The Sun.
London, England, 1830-01-11 00:00:00

SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE.

DEATH OF MR. w .T.ETT.

(From the Spectator.)
(FROM A CORRt,'SPO.NI)c.:\ T.) . . .We little expected to he called to the melancholy duty
of commencing this branch of our weekly labours with an
account of the death of the President of the Royal Act- ho Died, on Wednesday the thli instant, ai his
use in Finsbury, W. M. Willett, Esq., a
demy. Sir Thomas Lawrence expired at his house in gentleman well known and esteemed in the pe7
Russell-square, on Thursday night, a little before ten riodical press. Mr. Willett was horn in this
o'clock. He had dined with Mr. Peel on Saturday; but metropolis ' of a respectable family, and was
feeling unwell, retired early. From Sunday till Tuesday '
the malady seemed alternately to increase and remit. On originally brought up to the law, in which, in_
Wednesday, symptoms of inflammation in the bowels al,- deed, he practised for some time as a solicitor,
geared. Up to the period of this his last illness, he had under most favourable auspices, from his own
enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, and was re-
markably hale in look and habit. We are indebted to a talents 'and assiduity, and the concurrent sup..
port of extensive and powerful connections.
friend for the following particulars of the short illness
But he had a taste for the mechanical arts,
which terminated so fatally.
" Sir Thomas had felt unwell since Saturday, but be which interrupted his legal career ; and being
continued painting as usual till Wednesday evening. On strongly pressed by some friends in that part of
that night he felt very ill, and sent for two physicians, Dr.
Holland and Sir Henry Halford ; they put him to bed and .the country, who appreciated his value, he was
administered medicines. He continued in pain the whole induced to transfer his property and direct the
of the next day, but not al much as is generally the ease powers of his mind to the cotton manufacture,
in disorders of the bowels. He talked upon serious sub- and became the proprietor of a large spinning
jects to a lady, a relative, who was staying with him ; but
he did not seem conscious of his danger, nor was there any concern in the West Itidiiig of Yorkshire.
appearance of apb,:oachint dissolution, for the lady had There his inventive genius, his acute penetra-
lett the room for a short time, leaving his confidential sec- tion, his varied information, had an ample field.
vant with his master. She was alarmed by a shriek from He made himself in a short time completely
the man, and on entering saw Sir Thomas dead in the arms versed in the wonderful properties of the ma-
of his servant. His dissolution had almost immediately sue- chinery then worked ; he did more, numerous
ceeded the operation of the medicines. Sir Thomas was
in his 59th year. He leaves behind him a sister, a bra- were his improvements to facilitate and cheapen
ther, and two nieces. None of his near relatives were in i human laboiir, then a real desideratum ; and his
town. Several eminent sculptors applied for perm ssion inventions, which were many, and benefitted all
to take a cast of his features;. but Mr. Baily, R.A., but their author, manifested the grasp and vigour
who was a personal friend of the deceased, alone was al..
lowed the mournful satisfaction of perpetuating the last
impression of features of departed genius "
of a spirit rich in original combinations. There
. is reason to believe that had he been so dis-
For the last thirty years, Sir Thomas Lawrence enjoyed f posed, he could have successfully disputed Dr.
the highest reputation as a portrait painter. In early Cartwright's claim to the invention and perfect-
life he was involved in great difficulties; and many re- ing of the power-loom, which is working such
member his painting heads at the price of three guineas
each, when he lived in Soho-square. The grace and ele-
woders in the cotton trade ; but Mr. Willett
fiance of his female portraits were even then remarkable; had a mind superior to petty jealousies, and at
and his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, having a time of even churlish exclusion, when a
seen the paintings of Mr. Lawrence of several ladies whom . stranger's face in other places was considered
he knew, was, struck with the beautiful fidelity of the . that of a spy, if not an enemy, his manufactory,
likenesses, and gave the artist some commissions. This .
at once stamped his reputation, and laid the foundation of known and acknowledged to be the best
his fortune. Mr. Lawrence's gentlemanly manners and managed, and to contain machinery made after
courteous address raised him also to a share of the Prince's his own plans and under his own eye, unequalled
personal esteem ; and he continued to receive frequent ! in the neighbourhood, was open equally to his
marks of the Royal favour, until his elevation to the chair . strangers, neighbours and and every explanation
of the Academy, vacant by the death of Mr. West,
crowned him with the highest honours of art. His fame patiently and willingly and liberally entered into
has from that time continued to increase; and the number :by him, which could enable them to under-
and rank of his sitters was a perpetual homage of genius, stand and apply, as was universally done, his
talent, and wealth, to his transcendent skill as a painter. principles and practice to their own establishments.
The characteristics of his style were, brilliancy of colour,
He e b
. e considered the most able, as well
and a delicate mode of conveying a faithful resemblance, n
was to
with an elegant contour. This perception of beauty and as the leading man in the manufacture in those
grace was combined with a strong sense of individuality of parts. The great talents and perseverance with
character; and the eye of the master was obeyed by the j which he carried on his undertakings, did not,
hand of taste, accomplished in all the refinements of art i however, meet their due reward •; after a lapse of
that practised skill could render available. His female
portraits, fur womanly sweetness and the charm of natural years, lie was obliged to abandon it ; but it is
beauty and loveliness, heightened by grace and elegance, some tribute to his mechanical powers, that his
were unapproached by any living artist; and they sur- successors in the concern, acting upon his plans,
passed, in richness of colour, fleshiness, and accurate repre- and with his improved machinery, have realized
sentation of nature, even the female portraits of Vandyke
himself. He has left a name immortalized by his works. an immense fortune—report says, of at least two
It may he interesting to know that he was employed on hundred thousand pounds. Mr. Willett re-
a splendid portrait of the King in his robes, and worked turned to London at a period of great political
upon it on the Wednesday preceding his death. He had excitement, and became editor of the Statesman
touched no drawing since the beautiful lithographic draw- at the period of the 0. P. war ; proprietor and
ing of Miss Fanny Kemble, by Mr. Lane, which we
editor of the Aallred; and after being engaged in
noticed in our last number. In the progress of this draw-
ing he took exceeding interest, and Mr. Lane worked upon other periodicals, became the conductor of the
it for several days at Sir Thomas's house and under his British Traveller, which he quitted somewhat
eye. Sir Thomas added frequent touches, and was de- about 1826, after having considerably raised
lighted with the process. This beautiful print may, both its reputation and circulation. In these ea-
therefore, be considered as affording a specimen of the
touch of the master hand upon a material hitherto strange pacifies he mixed freely with many leading poli-
to him. Mel he lived, the world would, in all probability, tical characters, and for such situations he was
have been delighted with the appearance of a drawing on eminently qualified by very respectable literary
stone entirely of his own production. As it is, the pre- acquirements ;by an acquaintance with the great
sent print will become additionally valuable from this cir- manufacturing, commercial, and political interests
namstance.
.. . . _

