The National Register.
London, England, 1813-05-02 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL OEGISTER.

!S4

adds milder 'mwers,. and a greater share of human kindness. He
tells men their truths, hot to indulge his misanthropy, but to im-
prove them. Mr. BAnnYmottz gave excellent effect to this cha-
tarter. The other parts, with the exceplidu of Aspic, are cast in
11r. Morton's usual mould; When he first hought them forth, they
were loudly praised ; but they have since been so frequently re-
peated, that they are now considered as old friends with whom
compliments would be snperfitums. Aspic, is a character.whielt we
have never met, although we have heard of its existence hr society.
The private libeller, who gains from friendship the very dagger
with which he stabs her peace, will, we trust, be deemed a ficti-
tious being by posterity. It wotikl be unjust to the present gene-
seiom suppoAe, that it would be so lavish of enconragetuent to
such per:ons, as to invite successors to start op mid fill their va-
cant places.
The style of this comedy is chaste and elegant. Lively, rapid,
and generally pointed, the dialogue sometimes becomes pathetic,
and freqtnntly teems with energy. Unstained with the common
riser that have so long haunted the stage, its wit is of a higher na-
ture, and its blaze is followed by the softer glow of feeling.
Abounding in virt:Tous seiviments, it inculcates the purest mora-
try, and though it is not free from trifling imperfectoins, does as
smelt boom's to the Anthor's talents as to his heart. _

It is sufficient to point out the performers engaged in the mire-
rientatiloi of Ed►u:ation, to show• tHat the most brilliant histrionic
aOilities.were marshalled in support of the piece. With sue!, aid,
joined to its own merit, its succe,,s wits, without exaggeration, ens-

The Prolol2oy spay), by Mr. Atmore, awl the Epilogue by Miss
to,oTtl, ware both very indiffercot.

1.1"1"1in NEW DRUB Y LANE.

To Theatres of this, nod of a similar construction, where, by the
nature of tli is ii(TIISrS, the regtflar MAIOR is not allowed to be re-
presented, to apply the las 4 of criticism to the ciforts of either the
113lior or Pei ihriners, wonhi he wantonly to iefliet a wound--
Ist:ere n useful purpose could he produced' by the smart; were we,
'Aowever,. here disposed to be splenetic, such is the very excellent
lrailocr in which Lore's Peri!:., and the Pantomime,. are got up,
that they call for our unqualified approbation. The former Piece
possesses uncommon serious interest, and the comic parts are se
Nra*oilably interspersed, that, as a who:e, this Piece is entitled to
'auk far above even many modern CGinedies. The Perfornwrs are
•ntitled to credit ; Mesdames HAT TON and SvnigEv, and Messrs.
kflin N %It 11,. FIT7WILIFAAM, .MONI{O, and STEM:IIIW, Vied thelll•
4.111V.$ with the happiest effect.

FINE ARTS.

ROYAL ACADEMY, SOMERSET-HOUSE.

Rudd puichrim a.tpectu l'ictures pbigere curaut.
DUFRESNOY) ARS. GitAPII.

Ro-rnnc of the Royal Academy at Somerset House, the Tra-
tonal Temple of the Chromatic Muse, will open to-morrow for the
eritilication of the Public, and the promotion of all the branches of
the Art of Painting, whose sisters, the muses who preside over sta-
tuary and engraving, will also obtain an opportunity of expsinglo
the adtniratioo or criticism of the visitors the resnlts of their steady
Atettbrations, and eager pursuits. For the space of many years we
have constantly and attentively surveyed the productions of the
Artists. in these noble rooms, and we are happy, truly happy, to
find that the liberality of the Patrons, and the nuinterrupted labium's
of Vie Students, maks, able professors, have, at last, created in
Great Britain a school which does fairly rival, if not surpass; those
of tile rest of Europe. Owiog to the blessings of our Constitution,
we are allew«1 to witness a phenomenon which the history of the
woild had not offered before ;.—The liberal Arts—Me davgliters
Peacevilourishing hi time of trar. The Athenians had laid aside the
Swortt of battle, when the pallet of Apt:lies began to glow with all
the churns& of colones, when the chisel of Phidas breathed life into
lotocks of marble. Augustus had shut the temple of Janus when
*ldtectenas welcomed and cnconraged the liberal Arts, and Italy
at rest iii the nays of Rapti-ad and Miehal Angelo, when Painting
and Statuary rose- front the sepulchres of the dead into life and
glory-- bet, frglitine single handed against the rest of the Continent
ger many years, Britannia sees, with li-artfelt satisfaction, those
Arts thrive, like blooming flowers, under the protection of her
shield, and fosters them with maternal care, whilst her brave sons
bid the rest of the globe revere her trident and dread her victo-
rious aim:

MAY t.

