The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-03 00:00:00

EZTTESITION AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

On Monday this -exhibition was open, for the
first time this season, to the inspenion of the public.
In its general charaEler, it too much resembles the
exhibitions of former years' in a defect which has
been the complaint of the lovers of the art, and the
reproach of the science in this country. In every
parr. but especially in the great room, the eye is
offended with a multitude of portra;ts ; as if there
were no passion in those who patroni ;e English
painters, but to see their portraits multiplied from
.ear to year ; or, as if our artists could attain no
eminence but in this very inferior branch of the art.
While we make this observation, however, let it be
understood that we condemn the taste of the public,
rather than that of the artist. We can have no

hesitation in saying, that the artist, eho must live
by his profession (and the greater number, and the
most valuable for genius and science, must be such),
is compelled to pay his chief attention to portraits,
to employ most of his time in producing them, or
be coutecit with perniiry and neglect. Till those
who have a love for the art, and a passion for its
rerfeCtion in this country, with the means of aiding
its progress, are decided in giving a preference to
produCtions drawn from history, poetry, or other
elevated subjects of like nature, we shall have this
monstrous proportion between portrait+, and those
more noble produdliuns, which is the absolute ridi-
cule of all the rest of Europe. We think it our
duty to give this admonition to the friends of the
art, while we proceed to notice chiefly the successful
efforts that have been made by our painters for the
present year.
Among the works of imagination, that which
perhaps holds the first rank, 1.; Gil Nos taking the
hey front Dame Leonor.r, in the ca.-ern of the banditti.
This piCture is he Opie, and has all the ent.Tetic
style of the best of his other produdions, with less of
his deltas. The expression is vigorous, especially
in the charaEler of the aid seaman; and it has gene-
rally much clearness and felicity of colouring.
Cicero, and the Atigidrates of Syrneu-e, ordering the
tomb Areltimedes to he freed.frone the bushes that had
oiscured it, by Mr. West, is a picture of considerable
sweetness and dignity. The whole expression is
fine, And the landscape adds greatly to the serenity
and pleasing died of the scene. The other histo.
rical works of Mr. West, in this exhibition, have
nearly the same charaFfer, although not in the same
degree. His Phaeton about to conduct the chariot of
:he Sea, is a beautiful picture, although not so chaste
as•the former. The d-straltion of the Beast and False
Prophet, from Revelations, by the same artist, has
great merit in she expression ; especially in the white
horse, and the fgure mounted upon Airs.
Next to these we may mention a piOure by Mr.
Howard, representing the S,zia Trans.... 4 sounding,
front the Revelations. This produCtion is an ex-
tremely promising one. Mr. Howard has here at-
tained a degree of excellence that gives him good
reason to prosecute the study of the art with unre-
mitting seal. as it holds out the prospect of a bril-
liant success. The figure and countenance of the
angel sounding the trumpet, are respeCtively fine.
The four angels in the river Euphrates exhibit great
power of the pencil, though perhaps there is a little
extravagance in the expression in this part of the
griaure. The colouring is generally good.
There is another piCture by this artist, represent-
ing Helenas and Cauandre sleepinf in the temple of
Apollo, while they are inspired. Phis is not equal
to the former. It, however, possesses much beauty.
A Shipwrecked Marino., by H. Thomson, is a
most spirited produCtion. The figure and expres-
sion of the Mariner are fine. The raging sea and
elements, seen below the rock on which he is sitting,
are grand. Some minuter parts of this pieture are
also well finished. There is, however, a great de-
fer% perhaps in the attitude of the Mariner, but
certainly in the elevation of the rock on which he is
placed. There is something aukward in one or
both of these, that much diminishes the dignity of
• the scene.
The Beggars, by W. Owen, consist of an Old
Woman and Boy; the former leaning on her stick,
and the latter kneeling in the front of her, holding
out his hat. This is a very sweet picture ; the ex-
pression of both figures is perfatly natural. The
supplicating air of the child is'itistinguished with
peculiar judgment from that of the woman. The
finishing and colouring are good; the hand of the
woman resting on the stick deserves particularly to
be noticed in these respetts, In a word, this pm-
dation, though of modest pretensions, possesses
much merit.
We shall conclude our account, for the present,
with two pictures by J M. W. Turner. he hrA
comes strictly within the class we arc now describ-
ing ; and the latter has so much merit, that we will
sot separate it from the other in our observations.
Nacsi.sus and Echo is the first we have alluded
to. We acknowledge the great beauty of this pic-
ture is the landscape which forms the scene. Yet
the story is gracefully told. The whole of the
landscape is rich in compcsition. The opening and
distance in the middle part, and towards the right,
art uncommonly pleasing. This picture will hear
much critical examination ; while its general effect
is extremely beautiful, and ranks it in a vet y high
class.

