The Sun.
London, England, 1810-05-01 00:00:00

.LORD PRSKIIvpi LETTER.

t're3 91. Chtist teacheth to be humble.—M. WEvr, R.A.
and This venerable Artist is entitled, by his situation
his general professional merits, tome early notice
Portu
"long the observations which we may have the op-
!"pity of Making on the productions of the pre-
Year. Mr. Wevr has long been confined by
severe indisposition, but conceiving irt: to be his
Auty to exert all his powers in support oaf the Aca. ;1111Y. he produced the present work. This piaure,
;d therefore was painted on the spur Of the occasion,
was, We are assured, finished in fitie en days.--
• ar, hewever, from bearing the-marks of baste, it
!sone of the very best works that- .have ever
gued from Lis pencil. • The colouring is rich, clear,
c) hartuonious: The figures are well disposed,
is the d.raPrY, particularly of the young. woman,'
tin:l,4ll4od with great skill. We do not, lsovSever,
rove of the main figure. The concep-
tion
of app

our Saviour is certainly not diguified anp d
awful;
;41cI_ enough rpr so sublime a character. But the
lat doubt *ill review the Aubject at leisure,
44,,eudeavour to b:luire a more august and digoi-
' expression.
0-4
' '7l. Portrait of Lora „Viscount Melville.—T. LAW-

xzr:cz, !t. n.
thPidelity of resemblance s
a striking featureairts truly excellent portrait. The, attitude has id
an
ration
novelty, but without any appearance of afFec-
4nci'°4. A modest grand.ur charaCtititei the whole,
(1
4_41 point of colouring it may rank With the pro..:
etions at the best tnaNterS.
14°' "4. Titania, Yu.:k,
piEture seems to be a peculiar favourite in
fr sresent Exhibition, and we understand'that many
t`geldates started forward to purchase it, as soon as
oPearecl in public. It is indeed a very beautiful
Position. The artist has fully entercd into the
;rePtion.of the poet, and realized the scene in a
.10Y striking and interesting manner. Titayia,
ugli unattited, is not revolting, unles's to fastidi.
istiritieistn, and.,Pack is designed with character-
ilLarthtlesa. The whole of the scene is pic-
titti'Otte,ltnd the work altogether is 01300 f the must
(current of the present year.
No. 269. A stiff &reek. -R. B. fiertlasit.
an n reel
he much Pleasure in paying.an early att en,
production of this young Artist, as he
peDaps talehts that promise in some degree to coin-
elate for loss which the arts have sliiiered in
piesprived of his late father.
rit is evident, from
Ithrent work, that the Artist possesses no small ,
Of :of hereditary &Jeri% 1-le is a faithful observer
Ilosirttue. There is great spirit in the whole c'on2-
141,,,,°n• The water is free, and Well;-coloured, and
ite.otilre is .
excellent specimen of skill, taste,
Melity, in this province of at t.

