The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-30 00:00:00

LORD CHESTEREIELD.

When the celebrated Lord Chesterfield first sat for his pm-.
trait to Mr. Knapton, his Lordship began to talk to him very
learnedly of the general defects of the ancient and modern
schools, and then adverted to the particular failings of hull_
victual artists. " Now," said he, "as regards yourself,
Mister Knapton, I am a great admirer of your talent, and
indeed prefer your works to those of other artists—decidedly in.
deeds but with deference, pray,—l know you will excuse me.—
'hut, lies it never been suggested to you—that you sometimes
mistake the proportions of-your heads ?" Knapton, who was
not wanting in shrewdness, comprehended the drift of this ele-
gent discourse. " Indeed, my Lord," answered the painter,
who was no flatterer " I am not aware of that particular fault ;
however, I am conscious of many deficiencies—mine is an art,
that the longest life will never suffice to perfect." ." That is
true," replied his. Lordship.—" But, Mater Knapton, rely
upon it, an indifferent observer, not unfrequently, discovers
little errors, which escape even the acute eye of the professor.
Believe in; nothing gives so much grace to the human figure.
as a small head : indeed that is the opinion of . the most en-
lightened connoisseurs. You have but to study that point,
and your works will be perfect." Knapton for once departed
from his practice, flattered his noble sitter, and placed a head
on the shoulders of the portrait, about one-third less than that
of its prototype—and then, although too small to be true to
nature, it was too large to he true to art—according to the
rules of grace. Lord Chesterfield,' the most accomplished of
men, as our readers may - suppose, had a superabundance of
head.
But to return to the great moralist, he, like Lord Chester-
field, was not superior to certain little traits of human weak-
ness ; for nothing gave him more offence than that of appear-
ing to notice any of his bodily infirmities, of which be had
many. Ilis-nervous frame was subject to involuntary motions,
even to a distressing degree, which occasionally exposed him to
the rude observations of the vulgar.
The following sketch by Mr. Airhyte, conveys a faithful re-
semblance of the external appearance of this extraordinary

man I—
" We were standing together at the drawing-room window,
expecting Johnson, who was to dine there. Mr. Sheridan ask.
ed me, Gould I see to the bottom of the garden P No, Sir,'
.—"rake out your Opera glass ; .Johnson is coming, you may
know him by his' gait. I perceived him at a good distance
walking along with a peculiar solemnity of deportment, and an
awkward sort of measured step. At that time the broad flag.
ging on each side of the streets was not universally adopted, and
MHO posts were in fashion, to prevent the annoyance of car.
riages. Upon every post as he passed along, I could perceive
he deliberately laid his hand; but missing one of them, when
lie had got some distance, he seemed suddenly to recollect him.
self, and immediately returning back, carefully performed the
accustomaceremony, and resumed his former course, not omit-
ting one till he gained the crossing.' This, Mr. Sheridan as-
sured me, however odd it may appear; was his constant prac-
tice, but why or wherefore, he could not inform me.
The house on the right at the bottom of Beaufort Build,

ings Was occupid by Mr. Chamberlains, Mr Thomas Sheridan's
eldest brother, by whom Johnson was often invited in the snug
way' with the family party. At one of these social meetings,
Johnson, as usual, sat next the lady of the house. The dessert
still continuing, and the ladies in no haste to withdraw, Mrs.
Chamberlains moved a little hack from
.the table, and was
carelessly dangling In foot backwards and forwards as she sat.
enjoying the conversation. Johnson, the while, in a moment
of abstraction, was convullively working his hand up and down,
which the lady observing, she roguishly edged her foot within
his reach, and asmight partly be expected, Johnson clenched
hold of it and drew off her shoe ; she started, and hastily ex.
claimed, 6 0 fie, Mr. Johnson The company at first knew
not what to make of it; but one of them perceiving the joke,
tittered. Johnson, not improbably aware of the trick, apolo-
gized. 6 Nay, Madam, recollect yourself, I know 'not that I
bare justly incurred your rebuke ; the emotion was involuntary,
and the action not intentionally rude.' "

It learned friend at our elbow whispers, that this infirmity was
sYmptornatie of that extraordinary affection, denominated chorea
Sancti Viti—Lvuko, St. Vitus's dance which leads to the re-
collection of a similar circumstance' that was related to us, sonic
years since regarding the person of Mr. Desenfans, celebrated
as the collector of that gallery of pictures, which now adorns
the walls of the great room at Dulvvieh College. This gentle-
man was subject to involuntary, spasms, and nervouspropenti-
ties, that occasionally compelled him to go out of his path to
touch.some particular object. Mr. West, the late President of
the Royal Academy, wniking on a sunday towards Hyde Park,
with his pupil Robert Muller, observed _Mr. Desenfans pass
before him through Cuniberland Gate, and proceed towards
the broad foot path on the aide of the coach-way, almost the
only part that was clean, and dry ;for the season was rainy, and I
the park was generally impass;Lide, from accumulated mud. He
moved, all contortion and gesticulation; which escaped not the
notice of the crowd ; when suddenly, MI if commanded thither
by a spell, he shot out of the path, floundered through the dirt
to a considerable distance, and coming ip contact with a para.
color tree, turned his back; and gave It a violent kick, from
which he rebounded with force ; when, having accomplished
the feat, he returned to the path with seeming satisfaction.

