The Sun.
London, England, 1822-07-31 00:00:00

WEST'S GALLERY.

The Gallery in which the Pictures of the late
PRESIDENT are displayed is by far the most mag-
nificent in the Metropolis, and more admirably
constructed,. both for conveying a lofty uninter-
rupted light on the Pictures, and for producing an
effect on the beholder which better prepares him to
contemplate the productions of art by which he is
surrounded, than any structure for the same pur-
pose in the kingdom. Before we proceed to
speak of the more striking and beautiful Pictures,
we will avail ourselves of the opportunity afford-
ed us 'of offering some general remarks on the
genius and manner, of this great Master. That
WEST possessed both elevation of mind and
powerful imagination, his works incontrovertibly
declare. He knew the dignity and moral utility,
of his art,' and never profaned it-by delineating
subjects which can only pander to the evil pro-
pensities of mankind. Even those subjects which
are selected from the ancient mythology, and
from the classic poets, are treated with a purity
and chastity that admit of their being examined
by every eye. if this had been his only claim'
to commendation, it would have been a high apd
an uncommon one, and should have been held
up as an example to the professors of his art.
—ln addition to this first and Necessary qua-
lification, he possessed great and ready ferti-,
lity of conception, a certain and rapid execution,
and kknowledge of harmony in composition
which has never been excelled. Let his pic-
tures, numerous as they are, be examined, and
the eye is seldom intruded on by lines in com-
position which' are not in harmony with the whole.
His knowledge of keeping, though true, ,was not
managed with that skill which gave his Chiaro
Oscuro all the force which his use of it deserved.
Few of Mr. West's Pictures are deficient in a
correct disposition of colours, , yet the want of
softness in, we are sorry to observe, a great num-
ber of his Pictures, has deprived them of that
charm which many of the works of Italian Mas-1
ters of inferior stamp to him possess. His-draw-.,
ing was firm and good; its.ease and graceful feel-
ing are often obscured by that want of softness
of which we have reluctantly complained. His
power of expression is most clearly evinced when
he depicted feelings, either sublime, heroic, or
when the sterner and more violent passions were'
to be pourtrayed—there are specimens of pathos
and gentlenesi among-his works, of great beauty,
' but' they are not numerous.
The writings of Homer and Shakespeare, of
_ _ . -

Dante and Milton are not without their faults.

Therefore we must not expect to find perfectipn
in the works of West. We will not enter
into a critical detail of the greater productions
of this Master of his Art, but offer some ge-
neral, and yet, we trust, just and obvious,
remarks. Where is there in the world a

picture of CHRIST REJECTED, which, in grandeur
of design, in expression, in the combination of all
the circumstances relating to the event, can com-

pare with this picture of West's ? If the answer
to this question is the same as our own, and we
believe that it must be, the meed of the high,

est commendation is justly granted. This mag-
nificent work may, in some parts, be deficient in
the colouring ; it may be crowded in dome por.;
Lions of the composition,and possess minor faults,
which the judicious artist
.and connoisseur will
discover, and which the former will endeavour
to avoid, the latter use as memoranda by which
to judge leniently of the works of those who can
never dispute the palm with \Vest. In this pic-
ture the figure of Christ is beautiful, but, its
beauty is not immediately' perceived, but in time
it steals upon the beholder, then wins on' him
until he is satisfied that if it does come up to
his idea of the character of the Divine Redeemer,
that it is amongst the happiest efforts of the
pencil to delineate it. The character of Mary,
the earthly parent of Christ, is so fine, that we
hardly know where its equal is to be found—in
that face is deep parental grief, partially sub-
dued by the consideration of the end that Christ
was about to fulfil, and which were doubtless
known to Mary ; the contour of her figure is at
once graceful and majestic, and' her attire of the
most becoming order. The Samaritan Woman,
with her hands clasped, is a
,specimen of com-
pound expression which must both attract and be
admired. The Weeping Peter needs no com-
mendation ; and- the Head of the, Thief that
Repented, is, and ever will be, esteemed by
the highest judges of art as ' unrivalled. Our
limits will not allow us to enter farther
into detail, but after the enumeration of
these transcendent beauties, cold indeed must
be the critic who would dwell on defects: we
might as well cast aside the Paradise Lost of
Milton, because in it we are toll immaterial sub-
stances warred in coats of mail. The Death on'
the Pale Horse is an attempt greater, though not
so complicated, than Michael Angelo's Day of
Judgment. The vigour of the rushing steed,
and the character of, the animal, are truly grand.
The head of Death is as complete a fulfilment of
the terrible sublime as is to be found within the
range of Arty it is more, we see delineated in it
what no pen has yet described. That there are
faults in this picture we do not deny. It seems
as if the vigour of the Artist was exhausted in
the more terrific delineations, and languidly com-
posed the remaining parts of this bold and ex-
traordinary work. Perhaps the most perfect of
the great productions Of this Artist is Moses re-
ceiving the Tables of the Law. The effect of
this picture is majestic, the whole in perfect taste, i
and in time it will be pronounced fit to class with
works on which ages and nations have placed the
signet of immortality. If it is to those works in-
ferior in colour, it is superior in correctness; if
it is not as powerful in tone, it contains neither
anachronisms nor absurdities ; if it is does not
charm with the softness of its tints, it attract
by the elevation and majesty of its concep-
tion. Among the smaller works of West is
Regulus quitting Rome for Carthage. Unless our
information is incorrect, and we believe it cor-
rect, his Majesty's admiration and estimation
of that noble picture are so high that most es-
pecial orders have been issued for its preserva-
tion. Regulus has, by one master, been depicted
enclosed in a cask, perforated with spikes, on
the point of being rolled down the hill by soldiers.

