The Sun.
London, England, 1818-11-27 00:00:00

MR. EDITOR,—AS I remark that von admit cri-
ticisms in your Journal (whose public and political
principles I highly admire), you will perhaps, when
you have an idle column, allow a country friend
to fill up a small space in it, with a few remarks
on Mr. Muoie's Series of Medals, to record the
principal Naval and Military Victories (hiring the
late war. Ido not know how many of these
Medals you may have in London, but we have re-
ceived 31 out of the 40, to which the Series is
limited. The number appears to toe to he very
inadequate to the triumphs which might, and in-
deed should, be commemorated ; hut I presume
that the Proprietor might not feel himself justified
itr engaging on a mote extensive scale, till he as-
certained the, practicability of accomplishing this,
which I acknowledge waa in itself a very serious
undertakitig, both as to the expence in complet-
ing it, and the more serious uncertainty as to the
support which it might receive limn the Public ;
for really we have for many years been so tmaccus-
'Oared to any Medals on an extensive scale (nothing
of the hind having been seen in this country since
D'isSier's Kings of England), that the plan,
,himeh it has novelty to surprise us, has un-
fortunately, as a drawback, also an expensive-
ness with it, to which we are unaccustomed—
' our medallic expellees latterly being (as far as
English Medals are concerned) confine({ to about
half-a-guinea or 12s. Twenty guineas, therefore
(r:lie subscription to the National Series), looks
I quite formidable ; and yet see think nothing of
eiving 1501. or 2001. for a set of the Napoleon
Medals, which, taking them at their full number
of 158. is more than double the price of the same
number tit the English Series. The former are
now considered as indispensable, not only to a
Collector of Medals, but even to a Library of any
consideration, and solely the English Series has
claims of a much more paramount interest to us
as Britons. Indeed, if instead of that variety of
excellence, troth of design and execution, which
the British Series displays (and sonic of which are
not perhai4S equalled in the French, assisted as
they were by all the abdities of the Imperial Aca-
(Veiny, and what was even of more importance,
the Imperial Treasury), they had only offered in-
scriptions of the events they tecord—still it would
have been incumbent on a (really) pattiotic Pub-
lic to support it ; because, as the Medals of Na-
poleon---many of e bleb arc particularly levelled
against Blitaiti—are now handed over (as we
• may say) to posterity, it is absolutely necessary
fur us, it we regard our character in future ages,
to sent{ down to them our version of the same
period and events, that the great Nappy May not
have it:AII his own way 1%101, any more than now.
I cannot withhold the tribute of toy satisfaction at
' the abili'y which cute of the recent Medals of Mr.
Nltulie's Settes, that of Lord Howe, exhibits. The
• portrait gives the asaurance of much present, and
the prospect of yet greater powers of execution ;
bat I ton yet wove delighted with the Reverse,
0 which being moch wore difficult, slims Mr. W.
Wyon's abilities in a higher point of view. Ido
not thick any of Buonaparte's Medals have the
•:, energy, truth, and dignity of this figure of Nep-
tune, which is quite a Grecian god; and the heads
qof the horses cannot be surpassed, either fur
finish or effect, but their shoulders and bodies
„0,0,1 have been better if the anatomy had been
more defined, which is excellent as far as it goes,
1 but mare is wanting, and I kanitilti recommend Mr.
1
: W Being yon to study the rng anima!, and be will un-
derstand to what I solicit his attention. If the
anatomy of the anintala had been equal in extent
to that of the Ruler of the Waves, it would have
defied ciiii.aissin ; and as this is infinitely the ea-
' ski. of the two, I am inclined to suppose it has
trot received perhaps so much of his attention. I
have now merely time to mention the other new
e Medal on the defeat of ',hurls, a compliment for
which I should consider that the East India C0m-
,,.. pally will feel themselves obliged to Mr. inutile.
I retrain, Sir, ..
I"
Itc.:
it,,,,rt„a,
i\oci;:r. obedient . Servant,
14, 1818. RUSTICUS.