A private letter of Satirday's date, from a well
informed party ut Paris, alleges that a new Con-
gress is in agitation, to be held at Paris on the
affairs of South America. Both France and Spain,
it is now stated, have intimated a disposition
to acknowledge the independence of the South
Americans, on condition that FERDINAND shall
receive from them a sufficient sum of money to
enable him to dispense with a loan, and to
repay to France some part Of the expences
of the war. Should this intelligence be well
founded, we trust that the alleged proposal
will be acceded to by the South American
States, which will thus place their independence
beyond the reach of fortune. Had the Spanish
Cortes made some concession at Madrid, the
Constitution would have been permanently pre-
seried. Their mistaken confidence in their
own strength has involved them and their
country in ruin. It is true, that it is not
so easy to work the downfal, either by force
or by corruption, of the, new Governments
of the South American Continent ; but still,
if they can, by a mere pecuniary sacrifice,
and without dishonur, place their independence
beyond the reach of danger either from foreign
violence► or domestic.treachery and disaffection;
it will be good policy on their part to purchase
their entire liberation from those dangers to
which they are still exposed.

We have seen a Gentleman, who has just re-
turned from Madrid, and who brought important
communications •to this country. Ile states that
Madrid, arid the whole of the country from that
capital to the Bidassoa, is in the most frightful
state of disorder,—that the roads are covered

!with the persons who are emigrating,and infested
by innumerable bands of robbers and depre-
dators of every kind. It is his opinion that a
counter-revolution, which may even originate
in Madrid itself, is inevitable. The Government
was in such a state of destitution, that not even
It messenger could be sent on; until money had
been borrowed from the Bankers to defray his
expellees. In order to obtain a sufficient sum
for covering the expences of the Court, and
the local and immediate wants of the Govern-

ment, an impost of 25 per cent. was at
length placed upon all goods sold in the
shops, which had added greatly to the dis-
content of the population.---The late change of
the Ministry was chiefly effected in consequence
of the clamours of the people, who are plunged
in the most insufferable distress.

We have .this morning received Charleston and
rAuisiana Paperi, but they contain no news.

CITY, Twelve o'Clock.—Cousols opened this
Morning at 86i, and soon after they were done
at 87 for the. Account. We understand, that in
the earlier part of the day of yesterday, a
Scotch Bank sold out 400,000, and which was
the cause of the depression that took place
in the Market ; but, after the above sale was ef-
fected, Consols rose again. Some business has
been doing this morning, but to no great amount.
FOREIGN MARKET.—Spauislk Bonds opened at
2611, went up to 1, with some business doing.-1
As to-morrow is Settling Day for all Foreign
Securities, most of the parties are busy settling
their accounts.

Some of the resolutions adopted at political
meetings by the West India Colonists, besides
being distinguished by the general violence of
the language in which they are couched, even go
so far as to utter implied threats of revolt, and of
separation from the Mother Country 1. That the
Colonists, being in a state of great irritation, in
consequence of the severe depression of the value
of West India produce, under the impoverishing
and ruinous effects of which they have suffered and
struggled for several years, have been goaded into
the use of intemperate language by proceedings
in some respects injudicious, and altogether ill-
timed, as well as injurious to their interests,
we can readily believe, and of course are
constrained to make large allowances for the
rash and ill.advised language into which they
have► tree►► betrayed by their foelings,—by their
past misfortunes, their present alarm, and the
Prospective dangers with which they are threa-
tened. On the other hand, they ought to
reflect that nothing could be better calculated
to foment the spirit of insubordination and revolt,
on the part of their slaves, than the prevalence
of a notion amongst them that a rupture has
taken place between their masters and the Bri-
tish Government. They should well con-
sider, whether, to the simple and Inexperienced
apprehension of the Negroes, some of the in-
temperate proceedings of the White Colonists will
not wear the appearance of such a rupture having
occurred, and whether hopes may not in conse-
quence be engendered, and projects formed, the at-
tempt to realize which would give birth to scenes
too frightful for anticipation. With regard to the
threats of separation from the power of this
country, they are so perfectly ridiculous, as to be
utterly unworthy of notice, except for the mischie-
vous effects they can scarcely fail to produce on the
minds of the slave population. As to the Whites
being able to maintain themselves for a single
week, without the protection of England, the
idea is so wild and absurd, that it has never,
of course, been for ono moment seriously
entertained by the most exasperated of the Colo-
nists ; and they must be too well informed to
imagine that protection could be afforded
to them by any other Power, whilst Great
Britain maintains her na4a[ superiority. If
ever the British West Indies are severed
from England, they must be capable of
•
maintaining themselves as an •independent
Power. After it successful insurrection, amid
the massacre or expulsion of the Whites, it is
within the range of possibility thafstareuftaoirt;ttßilsor3:lfltisialciuirkii:::;;
at some future ,period, might maintain them-
ispbeeel rttvtseyt:s
iai
set: veaetnhiniteyi
raWeoglfayhionbi utseertys otcnhaden islands,teaiv:enerr
range
reneeltifa)eti 'Goal
probability.

The official correspondence between Admiral
OWEN and the Authorities of Colombia respect-
lug the attack of the forts of Carthagpna upon
the British sloop of war Carnation, has been re-
ceived' in this country. The Government of
Colombia promptly disavows the act, and made
ample provision for the relatives of the seamen
killed on board the English ship. The following