PESTAZE FASHIONS FOR MAY.
at
kit,.4 11rtori OF THE PREVAILING FASHIONS FOR THE
).44-1.11, AS TAKEN FROM MINUIL OBSERVATION, BY A
• 44411. OF DISTINGU.SHED TASTE, FROM REAL DRESSES,
kz)
..ILLFRESENTED By coLouBED PRINTS; EXTRACT.. !cin'kO Tux3, (Ntw mites) "LA ASS E.AtfeLsz,"
?Kase:4r MONTH.
ith .
reVaiit ?Piped io our usual comnienications on the most
t.len, "I fashion of the day, we hive to observe that the
I. ,°tititi owing to the coldness of the weather and season
t ,has not been productive of great variety.
°tdeq er a novel article has-appeared for morning dresses ; a
titer,lnuslin, the cord about the size of a tine twine ; no IlaS taken place in the formation of these dresses,
kttvedre still worn high in the neck, with collars and long
'dlles,',lged with lace, of a walking length. Caps are in
, Pl/41i“1111ation, ornamented with blossoms and flowers. `,.(lrecisses and mant IC4 are still equally worn ; we have ob.
oidt, several eregant women in shut; light blue pelisses,
4, ;,0 sit tight to the shape with full collars, buttoned
qtykisitt?e throat to the feet with gilt drpp buttons ; on their
'tiet,tneY wore white satin caps with full turban fronts, or-
th,th,,ted with two white ostrich feathers. We are inform
tlt ,sPensers in crd
oed celes•ial blue, pale pink, and prim-
sarsnet, will be very prevailing. Mantles have
01::in their form thought omewhat changed in their
.sar;liet mantles lig green shot with yellow,
tri,nncd with
.printrose, appear to have been seleeled
frl'tri of fashioo. White satin head.dresses are a great
ila the and disp'ay more taste than a cap exaaly
t,`, to the pelisse. Whtte chip hats, with rather high
lvti°,.klls and broad flat tint, hound with ribband, and tied iktll4l:lth,the same, is a rnos: fascinating article for the pro.,
lb.lteh'' There is a close bonne: calle;1 the Malmaison,
' With the Shepherd'a hat just described, we cannot
(:0111ch recommend.eits°,tl„r,tl robes are low entirely Lid zvie.e, on the public
ti,:eilite c;-,ly is to be s,al; no gaudy colour now or,
thtsr di eYe, the utmost neathesa and simplicity prevail.
~,,i,.llller and afternoon dresses sarsnets are much wow,
Moderate length, the trains shout a quarter and
; tong sleeves are by no means laid aside; theja-
`4oSsorn is a very favoar:tc colour in this style of
•
ntOm~
4%14, or full dress, nothing has appeared to rival
nets, kilted gauzes, saisnets, satins, India
+1 rSib !,s:r,broi,-lere.l round the bott•no, the flowers in!er-
or' tires'‘lth lacz ; all of which arc held in equal estimation. o4ht hses are made in the Ei rench style, just above the rise
4,,,iiits°4o;:l before, and the_backs riot quite SO high as. in
f!o,.tith, Cold bands, bandeaus of coloured stones, foil-
-7e "1 small caps, lace handkerchiefs, and artificial'
Fills be Itair is worn in full curls on one side the head, the
e,.41167111ght forward and intermixed with the front hair.
B„ No s are now scarcely seen but-on the promenade. •
SYst :tlation whatever has taken place in jewellery ; ame-
i724,.ter,:*!°,sses, with pearl necklaces, we observed at the
~,fges.,' last Drawing-roprn, with ear-rings intermixed to
,evtV'ticl. Girdles for the waist, and bands for the hair,
.1I'll,;? coloured gem, multiply amazingly.
44‘it.400e_are no novelties in shoes ; the palelernon-coloured
4ehd zin.l, the Morocco tie, the black kid slipper, trimmed
tiettf.44 to correspond with the pelisse, etre all that we have
Jhe
loth Prevag colours are pea-green, violet, primrose, I,
-4
Pit*, lavender, junquille, pale blue, and deep lilac.

p AtIl•
°ilitcl4ST the contending arguments about the le-
'Ali' °I Sir 'FRANC/S. BURDETT'S arrest, we have
ltqd
til,o advocate yet step forth satisfactorily to t. ."
"er CondUal of the.Barotiet, in evading his ap-
11l e-n t to aitend the Scrjtant at Arrni, under a
glive
ant promise., which prevenled his being at that
carried captive to the Tour.

\

The following as the Letter addressed by L9rd ER. .
SKINE to R; B. SkIERIDAN, Esq. at the time.of the
discussion iii tl!e.frlouse of Commons on the sub,
jed of the Resoliktion of the tiench of .Lincoln's
Inn against the Press. It will .be read with a
lively interest by all
,thpse.who desire, like our-
selves, to preserve reli.eci for the cliarader of the
Learned Body to whom it aikidos. . •

