The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-29 00:00:00

FAS nIoNAII LE PARTIES.

The Earl and Countess of Darnley gave a grand enter-
tainmeut on Saturday, at their house. Berkeley-square, to
■ large party of distinction. Amo•g whom were—the Duke
of Hamilton, the Earl of Asetuva, the Earl and Countess
Be!grave, Ilse Earl and Countess of Derby, Lady MI. Stanley,
Lord Arthur Hill, Lord F. Gower, Mr. Seymour Bathurst.
The Marqpis and Marchionkso of Hertford gave a grand
entertainment on Saturday to the Duke of Clarence, the
Marquis and Marebionem of Chohnoirdeley, and a oumer-
egos party, at Hertford-house,Mancbester-square.
The filet of Carsaave• g•we w.wmpteo•s entarlstamewt
yesterday to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, the
Marquis of Lanadowa, Mr. Brougham, and a large party of
distinguished persousges,•t his heave, Grosvenor.square.
Earl Whitworth and the Duchess of Dorset have issued
cards of invitation fur a grand eutertainment on the 7th of
June, at their residence to Grosvenor-square.
Countess Grosvenor has issued cards of invitation for
• splendid rout ou the 20th efJnoe, at Grosvenor House,
Upper Grosvenor-street.

Ascot Heath Races commence to-morrow. The
course is in the finest order, and the arrival or good
horses is very bunierour. His MAJESTY is ex-
pected to rotas the whole week at his Cottage in
Windsor Great Park.

A discharge of twenty-one cannon was fired st
Ellesmere, in celebration of the birth-day of
the QUEEN; and a party dined at the Black
Lion.

The Right lion. Jou* FOSTER. M.P. is arrived
at Blake's Hotel, Jermyn.street, crow his seat in
Ireland.

Arrivals at the St. Jain% Hotel, Jermymetreet :
Rev. T. Cut,Lust and family, from a tour.—De.
parttime from ditto :—The Earl of Mourrirtrouats
.aud Lord VALENTIA, for their seat in Ireland; Mr.
and Mrs. WATT, for their seat in Yorkshire.
Mr. D. FISHER, late of Drury-lane, war playing
last meek at the Wells theatre.

Min BAKEWELL, the new Bath Mier, has not
proved successful.
Among the last arrivals at Bath are—

The Marquis de Tourrille, Viscomterse de B. evert,
Lady Johnson, Dowager Lady Louis, Sir Was. Elton, Sir
Juba Thompson, &c.
Among the late arrivals at Buxton are—
Lady Verson, Lady Stanley and Miss Leicester, Sir H.
M. Mainwariag, Bart. Lady Hear Harland and Mrs. G.
Crompton, S,ir Oswald Mosley, Bart. Sir Thomas and Miss
Wkichcote, General and Mrs.. Mackay, Mr. and Mrs. Carr
and. family. Mr. L. Peel, Rev. F. Peel, bk. R. Peel, Sir.
Mrs. and threes Mimes Goulds, Mr. aid Mrs. R. Gould, and
Mr, aid Mrs. Dixon Brown.
Among the Noble and distinguished personages
present at the Opera on Saturday, we observed—
The Marchioness of Awilesi, Earl sod Countess Cathcart
and the Ladies Cathcart, Duchess of Bucekuch, Hon. Mrs.
Stanhope, Maritimes§ of Salisbury, Mrs. Balfour, Lord and
Lady Scarborough, Sir Richard Acton, Lord Lake, Lord and
Lady Shannon, Lady Verson Lord Ailesbury, Lady Hyde
Parker, Lord Winchilara, lady Langford, Lady Fitzgerald,
Marquis of Bath, Mn. Pitzherbert, Earl and Countess aid
Lady Jaime Aboype, Mrs. and Miss Caswell, the Misses
Cux, Sir Francis sad Lady Wright Wilson, Mrs. Orby
Hunter, Mrs. Bethel!, Mr. Servile, Lady Dorn Lady Cod.
rialto* Lady fartydrar, Hon. Mrs. Fawkes, eady Barring.
ton Countess of Marlborough, Earl and Countess of Serum
Lady C. W. Belasyme, Mrs. Soryd, Earl and Countess of
Purtsaiontl4 Marquis of Anglesey, Carriers St. Antonio,
Duke of Beaufort, lard Stair, Hon. Mr. Bouverie Lady
Darlingtoo,'Colasel Dasimood Lady Dudley sod Ward, Sir
George Wairesider Doke of Devonshire' Earl of Westmor-
Doehesa of Argyll sod the !adieu Paget Duchess of
Richmond, Lard Cassius, Lord Rroguell, Lard Browalow,
Sir John Murray, Lady Berwick, Earl of Dartmouth,
Dowager Cady Grantham, Lady Bloomfield, Sir George
Sher, Lori Alveoli% Marquis of Worcester, Calomel Camac,
Orby Holey, Emu Lady C. Posisti, Sir Wm. Elliott, Lady
Owes' Lady L. Lyymo, the Ladies Perm, Lord Painientun,
Hoe. Mrs. Sullivan. Lord Lowther, Sir Thomas Tyrwhlll
Joan, Lord Yanwireth, Colonel Berkeley, Sir W. W. Wino,
Lord Blesityie, end Sir Cannily klaggerstuee.
In the trim. eon. case, eatitled Sir J. Dotrt.s
P. littoWNE, Esq. in the Court of Common Piro.,
Dublin, the Jury foun4 a verdict fur the rlaiutili
Damages 5,0004

