The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-08 00:00:00

THE LATE B. R. HAYDON, ESQ , 7 Garden," "Christ Rejected," and a remarkable corns
THE HISTORICAL PAINTER. bination of Three Heads, Wordsworth, Hazlitt, and
(From the Plymouth Times.) Keats,
SECOND NOTICE. His difficulties had so grown upon him, that in 1827
It was on the 14th of May, 1804, that Haydon, then he was a prisoner for debt in the King's Bench Prison;
h
about eighteen years of age, left the home of his father and here e witnessed 't the mock election" of July;
this suggested the picture of that name-, which found a
and his native town of Plymouth to seek his fortune, or
rather, as he hoped, to earn fame and distinction in the purchaser at 500 guineas in his Majesty George IV.
His
will have been indicated to the readers of our former metropolis by the cultivation and exercise of his talents.is friends assisted him out of the pressure of his di
collies, and he now commenced '• Eucles." In 1829 he
notice, he left home filled with the most enthusiastic produced a companion picture to the "Mock Election,"
notions in respect to the works he expected to produce—
entitled " Chairing the Members," which was bought
at 300 guineas, by Mr. Francis, of Exeter. Another
the improved modes of study he proposed to establish,
picture of the same period was his "Pharaoh dismiss-
and the new, or rather reformed School of Art he in-
tended to found. This enthusiasm had been for some nag Moses at the dead of the Night, after the Passover,"
Years "growing with his growth, and strengthening
bought
with his strength," se that his removal to London at the sum of 500 guineas.
In 1830, Mr Haydon was again thrown into prison
for debt. The. Examiner of that date, referring to this
early age of eighteen, had become a matter of absolute
necessity. London and London alone to his glow-
ing and ardent imagination, offered a suffici- circumstance, having briefly stated the grounds taken by
ently wide and important field for the exercise his opponents on the one hand, and by his friends on the
of those powers with which he felt himself to be other—observes of his " Eucles," which had been just
gifted. About two years prior to quitting his father's then completed, that it was " a noble and almost perfect
house he was for some months prevented from following performance, which proves that his historical powers
a
any of his ordinary occupations or studies by reason of are in full strength, and affords reason to believe that
an affection of the eyes, and through which it was for were he tolerably at ease in his circumstances, works of
some time a matter of doubt and anxiety with his augmented interest and a higher beauty might be reason-
parents and friends whether or not he would lose his ably expected from his yip 'roux hand." In the same article
not, and, strange as it may appear, it was whilst under the writer urges that the gift of a few hundred pounds
this affliction that he finally resolved to be a painter— would effect all the required object of liberating the
and at the same time he purchased some casts from the artist, and relieving the family of the natural anxiety, and
antique of Mr. Johns, for the purpose of carrying for- thus concludes, appealing to artists :—" In thus comfort-
ward his studies, he was unable to bear the light and ing and planting once more upon his feet an indi-
confined to a dark room. When this affliction was re- vidual, who, though he may have ceased in some re-
moved and his vision completely re-established, it was spects to have claims upon their consideration, is in the
regarded by him with a pious feeling, which appeared Possession of ability of no common order—even if he
habitual in him, as an indication of the approval of Pro- has offended to the full extent asserted by some—he
vidence of his selection of the
in
of a painter, as most assuredly will resolve to 'go and sin no more,' and
a Divine pledge of his success in effecting a great reform thenceforward cherish a proper regard for his friends
in art. And it is known that in after life, indeed, until and supporters, and be unwearied in his endeavours to
within the last two or three years, he regarded his re- show that be entertains a high and becoming sense of
()every, and the enthusiasm he felt fur the art as the the benefits conferred."
promptings of a Superior and an Infinite power impelling More recently he pain`ed " The Great Banquet at
him forward for the accomplishment of great putt?. Guildhall," " Napoleon musing at St. Helena," " The
pOses. .It was ssibly this conviction that made him so Duke on the Field of Waterloo," " Curtius leaping
into the Gulf," " Uriel and Satan," " The Banish-
determined ands o self relying through life. Who can
ment of Aristides," " The Burning of Rome by
Banish-
say to what extent this one conviction may have in-
fluenced his opinion and conduct—how, by its habitual Nero," and a number of smaller pictures. For
and excessive power, it may have tended to plant his some years he appears to have thought much
path with thorns and to embitter his cup of life? Who of designs for six pictures intended to decorate the