The sobjecl of the other pieture, by the same ar-
tist, is &Mil carrying out avri f rabies so Dutch
~,,n .1 untr. This is a gt Am! sea-psece. It is ad-
nor:ible, at once, for the beauty of its style, and its
faithful representation of nature.

ANCIENT MUSIC.

Last night, the Concert of Ancient Music was
attended by a numerous assemblage of subscribers.
The Earl of 1) was direitor. as proxy for
Lord nine:L[lAM. Mrs. BILLINOTON sung
" Hide sac jeons days,";Handel ) and was greatly
applauded. The glee, " Fair Flare &els," (Darn-
ley) was charmingly sung by K. . ilaa-
snots, and BARTLri.sN, and encored. The
Second et commenced with the Overture (Iphi-
gcnia), followed by part of Alexander's Feast, is
which BsertEstars sweetly sung " Revenge Ti-
smaheus." 'roe Prince of WALU was present. as
were the Earls of I:XARIDGt. DARALLY. Foa.
TALCLIF. CnasTrxrittn, and DARTMOCTIL, Lords
Wityrwoarn, Gx....v DC W;11,),.. And ELILSIIO-
- 72te Concert lasted till :car twelve.

~:

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CIiANCERY, MAY 2.

r-
i

Loan VISCOUNT COUITENEY D. OODSALL.

This was a bill filed by Lord Courteney, against
the Defendant, who is a coachmaker in Long Acre,
and against the Sheriff of Devonshire, praying that
the latter might he restrained by an injunaion from
proceeding to sell the effedts of the Plaintiff, taken in
execution under a writ of fern furiax, issued by the
Defendant Godsall, and that the Defendant Cod-
sales demand might be referred to one of the Mas-
ters of the Court, to be examined, being an unsettled
account.'

The bill stated, that Lord Courteney, during his
minority, and since he came of age, had employed
the Defendant Godsall as his coachmaker, viz, from
the year 1789, to the year 1793 ; that during these
four years, Mr. Godsall's bill for various carriages
amounted to 11,8471. and in one year alone, came
to between five and six thousand pounds. That the
Defendant pressing for the payment of this account,
and it being then inconvenient to Lord Courteney
to discharge the same, he offered to give his
bond for 8,5001. on account of the demand, payable
by two instalments, at six and nine months, with 4per
cent. interest ; and that this bond was given with-
out any settlement or examination of the accounts
by Lord Courteney. That upon the first instal-
ment on this bond becoming due, Lord Courteney
received a letter from Messrs. Pybus and Co. the
Defendant's bankers, demanding payment of the
same, they having advanced money to the Defend-
ant, on the credit of Lord Courteney's security ;
and that in consequence of such application, his
Lordship did pay 4,0001. with interest on the
' amount thereof. That it being inconvenient to Lord
Courteney to discharge the remaining instalment,
he proposed to the Defendant, to execute another
bond for 7,0001. payable at three instalments, one
of 3,0001. and two others of 2,0001. each, bearing
interest at .5 per cent. which proposal was acceded
to by the Defendant, and the bond was according-
ly given, but without any esaminatic.n, admission,
or settlement of the Defendant's account. That
upon the first of those instalments becoming due,
the Defendant pressed for the payment, with which
Lord Courteney, being then unable to comply, de-
sired his Solicitor to write to the Defendant, pro-
posing that a new bond should be given, allowing
further time for the payment, and promising that
his bills should be examined and settled as soon as
possible. That a new arrangement was according-
ly made, by which Lord Courteney agreed to pay
the Defendant's demand in three years with interest ;
and a bond, and a Warrant of Attorney as a further
security, wereexecuted by his Lordship That the
first instalment upon the last-mentioned bond be-
came due in the year 1799, when the Defendant in
sisted upon the same being immediately paid, which
it being out of the power of the Plaintiff at that
' time to comply with, the D 'fendant proceeded to
enter lip judgment, and sue out execution thereon.
That Lord George Thynne thereupon paid the De-
fendant, on the Plaintiff's account, the sum of
4,0001. but that no settlement of the Defendan.'s ac-
counts then or since took place, and that upon the
other instalments not being paiS, the Defendant had
issued as execution upon she Plastid's goads in
Powderham Castle, to a very great amount.
The bill then prayed, that, this being an unliqui-
dated account, never examined or approved of by
Lord Courtney, the Defendant might be restrained
from proceeding to a sale, until the demand should
be reviewed by one of the Master.