The historical department, among the nivinerous beauties which
coati our admiration all aroond, claims our first observations, and
we will offer them to ow Readers with that nubiassed impartiality
which has particularly distinguished THE NATIONAL REGISTER-r.
Nicer that our judgment may often encourage, generaily please,
and never offend the votaries of a Muse, at whose altar- knowledge
and taste will always Intrn the incense ot' sincere applause.

No. 1. A Child rescued Pig it. Mother from an twig's Nest. By
A. nAWE. A.--There exist evtn now, in the Floe th of G. eat
Britain, several tradition, awl reports cvneerning eagles be:bring
away children to their famished ybaing ur their aeries ; and we
doubt not het the fable of Ganimede.taltert into the aerial regions
by the bird of Jove, originated in some ancient fact ot the .acne'
nature. Tt is one of those stories which the .ogenitms A soeiate has
selected for the exerciSe of his mental pervem The manner in
which he has treated thesubject, uniting simplicity with gr:todenr,
does him great !mom', and evinces in !inn a perfect knowledge of
the art. The distressed mother has, at list. rearbed the spot where
the child is laid as a devoted victim to the hungry eaglets. tiler
cr 'siring, with natural eagerness, the be: ntiftil infant, wn.,, one. n-
scions ot danger, smiles at the welcome approach of ntoth 7 ;
her dishevelled hair floating in the wind, her to •it
the top of the crag, and, above all, the hoe and fil4';')lo.- e' • •
of her titre whilst she deprecates, by 'her snpplic,.tine ud
fury of the eagle, and feels the tierce co; filet of Itto••• • ....
her bo-ont, are traits w hick cannot issou but from a ; ; -•ntd,
aided by talents of an uncommou rate. I-U'r attite . •cair
correct as to the rules of perspective, and that 'T ;. ”vn
the screaming young of the destructive bird, is scientific-
fully conceived. The scenery of the Scottish heelltl, ,o-
cealed in the clouds, at a distance, and rising from rtu !)o,onl of
pellucid lakes, is certainly treated iu a Masterly mann( r; 110 the •
transparent vapour which circulates oft the- buck-ground ,b;' the pic-
ture, brings forward the scene of action, the craggy clii?, I:ainteet
In a style which would not have disgraced the pencil at .-:dratur
himself. The withered fern and rarfk weeds,. infested E. WI the
offirs of the birds of prey, increase the horror of the scene,
compassion and hope sooth the heart of the beholder, who ca mist
help feeling strongly for the mother and the child. The noble hird
hovering above in majestic display, is well painted; and the co-
'oaring through the.whole is of a illeasiti,z and appropriate:style.
The following extract from a very ancient mannscriptis so con-
nected with the object of Mr. Dawes performance, that we cannot
help quoting it in this place.
" In the wars between the English anti the Trish, the last having
!wen defeated, their King anti Queen were obliged leek fur
shelter. The Queen, who was pregnant and near hs t:itc, was
constrained to lice into a wilderness, where she was de:ivoed of
two children, d son and a daughter' who were soon wres..v,! trom
the arms of their mother. The daughter was taken care of
women, lint the son was borne away by an eagle, and brougl:t
Latham Park in Lancashire, where then lived Load Latham, who
heard the child lament, anti observing the i•kirt of the buy's mantle
hanghtg over the nest. bade his servant _to bring down the child to
him ; and as Lord Latham and his lady were without issue, and nut
likely to have any, being both advanced in life, they adopted this
child and called him ()skull of Latham. He is said to he the pre:.
genitor of the noble family of Latham and Stanley.'"---Ear.,MSS.
Coll. Arm.

No. 19. Lion Hunting, by J. Nonitwow, A.A.—That, aftet
having seen repeatedly on the continent and in this country such
subjects conceived by the fiery genius, eomposed by the ready-
hand, and colou r(d by the magic pencil, of l.nbens, we should stal:J
fixed with admiration- bethre this picture, is one of the best roofs
of its into merit, and an indispetable acknowledgment of the
artist's mental and pictoral powers. We 'unit, however, direct the
attention of those who pass too rapidly over the performances in
the rooms, to point to them the spirited head and energetic t4ce of
the horse, and the whole of kis body, which exhibit a profound
,-cievee of the anatomy bf this noble animal. Jo.veph emit his Brethren
(No .361 by the same artiit, is also entitled to much praise, chiay
on account of the new and natural nurturer iu w!rich the subject is
treated. It contains excellent passages of composition, design, and
expression.
No, 35. The Boor that killed Adonis brought &fore Venus, by G
.Al-. NAL°. This mythological subject is well known, and has been
celebrated by ancient and modern painters and poets. Mr. Arnold
has shown in this circumstance, a pleasing originality which cannot
WI exciting applause. The composition is elegant and lively, the
colouring well applied to the scene, and the style bold and free.
his Stern (No, N offers to oar view au excellent laudseare)ond ass