shall say how much it had to do with the melancholy House of Lords. In a letter written in December, 1845,
catastrophe at the termination of his career? Who to an artist of Plymouth, he says, "I am hard at work,
shall say how much of his chequered career is attri- painting my six designs for independent exhibition ; I
butable to the one strong and abiding conviction of his have got through 'Democracy ; I am now at. ' Des-
mind in respect to his mission for the improvement of Pitism ;' then for ' Anarchy," Revolution," Law,' and
`Limited Monarchy.' As these designs have been laid
British art? It may, perchance, have sustained him in
his troubles, enabled him to produce those magnificent before every Minister down to Sir Robert Peel, it is
rather hard I am forced, as usual, to do them without
creations of his genius, the value of which must even-
employment ! but I suppose I require the stimulus of
tually be appreciated, in the midst of suffering penury
and want; but, on the other hand, it may have made opposition to rouse my faculties, and lam content only
him too unobservant of the merits of others or of the let me live till the six are done, and Ido not fear the
justice of posthumous criticism." These six, however,
value of academies, and thus have induced that constant
warfare and battle by which he surrounded himself until were never completed by him ; but he has left behind
his death. But enough of these speculations, which him designs and tracings of the series ; and he was en-
are wide of our present purpose—which is to give gaged in painting the third, intending to illustrate the
some facts relative to his history and not to account blessings of Law and Justice, at the time of his decease.
by any metaphysical or ether speculation for the His career has been a remarkable and an instructive
production of the facts which make up his history. On one—possessing great genius and much enthusiasm, he
the morning, therefore, of the 4th of May, 1804, he took permitted his proud and haughty spirit to stand between
him and success. In the words of the Atheneum, ••W With
leave of his friends and sorrowing parents, by whom his
speedy return was confidently predicted. They could more of care and lc ss of enthusiasm, he might have
not sympathise with the warmth and ardour of his feel- achieved a reputation less likely to be impaired than the
fame he fancied he had won from a future generation
ngs, and therefore could not but suppose that on the
irst taste of the difficulty of an artist's life he would be competent to understand the solid principles of his
disgusted and gladly return home. A journey from
style." He has, nevertheless, succeeded in founding a
Plymouth to London, by land or water, was then no
School of Art which will not be forgotten ; for the prin.
ciples of that school he embodied in his able Lectures,
uch easy matter as at present ; it was then a grave and
erious matter, the occurrence of which once in the published some time since, and which had been pre-
de of an individual was considered an important event, viously delivered in various parts of the country.
.nd for one person to accomplish it twice, constituted [Since writing the former notice, we have had an op-
iim a curiosity and a wonder. It was then something portunity of obtaining further and interesting informa-
or a mother to part with her darling son for a journey tion respecting the early history, the artistic, and lite-
o London, for he would be at least two nights and the rary career of the late Mr. Hayden, as well as in respect
,etter part of two days on the road ; but now, the to the early history of the family ; but this we must ne
aother may bid her son farewell in the morning, and he cessarily defer for a third notice.]
will be sate with his friends in London by the hour of -
dinner on the same day—and the mother may hear of his
safe arrival, &c. in about 24 hours from his leaving her.
.cave-takings were then, therefore, the more solemn
trid impressive. This being in the instance of the young
painter, to whom his parents were most devotedly at-
ached, gone through with perhaps more than usual dis-
plays of feeling on the part of all the parties concerned,
he left with high hopes and brilliant expectations as to
xis success in the practice of his art. On the second
norning after leaving Plymouth, he arrived safe in Lon-
don ; and, notwithstanding the fatigue of so long a jour-
ney, and in spite of the loss of his usual rest for two
nights on the top of a coach, when he got down in Ox-
ford-street, so strong was his enthusiasm, and so buoyant
his hope, that instead of seeking repose, he left the inn
and wandered through the Strand, and in passing in his
tirogress a church open, he went in, and with a feeling
I devotion fell on his knees, and having thanked God
or his safe arrival in the metropolis, he prayed with
irdour that he might be blessed and made successful in
he establishment of a better school of art than was then
'dating. He rose from his knees, strengthened in his
urpose, and so refreshed that, instead of going to bed
e sat up the whole of the night making some drawings
tom casts which ho had purchased in the course of his
talk.