Mr. Roxixt.r and Mr. PEMBERTON. for Lord
Courteney, contended. that even some of the items,
in the Defendant's kills, would justify the Court in
granting an injundion, in order to afford room for
a farther investigation of the fairsass of the charges.
That in one year, the Defendant's bills amounted
to between five and six thousand pounds, no less a
sum than 16401. being charged for a landau, and
13601. for one coach, with many other charges
equally exorbitant, as 170 guineas for a hammer
cloth. and 2651. for a set of harness ; and in the
space of the same year, no less than twelve carria-
ges being charged to the Plaintiff. But even if
these extraordinary charges were not admitted as a
sufficient ground for the interference of the Court,
yet the fact of these accomts never having been in
any manner settled or adjured, would alone justify
its interposition. The letters from the Plaintiff's
solicitor all state, that I ord Courteney had never
I seen the bills; and the only ground which can be
urged, as affording an appearance of a settlement,
is the circumstance of Lord Courteney's Steward
having made scone observations upon the margin of
the bills as to some of the charges, which the
De'endant had since deduEled, to the amount of
1901.

Mr. 11/ CHARDS and Mr. LEACH for the Defend.
ant. " The mere amount of the charges in this case,
can furnish r • • ground for the Court's granting this
injuntinn. Lord Courteney is well known as a Mil
o: extraordinary taste, and the gratification of it
must necessarily be attended with extraordinary ex-
pence. His carriage', as Mr. Godsall .wears, were
of the most sumptuous description. They were
lined with real gold and Over lace, with coronets
of solid silver round the top, and the most eminent
artists were employed in every part of the work.
Mr. Godsall states, that he had difficulty to find
Herald painters, who could emblazon with sufficient
elegance and diet% his Lordship's alms upon the
paunch ; and, in order that the carriage might not
be claimed by a wrong owner, paint the motto
upon every spoke of the wheels. Indeed such care
WAS taken in the finishing, that your Lordship will
find an item of two guineas in one of the bills, for
attending at the Herald's College, to examine the
arms of the Courtney family, lest the present
Noble Lord should lose the honour of his high
descent, by the omission of a single quartering.
The charges for the landau and the coach, are cer-
tainly very extraordinary in their amount ; but it
must be recolleded, that it was a very extraordinary
coach, and a very extraordinary landau. Even such
charges as these may be exceeded; for your Lord-
shp may recolleCt, that a Noble Lord, who held
on,: of the highest offices in a Sister Country, similar
to the one your Lordyliip holds here, I mean the
Earl of Clare, paid no less a sum than 400UI. for a
coach in which he might go with due solemnity to
the Court of Chancery, in Dublin. "
LORD CHANC ZSLOR-...." Yes, but that Was Irish
magnificence; we are not quite 40 expensive here.

