The National Register.
London, England, 1813-05-30 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGI

•TER..

MAY SO.

American Papers have brought us an Act of Congress cal-
culated to excite the highest indignation. The first section
authorises" full and ample retaliation to be made according
to the laws and usages of war" should any of those laws and
usages be violated by any act of violence on the part of the
British. • With this we have no fault to find. The second
section is to inflict retaliation when, and where" the established
laws and usages of war" do not allow it. To quote it will be
sufficient to show both its injustice and atrocity. Only the
dread of still severer retaliation, and the most signal offensive
hostilities on our part can bring Mr. MADISON and the
American Congress to their senses.
In all cases where any outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity shall
be or have been practised by any Indian or Indians in alliance with the
British Government, or in connection those actiog under the autho-
rity of the said Governnient, against Citizens of the 'Jolted States, or
those under its protection, the President of the United States is hereby
authorised to cause full and ample retaliation to be done and executed
on dll such British subjects, soldiers, seamen. or marines, ur Indians,
n alliance or connection with Great Britain, being, prisoners of war, as
the gime mtrar, or act of cruelty. or barb arity, had been dune under
file authority of the British Gi,vernment."
A vessel has arrived at Plymouth, belonging to London,
which was taken by an American privateer, and was recar-
tured by the Hydra. The ship alluded to had 17 passengers
on board, and on her capture an indiscriminate and most
shameful pillage ensued. The Captain of the privateer
himself took from the English Captain his spying-glass,
quadrant, and other. instruments -useful in navigatiop, while
his Officers and crew plundered the passengers of every thing
but that which they wore. From one lady they took 13
pair of silk hose; and, to complete the scene, the English
crew entered into the American service. The Hydra fri-
gate, however, fortunately fell in with, and captured, the
privateer and prize, and the Officers of the Hydra, on being
informed of what had occurred, directed the passengers to
take by force from the Americans their ill-gotten plunder;
a permission•which was immediately acted on, and the whole
of the stolen notes, cash, watches, cloathes, &c. were reco-
vered. The next act of justice was to send the English
crew, who had deserted the coloers of their country, on
board the Salvador del Mundo, in Hainoaze, where they
now are. The Captain of the privateer boastingly informed
the English Captain, that the American frigates were deter.
mined to engage, and he had no doubt would carry our se•
venty-fours
The Arethusa frigate is arrived at Portsmouth from Vera
Cruz. She has on boar d 472,000 dollars for Government,
and 300,000 for merchants. The Arethusa brings accounts.
that the insurgents in Mexico are greatly reduced, and
incapable of much resistance. On the .sth of March, three
millions and a half of dollars arrived at Vera Cruz from
Mexico, under the protection of a small escort. The
Arethusa arrived at Bermuda, on her way to England, on the
2d of Mai', having touched both at Jamaica and Havannah.
Friday a grand dinner was given in commemoration of •
the late Mr.PITT'S Birth-day, at the London Tavern, in
Bishopsg,ate-street, at which the Lord CHANCELLOR, Lord
LIVERPOOL, Mr. CANNING, and a great number of other
persons of distinction, were present.
The Majestic, one of the cut down 74's, is to sail imme-
diately for America. Admiral G RIFF IT us hoists his flag on
board the Majcstic, as Commander at Halifax.
The PRINCE REGENT, it is said, has transferred to the
Duke of BRUNSWICK the 15,0001. left by his late mother to
I the PRINCESS of W ALES, and which, as her husband, became
Ithe property of the PRINCE.
The two junior brothers of ALEXANDER, viz. the Grand
Duke NICHOLAS, and the Grand Duke MICHAZI., are
about to pay a visit to this country.
•

I

MAY 36.

FINE ARTS.

SOMERSET-HOUSE EXHIBITION.
(Continued from our last.)