Sir Thomas Lawrence was a fosterer of rising talent,
where he approved of its direction in a young artist. As
a friend, he was generous and munificent.
In looking round the circle of genius in the Royal
Academy for a successor, there appears no one more
worthy of the Presidentship than Mr. Wilkie. His fame
has stood the test of many years of ,competition and criti-
cism; and he is of long standing in the Academy. His
latter productions have evinced not only a taste for, but a
power in the delineation of historical subjects; and in por-
trait painting, the branch of art most assiduously cultivated
in England, Mr. Wilkie can bear comparison with Phillips
and even Jackson. Messrs. Etty and Landseer are as yet
young, whilst most of the Academicians are veterans in
years as well as in.aart. Mr. Wilkie's weak state of health
would seem almost the only bar to his election. But
wherever the choice may fall, we trust ike Academy will
bear in mind that the eyes of the nation are upon them;
and that in the exercise of their difficult and delicate, but
important duty, personal feeling is to bead to the award
of judgment on the claims of merit.
(From the Sunday Times.)
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Mrs. Bloxam, his sister, wife of the Itev. Dr. Bloxam,
is at present seriously indisposed.
The last effort of his pencil is more brilliant in colour-
ing, and more finished, than any thing he had previously
executed for his Majesty. The likeness is most striking.
The body is to be removed to the Royal Academy, there
to lie i❑ state. The King is said to be deeply affected by
the event.