By West he is depleted resisting the 'entreaties
of the Senate, stifling his emotion at the implor-
ing cries of. his-family, and hurrying on to fulfil
his word with his barbarous murdererS. This
Comparison needs no comment.—Among the. pic-
tures..in the entrance' Gallery is '" The-Combat
between Heetor and Diomede prevented by the
lightning of Jupiter." The vigour
.and colour of
this picture will bear the examination of the most
cynical connoisseur.— No. 14, The ' death of
Adonis, is full of poetry and beauty; one of.
the attendant nymphs, we own, we wish dis-
missed. Mr. West -painted • another picture of
this subject, in which the figuresare the size of
life. We know that Artists and
,amateurs have
considered it at a small distance as a Picture by the
highest Masters 'of .the Italian school ; and some
with difficulty have been persuaded that it:is the
work of West.—NO. 47, Aaron staying the
Plague, is a very noble picture of the highest
order of subject.—Telemachus- and Mentor on
the Island of Calypso is a proof of the Master's
power in historical landscape ; if the nymphs
'were softer in the COlouring, the picture
,would
be invaluable. But there are tvtro.LandScapes em-'
bracit.g subjects from Holy Writ, which will not
only bear competition with, but outrival.the'worka
of any master of a simiiar nature—The Destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah? now in the posSesSion of
Sir John Leicester and by far the finest picture
he possesses—the other, Saul among,the Prophets.
-In thiS the landscape is at least equal to the
inest• works. of POussin, and the figures comprise.
the beauties of West. It would be an ornament
to the Louvre, and. add greatly to any collection
in the world.—No. 50 Paul and Barnabas : this
is a fine picture,' btit'We prefer, the Small One ex-
hibited last- yearlto• it. Those 'Who 'think that
West was alwayi hardln his colouring' would do
well to examine No. 85, The Infant,St.,John, and
they will find it as soft and as -true to nature
as: Correggio..—NO. .T.he expression in the
face of the 'vl,ridow's Son, just re-called; to: life by*
the Prophet. Elijah, is full of .that feeling which
genius alone can give; the Mother's Wonder and
Delight, though not so good, evince the Artist's
.power in pourtraying the more gentle feelings.
Before we conclude, we must remark, it,aPpears
to us, as to the rest of those who are interested
in Works Of Art, that, exclusive of the select-
, ed great works of Mr. West, his vigour and
genius are more eminently displayed in his finish-
ed sketches. His sketch of Lear in the Storm
will 'ever be the admiration of both artists and
amateurs. The Chiare Oscuro drawing of the
Last Supper holds a high and distinguished rank,
with many others we could. name, if• our limits
would permit us. The time will come, when the
works of West'will he sedulOusly sought to adorn
, the choicest cabinets of Europe and of America,
and we perhaps shall Jive to hear. the voices of
ignorance and envy changed to the just
.exclama-
tions of praise;. for the works of West will live,
and gather as, time; steals on fresh
,honours to
▪ adorn his name, and' which name is already class-
• ed.among the grilateSt ornaments of his Art, and
as the first, the greatest, of English Painters.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

NOVEL CASE OF FORGERY.

