The National Register.
London, England, 1822-05-13 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

THE TWO MARYS AT THE SEPULCHRE.
triurszrt MT ya. Lau.)
Bold efforts arc, wilco directed to useful purposes,
indices of great winds—surely L who partially fails in
the execution of a serious task deserves commendation,

rather than the spiritless being, who coldly abandons the
attempt because he fancies the end is unattainable by
human agency. Enterprise leads to exertion...exertion
to industry—industry to perseverance—perseverance to
talent—talent to glory: thus is it that the vigour of
emulation gives birth to genius. The subject of this
picture is from Matthew, chap. 28—the group consists
of Mary, Mary Magdalene, the Angel, and Guards—the
Angel's head iinmeuiately attracts the eye of the spectator
towards the angelic messenger, who is disposed in the
centre of the picture—there is in the happy expression of
the angel's features, a celestial softness of character which
exhibits the imaginative poetry oldie art—his interest*
physiognomy is endued with an ideality of sentiment
which the pencil can describe far better than the pen—
the silvery star of light over the Angel's head proclaims
the divioity and purity of his important mission--nor is
the surrounding mass of light less appropriate and gym-
bolic.al The rich golden lucks of the heavenly ambit.
sador render his beautiful features doubly significant wad
striking.. The unearthly and poetic softens, so inex-
pressible but upon canvas, is powerfully contrasted by
the human figures which are contiguous. The Angel s
form Is drawn very correctly, but had it been snore fe-
minine, it might hate been more beautiful—the attitude
is well selected. Magdalene exhibits the piety of her
conversion—she is not at all meretricious, either in face,
or iii anis tide, and is quite the reserve of what an offend-
ing, an unconverted Magdalene would appear. We
make this remark because a cotemporary journal has
taken upon itself to assert that the figure is of a depraved
cast—although it is possible to instil more loveliness into
her form it is entirely purged from that vice and boldness
which characterise an impertinent votary of pleasure.—
The other Mary forms a contrast in age and attitude.
bending in lowly devotion, whilst Mary Magdalene
betrays the fear of youth cud the hesitation of inexpe-
rience. The elder Mary having been more familiarised
to holy things, contemplates the angel without the coin-
fusing emotions of intense astonishment. To the right
of the picture are three soldiers who exhibit symptoms of
the most confounded terror and frantic amasernent; its
the supernatural scene. The drapery and armour of the
soldiers are painted in rich glowing gusto. The fire.
masterly, and bold figure of the astonished guard arising
from sleep, to the right of the picture, has an exceedingly
impressive effect, arising from its breadth of execution.—.
The foreshortening of his left leg has merit. Fits hands •
actually project, as it were from the canvas. The white •
drapery of the Angel is illustrative of his purity of nature.
The chiaro•oscure is judicious and pleasing, and the ge-
neral effict of the picture improves very inuelyupon con-
tinued observation—a proof, as iris sass!, of the real value
of a picture. The carnations are generally warm and
pleasing, although, perhaps, to some part, not sufficiently
deep in tone—the drapery is altogether well arranged.
anti well coloured—the lights are managed wish care
awl simplicity—there is something Venetian-like its
the tints of the drapery.
As being friendly to those arts which form the de.
lit fitful embellishments of life, it is our fervent desire to
foster genius and to cherish talent, without regard to
p•rsoti or school—and although we cannot in justice to
ou 'selves, or with candour to the public, conceal faults,
we pri slime not to adver t to them cen -.oriottsiy. Wherever
there is touch to minuend, there is much room for its.
dulgenee. 'That Mr. Halls has sufficient genius to im-
prove ander the guide of experience this production
fully evinces, and we have no doubt that his success will
increase with his age. The difficulty of his present task
shows that he is willing to take the daring flight of
honourable and well-directed enterprise.