Wl:e4 I cam:: into ofnce, the old state coach. which
had been in use since the time of Queen Aline, 64 I
broken down, and, with some help from my prede-
cessor, I had to build a new one. But my s4cces-
sur will not have quite so much to pay for it, as
Lord Clare had fur his."

Nlr. RICO A OS —" With respell to the of .r
point, has Lord Courteney ever questioned the.e
accounts of Mr. Goodsall'S ? Has he impeached
their fairness ? No ; and he has affirmed the trans-
aftion, by giving security, and paying part of the
money. 'the letters make no complaint of exorbit-
ance, and all that he has done fetich to prove the
fairness of die dernaod. This is decidedly proved,
by his returning to employ Mr. Godsall, in the year
1798, after ceasing to employ him from the
year 171:3.
Mr. Rost t.t.sr—" It can be easily proved that
Lord Courteney did not employ Mr. Godsall in the
year 179 d, and to the present time, as a volunteer,
but was compelled, from the apprehensions of Mr.
Gudsall's taking out an execution aq,tinst him.
He would very gladly have resigned the privilege
of employing the Detendant."
LORD CHANCLI.LOII—" Yes, Mr. ROMILLY ; but
his Lordship in this case was a volunteer, who had
not a risk to reign I will give my opinion in this
case some other day."

COURT OF KING's BENCH, WESTKINSTiIt, MAT 2.

THZ KING V. JONATHAN PANTHER.

The Defendant in this case was brought up to
receive the Judgment of the Court. He was con-
vsled of making and publishing a.gross and sedi-
ti ins Libel, for the purpose of exciting and causing
sedition and rebellion among His Majesty's loyal
subjects. The libel was, written on the back of a
return which the Defendant was to have made to
the Commissioners, under the Mt of Parliament
fcr embodying the Army of Reserve, and purported
to be an Address to them, by way of complaint
against the Government of this Country, which
writing was couched in most seditious terms, and as-
persing, in opprobrions epithets, His Majesty's Mi-
nisters. It appeared, upon his examination before Sir
RICHARD FORD, that he admitted the paper was
signed by him ;_ and he further added, he was ready
and willing to do the same over again. The affi-
davit of the Defendant was read, which stated, that
he was 4 coach maker, and had been much injured
in his trade by the late war • that he never intended
to publish any libel against Government, but merely
to shew to the Commissioners bow he was airefied
by the war ; that he could not write himself, but
procured his niece, Margaret Dodd, to write it for
him ; that he never belonged to any political so-
ciety ; that he bad a wife and large family, who
were totally dependant upon his industry for their

support.
Margaret Dodd's affidavit was then read, which
stated nearly the same as Defendant's ; that she had
written the paper alluded to by his direCtion, anc
signed his name to it; that she was is the habit ot
signing bills and receipts for him, and kept his
books ; that his entire family was dependant on him
for support; that be supported his wife's sister, who
was bnd ; and that if he was to be confined for any
time, they must all inevitably be ruined.
Some affliavits were then read as to his general
charafter, as an honest man and a good subject.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL On tae part of the
prosecution, made a few observations on the affi-
davits now read, and remarked, this was a defence
originally set up by the:party against the verdift ;
that on the trial the witness, Margaret Dodd, was
k .9t hack, that the Defendant had persisted in his
offence, as fully appeared from his examination be-
fore the Magistrate. There was no evidence pro-
duced to make it appear a mere draft, the writing
was plain and legible, fairly written, without any
interlineations, corteftions, or erasures, the affidavits,
in his opinion, were a base fabrication, in order to
impose upon the Court, and greatly aggravated the
crime.

Mr. GALkow made a few observations on the

same side.

Mr. ERSKINE, on the part of the Defendant, felt
he could say little in mitigation of his punishment,
and though much pressed by his Client, he declined
making any observations on the subject.
The Court ordered that he should again be
brought up on Friday the 11th.
THE KING V. A ITHER SALE.

