No. 1. Testa per l'Incisore-A. SKIRVING. That the Society should publicly advertise," No copies admitted," and that the very first number in their catalogue should be a copy, argues perhaps as little for the discernment of the receivers of the pictures, as it does for the judgment of any artist who would condescend to exhibit such a work as a specimen of his abilities. When we see other masters, on this occasion, summoning into action all the powers they are capable of, whilst this gentleinan coolly transmits a sketch of a head in Scotch chalk, or, a line describing a profile on a board, however masterly; it indicates nothing, in our opinion, but a presumptuous confidence in his own talents, together with a want of deference for the opinion of the public, which is equally disgusting, as it is reprehensible. is kindly done into English, and marked by Mr S. for the benefit of the visitors), is a head, in red chalk, of as homespun an object as we ever recollect to have seen; and nothing, in our apprehension, could possibly make such a thing acceptable, save the exquisite finishing of a cabinet picture. When we reflect on the great powers of this eminent master, and call to our recollection the many charming pictures which have come from his easel, we blush for his appearance in this exhibition. Before leaving Mr Skirving, we feel dispos ed to offer him a little parting advice. Let him curb, as much as possible, his vanity, for it is the sin which most easily besets him; and, when he appears again before the public, let him produce specimens of art more worthy of himself. A man's friends will always feel disposed to overlook his foibles, in proportion to his amiable qualities; and to these Mr Skirving has large claims. But the case is totally dif ferent with the public; and, if he will take the trouble of standing beside his pictures any forenoon, and listen to the remarks of the visitors on them, he will there learn, that the man is a more grateful Morceau pour les Critiques, than any of his works. This head ("Berry Intagliatore," No. 2. Portrait of a young Lady as it is written on the drawing) is la-W. DOUGLAS.-This is a very boriously chalked ; but the eyes are interesting little picture, and one out of drawing, and there is a ge- of the best of Mr Douglas's drawneral twist in the face, which, how-ings in the exhibition; the attitude ever, may be very correct to nature; is extremely easy and natural; the but, not having the original by De extremities are well drawn, and the la Cour before us, we know not how back ground very well adapted to much of the merit belongs to the the subject. The black gauze dress copyist. This drawing, we observe, has a very pretty effect, although is offered for sale; but, as if the art- rather out of place on account of ist was ashamed of plainly telling us the lady's youth, and we think the so, he drags forth a scrap of Italian red shawl or drapery she is sitting to aid him in the task, and writes on, rather introduced for effect underneath, "Per vendere." than according to strict costume ; but these are licences claimed by artists. There are a number of No. 34. "Morceau pour les Critiques," (or Mary Ballingall, as it other other drawings in the same style, some of them prettily coloured, and all of them neatly put out of hand; but there is one general defect, and that is, the want of an appropriate effect of light and shadow; they are too much inlaid, as it were, on their grounds, and all parts of the figures seem equally illuminated, which produces a hard and cold appearance. The landscape backgrounds are very well introduced, and neatly pencilled, which certainly adds much to the value of the portraits. No. 3. and 4. Peasant Boy and Girl W. J. THOMSON.-These are two pretty little fancy pictures, sweetly coloured, and possessing great nature. No. 5. 7. and 28. Portraits. Mr Thomson is an artist, we think, treading as yet in that middle path of art which always commands our respect, but seldom soars so high. as to excite our admiration, and he undoubtedly bears away the palm in his own department this year. In No. 113. Love and Solitude, he has attempted, with considerable success, a historical minature, a style of art seldom even aimed at in this country. There is perhaps too great a monotony in his colouring, which he could easily get quit of by a minute attention to nature. We take more interest in the progress of this artist, as he seems to have ideas above those of a mere face-painter, and his miniatures have, many of them, a lightness and airiness, well adapted to such pictures. No. 10. Frame, containing eleven Miniature Portraits-A. GALLOWAY.-These are very excellent specimens of Mr Galloway's style of painting, which consists chiefly in high finishing. power, at the same time that we judge of the abilities of the engraver, to form also some idea of the powers of the painter, whose talents we have before never had an opportunity of appreciating in any way, except by the eulogiums upon him handed to us from the south. The composition of the picture shows the unrivalled excellence of this artist in telling his story, the first merit in a work of this sort, and without which the most exquisite finishing is labour in vain. We wish some of the artists in this city, following the same path, to attend particularly to this; every circumstance in the Fiddler has its meaning, even to the wheel which is dragged in the boy's cart, at the same time that none of these objects are intruded upon the eye by any boyish affectations, but concealed or brought forward as necessity requires, and to suit the general effect of the picture. If the painter has done so completely his part of the work, the engraver has equally succeeded in his department; indeed, the print seems a complete transcript of the picture. The engraving of