BWlrisn inttrunotf.

The private view of the Pietegeit in the Gallery of the
British lostitutiow took plate on Satorday, pirperatory to
the public exhibition this day. It was ethroded by the must
distinguished fashionable* now in town, nod a number of
our must eminent Artists. The pretest Exhibition Is of a
very novel kind—it rositiets entirely of Portrait+. The ob-
ject of the Directors in providing such • esilleetioa, le ex-
tremely laudable, sad cannot fail to be generally interest-
ing and iastructive. The Antiquary, the Historian, and
the Paiute', will be alike gratified with the display of so
loamy works, which place before the eye the costume of
different times, the likenesses of many of the most illustrious
characters who have Shirred in the page of history, sad the
progressive adiraucement of Portrait Palatine, from the
rudest Infiener of art in this country, 10 the consummate
perfection whirl! it attained ender the accomplished guidance
of Sir JOSHUA Rernot.oe. The Die enure of the British In.
stiostion have been fortunate enough to collect Dearly 100
Portraits for the preheat Exhibitiwt, some of them the
productions of nameless Artists, whose offerings at the shrine
of An hear entity the same resemblance to the spkndid
works with whirls after-ages adorned it, as the idols of the
savages in the British Museum do to the fine character and
symmetry of the Townlelan nisrblek, in the sculpture room
of that national establishment.
The principles which the Dirertmi of the British Instils.
time have kept Intim in making the selection for this RAIL
Wien, have bees, first, the celebrity of the individual; and
secondly, the excellence of the painting itself. They hive
thus in some instauces admitted the portrait of me eminent
portion where there is little twerp is the perforriiice; and
la other,,: they hare admitted a wen-painted portrait, *here
there was 'comparatively little celebrity belonging to the in-
dividnal itdepnrsents. la abort, the paryoie of the Direc-
tors is to trail to a wider circle the love and admiration
and pat ge of the Arts, and in tiny, as in every 'weed-
ing instance, they have not only *hewn a patriotic and laud-
able activity, bet also a sound and diseriinMating judgment.
His MAJESVIr has fnraisbed the present Exhibition with
ninny of the early portraits of our Sovereign', from the Royal
Collection, some of then, so far bark as the RICSAILDS sad
EDWARDS, and painted upon woad le a very rude manner.
There are several, by Moldier/4r, of the Court of Hinny/111.
at the period when the distinguished Artist was patronised
by that capricious tyrant. Many of them have all the
freshness and delicacy of his pencil. There are also
several by Joan Os %MUSIC tool Eleannto. The lat.
ter was patronized by Gotta Eett•liess. but he had
not the taste and delicacy of kloidsant. The ludicrous
flattery with which be paid homage to " 7fia Virgin
greets" is remarkable in the portrait of her Majesty
iii this Collection, sleeked out in all the gaudy trappings of
dress, and illrmiasteil with celestial ornaments. There are
several curiously paimed portraits by GERISSSIUS FLEC-
CMS, VAN SOSIOR, JENS?, Lucas Da Heine, HONTHOIST,
and other A • only known to the antiquary. After these
come the Artists who gave a disliaguished character to Por-
trait Painting, and made it for a time the admiration of
Europe. At their head is VANDYILS, whose Pictures of the
family of CiteoLes the First, in this Gallery, demon.
strafe the perfection which he attained in this department
of Art. KNELLILS sod LSAT follow iu order of time, bat
with diminished lustre. There are then a crowd of works by
DALIAN HUDSON, DOBSON, &maw, COPLIST, GAINSAID.
ROUGH, sod Sir JOSHUA Ritwaotos, with some of later
date. Macy of the Portraits are standard works of their
respective masters, and admirable likenesses of ilhistrions
individuals, according to the descriptions which have been
handed down to us. Csowl.gx's two celebrated pictures of
. Alas Charles's extrema Otto the House of CiPINNIONS, and
the Death of Lord Chatham, are in this gallery, and there
are SWIM curious busts, one of Oliver Cromwell, which is
the properly of the Marquis of LANSDOWN.
' '