BOW-STREET.—On Monday evening, John Brookes, alias
JOhn• Benjamin Brookes, a man reported to be living in con-
siderable affluence, , and whose residence is in Broad:court,
Long-acre, was brought before Sir R. BIRNIE, in custody of
Salmon,,one of the Principal: officers, on a warrant, charged
with feloniously uttering and publishing as true a certain
forged receipt or acquittance for money, to the amount of 15/.
10s., he well knowing the same to be forged, with intent to de-
fraud Wm: Clarke. :

The circumstances under which this prosecution arose were
as follow :—Mr. Clarke is a licenied victualler, and some con-
siderable time ago he, employed Brookes, who, he thought,
was himself 'an attorney, to recover a number of debts
for him. Among other persons whom he was employed to
sue, was a man named Sutherland, who was indebted
to Mr. Clarke in the sum of 15/. 10s., and the latter having
learned that the money was paid, applied to Brookes for it,
but was answered that he must look to his (Brookes's) employer
for it, as he was only clerk to a Mr. Isaacson, who was alone
responsible. Mr. Clarke had net before heard of Mr. Isaacson,
and said he employed Brookes and Brookes only, and to him
he should look for the money. Brookes refused to pay it, and.
Mr. Clarke entered an action against him ; to which he plead-
ed, first, that he was not liable, he being only the clerk to the
attorney employed to sue for the debt ; and secondly, that
Clarke had received the money in divers payments. Upon the
trial of the cause in the Court of Common Pleas, before Mr.
Justice PARK, Isaacson was called for the defence, and swore
that Brookes was his clerk only, and to establish the other plea
of set off; the instrumentavhich was the subject of the present
charge was put in in evidence. 'lt was a check upon Brookes's
bankers, Messrs. Hodson and Stirling, for 101., and on the back
of this appeared an endorsement of several items amount-
ing exactly to .51..105., which it was alleged had been paid
over to Mr. Clarke, and which, with the check itself,
amounted to the sum sought to be recovered. Under this
endorsement appeared the name " William Clarke," writ-
ten apparently as a receipt for the whole sum. +his do-
cument was put in and relied upon by the Counsel for
Brookes as a complete answer to the claim of Mr. Clarke;
but on the part of the latter, it was drilled that he had ever re-
ceived a shilling of the money, or had ever seen the check ;
arid it was declared that the signature " William Clarke" was
a forgery. The case went to the Jury, with an observation
from the Learned Judge who tricd, that if they believed the
signature to be genuine, there wa; an end to the plaintiff's de-
mand. The Jury foand for the plaintifffor the full amount. By
an oversight, no applicaticn was de to impound the check,
and it was returned into the possession of Brookes. Subse-
quently, a rule nisi was obta'ned in' the Common Pleas, calling
upon Isaacson and a man named Clarke, attornies.(under whose
respective names Brookes had practised), to show cause why
they should not be struck off the rolls for permitting him to do
so ; and upon,Brookes, why he should not be committed for a
year to the Fleet, under the act of Parliament, for practising,
he not being an attorney.. Mr Clarke, in his affidavit, in sups
port of that rule, swore that his signature was forged, and that
he had never seen the check in question, until it was produced
upon the trial. Mr. Clarke's attorney, anxious to get posses-
sion of this document; procured the attendance, by summons,
of Brookes and the other parties before 'Mr. Justice Best, at
his chambers, and tiPoii a hearing, the Learned Judge ordered
that a copy of the check should be sent to Mr. Clarke's attor-
ney the following day; and that by the next Friday, Brookes,
should produce the check itself at the Judge's Chambers. On
the Friday Brookes attended, and on being asked for the check,
he said, "he had taken advice upon the matter ; that he had
been told he was awkwardly situated, and had been advised to
destroy the check, and he had destroyed it," or words to that
effect. • _ _

Application was then made to Sir R. Birnie and Mr. Halls,
to grant a warrant for forgery, but it was objected to, on the
ground that it would be impossible to prove the case without'
the production of the document alleged to be forged. Mr. Hill,
Clarke's attorney, however, contended that it would be possible,
and cited many cases in which it had, been so decided, particu-
larly one case where a man swallowed a 101. note which he was
charged with forging. The note had been previously identified,.
and upon the trial the case went to the jury,-and he was acquit-
ted ; but it was upon the merits. Mr. Hill having also obtain-
ed the opinion of Mr. Espinasse and Ms. AdolphuS in his fa-
vour, the warrant was granted.,
Mr. Hill now prbduced the copy of the check, which was sent
to him from Isaacson pursuant to the Judge's order, and asked
a young man named Turner, who said he was clerk to Isaac-
son, if it was his (Tqrner's) hand-writing.
• Turner said, after much hesitation, it looked like his writing,,
but he did not recollect writing it. He was pressed hard by
Mr. Hill, but refused to give any other answer. The copy
was dated the 15th of June last. . .