No. 328. Futychus restored to life by St. Paul, by J. 13. LANZ.—
We cannot help reproving some faults in the design of this picture,
although we find rtoln enough to be satisfied, if we look merely for
a clever distribution of light and shade, and for a pleasing tone of
harmony in the colouring.
No. 353. Sour Apples. by M. W. SITARP.—There is a great deal
of nature. in this perfisrmance ; the classical gawkiness of the griped
boy, the solemn pomposity of the doctor, the archness of the sister.
who steals from the pocket of the patient the cause of the family
distress; every part is touched with intelligence and no small know-
ledge of the human face. The subject is truly laughable, and, we
- ate afraid, pinch too common. in domestic life.
No. 293. Mary anointing the feet 4 Jesus, by W. HtLTON.—Thanks
be given to the venerable President of the Royal Academy, who,
like the prophet who called the fire of heaven upon the altar, has
inspired so many of our artists with the love of sacred themes. The
eternal Gamily of Piam and Hecuba, the nudities and indecencies
of mythological subjects, have yielded their usurped places to the
more suitable composition• drawn from the inexhaustible soarce issu-
ing out and flowing with perennial clearness,from under the mysterious
leaves of the sacred writ; and the events of the world, the most in-
timately connected with the redemption and salvation of man, have
attached to the dignified easel the attention of our best performers
in the art of painting. Since the public exhibition of Mr. West's
famous picture " Christ healing the sick in the Temple ;" since the
private views of the greater performance he is now creating, religi-
ous subjects have become more numerous, and our walls will soon
be decorated with nothing but scripture delineations. As long as taste
will go hand-in-band with this new fashion, we cannot but gain and
improve by it. Mr. Hilton's genius caught early the sacred flame,
and has already successfully animated with it the passive area of
the canvass. The performance, under our eyes, has a strong claim
to praise, and onglit not to 14 dismissed without solid and impar-
tial observations. It has been remarked that the figure of Christ
has not that effeminacy which has too often detracted from the ma-
jesty of the son of God in ancient and modern painting: but we
cannot help confessing that, here, it wants much of that compound
of meekness and benevolence, amiability and forbearance, affability
and nobleness, which ougl;t to characterize the divinity enwrapped
in the human shape. We must allow that Judas has lost somewhat
of that blackguard mien which from Da Vinci to Callot has been
constantly stamped upon him ; but we must yield, if not to truth,
when unattainable, to prejudices and traditions when consecrated
by custom. Who would not laugh to see Peter with a full and fine
head of hair, or Paul painted bald and with a grey beard ? Thus
the eye would stare at Iscariot with a good countenance. Mary
Magdalen is well placed, the whole composition breathes grandeur
and majesty, the back ground is noble and coloured with suitable
tints, and, for ought we know, classically right ; but the figures
are not round, the air does not glide easily between the groups, the
drapery ir, nearly without exception, heavy and ctunbersome, and
the colouring has the appearance of tapistry. However the severe
impartiality of our criticism must stand as an evident proof of the
great esteem and glowing hopes of improvement we entertain for
the artist, and the uncommon share of merit we allow to his per-
formance. It was an arduous task, and his attempt at doing justice
to it declares a bold and fertile mind.
No. 740. Powers, by .Miss CRAIG.—No. 686. Flowers from Na-
ture, by Miss LEACH.--NO. 636. Flowers, by Miss Sit EFFIELD, H.—
No. 692. Flowers from Nature, by Miss LAWRENCE.—No. 718.
Flowers from Nature, by Miss Soluxux.-.-No. 729. 'Mpg Iris,
by Miss Horwoon, &c. &c. &c.—The Godiloos of the Garden, the
beloved of Zephire, Flora is painted by the fanciful hand of mytho=
logy as a beautiful young woman, and it is but right that the fairest
part of the creation should employ their leizure hours in the delinea-
tion of the most delicate works of nature. They have, even in this
case, a notable advantaoc, for should the freshness and high colour-
ing of their models unfortunately fade during the performance,
their mirror would still supply the deficiency. In all the composi-
tions above mentioned, we perceive nuich elegance, much taste,
ITinch delicacy; but we should advise those who have been blessed
with patience and lightness of hand, to leave the dry and hard style
of distemper colour, for the free and flowing style of oil•colour
painting. Among so many female adepts above named, we feel shy
in selecting those who have best succeeded, and leave to the silent
judgment of the visitors to decide who is to be gifted with the first
swath of praise.

349

No. 577. Portrait of Mrs. Hope, in enamel Off G. Dewy, A. by
H. BONE, B. A.--We recollect with pleasure the portrait of this
amiable lady in last ye ir's Exhibition, and we .are happy to find
that the enamel painter has translated ail the beauties of the original,
and the careful and high finishing of every part, a peculiarity be-
longing to the faire of Mr. Dawe's performances.
To be continued.)

DRAItIA,TIC REGISTER.

COVENT GARDEN.

A new Melo-Drama was last night produced at this Theatre, en-
titled, " [he Brazen Bust."
The plot of this Piece turns on the difficulties, danzers, and
hair-breadth escapes of two lovers; one of whom (Frederick) de-
serfs from the service of the Prince Palatine, to rescue his wi:e
( Floreska) from the Prince. Frederick reaches the palace, and is
concealed by Herman in a room beneath a Brazen Bust, which con-
tains the key-hole by means of which the secret apartment is opened.
Discovered, he flies the palace, and is joined byllerman and Fiorill:.
They are overtaken, and the two latter are made prisoners. Fre-
derick escapes by a boat, but is afterwards thrown on the shore by a
storm, and brought back to the Prince. A Court Martial is called,
he is doomed to death, and the Prince orders the immediate execu-
tion of the sentence.

While these events are passing, the Prince recognises on a table
in a cottage sonic words which he had formerly carved on it, vow-
ing unalterable attachment to Louisa, a lady whom he afterwards
abandoned, on being elevated to his present rank. He is struck
with remorse at hearing of her death, and with amazement at
learning that belote she breathed her last, she gave life to a son.
This son is proved to be Frederick, who at the moment of the dis-
covery was about to suffer as a deserter, by his command. The
sentence is instantly revoked, Frederick and Floreska are restored
to each other, and the Prince who is now all contrition, resolves es
that spot to raise a monument to the memory of the injnr:ll Louisa.
From the resemblance which this drama bears in its plot to " The
Point of Honour," it may at first sight be stipposed to have beets
unfairly borrowed front that Piece. This suspicion must vanish
when it is known that it is from the pen of Mr. C. KEMBLE, who
gave "The Point of Honour" 'to the Stage. After this it must be
concludod, that from that Play not appearing often en the Stock
List, Mr. K. was desirous of presenting the Public with a minia-
ture, that it may not be forgotten altogether.
e " Brazen Bust" furnishes several good situations, and knot
destitnte of interest. It has no very :;trong claims on nubile ap-
probation ; but, as a pleasing trifle, it will run the usual number of
nights without opposition. It was well received. We have no
room for further remarks.