We shall lake an early opportunity of adverting is detail
to the works In ski. Exhibition, and contraseieg the various
principka upon which they have been executed.

TMB itOratAo rActir. *a* "I .1
II is Majesty's yacht the Prince Regal I, to he ram.
mended by Sir Michael Seymour, Bart. and K.C.B.
will he launched at Portsmouth Dock-yard to-
ITOWD the 30th instant.
On approaching this chastely decorated yacht,
the group of figures at the head first engages the
attention; it is composed of a bold and elegant bust
of our beloved Sovereign, supported on the right
and left by twq admirable figures, Britannia aud
Neptune. In the train are emblematical Genii,
bearing wreaths, &c. The cat-heads are support-
ed by Tritons—these, with several smaller figures,
and the highly-decorated though light appearance
of the head-rails, form the principal ornaments of
the fore-part. .All the figures afa richly carved
and gilded, and rest on a ground of dark blue,
which forms • most pleasing relief. to the mass of
gold that surrounds it, and which would perhaps
otherwise look heavy. The figures at the stern and
quarters are very' numerous. Immediately over
the windows is (among the most prominent) a cove,
containing the different Orders of the Garter, Bath,
Thistle, and St. Patrick. supporting, in the middle,
an interesting group of figures, representing the
Genii of Caledonia and Hibernia; and these sup-
porting an en►iched canopy over a lion coudiest,
with two figures, bearing. over the lion, the palm
and chaplet of flowers; near to this magnificent
group are Religion aud Seinen,. The quarters
are supported by two fine figures of Fame and
Victory, standing upon pedestals, and scrolls, em-
bellished with rich foliage, bearing their emblems.
Between the stern windows are the Cardinal Virtues,
under these the railings are elegantly embossed;
and the whole is finished below with a rich crimson
drapery. The appropriate symmetry, gorgeous
richness, and tasteful elegance which pervade the
entire of this part, excite almost ecstatic feelings of
admiration. The mouldings of the sides and de-
corations of the ports are neatly carved and richly
painted with a brilliant yellow. We have before
noticed that this perfect and elegant vessel
was built by the young Gentlemen of the Naval
Architectural Academy in this clock-yard, under
the directions of Mr. Fincham, the Superintendent,
and is the first royal yacht built in the dock-yard.
We understand the gates will be opened to the
public about a quarter before twelve, and the
launch will take place about half-past twelve to-
morrow. Many hundred perilous have been per-
mitted, with great politeness, to inspect her ; indeed
there appears not to have been so general an interest
excited since the 'launching of the Prioci 1. of
Wales, ill 1794, when their late Majesties were
present.

The Liffey frigate, Captain the Hon. noway
DUNCAN, will sail shortly for North Yarmouth,
where the Right Hon. Sir CNA.. BAUOT, K.C.B.
Ambassador to St. Petersburgh, will embark iu her.
The Sheermater, 18. Captain Romanies, is fitting
at Chatham, for the St. Helena motion.
. A letter from Hamogate. detest May g 6, says—
" The Dotal italliut Jacob, Prkeider. from Amsterdam
for Roomy was wrecked yesterday M. the Komi& Koorli,
end ell bendable. tarry. H. C. de Groot, a sesiw, who hoe
bees brewed on share by she Asboug bigger Provideoer,
sloth wok him off the tersest in the &throws."