The Sun.
London, England, 1825-10-05 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

NAPOLEON and CANOVA.—EiciuT CorratusaTioNs
held at the Chateau of the Tuileries in 1810.

This is a very interesting Work, as• it relates •
to two of the greatest men, in their respective
spheres, wlio'have appeared within the memory
of the present generation, and whose names and
works will be recorded in History to the latest
times. The authenticity—of the Work admits of
no dispute.-10 What passed between NAPOLEON
and: CARitki.on these occasions was written by
the latter, .alid are extracted from his MSS. In
these Couversationi NAPOLEON appears to great
advantage, not only for his taste in the Fine
Arts, his knowledge of History and of mankind,
,and'the urbanity of his manners in domestic life,
but also for the vast designs which he had con-
templated. CANOVA also appears in a very
amiable and interesting point of view, as a critic
on the Fine Arts, as a patriot, and for the frank-
ness of his opinions and the firmness of his cha-
racter, yet without the least sign of vanity or
ostentation. He freely expresses his sentiments to
NAPOLEON as to his conduct towards the POPE,
points out the true policy of powerful Monarchs, the
efficacy of Religion in promoting the Fine-Arts,
and ardently solicits the EMPEROR to take Rome
under his protection, and to suffer Italy to retain
all the noble remains of ancient sculpture, &c.
which seem identified with her very soil: Many
very striking anecdotes are introduced in the
course of the work, with incidental remarks and.
,historical illustrations. A letter from CANOVA to
Mr. HENNING, an eminent artist of this country,
is given entire in afac-simile of his hand-writing.
The work is printed in French and English, and
the whole is faithfully translated'.. We Maycon-
lidently recommend it as a veryNaluable historical
morceax that must be highly acceptable to .the
Politician as well as to the Man of Taste.

FOR THE SUN.

HYDE PARK.

Mu:EDlTOß—Feeling much, surprise at. the
,quantity of remarks, not unmixed with very ma-
lignant insinuations, which has been thrown out,
on the subject of the intended inclosure near
Apsley House, I cannot deny myself the satis-
faction of endeavouring to throw a little real
light on the subject.
From the tone of many observations, in various
papers, a person not otherwise informed must
conclude, that the part of Hyde Park intended
to be inclosed was one in which the public must
fe-el a great interest. How then would such a
person be astonished to find that it is, on the
contrary, an obscure and useless nook, where no
person living either walks or rides ; and that the
removal of such a waste corner will materially
ad..: to the beauty of the Park, by giving occa.
stow to horticultural improvements on the spot.—
Lint these are the real faits :

When the waste ground between the public
walk in the Green Park and the adjacent houses
was similarly granted out to the occupiers of those
houses, not a creature was absurd enough to make
a single remark by way of objection ; and at this
moment every eye must perceive what an embel-
lishment this alteration has proved to that part
of t!:e Park. The cases are exactly similar, and
the effect in the second instance will be as good
as in the first.

Into the very unbecoming doubt, as to the right
of making such a grant, I disdain to enter; but
J, must observe, that the attempt to draw from
this circumstance, insinuations against the illus-
trious person to whom the grant is made, a man
to whom the country owes as much as any country
ever owed to an individual, is.deeply disgraceful
to those who could harbour such a design. Mark
also the ingratitude of the endeavour to raise a
subject of public discontent out of so v►►ry paltry
a matter, at the same time when an expenditure
of great magnitude is actually going forward, for
the mere purpose of increasing the public enjoy.
moot of Hyde Park. For what purpose has an
entire new road been formed from Cumberland
Gate to Kensington Gardens, with an excellent
path for walkers, in a part till now forbidden to
riders, and very inconvenient to those that walk-.
ed? For what purpose is that toad now con-
tinsted to the serpentine, and a bridge actually
constructed across that water, so as ultimately to
giVe the power' of making a complete tour of the
Park ? For what purpose, I say, are these
works carried on, as well as several others of less
consequence, but to augment the satisfaction of
the public in the enjoyment of Hyde Park?—
Yet all this is overlooked by those who choose
to murmur and rail at the inclosing of a little
nook, where no person breathing ever wished to
set h►s foot. The matter in itself is trifling, but
-the mala mots exhibited in the insolent objec-
tions, is such ►►s cannot he contemplated without
disgust. That you, the well affected SuN, should
have condescended to copy out any of these pa-
ragraphs is matter of regret ; but sufficient
amends will be made if you will admit this fair
statement of the truth to au equally conspicuous
place in your columns.

JUSTICE.

NEW Tor.r. GATEQ.—Tho erection or the new
lodges, toll-gates, &c. at Knightsbridge and
Chelsea, being completed, the toll-takers com-
menced their operations on Saturday morning ;
and yesterday the materials of the old toll-houses
and weighing machines at Hyde Park-corner, as
also those near the Riding-house, Pimlico ;
Jenny's, Whim-bridge ; and the entrance to the
Five Fields, were sold by auction by Mr. Abbott
of Kensington.

Horses have fallen In price. This is in some
measure owing to the importation from Flanders
and France, where. good sound cart horses are
bought up for English dealers, at from 400 to 500
• francs each, that is from 16 to 20 guineas ; and
the duty being lowered, to • 2,05. they can be
imported, all expenses included, foi a small sum
above the first cost, and the -French Government
now suffer any to be exported from that country.