On his arrival in London, his name was entered as a
:udent of the Royal Academy—and here his abilities
ad enthusiasm soon brought him into notice; through
ie medium of Prince Hoare, he obtained an introduc-
on to the remarkably clever, but eccentric Fuseli. In
'1 probability, his early introduction to Fuseli, who was
sadatrong and blunt in his manners, had considerable
ifluence on the susceptible mind of Hayden, who, it is
rident, became an ardent admirer and imitator of his
-lend; and thus he became like him, fearless and out-
soken—and as an artist, like him, a !dieted to exagge-
attitudes and drawing. In 1807, being then in the
eeenty-first year of his age, he sent his first work to
RoyalYe Academy. It was entitled " Joseph and Mary
sating after a day's journey on the Road to Egypt,"
rid was regarded by his friends as a pledge of his future
minence and success. This picture having found a pur-
baser in a distinguished patron of the arts of that day, be
as encouraged to attempt a still more ambitious task,
ie result of which was "Dentatus," which was pur-
based almost as soon as complete, by Lord Mulgrave.
'his picture was regarded by his friends as a jus-
ification of the high estimate they had formed of his
ewers, and did much toward establishing his reputation;
evertheless, it was from circumstances connected with
le exhibition of it, that his enmity to the Academy ori-
inated. He thus writes :—" By vote, the picture was
nog in the great room, in Mr. Fuseli's presence. The
lommittee promised Mr. Fuseli it should remain there.
Le went out of town, and in the interval they re-voted,
sok the picture down and placed it where there was
sea no window. By this conduct my prospects were
lighted for the time ; and it was not until I sent the
me picture, the year after, to the British Institution,
here it was hung at the head of the room, and got the
seat prize, that I regained the confidence of Lord Mul.
rave." This has the air of ill-treatment, and was re-
anted by Haydon ; and from that day his life was one
attle with the Academy. His letters, hisconverstvions on
1, and his lectures alike breathed a spirit of war against
ie Academy; while on the part of the academic:ans he
imetinaes received, what with his feelings he could not
gard as conciliatory treatment, and hence, instead of
is being attracted towards, he was repelled still further
om the body, by whom he considered himself to be
,dignantly treas, d, and thus be was induced to resolve
reliance upon his own genius, and to determine to see
hat he cculd produce without the Academy. And in
s own words, in a letter addressed, about eighteen
.onths since, to Mr. Edmund Fry, of Plymouth, when
Iluding to the Academy :—" "their very attempt to
rush me has given me an isolated reputation, which, as
ie of a body, I could never have attained. Academies
ere ever been a signal of distress, and all the greatest
en appeared before they were founded in England.
.or do I think the art will ever recover its genius till
iey are reduced to schools again ; and alone, these are
y principles of opposition, and I'll die in them."
In 1809, " Dentatus," which is among the finest efforts
'his pencil, was exhibited, and attracted numerous.ad-
irers at Somerset House; and at this period the vigour
his genius drew a number of friends around him. Sir
-. Beaumont gave him a commission for a subject from
hakspere's Macbeth. His "Judgment of Solomon"
as, as we stated last week, bought by the late Sir Wm.
Iford and Mr. Tingcombe; his " Alexander Returning
t Triumph after having Vanquished Bueephalus," was
archased for 500 guineas by the Earl of Egremont ;
Venus and Anchises" found a purchaser in Lord de
'abley, at 200 guineas, and some minor pictures
ere equally well disposed of. In the midst of
:s successes, is we find from his letters that Haydo still
'tamed the liveliest affection towards Plymouth, as his
ative town; and on the other hand, it appears that Ply-
.outh had neither forgotten hire, nor became wholly
,sensible of the honour of being associated with his
ime; and hence we find, that at a meeting of the Mayor
ad commonalty of the birough, held on the 26th of
eptemb..r, 1816, the freedom of the town was presented
Mr. Ilayd n, " as a testimony of respect for his
dents, as displayed in his rtcent picture, " The Judg-
lent of Solomon."
About this period he again sought admission to the
.cademy, but had the mortification of standing two
ections without a single vote in his favour. In his
vn words—" When I was d.sposed to conciliate, they
ere too sore to forgive," and so be became more violent
his opposition. Besides the production of a great
ember of pictures, he gave lessons to his pupils, amongst
some occur the names of some of the most distinguished
inters of the present age, viz , the Latalseers sEdwin,
aeries' and Thomas); Harvey, the designer ; 31aclise,
)pe, Lance, Prentice. Eastlake, and others.
He engaged in Cie controversy relative to the Elgin
irbles with great earnestness and vehemence, and
ereby attracted considerable notice, but lost some
ends. In connexion with the Elgin marbles it may
mentioned that early in 1818 he was requested
rough M. M. Olenin, the president, to prepare a set of
its for the Imperial Academy of Arts at St. Peters-
rgh. M. M. jlenin's letter was couched in the most
ttering terms, and was accompanied as a mark of
;imation for Mr. llaj don's talents, by a present for his
ivate study of some casts from the Imperial Collection
a bust of Achilles, a beautiful statue of Venus, and
e of Silenus, which were considered the finest things
the collection of the Emperor of Russia. The letter
ncluded by, expressing a hope that the correspondence
us begun will not end, and that " Mr. Haydon will
ntinue it for the benefit of the art in Russia."
In 1821 he married Mrs. Hyman, then or lately of
semisoft, who had the reputation of being one of the
.est women in the comary, and to whom he was
roughout his life most devoted,y attached. Mrs.
aydon survives her gifted husband, as do also two sins
d one daughter. The most remark Ale of his pictures
to the period of his marries, , bes,des those already
mud, were two cartoons, entitled "The Curse," and
Edward, the Black Prince," "Christ," "Christ in the