Brookes, in answer to the charge, denied that any forgery

• tl 'a
had been committed, and accisect Mr. 11111 Of' instigating 'IL/
prosecution •to avoid one .which was, abQut to. bc-connol";
against hiMself for verjury, in swearing upon the trial o. L,l
cause, that he (Brookes) had made a confession (of what kin."
did not" appear) to him at his own office, where he never was!,ne,
his life. That prosecution, howevei, woUld!still go, on in 51'''
of this proceeding, as long as he (Brookes) had a. Pine 'ca
Zr. HILL said theabuse of such ail= as Brookes did
honour. He was afraid of no prosecution himself, and he )14„
stituted this-to rid society of a nuisance with which it had be;
too long pestered. If the Magistrate would 'commit
for-
prisoner for re-eicainination, he pledged himself to ced,
ward evidence still more • conclusive than thit already add to
and a scene of iniquity not often equalled would be exP°s
the publid - -
A. bill acknowledged by the clerk, Turner, to be .
him was produced, and Sirlt. BIRNIE, on comparing it with
the copy of the check, said they were certainly written by
same person. docu-
Brookesitubmitted; that without the produetiori of pie
ment stated to be fored, the Magistrate could'not commit
He also denied that he'had said before Mr. Justice Best Woo,'
had destroyed it. • :
Mr.' HILL-=-I. have sWorn 'YOtt' did, and I shall saingethe
,the Learned Judge himself to
,the Old Bailey for Prove
fact. written
.11 r

•
Sir.R. BIRNIE said he should count-tit the prisoner. ,cßrookes was accordingly committed to the House of C°rr
don for further examination.

FRAUDS upon the PURCHASERS of H
GeOige 'Stevens, a hay 'salesnian in the James hich
market, was summoned under the. Act of Parliament by 00
i' ),
that market is governed, for neglecting to enter in tneyd
kept for that purpose, the sale of a.certain load of hay sot die,
him on the 11th of July.—He was also charred on a secon n
forMation; ' that he, having' sold th'onelVilliam Colll°o,
load of hay, did deliver less than the number of truss ea l,
prising such load, and that he did embezzle and keep bac cob
trusses, by which he had forfeited the penalty of M. upon
truss
Th'so embezzled." e
evidence being precisely the same upon each in•c
°
Lion, we give the two cases together. • f
Joseph Probart, servant to Joshua Walker, Esq., ~°)",„,,,b/
don, deposed, that on the 11th of July he sent a load 01.Thst•
order of his mister, to Mr. Nicolls, a salesman in- the
market, to be disposed of. • akei
Mr. Nkolls proved that he sold the full load for Mr. "f
to the defendant Stevens k 'of of
William Coulson, coachman to his. Grace the nu-emati
Alban's, swore, that on the 1 lthofJu. July he bought 3 des'
hay from the defendant for 41. When the load Nta..,„! gsei
livered at 'the stables of his noble -niaster, there were srste-
short, 30 only being brought:. .When he. bargained 'natter
venS (with whom he had dealt before)) for this load, the
lin jij
asked him if he wanted a whole • load, and he rePlted„ri tb„,i4
not, for he had six trusses left of the last.... Stevens ur-a
said, "•Wel4 then, I can take six trusses off the cart, an,and
make it look like'a full load:" To this. witness consent'
~
30 trusses only'were delivered.
Mr. ALLEY, for the defendant—And you, Sir, receie,!4;dse
pound as your share of the six trusses that were kept bac'o't ?
charged for the full load to your noble master, did
Witness—Yes, I did. leftlt
Mr. ALLEY.—You told Stevens, you had sis 411, frot
saes e
the last load, and proposed to. him tOstrike off sot' o.*
one in question, and you would arrange the difference'
,:c
him ?-I'he witness replied in the affirmative.
Mr. ALLEY.—And you cheated your master a thc
,„
ference
The witness confessed he had done sa. He did not
tikllll.l- the
was liable to be transported for doing so. He was
service ofthe Duke of St. Alban's:
Mr. Crowther, clerk of the market, produced
the 113,,red°k' , •$:4
,
proved that the sale of the load in question was not ell", be g'
James Burnby, carter to Mr. 'Walker, proved that (10'
order of.the defendant, took six trusses from the load 001
don, and carried the remainder to the Duke of
stables.
could Pat

