The Sun.
London, England, 1830-01-28 00:00:00

MEMOIRS OF BOLIVAR, 2 Voi.s.—LoNnoN, 1830.

So far as information, and a full acquaintance
with the very interesting and extraordinary topic
he discusses, viz., the- revolution in South
America, with which, of course, Bolivar's name
and actions are inseparably mixed up—so far as
these recommendations will tend to make a work
popular, the volumes before us, deserve, and will
no doubt obtain, a proportionate circulation.
But—what an extraordinary qualifying power,
by the way, this little influential monosyllable
possesses !—the Memoirs have one drawback ;
they are penned in a spirit adverse to the great
Liberator. Every now and then we perceive indi-
cations of a feeling inimical to Bolivar, and in
opposition to the opinion of the world,
and the recorded testimonies of his fellow-
patriots. At the close of the second
volume these feelings deepen into an hostility,
or rather rancour, the justice of which we are
little disposed to concede. According to the
author, in the summing up of his character, Bolivar
is a man of very inferior pretensions as a warrior,
and beneath contempt as a statesman. Of his
personal appearance we have tile following in-
sidious description :
" General Bolivar, in his exterior, in his physiognomy
in his whole deportment, has nothing which would he
noticed as characteristic or imposing.. His manners, his
conversation, his behaviour in society, have nothing ex-
traordinary in them, nothing which would attract the at-
tention of any one who did not know him ; on the con-
trary,• his exterior is against him. He is five feet four
inches in height, his visage is loug, his cheeks hollow, his
complexion a livid brown ; his eyes are of middle size, and
sunk deep in his head, which is covered thinly with hair;
and his whole body is thin and meagre. He has the ap-
pearance of a man sixty-fire years old. In walking, his
arms are in perpetual motion. He cannot walk long, but
soon becomes fatigued. Wherever he goes his stay is short,
seldom mote than half an hour, and as soon as he returns
his hammock is fixed, in which he sits or lies, and swings
upon it after the manner of his countrymen. Large mus-
tachios and whiskers cover a part of his face, and he is
very particular in ordering each of his officers to wear
them, saying that they give a martial air. This gives
him a dark and wild aspect, particularly when he is in a
passion. His eyes the❑ become animated, and he gesti-
culates and speaks like a madman, threatens to shoot those
with whom he is angry, steps quickly across his chamber,
or flings himself upon his hantmock ; then jumps out of
it, orders people out of his presence, and frequently- arrests
them. When be wishes to persuade, or bring any one to
his purpose, he employs the most seducing promises, taking
a man by the arm, and walking and speaking with him at
with his most intimate friend. As soon as his purpose is
attained, he becomes cool, haughty, and often sarcastic ;
but he never ridicules a man of high character, or a brave
man, except in his absence. This practise of abusing
people in their absence, is characteristic of the Caraguiut
generally."

While on the subject we may just venture to
allude to a report which is very prevalent through-
out Colombia, that Bolivar has of late evinced
a disposition to change the present form of his
government to that of a monarchy. W e hope
this is untrue ; it is but a sorry ambition ; Boli-
var is already as high in station and character as
it is possible for him to be. Why then does he
affect a crown ? Bolivar, the King, is incom-
parably inferior to Bolivar, the Liberator.

LIBRARY OF ENTERTAINING KNOWLEDGE.

PART H., Vor.s. 3, 4 —LONDON, 1830.

We are glad to find that this meritorious mis-
cellany runs on its course rejoicing ; in other
words, that it is rapidly acquiring that influence
and circulation to which its varied merits en-
title it. The plan on which it set out, and in
which it has since steadily persevered, is
admirably adapted to the wants and wishes of the
community—Nye mean the plan of simplifying,
so far as may be consistent with propriety, the
mysteries of knowledge, and rendering them
familiar to the most ordinary capacities. The
style of the " Library of Interesting Knowledge"
is every where pertinent and colloquial ; and the
matter, divested of all cumbrous and unneces-
sary technicalitiesz put forward in the most

easy and intelligible shape. The present
volumes con ,ist (,f" Insect Architecture," and the
" Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties,"
both which subjects, we need scarcely add, are
very delightfully treated.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC CLASS-BOOK.
LONDON. 1 830.

We do not usually notice Second Editions—
the perusal of one, in nine cases out of ten, being
quite sufficient for any reader of ordinary diges-
tion—but the one before us has been so mate-
rially enlarged and simplified (consequently im-
proved) in its plan, that for once we depart from
our usual habit, and bear this brief testimony to
its deserts.

THE FINE ARTS.

THE SPIRIT OF THE PLAYS OF SHAKSPEARE.

Mr. Frank Howard has here presented us
with Illustrations of two more of Shakspeare's
Plays—the matchless Othello and the extravagant,
ill-judged Titus ifndronicus, which last, as its
spirit is wholly at variance with the humane and
benevolent character of Shakspeare's acknow-
ledged dramas, we feel convinced was not written
by him, notwithstanding that here and there the
trace of a master-hand is visible. Of Mr.
Howard's Illustrations we shall content ourselves
with stating, having so often noticed his works
before, that they are replete with his usual
beauties, and that his figure of Desdemona, in
particular, is the very spirit of grace and femi-
nine sensibility. His Illustrations of Andronicus
are naturally and vividly executed. The present
number completes the second volume of a work
which should adorn the library of every gentle-
man who takes a delight in patronising the fine
arts—but more especially when those arts are
devoted by admiring genius to do honour to the
glowing and varied creations of our immortal
bard. Mr. Howard's perseverance is second only
to his merit—and the union of both cannot fail

:0 ensure success.

ANECDOTES OF FUSELI.

