Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-25

moselle Chattelier married Thomas Rowland
son, his uncle-amply supplied him money; and
to tins indulgence, perhaps, may be traced
those careless habits which attended his early
career, and for which he was remarkable
through life. At her decease, she left him
seven thousand pounds, much plate, trnkets,
and other valuable property. He then indulg-
ed his prediction for joyous life, and mixed
himself with the gayest ofthe gay. Whilst at
Paris, being of a social spirit, he sought the
company Of dashing young men and among
| othor evils, imbibed love for play. He was
known in London at many of the fashionable
gaming houses, alternately won and lost with
out emotion, till at length he was minus sever
| al thousand pounds He thus dissipated the
| amount of more than one valuable legacy. II
| was said to his honour, however, that he al
| ways played with the feelings Of gentleman,
| and his word passed current even when with
an empty purse. He has assured the writer Of
this hasty memoir, who knew him for more
than forty years, that he had frequently play
cd throughout a night and the next day; and
| that once, such was his infatuation for the
dice, he continued at the gaming table nearly
| thirty-sx hours, with the Intervention only of
the time for refreshment, which was supplied
by a cold collation..
From the versatility OF his talent. the fecun-
| diy Of his imagination, the grace and elegance
with which he could design his groups, added
| to the almost miraculous despatch with which
he supplied his patrons with compositions upon
| every subject, it has been the theme amongst
| his friends that he was not more careful OF his
| reputation. Had he pursued the course of art
| steadily, he might have become one of the
greatest historical painters Of the age. His
style, which was purely his own, was most
IL holl Until ha
reed pen, in tint composed of vcrmilion and
and Indian ink, washed in the general effect
in chiaro scuro, and tinted the whole with the
proper colors. This manner, though slight, in
many instances was most effective: and il is
known, OIL indubtable authority, that the late
Sir Joshua Reynolds and his successor to the
| chair Of the Royal Academy, have each de-
clared, that some of his drawings would have
done honor TO Rubens, or any of the greatest
masters of design Of the old schools.
This uncomfortable passion for gaming,
strange to say, subverted not his principles
He was scrupulously upright in all bis pecun-
iary transa lotions, and ever avoided getting in
to debt. He has been known, after having
lost all he possessed, to return home to his
professional studies, sit down coolly to fabri-
cate a series Of new designs, and TO eAcam,
with stoically philosophy. "I have played the
fool; but (holding up his pcncils) here is my
resource"
1t is not generally known, that. however
coarse and slight may be the generality Of his
humourous and political etchngs, many Of
which were the careless illusions Of few
hours, his early works we're wrought with care;
and his studies from the human figure, at the
Royal Academy, were scarcely inferior to those
| Of the Justly admired Mortimer.
For ma nv yeara for ho AZ foo idla IN oh
employment, his kind friend, and it may just
| ly be added, his best adviser, Mr.. Ackermann,
| supplied him with ample subject for the exer-
| else of his talent. The many works which his
pencil illustrated are existing evidence Of this
Many SUGGESTIONS of plates for new editions of
| those popular volumes, DIR. SyntdC IN Search
| of the Picturesque, The Dance of Death,
The Dance Of Life, and other well known
productions of the versatile pen Of the late in
genious Mr.. Coomb, will hereafter be regard
cd as mementos of his graphic humour.
II should be repeated, tht his reputation
has not been Justly appreciated. In a vast
collection of his drawings in the possession Of
Mr. Ackermann, and which have often been
seen with admiration and delight by the many
professional artists and amateurs who frequent
cd MIR. Ackcrmann's conversaZioni, at his Ii
brary at the old house, in the Strand, it can
not be forgotten that some are inimitable. No
artist of the past or present school, perhaps,
ever expressed SO much as Rowlandson, with
so little effort or with SO small and evid.n, an
appearance Of the absence of labour. The
original drawings for the Donce Of Death, and
those for the Illustrations of the writings Mr..
Coomb, part of this collection, were sufficient
to establish his graphic fame. Should these at
any future period be consigncdto tie hammer,
such a display Of genius, in the exercise Of the
inventive faculty, must surprise all admirers OF
the art of design
The remains of this amonied artist were
followed to the grave by the two friends of his
youth, Mr.. Bannster and Mr.. Angelo, sen.
and by his constant friend I'D liberal employ
or, Mr.. Ackermann.