The Sun.
London, England, 1820-01-22 00:00:00

TII ri ARTS.

Mr. DAVVP., whose rrofessionai merit-s very pro-
perly raised hint h) the rank ot ROYAL AcAnE-
mtclAN, is now at Si. PeterOturgh, ill high re-
putation tnri successful practice. He has re•
cently sent into this country IA Portrait of Duke
MetNINGRN, and another of GoF.The, the cele-
brated Author, who is now State Ministex at one
of the German Courts. These porttaits, which
were painted in the progress of his iourney,are sent
here to be engraved, the Artist paying the compli-
mem to his countrymen, ot supposing that the
k will he better executed among than on
the Continent: Mr. DAws has sliewn how well he
can youth anti age. The Pot trait of
the Duke represents an elegant find spirited
you'd), anti that of Gown] tt, st sage and penetrat-
ing Counsellor.` ftiey are both worthy of the
A,tist, and we hope, in due time, to see them
among the ornaments of the Annual Exhiliiiion.

It has been of late years the euvorn with some
of our Artists, when they have painted it work of
unusual 111,igitjtmle, to submit it to public not ice
by itself. Mr. WILKIN, a v•iotig Artist of very re-
spectaihle talents, has adopted this precedent, and
is exhibiting a Picture under the patronage of Sir
GODF[IEY WEBSTEY, Hart. to viioOl it belongs.
The subject is the ntemoratrle BATTLE OF
MO. he Artist has displayed considerable in-
dustry and-research, in order to obtain all the in-
formation necessary to give historical accuracy to
an event so important in the annals of this Genet_ i
try. The point of time is the moment after HA-
EoLD had been killed. WILLIAM, the Col;qtiet or,
artivts at that interesting period, when he tvit-,
nes,es the success of his invasion, in the destruc-
tion of his adversary. The scene is highly im-
pressive, and strongly operates on the feelings.
The struggle appears to be over in the front of
the Picture, but several skirmishes are seen in the
back -groom!, so as fully to demonstrate that the
BATTLE of HASTINGs iY not wholly at an end. It
is evident that the Artist has taken gteat pains..to
be as exact as possible in presenting the costume
of so remote a period, in the dresses and, armour of
the Norman and Saxon Warriors. WILLIAM, the
Conqueror, is supposed to have been about two -
and forty at the time. In our opinion, therefore,
he appears somewhat too juvenile in this Work. The.
expression of his countenance seems rather to indi-
cate a degree of pity for the fallen Monarch, titan of
ttiomphant exultation; an expression that migtx.t.
I naturally be supposed • to arise, as a momentary
impulse of refitctiou on the vicissitudes of fortune.
As a full historical explanation accompanies the
Picture, and as, indeed,- the subject must be fa-
miliar to the Public in general, we shall not enter
into an elaborate description of it, but refer our
Headers to the Work itself. The colouring is
chaste, the figureS well at-ranged ; there is as
ju-
dicioui a mixture of light and shadow as the time
of action would admit ; the whole interests the
imagination, and is calcol4tell to confer on the
Artist a high rank in the province of Historical
Painting.

As we have entered upon the subieet of Paint-
ing, we cannot, Oil this occasion, fur bear to ex-
press our sincere regret, that the venerable PRE..
SIDENT of the Royal. ACADEMY is in a state
that excites much alarm among his friends, lest
his present illness should terminate in,a manner
that will be a loss to the public as will 'as'io his
friends. Though, Ito wcyci, his bodily powets ore
in a weak and threatening state, his mental'facul-
ties, we are assured, ate wholly unimpaired. A
Very few of his particular friends are permitted to
see bins, but he has the consolation of having two
affectionate Sons in' time house with him, who are
in constant attendance, and who

" With lenient arts extend a father's breath,
" Make langour smile, and smooth the tied of death,
" Explore the thought, explain the asking eye,
" And keep awhile our Parent from the sky?'

