman or the clerk, both of which are tran-
scripts of coarse and profligate character which we deem
decidedly out of place. The whole scene is disfigured by
this want of keeping. This imperfection is the more to be
regretted from the absence of all familiar levity in every
other face in the group.

234. The Fraits of my Labour—G. Lewes. The
grapes are not sufficiently relieved, but the peaches seem
eatable. The other fruits are each of them exquisitely
true to nature. The title of the piece seems conceived in
the spirit of punning; but in these dismal times a pun
bears a premium. The jingle of words is not amiss by
way of enlivening his labour, but we hope he will jingle
something more solid in the pryits of it.
237. Cain, when he hears the Almighty pronounce the
Curse against him for the ..ifurder of his Brother Abel.—
J. STUMP. The name of this artist is not familiar to us,
but his picture does credit to the British school. It ad-
dresses itself—as all pictures of this class must do—more
to the judgment than to the eye of the spectator, because
it is not by a first or a second glance that its excellence
can be appreciated. A fondness for the beauties of
nature is common to nearly all minds. The land-
scape painter, on this account, easily begets a com-
munion of feeling, and gains admirers from all classes.
But the historic painter has no . such advantage : he
appeals to sympathies of a higher order, which so far
from being common to all men alike, are very rare, and,
even where they do exist, arc not easily drawn forth. He
can only address himself with effect to those who have a
correspondent feeling for the higher performances of art.
It is only in minds of this cast that he can expect to create
any interest, and minds of this cast are rather out-of-the-
way productions; they are of slow growth, and are very
sparingly sprinkled in the world. Now that Government
is about to form a Gallery of British Art, there is hope that
a classical taste will germinate, and that, while thousands are
expended on the production of the old schools, an equally
liberal stimulus will be given to talent of native growth.
We observed in the miniature and print room a Land-
scape Composition, 466, by J. IVA (.1.18. We have here
another artist of extraordinary merit, whose works are
almost wholly unknown. We draw attention to this land-
scape, because from the situation in which is placed it is
likely to be passed without remark. It is obviously the
production of a genius of the very highest order.

QUERY.-HOW is the following passage in Blackstone's
Commentaries to be read aloud intelligibly, without alter-
ing the wording of the sentence?—" By this conveyance an
estate for lite, for years, or at will, may be created either
n corporeal or incorporeal hereditaments."
The coaches from Leeds to London, now travel at a de-
gree of speed unprecedented. On ‘Vetlnesday last " the
Union" and " the Rockingham" both reached Stamford in
seven hours fifty-two minutes, the distance being nearly
110 miles.