COVENT GARDEN THEJTRZ.
-.0.--

A new piece interspersed with music, was introduced
on Saturday at this Theatteomder the title of The haw qf
Jana —Zaiekr, ►he wileut Purina, a native of Maisissar,
h. 4% mg been horribly carried away, and placed in the
Hardin of the Sultan of Java, her husband Pur[•aya at-
tempts •to recover her, but being discovered, is con-
demned to death ;—under an old law of Java, the alters.
native of bringing poison from the Upas tree, is givers to
him : the destructive qualities attributed to this tree, art
well known ; they generally occasion the death of those
who come within their influence, but if the .prisoner
escape their deleterious power, he is pardoned—Pgrikaya
succeeds in the attempt, and having found in the person
of the Priest appointed to attend the culprits 9A,1101‘ are
sent upon this dreary expedition, a limg:lost father,. he
learns from him, that by the law ot Java, he is nut only
tootled to- his I.berty, but to demand any gift tw pleases
horn the Emperor: it may be easily supposed that Pree-
terya exerciies this right, deinanditur the hberty of hit
beloved wile, and the piece concludes impptly.
Mr. Young perfnritied the husband with hit mini
energy, and Mr. Liston produced a great deal of laughter
itt the character of an English sa rvant to a Dutch offi-
cer :. he employs himself constantly in filling a note book
with his observations (after the sr -r of modern tra-
vellers) with a view to .future publication.
The piececontained some very agreeable Intuic,whieh
was well executed by Miss Stephens, Miss The, anal
Mr. Dormet. It war well received, bin will require a
lade pruning, being in some parts rather heavy:. after a
little alteration, we think it will have a run. it was
announced fur repetition with general apptobat-on.

A grant of land of 100,000 acres in Venezuela.
made to General D'Evereux, by Bolivar, when
brouzht to the hammer, at the Auction-mart, a few
days ago, fetched but 330 guineas, somewhat less
than a penny an acre!

760

Imperial earthman! continued from page 137,
consistency, anil should now abstain from Wieling any
arguments upon them, but leave them in the hands le the
mittee, fuunded as they were on the report of last
session.
Lord AI:THORPE urged the necessity of doing some-
thing for the landed interest, aid that immediately.
After a bug and uninteresting debate, it was agreed
that :sir T. Letlibridge's resolutions for • high protecting
ditty should be put tii st, and al erwarils those of Mr. Hits-
kistion, which advocated a more moderate charge on im-
portiv ion.
The gallery was then cleared for a division, which Grill
took place on Sir T. Lethboidge's resolu,ions, when there
appeared—Fur the amendment, 24—Against it, 2 13—
hlajoi it), against Sir T. Lethbridge, 219.
After this division had taken place, considerable dis-
cussion took place in the committee, but we were not
re-admitted into the gallery to hear it. We were informed,
however, that Mr. Benet% resolutions were negatived
without a ~,, .
Mr. HUSKISSON's resolutions, joined to the two last
resolutions of Mr„ Ricardo, who had withdrawn his pre-
vious resolutions in favour of the series drawn tip by Mr.
loakissou, were then submitted to the committee by the
chairman.
On Lord ALTHORPE moving an amendment upon
this string of resolutions, the cry of " Adjourn" became
general. The chairman was in consermence ordered to
report progress, and Ask leave to sit again to-morrow.
The house then adjourned at a few minutes past two
o'clock.

