The Sun.
London, England, 1827-07-03 00:00:00

THE LATE LORD DE TABLEY'S PICTURES.

—Yesterday there was a private view of the noble
gallery of pictures of that munificent patron of
the British School of Arts, the late Lord de
Tabley, at his Lordship's late residence in Hill-
street, Berkeley-square. The gallery and rooms
were crowded all the morning by noblemen and
amateurs of distinction. A great number of
ladies also visited the gallery, anxious to see this
splendid collection of the works of modern Eng-
lish artists, previous to its dispersion on Satur-
day next. Sir John Leicester's celebrated por-
trait of Lady Leicester, in the personification of
Hope, as described by Spencer in his Fairy
Queen, attracted particular notice, as did also the
Sleeping Nymph of Hoppner, that great master-
piece of the artist,' which has become so well
known from the celebrated engravings of it by
.Wood and Smith. The other principal pictures,
'consist entirely of the works of celebrated
modern artists, viz. Reynolds, West, Fuseli,
Turner, Collins, Wilson, Hilton, Ward, North-
cote, Romney, Opie, Gainsborough, &c.
A gentleman lately returned from New South
Wales has favoured us with the following story :
4, Having occasion frequently to pass from Syd-
ney to Cockle Bay, and being always ferried
across by an old, honest-looking seafaring man,
I was once induced to ask him the cause of his
transportation. The question brought a tear
from his eye, and, as it glistened on his cheek,
he told me, he was one of the crew of the Royal
George, at the time of her sinking at Spithead.
I was sitting between decks,' said he, looking
at some young gentlemen who were playing cards
for a considerable sum, when the alarm was given.
They immediately dropped their cards, and flew
on deck, leaving about ten guineas on the table,
which I took the liberty to put into my pocket,
and seeing the water rush in at one side of the
ship, I jumped out of a port on the other, and
was immediately taken up by a boat, which
landed me and a few others at Portsmouth,—
Fearing I might meet the young gentlemen
whose money I had, I set off for London, where
my friends lived. The dishonest act I had com-
mitted weighed heavily on my mind ; but instead
of resolving to return the money, I got into bad
company, who led me to greater crimes, and
in less than a year I was capitally convicted
at the Old Bailey, and should have been hung,
had not a friend, who, influenced by the af-

flicting account I gave of the loss of the brave
Admiral Kempenfelt, and my ship-mates, and
any providential escape, obtained a remission of
my punishment to fourteen years' transportation.
I was sent out among the first of the convicts to
this Colony, where I have endeavoured to atone
for my violation of the laws of my country at home,
by. strict conformity to them here, and trust, by
sincere repentance and gratitude to the God of all
goodness, for affording me time and disposition,
I have obtained forgiveness. In this country,
Sir, where there are so few incitements to sin, and
so many to honest industry, callous indeed must
be the heart which does not get rid of vicious
propensities. I married soon after I got here, and
my wife and myself have brought up a large
family, and have now several grand children, and,
I thank God, they are all sober, honest, and in-
dustrious. My bowels often yearn to revisit the
dear
land of my father, but that cannot be ; I
cannot leave my children ; poor old John Waters
will :ever see old England again. Forty years
have I been here, praising the mercy that spared
me from an ignominious death, and the bounty
that has blessed my, exertions to provide for !my
numerous offspring."—Southampton Herald.