ALARMING FlRR.—This morning SoOn after six,-
an alarming fire Vroke out in the extensive work-
shop of Messrs. ELLIOT and FRANCIS, uphols-
terers, in New Bond-street ; from the quantity of
wood on the premises, the greatest alarm was
entertained for a considerable time for the
whole neighbourhood. Engines, however, arriving
soon after, and a plewiful supply of water being
obtained, we are happy to find the principal da-
mage is confined to the building in which the
fire commenced. The shops in the Haunch
of Venison-yard were at one time in a complete
blaze ; but this was also fortunately subdued by
the activity of the firemen.
DREADFUL Rats.—Yesrerday morning, be-
tween ten and eleven o'clock, a fire broke mit in
.the dwelling•house of Mr. Taylor, hatter, in Gar-
den-row, London-road, St. George's-fields, which
before the arrival of engines had enveloped the
whole building in flames. The %vimd was rather
high, and blew the flames into a court at the back
inhabited by poor people, and containing the
work-shops of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Butt, chair
and rush-mattress-maker, which also took
The passage of the court was so narrow that
great contusion ensued in bringing out the fond-
tore of the inmates ; many were seriously hurt,
and a great part of the furniture was destroyed.—
At length four or five engines arrived, hut some
difficulty took place before any water' could be
got ; and whilst tire fit emen were employed in
raising the pings, the devouring element .bird com-
municated to the Bird in Hand public-house next
door, and also to the back premises of Mr. Hayes,
a grocer. A plentiful supply'of water being at
length obtained, the engines were put in requisi-
tion with the utmost celerity, and by two o'clock
the fire was subdued (it was supposed finally),
leaving four or five houses completely witted.—
No further apprehensions were cute' tallied for the
premises, anti the firemen went to dinner ; but
about four o'clock the afternoon the flames
again burst forth with great fury. However, the
men were on the spot, and being ably seconded
by the inhabitants and passengers, succeeded in
extinguishing the fire totally. The loss was con-
siderable.—Thursday night a fire broke out in the
sugar-house of Mt. Gerkins, Bell-lane, White-
chapel, which, %jive regret to say, totalli consumed
the Louse, butt Without demi; any further damage.
Owing to the very active exertions of the firemen,
alt adjoining malt storehouse of Messrs. Hanbniv
and co. Was lottunatdy prevented frOM catching

POETRY.

tATLILLUS.—No. XXXIV.

Diaute sumus in fide
Puelle et pueri integri, &c.

Boys, virgins, raise the strain,
All ye that serve her fane,
Boys, virgins, incense bring,
Diana's praises sing.
Latona thee, from Jove
Sprung, laid in Delos grove,
That thou mightst rnie supreme,
O'er forest, wood, and stream.
Lucina call'el on earth,
Thou rul'st at every biith;
Thy name is Trivia, too,
And Luna, whom we view.
Amongst the stars at night,
Shining with borrow'd light.
By months, without a stay,
Thou measur'st the sun's way;
Thou rul'st the stormy main,
And fill'st our stores with grain.
May'st thou propitious shine !
Atid as with light divine
Thou roll'st along the skies,
See Home's proud glories rise'.

lIEGISFER OF FASHION.

ARRIVAL".—CuIotte! Way, from Uxbridge, at Batt's Hotel,
Dover-street ; J. R. 11. Abdy, Esq. from Bath, at ditto ; R.
1-laytrin, Esq. at ditto; Lord William Fitzgerald, in Lower
Bearlry-tiet;t, from a tour.

Cuallors--His Grace the Duke of Beaufort, from Hay-
thorpe, near Enston, iu Oxfordshire, for Badmington-Park,
near. Gloucester; Lord and Lady Say and Sele, and the Hon.
Miss Twisleton, from Brighton, to Lower Berkeley-street,
Portman-square; Hon. Mr. Smith, to Whitehall; Earl of
Portarliugtun, from Holyhead to Dublin ; Hon. E. Finch,
from Brighton, to Bath ; Colonel and Mrs. Stephens, from
Cheltenham, to Bath.
DePAnznacs.—Mr. and Mrs. J. Jones, for Paris; Mr.
Simpson, for Oxford; Dr. and Mrs. Woodcock and Family,
from Greillon's Hotel, to their seat, near Rumsey, Hants.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANSIONS OF THE GREAT.
The grand Chinese apartment at the Pavilion is under the
tasteful direction of one of the first Italian artists. The walls
have a back ground of burnished gold, on which figures are
painting.
The Marquis of Hertford has purchased the large home on
the East side of Manchester House, and it is the intention
of his Lordship to get possession of the one at the West end,
ssibenever an opportunity offers.
Colonel Hughes intends making but few improvements in
his late purchase in South Audley-street, until the Summer.
The late Duke of Buccleugh made no alteration in the ara-
besque _ornaments so fully introduced by the Earl of Bute.
The new room at Apsley House is intended as a cabinet
closet, or study, for the Duke of Wellington. -
Burlington House is still unfurnished, except .the suit f'of
rooms on the ground floor. It is still undetermined what
style of decoration will be introduced.

Mr. Watson Taylor also has furnished only the rooms in
the ground floor of his new Tesidence in Cavendish-ware.
Although 25,0001. have been already expended, a very small
portion of the rooms are complete.