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, JULY 5

DEPARTURE OF LORD HEYTESBURY. V.
The departure of Lord Ifeytesbury has been arranged
for to-morrow ; but it is stated, that in consequence of
the receipt of an official communication yesterday, his
Excellency is to remain until Monday, the 13th instant,
and that an undress levee is to be held at the Castle in
the forenoon of that day.
RETURN OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON TO COVE.
The Cork Examiner contains the following :
"Coax, FRIDAY MORNING.—At nine o'clock this
morning, a pilot, who was standing on the cliffs, sud-
denly announced that the expe"ted fleet were coming in
the harbour ; but it was some time after, even with the
aid of glasses, before they could be described by less
practised eyes, for though the morning was fine, it was
rather dark, and hazy, particularly out at sea ; but as
they quickly neared, under the influence of a strong
southerly wind, they rapidly lost their shadowy
appearance, and took the sfape of goodly men-
of-war, with every stitch of canvass set. The
St. Vincent led, closely followed, however, by the
Queen ; the remainder, four in number, being far in
the wake. All the ships quietly anchored in the man-
of-war roads, there being no firing, or any bustle on
shore, except among the burnboat women, who, rigged
out in new flaring toggery, were preparing to supply
the fleet with bread, vegetables, &c. It is said here,
%%ith what truth I know not, that their stay is to be
of considerable duration. There is also another rumour,
but one not so generally credited, for they believe the
news is too good to be true'—namely, • that the fleet
are to be paid off whilst here.' Just as I write, I per-
ceive two of her Majesty's steamers eoming into the
harbour."

THE IRISH MAGISTRACY.

The Limerick Chronicle says :—"lrehare it from un-
doubted authority that the following letter was addressed
by the Lard Chancellor to W. S. O'Brien, Esq., M.P.,
on the subject of his accusation against R. E. Phillips,
Esq., magistrate of this county :
" Minute of the Lord Chancellor upon the complaint
against Mr. Phillips, J.P.
" I have now before me a full note of the evidence
of the witnesses on the trial of the action by M'Cor-
muck against Mr. Phillips, with a summary of the
Judge's charge. The Learned Judge certifies to me
that as the Judge who heard the evidence, and had an
opportunity of observing the demeanour of the wit-
nesses, he should have found the same verdict had he
been a juror in the case. I have attentively perused the
evidence now before me, and reconsidered the case, and
I do not feel myself called upon to take any further step
'a the matter.
(Signed) " ' EDWARD B. RIG-DEN, C.
" June 23, 1846.' "
THE HARVEST.-FREE TRADE.