In a pecuniary point of view Fuseli's pictures of the
Milton Gallery were unproductive; but the praise which
the attempt and much of the execution obtained gratified
the painter, nor was he unwilling to believe, that, like the
poem which they embellished, they would have but an
agc, of oblivion and many centuries of light. They were
all visible, he said, to his fancy before he painted them.
He pondered over the (poet till he was fully possessed with
the character of the scene; the figures which belonged to
it appeared as it were in a vision : but he nevertheless
complained of the splendour in which his fancy invested
them, and declared that lie could not paint up to his ima-
gination. In comparing those splendid fictions with
living nature, he was struck, he often said, with the
lamentable deficiencies of the latter; yet conscious that by
nature he must be tried and judged, he was heard to exclaim
is a fit of peevishness, " Nature !—she always puts
me out." He had sometimes the cu: iosity to walk into
the Milton Gallery after it was opened to the public, and
as it was never very crowded, he could look at his works
without much fear of interruption. One day a visitor ac-
co'ted him, mistaking him for the keeper. " Those
paintings, Sir, are from Paradise Lost I hear, and Para-
dise Lost was written by Milton—l have never read the
poem, but I shall read it now." " I would not advise
you, Sir," said the sarcastic artist, " you will find it an
exceedingly tough job." In the original sketch of the
guardian angels forsaking our first parents after the fall,
they were represented rising on wings He looked
earnestly at his sketch, and exclaimed—for he generally
thought aloud—" They shall rise without wings." He
tried and succeeded.

Fuseli was, on the whole, liked as Keeper of the Royal
Academy. It ;was true that he was often satiric and
severe on the students—that he defaced their drawings by
correction which, compared to their weak and trembling
lines, seemed traced by a tar-mop, and that he called them
tailors and bakers, and vowed that there was more genius
in the claw of one of Michael Angelo's eagles than in all
the heads with which the Academy was swarming. The
youths on whom this tempest of invective fell smiled—and
the Keeper, pleased by submission, walked up to each
easel—whispered a word of advice confidentially, and re-
tired in peace to enjoy the company of his Homer, Michael
Angelo, Dante, and Milton.—Family Library, No. X.
Lives of the Artists.

DISTRESS OF TILE COUNTRY.

REQUISITION TO THE HIGH SHERIFF 01' SUFFOLK.

At our Sessions last week, the Jurors appended the fol
lowing observations to their presentment :
" Grand Jury Room, Bury St. Edmund's, Jan.) 9.

" That we should ill discharge our duty as Grand Jurors,
were we to separate without expressing our deep regret at
the alarming situation of the country, but more particularly
of the agricultural interest.
" Such is the depression of the occupiers of the soil that,
in numerous instance', they are prevented from affording
employment to the labouring hands, whereby they might
gain an honest livelihood, many of whom are driven in
consequence to the unsatisfactory alternative of receiving
aid from the parish, or of seeking a subsistence by the
illegal means of poaching or depredation, if not driven to
crimes of a more daring or malevolent description.
" Under these circumstances, so fraught with ruin to
the country at large, we trust the Magistrates here assem -
bled will use their exertions to convene a Meeting of this
county, in order that the state of the suffering agriculturist
may be publicly considered, and laid before Parliament,
under the hope of obtaining some permanent and efficient
relief."

At the time the presentment was handed to the Bench, a
requisition to the High Sheriff, which had been previously
signed by Earl Stradbroke and Lord Huntingfield, was re-
ceiving the signatures of the Magistrates ; and it was
afterwards handed to the Grand Jury for theirs. All the
Jurors signed it, save one, the agent of Lord Calthorpe.—
S uffolk uld.

A requisition to the High Sheriff of the county of Flilit
is in course of signature to call a Public Meeting " to take
into consideration the distress which so unhappily pervades
all classes in the country, and to petition Parliament there-
upon."—The importance of this county is not to he esti-
mated by its extent, its minerals forming a large portion of
its wealth, anr! employing a very numerous population.
A requisition has been presented to the High Sheriff of
Essex, requesting him to call a Meeting, to take into con-
sideration the distressed state of the agriculture and trade of
the country, and to make such representations to the Le-
gislature as may induce an immediate inquiry into the
causes thereof, and the means of applying some speedy and
effectual relief.

At Oakham market, on Saturday, a resolution was drawn
up by the freeholders and occupiers of land, addressed to
Sir Gerard Noel, Bart , and Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Bart.,
calling upon them to adopt such measures as will
give the county an opportunity of meeting at the Castle at
Oakhatn, upon the subject of the distressed state of agri-
culturc.—A similar resolution is drawn up in Leicester-
shire, by parsons occupying their own estates, who state
that they cannot continue to go on under existing circum-
stances. The r, solution is forwarded to the County Members.

Monsieur BERMUDEZ, the Spanish Minister,
had an interview with the Earl of ABERDEEN yesterday, at
the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

DEATH OF FusELL—He spoke with the
same cheerful resignation and calmness to Lady GUILD-
FORD and her accompli•hed daughters, who watched over
him with much solicitude, and seemed uneasy and restb ss
when Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE, who admired and loved
him, was away from his side. Early in the morning of
the fifth day of his illness a fatal change in his looks was
visible—he seemed aware of this—he looked anxiously-
round the room—said several times in a low and agitated
voice, "Is LAWRENCE comp—is LAWRENCE come?" and
then appeared to listen for the sound of the chariot wheels
which brought his friend once a-day from London to his
bed-side. Ile raised himself up a little—then sank down
.
and died, on the 16th of April, 1825, in the 84th year of
his ay.—Family Library, No. X. Lives of the Artists.