The Defendant in this case was convieted of a
libel of a seditious nature, and was brought up to
receive the judgment of the Court. The libel pub-
lished, was an abusive and scurrilous attack upon
the present Government, and observations of s aan-
gerous kind upon the present war. The aritdavit
of the Defendant was read in mitigation ; he ac-
knowledged his conviiaion was a just one ; and that
when he was brought up to plead to the indi&rnent.
he applied to his Counsel to allow him to plead
guilty ; that he was a volunteer, and a printer by
trade ; but since his apprehension and confinement,
he has lost all his business, and has not more now
left than will pay his debts ; that at the time he
printed the libel in question, he was also publishing
several loyal papers, &c. &c.
The Court ordered him to be brought up on Fri-
day the I lth instant.
THE RING R. WILLIAM WALES HORNE.

The Defendant in this case is a Dissenting Mi-
nister ; he was tried for a libel before Mr. Justice
Roots, at the last assizes at Leiceuer. and was
found Guilty by a special Jury. The words of a se-
ditious nature were made use of by the Defendant
in presence of several persons. It appeared he also
drank a disloyal toast—A* to our frichei ocer the wa-
ter e" or one purporting to be so. He said, "1 he
hod a good j Sipper, he did we core whether he tad one
saran to the King or to Bonaparte." It also appeared
on the trial that the Defendant was a well•informed
man, and fond of argument ; that he repeated se-
veral times these were his real sentiments.

Mr. Lamaze, on the part of the Detcn.tant, con.
tended he had no seditious design in m:.k•ng use of
the expressions alluded tot that he had a ale and
family who entirely depended on him for their sup-
port ; that on no previous occasion he had ever ex-
pressed sentiments against the king and Govern-
ment.

Lord ELL IN 30ROUGH observed, he did not dis-
avow those sentiments even in his affidavit. He
was then committed to the King's Bench, and or-
dered to be brought up again on Friday the I itL
instant.

•

'=l:alarr

i

THL KING V. STVP.IICHII and ACNEW.,
Messrs. Stephens and Agnew were brought MIS
to receive Judgment. They were indiaed under
an Mt of the 33.1 year of his present Majesty,
and convitled of having taken a bribe while in the
employment of the British Government in India_
Those gentlemen, it appeAred, held the office of
Supervisors of the province of Malabar, and whale
in that situation, accepted a bribe to the amount of
9 or 10,0001.

Mr. DALLAS, on the part of the Defendants, con-
tended, that to bring the parties within the opera-
tion of the Aa, the bribe must be token during
the time they were in office, and consequently that
the indiament should set forth the day on which
the offence was committed, whereas in the present
case it did not. Upon this ground, he moved an
arrest of judgment.
The Court granted a Rule to shew cause, and the
Defendants were remanded.
THE KING V. JAMES SALTER, WILLIAM BENNETT,
JOHN NEIL, 'ETU weitfr, AND WM. MITCHELL.
The. Defendants in this case were journeymen
hatters, and brought up to receive lodgment for
combination : it appeared that they had worked for
a Mr. Wall, and upon his refusing to discharge one
of his workmen, because he had not oomplied with
what they termed Garret Match (certain bye laws),
they all deserted their work. It was a case of pe-
culiar hardship on Mr. Wall, and absolutely obliged
him to give up his business in the Borough, and
transfer it to Newcastle and other places.
The Court ordered they should loe committed to
the New Goal in the Borough, and brought up
again on Saturday the 12th inst.

