The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-19 00:00:00

SARCONIAQUS,

• . -
The- memorable Sititcoett,t6t74s ptiA -of the
finest and most perfect remains of remote antiquity, which
has long been deposited in the British Museum, has, we
find, at length been purchased by JOHN SOANE, Esq.—lt was
thought that it would have been purchased. by the Trustees
' of that Institution at the price of 2,0001., the, sum required
by the Proprietor, Mr. SALT, who is now on his travels, but
who had left an agent in this country with authority to dis=
pose of it. Mr. SOANE, it seems, bad long been desirous of
possessing this celebrated relique, but from motives of deli-
cacy did not express his wish 'till he heard that it was doubtful
whether or not the Trustees would purchase it, and, pending
the uncertainty, he signified his desire that he might be per-
mitted.to have the refusal in case the Trustees finally declined
the purchase. It appears that the Trustees have at length
de
posclisersiesodi.thoef otiffliesr,inaensd thtimaabtlnorwarititlyr.. SooAnNe E tI
of tlhe fortunate
e
reasons,
we understand, which induced Mr. SOANE to purchase
-this extraordinary work, besides the
.pleasurel of possess
ing it, was -to prevent it from being removed from this
country, as it was rumoured that Agents from -the: French
and Bavarian Courts were here watching the, event, with.,
the hope to secure .it for their respective .Governments._ •
It is well known that various conjectures have prevailed respect.
ing the original purpose of this Sarcophagus. Ily some it was
considered as having contained the body of Alexander the
Great ; but the general opinion of the most learned and enlight-
ened judges at present is that it contained the remains' of Psam-
rneticus, one of the most ancient of Egyptian Monarchs. After
all, it would by no means be extraordinary if we,Werc still to
lose this valuable relique ; for during the time that the- Foreign
Potentates were in London, they visited all the Public Build-
ings, and the Emperor of RUSSIA was so struck with the works
of Mr. SOANE, at the Bank, that he was ordered to attend
his IMPERIAL MAJESTY, and to submit .to his inspection
drawings of the plans, &c. of that and other works of that
architect. Mr. SOANE consequently waited on the Russian
Monarch, and tools with him a considerable iminber of draw-
ings of his several works, which his MAJEsTy 'accepted in so
gracious a manner as to leave &very strong_ impression on the
mind of Mr. SOANE, and to induce him to be anxious for any
opportunity of testifying his respect and veneration for that
august Sovereign, for the attention which his MAJESTY has;
ahewn to the Fine Arts, 'particularly that of architecture._
( Morning Post.) .

. .
SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS,
SUFFOLK-STREET, PALL-MALL, .
We noticed the • inaugura tory Dinner whlich
took place in honour of this new Institution,..and then gave a
general description of the nature and. positions of the several
rooms. On Saturday last we had a private view of the yarious
productions which those rooms contain. Several new Artists
have come forward, who already display considerable merit,
and promise much greater in due time. We, •see nothing in-
vidious in this new Institution, but rather an' opening for
talents to expand themselves, andi consequently a 'general ini-
provement of the- Fine Arts, and also of the national taste.
We have not room to detail the. merits of the whole
range of rooms, and will .not make invidious selections. We`
ought not, however, to pass over the names of Glover, 11e4hy,
Haydon, Linton, Martin, Hoffland, Hawkins, Nastnyth, Land-
seer, Cosse, and Londsdale, whose respective-woiks are highly
creditable to their talents. The room allotted to engravings also
manifests such skill as cannot be excelled in any country. Among
these are some exquisite productions of Charles Heath, Scriven,
Reynolds, Meyer, &C. The South-West Room, assigned to
Architecture, Drawings, Miniatures, and Enamels, also testify
the merits of the several Artists,- and the North-East Room
affords admirable specimens of Sculpture. We shall. take fu-
ture occasions to bring into notice some of . the works of
most distinguished merit, and in the mean time we heartily
wish success to the general body •f Artists who have em-
barked in this establishment, and sincerely hope that the
patronage of the Public will enable them to display their ta-
lents with profit as well as honour.

CHANGE OF .FORTUNE.—SOMERSET ASSTzES.—Dor.
DEM. BOYCE AND LARCOMBE, v. LEE.—This was an action
of ejectment, and excited considerable interest, it having been
brought for recovery of property valued at 20,0001., lately be-
longing to S. Lee, Esq., of Ihninster, deceased. The question
to be tried was, who were the owners of the proivity us heirs at
law of the deceased ? After the plaintiffs had established their
claim on the clearest evidence the Counsel fat the defendant
expressed his conviction of the satisfactory manner in which
the subject. The wtvheaersyytiinhiguauldti.l proved their title, and observed, it_ would be only
etismTituehaeotift CourtLhai:nifrs
ar teg opceerutopnysitil
vatocnedmliforeeimotni
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