Mr. ALLEY, upon this evidence, admitted that be u- act t°
answer the charge of non-entry in the book. ArithLl'oolel,,l
the other charge of embezzlement, he Said it depehu—.e bee";
upoft the testimony of a fellow who ought himselt to hasecen
tried at the Old Bailey for fraud, and transported* „andry of
all he said were true, he had contracted for the dellvea;
more than 30 trusses, and that: number was delivere ode,
coachman was the person with whom the contract /las melt'not the Duke of St. Alban's, who unddubtedly had be,iiie (311 r;
ed ; but his coachman was the greater delinquent, aft Nob"
Alley) not help expressing his -surprise that tne Such
Duke should keep him one moment in his service afte fat
dficovery. The Learned Counsel contended further,
identity of the hay was not sufficiently made out. 1 coalict;
The Magistrates (Sir R. BIRSUE and Mr. HALL') try,
ed the defendant in the full penalty of .5/. for the non-e °tow"
dismissed the other charge on the ground that it Vial n
ciently made out in evidence, it being, in their rnih"s,;sttire"
sible to rely. upon the testimony of Coulson, as to the '
the bargain, without some corroboration.

EZ/ZI2
ASTRONOMICAL NOTICE.---A.beaUtifni fore
tary group may now be seen a short time newt)
sunrise ; Mfrcury,.Venus, Jupiter, and S:; the
-are all visible at the same time, and `'„iety
morning he clear they shine with great srini),
dour. Mercury is in the -third sign (elnioar
and is now above the horizon more than an arl'
before sun-rise; Venus is in advance °f Merf
Jupiter is before Venus, and Saturn befnry 00'
piter, the three last are in the second sign (railred
CORONER'S INQUEST.—Yesterday an fn
was held in the Committee Room, Bish°P;ifeett
Workhouse, Dunning's-lane, 13ishopseite-I,ol'
5 before THOMAS SHELTON, Esq. Coroner for 9 ro
don,
on_the body of Sarth Dowling, who 1/11!
over_ by a stage coach, on Monday afters
Verdict—" Accidental death. Deodand
the coach and horses."
DEATH FROM POISON.—A boy' SiK Years oi(1;
d
j,
whose parents reside in Green-street, 1he°"0111;'
road, unfortunately drank some fly water on „titer
for
sweet wine, on Saturday last, and so°
expired.

0.
COURSE OF EXCHANGE, July - 3 C. F
ie 7
Amateidam
Ditto, at Sight l4 14
Rotterdam l9 4 4L C's
Antwerp 37 9
Hamburg!) • 3O 10 OCP
Altona 4O

lii 7;IA
Paris, 3 Day's sight
Ditto
Mourdeaux, ditto
Frankforton the Main
Madrid " 36 ctleo.o
,-, 0
Cadiz ' 6 0,4
Bilboa
35
Barcelona
ierille
.
. • • '''''' ;401
Gibraltai
Leghorn 47la
Get Oa •;3i—Venice, Ital. Li r• Q;li,c', e' •
f. OP
Malta - 45 ---Nap1e5......... . -
Palermo
511
Lisbon
Oporto
Rio Janeiro
Dublin .... 94. Gorh . ,f.). Pr' —c
rl (71.
i
BULLION. P
Portngal-Gold, ill Coin .................. L .
".° , `..
9
Foreign Gold, in Bars _ , 3 13, 0

7.:,tanda.".13 /.i.k.it:
New,4io, , i:
ionu 1:11:0:
New
1..1i..
...............................................................
Reov.n
T.
thesl2acskth,
of the
ellvl ri.:acrirag.,el:lheoau7s,e clue
Lincoln's Inn-fields, to Miss Jane, onl • surviving "Lea Os, 1
county of Essex. , ~niac ser,
or ,
On the 27th inst., at Chatham, Mr. J. Barles' e 11. A.-.
street, Southwark, to Frances, widow of the Lit
y - ... il oe,
bert, of Smith-street, Westminster.
lEll.
ije,tt ,efartofibsihr.o,ose'
'Early on Tuesday morning last, in the Olt' .7,4 b WS'
1 Mr. Joseph IVarryt Proprietor of the Old
to lan eO7 ree '
in the Strand.—He has left a large family
On the 27th instant, Mr. Samuel Drinkstid, fset,
i Sofa
Tower-street, aged 33. county 0
On the 28th inst. at'Woodlands, 'in the cotin ~, Ole
lo a. in e,
the infant daughter of Robert Harvey, .68(1. aS, ..j$ Sock-la-
On Sunda Sunday last, the 28th inst.. John Richar
,si. ors
42d yeiir of his age, after A few days' illness, u
Spitalfields. «
f
4 at a c
Printed and Published for the Pr. 0P R I EcT:vt2l;T,
fil R' , „
Office, No. 112, Strand, by J. 13' I

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