COMMON PLEAS, Wisrmatiesian, MAT 2.
/*IOUS v. WILSON.
Mr. Serjeant COCKEL moved to set aside the ver-
did given in this case and enter a non-'uit. It was
an adion tried before the late Lord ALvara
brought to recover 211. given for a horse, warranted
sound, which proved to be blind in one eye; the
Plaintiff being at Croydon fair in October last, bar.
gained with the Defendant for a ;fey gelding, and
paid the above sum for it; when the porch:is:. was
made, an objection was taken by the Plaintiff to the
horse's off eye, which appeared to be disorateJ;
the Defendant, however, said the horse was soand,
and if it should prove otherwise, he would take it
again, in consequence of which the animal ,was
taken home by the Plaintiff, and shortly After said
to a dealer in horses, named Smith, who returned it
the day following on finding the horse blind and
unfit for the servic)for which it had been purchased.
namely, to run in a chaise. The Defend:;nt, on
being applied to for the 211. refused to take the
horse back, alleging no regular warranty had
been made, and that the Plaintiff should have sent
the horse back without suffering it to go into other
hands. But the Jury, when the cause came to be
tried, were induced to give the verdid on the fol-
lowing words being proved by the evidence of a Mr.
Taylor to have been spoken by the Defendant : " I
warrant the horse sound and to run in harness, if
not I will take it again."
In support of the motion for a new trial, the for-
mer objeßions were made by the Learned Serjeant.
The Court, however, were of opinion, the verditt
ought not to be disturbed.—Rule discharged.

MAIDSTONE, 1,4,,T 1.

4•.

Yesterday morning, between five and six o'clock,
this neighbourhood was visited by a tremendous
thunder-storm, attended by lightning and much
rain. The lightning in the south-west direCtion
was apparently the most vivid ; a tree on Banning
Heath was struck by it, and shive ed to tiiecei.
and several houses greatly damaged in the adjoining
villages.
The West Kent regiment of Yeomanry are or-
dered again into quarters at Maidstone, on the
7th of May ; the Tunbridge Wells troop, com-
manded by Lord Boyne, in consequence cf Capt.
I)odgin, their Adjutant, having given such uni-
versal satisfaCtion, by the pains he took, both
while they were here in quarters, as well as before
and since, in improving them in the manctuvres, as
a small token of the high opinion they entertain of
him as a soldier, presented him with a highly finished
sabre on Thursday se'nnight, at the head of their
troop near Tunbridge Wells.
The publication of the Smarr, Coerutrum, wh'c't
is to make the Government more stable by the ele-
vation of its Chief, is every day expeCted at Paris.
Capt. G. !duke v, although promoted to the rank
of Rear-Admiral, is to at as First Captain to Lord
NELSON, in the Mediterranean.
Great inconvenience having been felt last summer
in the exercise of the field-pieces belonging to the
Guards, little ammunition carts are now constructed,
so as to be capable of carrying a sufficient number
of men to work each piece, and it is fastened by a
strong iron hook and ring to the tail of the cart.
Tuesday morning, as May Day, according to •
custom time immemorial, the singing men and cho-
titters of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, as. '
cended With a band of music to the top of the Ca-
thedral Tower belonging to that Seminary, and at '
sunrise performed in concert for an hour. This ,
tower was built at the ilistance of Cardinal Wotszy
at the time when he was Fellow and Bunn of that
College.
Saturday nett will be the Fourth Day's. Draw•
ing of the present Lottery ; and until that time,
Tickets and Shares, warranted =drawn, may be
had in great variety, at both the old established
Offices of T. B ISM. 4, Cornhill, and 9, Charing-
Crass, where all Prizes from Twentr Pounds to
Twenty Thousand will be paid on deemed. The
fcllowing is the state of the 'Wheel : .
2 Piissa of L. 20,000 9 Nees of Ir 3,0 A
1
3 5000 13 -
2,000 34
ie. rte. we
TaistOD•YorDaawino—TbeTieltetNo.ll,l9%
drawo vestnday, a Prize of TWO THOUSAN.i)
P was sald in One Quarter, TWO
_kghtiu
and Eight Sixteenth shares, at the Old Office f
Swat and Co. in the Poultrt. where No. 3,093, a.
Piirr of ONE THOUSAND POUNDS, on the
First Day, and N 0.46,187, a Prise of cipTE THOU-
SAND POUNDS on the Second Day of the pre-
sent Lottery, were also sold in Shares. The Kurth
Day of Drawing will be on Saturday Len.