" Dear SURRIDAN, , • , • .
" From something that has been stated to hive
fallen from my friend Anstruther, upon your .motion
On Friday, the public (and naturally enough) aretiii
in arms against me—l am sure he did not intend to
hurt or insure me, a we have always lived on terms
of intimacy and friendship. I could have prevent-
ed that misapprehension had I foreseen it, by autho-
rising you to state in the House of Commons what
had passed between t 4 upon the subject of the Re-
solution ; but I asked your confidence, to avoid
even the appearance of sling invidiously towards
friends in the profession, with whom I have spent
the greatest part of my life, and to whom I am sin-
cerely attached ; but, as' things have turned out, I
cannot do justice either tathem or. to myself, more
effectually, than by stating the fads regarding this'
proceeding exaally as they stand.
" I went to Lincoln's Inn on the 3d of February,
two years ago, not with the view of considering any
.public besiness, but to dine at the Bench with My
old friends and companions at the Bar. It happen-
ed on that • day when the Benchers were drinking
their wine after dinner in their own apartment, that'
a report of several propositions • was brought up to
them from Gentlemen of the Bar, assembled in the
Hall, one of them (as appears by the minutes of the
Society) being the Resolution in question—.what pass.
ed in conversation on the subjea I do not remember,
my attention had never been called to it, and coming
as it did froM the Bar, it is extremely likely, since no
,decision was to be come to upon the subjed,
lbw.: I might, not have opposed. any view
that the oilier Benchers were disposed in
such Conversation to consider it, and the rather,
because I hatj • and have • the highest opinion
ot, and the greatest confidence in, did learning
and integrity of those who were present, more ac-
customed-than Myself since I left the Bar, to attend
to the concerns .and duties of the Society. . An an-
swer was sent to the Bar, that the Bench would take
Us consideration the suggestions ?f their report,
,rflich contained several different subjects for its fu-
tiare 'deliberation. According to the usual forms of
tbe s6ciety ray• name appears, as ;of course, to that
aiswer, 'Old stands first, from the courtesy-of the
Bench to rank or seniority ; but it is most es ident
that no aanaion was given to the Proposition by this
proceeding. We *ere sitting over our wine and
sending an answer of reaped to the Bar. From, that
time forward I never, heard More upon the subject,
having removed to a distant part cf the town, until I
heard not long. ago that the Resolution in question
had been adopted and confirmed in the May follow.
ing the February, when I had dined in the Halt. I
heard at the same •time that it was considered by
Many to be objeatonable.
" What part I should have taken, had I attended
with the Benchers who adopted it, it, is impossiblg
for me to saywhether the objet.tions which now
most forcibly present themselves to my mind upon
the subje& of -the Resoltnioti, would then • lave
occurred to me, since they do not appeat to have
occurred to others, or how far, if they had occurred,
they might have yielded in decision, from confidence
its the judgment of my friends present, I will not
even venture to conjeaure, because it would be in-
vidious towards men whom I highly resped for their
talents and honour, and would besides be arrogating
to myself, without any certain foundation, that I
should have been wiser upon this subject than those
whom I have always ronsidered, and still consider to
be my equals. Be this however as it may, I can
never be taken in my absence to have been con-
curring in a decision of such importance, when I
had no opportunity of exercising a deliberate judg-,
'ment upon a matter that was to atfea the interest of
others. But this I can firmly. say for myself, that
if I had been present when the resolution in ques-
tion was adopted, and had concurred with those
who adopted it, should not the less on that ac-
count (with the opinions I entertain at present)
have hesitated to propose that it should be'rescinded.
I have always considered the retraaation of errors
in public men, aging sincerely, but without due
consideration, to be not only no humiliation, but the
highest and-most grateful illustration, of talentsapd
virtue; 'yet in nothing is the world more perpetual-
ly suffering, than from the general blindness of man-
kind to thia..obvious truth. We see not merely in-
dividuals exposed to the greatest calamities, but even
nations undone and ruined, to cover a mistake in the
most difficult and complicated policy of a State.
" I may appeal safely to you, my dear Sheridan,
for the sincerity of this remark, because you know
that though I was not a party to the Resolution, I
communicated to you in confidence my-determina-
tion to move for, its repeal, and expressed an opi-
nion?. that the Benchers would re-consider and re-
scind it on the principle adverted to.. It is one of
the greatest blessings attendant upon our own tree
Government, that we are instrutted in our duties
and corrected in our errors by public opinion, and
they who. refuse to be so instruaed and corrected
are unworthy of the most insignificant trusts. •
", The Inns of Court, without any incorporation
or clearly defined jurisdiction, have preserved for a
'lng season the charaaer of the English Bar, and I
have no doubt that they will continue to preserve
their immemorial reputation.
0" You; will not wonder that I am very anxious
upon this aubjed—you know my subscription to the
Freedom of the Press, and in very critical times to
other branches of public liberty.—You have often
done me more than, justice by eloquence, which,
though not requiring the warmth proceeding from
partial regard and opinion, has always been so re-
markable when I have been the subjea.
" I mean .to call upou my friend Anstruther to-
morrow morning, who, I am quite sure, will be
ready to do me justice: •
". Saturday Night.'l

" Your's,' most faithfully,
" ERSKINE."

Several -houses .about Fin,bury-square *ere rob-
.hed, last week of a great nu.ub:r of laden pipes and
g9t.tora..i.: . •

•
. The weather, through nearly the. Whole of last
month, has been favotirable to the farmer, by en-
abling him to get in his seed upon the tender soils
that were somewhat saturated by the heavy rains in
March. The learns have worked well, and have
the most promising appearance, which. generally
precedes a good crop.
The young wheats are tillowingin the most pro-
lific manner, and promise to Make reparation ler in-
jury done by: the slug and the frost. The Spring
Sown is_ forming a strong plant on those lands that
worked kindly; the crop in general ,:as greatly im-
proved since the begitining of March.
The barley, owing fio the genial and timely
showers, comes up -regularly, - in consequence of
which we may expect a full and even crop.
Oats upon lays, from the same cause, are very
promising.

A fire broke out yesterday morning in the dwel-
ling-house of Mr. Williamson, in Hooper-street;
nearly opposite the Asylum. The house was to-
tally destroyed.

Saturday morning a journeyman printer, who
lodged at a chandler's shop in Peter-street, Bishop -
gate-street, was found hanging in his apartments,
suspended from a silk handkerchief, and suite dead.