Nothing could be more favourable than the weather,
and the reports of the crops continue to afford the pro-
mise of abundance. But, nevertheless, prices are not
very materially affected. Corn is somewhat lower, but
butcher's meat and all other kinds of provisions are
enormously high. Old potatoes are ls. 4d. to ls. Gd.
per stone, fully treble the ordinary price ; and new po-
tates are 3d. to 4d. per plund ! Bread alone is mode-
rate in price, and the working people are living upon it,
as far as their means enable them to purchase.
The Coleraine Chronicle, a Tory paper, after givinc,
cheering account of the crops, says:—" We trust that,
in the coming winter, we shall have a cheap loaf, and yet
care little for Corn Bills or foreign competition."
The Limerick Chronicle, another Tory paper, says :
" The reduction of 14s. per quarter in the duty upon
wheat has had no apparent influence upon millers' and
bakers' prices in this city. Generally speaking the
local prices of corn, flour, and oatmeal are without
material reduction.

TUE ARMY—PRINCE GEORGE OF CAMBRIDGE.
LIMERICK, JULY 4.—We are much concerned to hear
that Major-General Lord Downes, K.C.8., the greatly
esteemed commanding officer of this district, will resign
his official charge here in October next.
Major-General his Royal Highness Prince George of
Cambridge, Colonel of the 17th Lancers, is shortly to be
appointed to the staff in Ireland, and wiU hold a district
command, fixing his head-quarters, it is understood, in
this garrison.
DANGEROUS ILLNESS OF SIR AUBREY DE `'ERE,
BART.—The Limerick Chronicle says :—" With unaf-
fected pain we record the dangerous illess of Sir Aubrey
de Vcre, Bart., of Currah Chase, in this county. The
surgeon-general posted down from Dublin on Thursday
night, and instantly left this with Robert O'Brien, Esq.,
of Mulcair, the devoted son-in-law of Sir Aubrey, and
' found his patient alarmingly ill from obstruction of the
bowels. Sir Philip Crampton returned to Limerick
early yesterday (Friday) morning, with but little hope
of Sir Aubrey's recovery, and left soon after en route to
the metropolis. We regret to learn since that inflamma-
tion has set in, and the death of the worthy baronet is
to be apprehended. Sir Aubrey de Vere early in life
studied b,,oks and tea.-n, in the closet and in the world.
Though not a professed author, those tew literary pro-
ductions he committed to the press fully establish his
title to considerable erudition and very elegant taste.
Some of his poetry may rank with the best classic piece.
in modern English literature. Sir Aubrey de Vere is
only son of the late Sir Vere Hunt, who sat in the Irish
Parliament, nephew of the late Earl of Limerick, and
brother in-law of Lord Monteagle. His eldest son is
Vere de Vere, Esq., late high sheriff of this county.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ROCHESTER.—OIt Monday, at
midday, a small boat, yacht rigged, was observed from Ro •
chester-bridge, sailing on the waters of the Medway under
heavy canvass. When nearly opposite to the Castle, the
wind blowing fresh, on a sudden she capsized, and the two
men that were in her were seen struggling in the water, and
before assistance could be procured they had sunk. The
bodies were picked up about three hours after the accident,
by George Ladbury, a waterman, and hie brother, by the ap-
plication of creepers. The names of the men whose lives are
lost are Henry Macpherson, a married man, aged 34, living
in St. Margaret's, in this city, and Joseph William Dives,
aged 19, a native of the place. Macpherson could swim very
well, and it is supposed that in endeavouring to save his com-
panion, whom he found to be drowning, he lost his own life.
The body of the young man Dives was taken to the Queen's
Arms, at the foot of the bridge, and the. other was conveyed
to St. Margaret's, to await an inquest, which was held this
merl ion at half-past ten o'clock. The boat being a very un-
safe sailer, was sold about a week ago (or Si, and it is stated
that she was not fit to be used in this river.

RoNFORD.—SETTING FIRE TO A PRlSON.—Patrick
Conner, a private of the 11th Regiment of Foot, a deserter
from his regiment (now in the East Indies), when on
his way to the dep6t stationed at Chatham, was lodged in
the prison of the Liberty of Romfird, on Saturday morning
last, for the day and night. About the hour of six o'clock in
the evening, tire and smoke were seen is-,uing from the cell
where he was confined. Upon entering it, there was a dense
body of smoke, and part of the bed and clothes were on fire.
A supply of water was procured, and the fire extinguished.
Mr. Southey, the gaoler, was much alarmed for the safety a
the premises. The prisoner will, no doubt, be committed to
the Yasizes to await his trial for the offence.--Ipswich ExpreSB