THURSDA Ir, id Air L
A peti.ion was presented from Abingdon, praying for a
revisiou of the criminal code.
A petition aims presented Irons Lowestoft', praying for the
repeal of the malt tax.
A petition arts presented from Huntingdon, complaiutng
of agricultural distress, and protesting against Mr. Ricardo's
resolutions.
The report of the seditious meetings, indictment bill was
brought up and agreed to.
Sir C. COLE p.ceented a petition from Glitmorganshire,
complaining of agricultural distress.
Air. 1:0111TEN AY presented a petition ftom Exeter,
pros ing for a revision of the Cri 11l hod code.
Mr. COURIEN AY then presented a petition from the
corporation of Exeter, against the Catholic Peen' Bill—a
payer in %larch he did not conic de.
I.cid EBRINGTON said, that this woe the only similar
p •tition that lied pluceeded from the county of Devon.—
Petit toil ordered to be printed.
Mr. R. MA It TIN presented a petition from certain jurors
of tire city of London, cornaluiniug of the criminal code, and
pray ing for a revision of it.
Mr. I'. GRENFELL moved for an account of the country
banks in England and Wales, that issue notes payable on
demand, distinguishing the number of partners in each
concern.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL brought in his bill for
repealing the act of last session, by a b rim tau judges of the
Court of King's Bench were enabled to sit at /Nisi Pilots at
the same time. The hon. and la noised gent. said that the
net had been passed to facilitate the disposal of business in
orrear the arrear brine now brought up, there was no
further occasion for it. Read a first time stud ordered to be
read a second time to-morrow.
The House ascot into a committee on the Passengers' Re.
gubsticio Art.
Mr. LUSH INGTON moved that the committee he in.
itructed tornove for a bill to repeal that act, and to intro•
duce nese regolatirms.
Mr. aiticavr trusted that the enacting vessels would
not be placed under increased restrictirms.--Resolution
agreed to.
Mr. LUSH INGTON ,presented the correspondence be-
tween the Governor and Company of the Batik of England
and his Nlajtsty's ministers, regarding the exteusion of the
hank charter. Ordered to be primed.
I'AZ es on Agialcl:LXllßa.—Sir T. LETHBRIDGE said
that in the enure of the present session he ak-suld bring for-
ward rr motion that would direct the attention of the. House
to the taxes more particularly borne by the agricultural
classes I'M lauded interest, and the unequal manner in a laid;
the taxes pressed on them. He should direct ehrir attention
more particularly to the parochial and county rates. He
perhaps should be able to submit such motion on the 9rih
instant.
Mr. SYKES rose to brio' fora/sod his motion on the sub-
jer•t of the tallow tax.
Lord LON DONDERRY frosted that the agricultural
eptestion a 'I be allots ed to have precedence.
Mr. SYKES said, he should press his 'maim ; he had
already posipooed it nit three ritflerent occasions.
Mr. PEEL wished that the motion should not be pressed
Stow. The Catholic Bill stood lur 11)• morrow, so that if this
motion acme urged the agricultural question would be post-
poned till Monday.
Mr. BRIGHT spoke of the importance of the motion—
for the mercantile and shipping interests were in us great
jeopardy as those of agriculture.
Sir NI. W. MULL Y and others wished the motion to be
pod loaned.
Mr..SY KES said, after having Men so strongly solicited,
be should postpone his motion till the 111th inst.
Mr. PEEL, said, that his sotiCe for the renewal of the
Alien Mil stood for the Ual instant ; but as he understood
that there was not likely to be any House on that day, he
now stated Iliut lie would bring forward such motion on the
Oct open duty after the Whitsuntide holidays.
A cticuLlOtt•L Ulelataa CoMMITTEX.—Lord LON-
DON DERR Y moved, that the House go into a committee
WI the agricultural distress resolutions.
Mr. DENISON opposed the motion that the Speaker do
leave the chair. 11e considered that none of the resolutions
would afford relief. In his opinion, there was no chance of
relief, except there aas some redact' of the unbounded
tasstion. The tuxes now ground down all CillUelit there
snu•t be an extensive reduction of them. Several millions
might be safely reduc• d. Ile was sorry to see that there
was a disposition in some classes to remove those taxes
which &fleeted them to other classes j he hoped it would not
be continued. He was gory to remark, that a similar
el. ..position had ►hunu itself iu F atice piev rowdy to the
resolution.
Motion agreed to. The House then writ into n committee.
Lord A Utill)HP ruse to move an amendment no Mr.
R,cnrdn'• revolution, to give a bosomy oils. on the export
of corny lima stmendanent proposed to lose lli. The origirial
leadation he thought would be iurtla•reoi.
NIL. It ICA It 1)0 defended his resolution, and said he could
flat see lila I.is locale ft ii std could instil) the proposition to
oe a btr.itily gal. 11.4.