The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-26 00:00:00

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the msurczents have been defeated in several engagements
by the King's troops, and that a speedy restoration of
tranquillity was expected to take place in that part of the
Cot.tinent of South America. The troops lately sent
there by the Mother Country has been of the utmost ser•
vice. They arrived soon after the defeat of RoYAN, which
enabled the Viceroy Vei FGAE to follow up the blow with
the greatt.st possible effect.

FINE ARTS.

EXHIBITION OF MR. WILKIE'S PICTURES.

Whenever we enter a public or private Gallery of antiew and modern I
Pictures, if we loosen the reigns of nut imagination, we anon fancy our- 1
Delves on the Parnassus ; and, in a temple consecrated to-the muse of i
Painting, we see the Goddess placed on high upon her rich and varie-
gated throne, surrounded by all the worthies she ever inspired. Led by
Calliope and Clio, the historical Painters stand on the highest steps ;
there we find RAPHAEL, MICHAEL ANGELO, TITIAN, THE CARRACI,
DOMENICHINO, Ruacus, and all those high-minded Artists, who con.
secrated their lives to the study of the loftiest themes which human
skill, In delineation, could ever imagine or execute. Next to them,
appear, under the guidance of Pales and Pan, CLAUDE, Pons six , and
'WILSON, BERCHEM, CUYP, and LOUTHERBOURG, with their eyes
fixed upon the verdure of the eircurnjacent landscapes, and the azure un-
dulations of the surrounding hills. A step lower, the Genius of Flanders
and Holland, accompanied by Moms, Erato, and Terpsiebare, points
out to US TErns as and OSTADE, 1:IERIS and MsTzu,and many others,
whose steadines4, and freedom of pencil, patience of mind, and sedu-
lous attention, art: still so conspicuous in the high finished, and never
fairing performances of their hands. Their subjects were simple and
homely, but the difficulty of reducing the common size of familiar oh-
pets, without substracting any part of natural expression and Colour-
ing, ought to compensate, in the balance of Impartiality, the deficit
which might be complained of as to Invention and composition. Con-
scious of this, the muse has always shown herself as partial to these
Masters as to any others in the highest walks of the Art, and Taste has

bestowed most willingly her substantial rewards upon them.
Whether it is owing to a peculiar turn of mind, or to some accidental I,
circomsvnces which may have thrown in the way of Mr. WILKIE
AilleLpeaaistiopeajenens4,l I.2..utch and Fibiribikperformances, we cannot
""""r"--4,eid-e, -but certain it is, that their sweet tone of colouring, the humour
of the subj:xts which they generally represent, and their felicity in ex-
hibil ing nature ccluti in speculum, correctly and strictly as she is, seem
to have attracted the earliest attention of this extraordinary Artist,
and to have.been the occa4onal causes of the brilliant and rapid success
he has made in this department of Painting. We do not believe, that
because Holland beats on the map nearly the same degree of latitude
as Caledonia, the Muse was pleased to fly f-om the one to the other,
as if a special mode of painting was exclusively affected to certain cli-
mates ; however it cannot be denied (and it is a curious fact well worth
our attention) that no individual of any nation, except the Dutch and
Flemish painters, ever succeeded in conversations, drolls, interiors,
&c. half so well as Mr. WILKIE ; and we congratulate the
nation at large, and thesßoyal Academy in particular, on their being
possessed of a•young Artist, who is certainly, at this moment, most ex-
cellent in the species of Painting he has embraced. Let him proceed
steadily In the agreeable career he has )ntaneously entered, and lose no
time, as -too many have done, in flattering inconsistently from one
branch of painting to another. We were happy to witness the numerous
company which frequents his Exhibition Room, and intend to give,
next Sunday, our opinion upon several of the sweet pieces exkosed

th ,!r e.

Let those buy now, who never bought before,
And those who always bough, now buy the inure,

in the LOT TKRY all to he Drawn the 30th of this MONTT-T.,
April ; it containing Prizes of as meat magnitude with others of
wine never before known, and on:y 11:.,000 Ti..kets. These cupe-:ior
advantages will no doubt cati,e a scarcity (tf Tickets and Shares : an
immediate purchase is, they. fore, nspeofully advised by LADY
BRANiCOMB, Widow of Sir .1. Brmt,comb, No. 1, Holborn-bari,
enrner of Middle-row, being the only (Ake licensed by aud ig the
Valais of lig