The father of Sir Thomas Lawrence kept the Bear Inn,
at Devizes, where he was unsuccessful, although the most
polite and plausible Boniface of the day. In person be
was tall and rotund ; to the last he wore a large bushy
wig and a cocked hat. His manners were mild and pleas-
ing, and his countenance blooming and graceful. The
father, the eminent artist, a brother, and, we believe, two
sisters, came to London, and resided under the same roof,
at a house in Greek-street, Soho, where they depended
solely for support upon the rising talents of Sir Thomas.
In these days, the old gentleman used to sell pencil
sketches and portraits, the early drawings of his son, for
half-a-guinea each, many of which have since been re-pur-
chased by him at a high price. Sir Thomas, during his
obscurity, and want of employment as an artist, lived
much on what is called " the Town," and improved him-
self in the accomplishments requisite to form the gentle-
man and the man of fashion. He was a scientific and
successful billiard-player, and he constantly frequented
many of the public tables, especially those at the east end
of Exeter 'Change. He played the violin admirably, and
danced with infinite grace. He recited poetry, and de-
claimed with taste and discrimination. His performance.
in the Private Theatricals at the late Marquis of Aber-
corn's, at Stanmore, evinced so much dramatic skill and
knowledge of stage effect, as must have insured to him
pre-eminence, had he adopted the stage as a profession.
He was once to have married a young lady of great beauty
and accomplishments, the daughter of the most eminent
and intellectual woman in her art that has lived in our
time, and who still survives; but at that period his own
income was extremely limited, and the father of the lady,
who was then living, refused his consent. The noblest
efforts of his art have, subsequently, been exerted in per-
petuating various real and historical resemblances of the
different branches of this family. The lady herself died
of a pulmonary complaint many years ago.

of the country, which it falls to the lot of few
men to possess ; and by a mild conciliatory
manner, a real benevolence of disposition,. which
combined well with the business-like manner and
needful reserve with which he went through his
official duties. It is needless to say that such a
man has left many friends to lament his loss.
As some testimony of the value of his mecha-
nical acquirements, it may be added that Mr.
Willett was deputed by some gentlemen of this
city during the last year on a mission to Man-
chester, in order to put in motion and report
upon certain inventions and improvements which
were believed to be peculiarly applicable to the
cotto❑ manufacture. The writer of this met him
there, and is enabled to assert, that the variety
and accuracy of his knowledge, and his acquaint-
ance with every new process and improvement,
even after so long a separation from the manu-
facture, were such as to surprise some of the
most practised persons of that metropolis of me•-
chanical science.
Mr. Willett was in the 63d year of his age.
He died in the possession of a character of un-
blemished integrity, and amiability of manner,
and few men have better earned it.

DARING AND EXTENSIVE ROBBERY Al
THE ROYAL MINT.

A robbery was committed at the Royal Mint on Satur-
day to a great extent, and under circumstances of great
audacity. It appears that a man named Keith, who is em-
ployed at the Royal Mint, had above 2,000 gold blanks
given over to him, for the purpose of putting into the re-
gular process of stamping for sovereigns. He went away
with the blanks, and was not missed for some time after-
wards, when inquiries were made for him, and it was
found that he had decamped with the property. Informa-
tion was immediately sent to the Master of the Mint, J. C.
Herries, Esq., and the other superior officers, and the
most prompt measures taken to secure the delinquent.
The utmost caution was used to prevent the circum-
stances from being made public, as by such course it was
thought likely that the police, who were sent in pursuit
of Keith, would succeed in apprehending him. The exer-
tions of the 'police have not yet, however, been successful.
By order of Government a reward of 5001. has been of-
fered for the apprehension of Keith, who has been em-
ployed in the Mint for several years, and was generally re-
spected as being a good workman, and heretofore considered
very honest.

One hundred pounds are offered by the Mint for the ap-
prehension of Keith, 1001. upon his conviction, and 3001.
upon the recovery of the whole of the property stolen, or
in proportion fur any part thereof.
Up to this morning no slue has been discovered to the
retreat of the offender. Keith is about 46 years of age.