the Fiddler is peculiarly excellent, as also the two children listening to his music. The heads and hands are beautifully marked, and show the engraver to have all the feeling of a painter, which is surely necessary to attain excellence. The still life, and back-ground in particular, is equal· to any piece of engraving extant. A work in this style, executed entirely in Britain, forms a new era in art, and we mention it with no little exultation, when we consider, that Scotland has had the honour of producing both the artists engaged in it. We are afraid, however, from the situation of the print in the room, it may escape that minute attention it so justly deserves. (To be continued.) HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY. Tral of Hugh McDonald, Hugh MIntosh and Neil Sutherland, for Robbery and Murder, on the Morning of New Year's day. O' N Friday the 20th March, came on before the Court of Justiciary, the trial of Hugh M.Donald, Hugh M-Intosh, Neil Sutherland, George Napier, and John Grotto, and also James Johnston, mason, charged with the following crimes, on the night of the 31st of December last, or morning of the 1st of January 1812, viz. 1. The murder of Dugald Campbell, police watchman, at the head of the Stamp Office Close. 2.Knocking down and robbing Ensign Humphry Cochrane, of the Renfrew militia, on the High Street, of a silver watch, a watchchain of gold, two seals set in gold, a metal watch-key, two guinea and two one-pound notes, five shillings in silver, a neck handkerchief, and a silk pocket handkerchief. 3.-Knocking down and robbing Mr Roger Hog Lawrie, a writer's clerk, on the North Bridge, of a seal set in gold, part of a watch chain of gold, a gold watch-key, and five shillings in silver. 4-Knocking down and robbing Gustavus Richard Alexander Brown, Esq. on the North Bridge, of four pounds sterling in notes, ten shillings in silver, a pen-knife, and a round hat. 5.-Knocking down and robbing Mr Francis James Hughes, near the Tron Church, of a gold repeating watch, a gold watch-chain, four seals set in gold, a gold watchkey, and a round hat. 6-Assaulting and robbing Mr Nicol Allan, Manager of the Hercules Insurance Company, near the Tron Church, of a yellow meApril 1812. tal hunting watch, a gold watchchain, two seals set in gold, a gold watch-key, and fourteen shillings in silver. 7.-Knocking down and robbing Mr Duncan Fergusson, writer, near Barclay's Tavern, Adam's Square, of a gold seal, a gold watch-cham, a round hat, and nine shillings in silver. 8.-Assaulting and robbing Mr. David Scott Kinloch M'Laurin, on the South Bridge, of two gold watch-cases, a pocket-handkerchief, a round hat, and six shillings in silver. 9.-Knocking down and robbing Mr John Buchan Brodie, writer, on the North Bridge, of a watch with a shagreen case, a watch-ribbon, four seals set in gold, a gold watch-key, a blue Morocco leather purse, containing a Bank of Scot-land one-pound note, a seven-shilling gold piece, eight shillings in silver, and a round hat. 10. Assaulting and robbing Mr Duncan M'Lauchlan, student of medieine, on the South Bridge, of a round hat, a pocket-handkerchief, and a pair of gloves. 11. Knocking down and robbing Mr Peter Bruce, student of medicine, on the South Bridge, of a green silk purse, five shillings and sixpence in silver, a gold ring, and a round hat. After enumerating these different articles of robbery, the indictment states: 66 "And all the said acts of rob"bery, or one or other of them, "were committed by all and each, in or by one or other of you, "furtherance of previous agree"ment or plan; to which plan or "'agreement, you were, all and "each, or one or other of you, "parties." The articles in the indictment marked Nos, 4, 8, and 11, were not gone into. James James Johnston, who has never been in custody, was called, but, not appearing, sentence of outlaw ry was pronounced against him. The pannels severally pleaded not guilty.-The Solicitor-General deferred the trial of George Napier, and John Grotto, till Friday, the 27th of March, and they were, in consequence, carried from the bar. John Thomson, apprentice to James Clark, blockmaker, said, that he was on the streets on the 31st December; where he saw a mob chase a gentleman into the Assembly Close, where he was knocked down; that he saw Dugald Campbell chaced by a mob near the Stamp Office Close, and that he fell, while a number of people were striking him; on which he ran to Campbell's assist ance, and he received a stroke on the hand. At this time, a bustle and noise was heard about the Tron Church, when most of the mob left him, and he then helped Campbell up, and thought he was capable of walking; Campbell was bleeding much in the head: witness and another man assisted him to the Police Office. Campbell never spoke, but groaned very much. One of the mob said, "take his life" but another said, "Mind the Royal Arch," the meaning of which witness does not understand, but thinks it meant to save Campbell's life. Campbell was lying, when witness came to his assistance, on the pavement, between the Star Office and Stamp Office Close. Thinks this happened about half past eleven o'clock. was left with D. Gray, who lives in the Office, and was afterwards removed to the Royal Infirmary. Campbell was brought to the Office by a lad named Thomson, and another young 'man. James Walker, police serjeant, corroborated the testimony of the former witness in almost every particular. Campbell was perfectly incapable of giving any account of what had happened. Mr William Newbigging, surgeon in Edinburgh, said, that he was one of the surgeons of the Royal Infirmary, and remembers Campbell's being brought there[a certificate by Mr Newbigging to. the Magistrates was read, which ascribed the death of Campbell to the wounds he received, which were five in number.]-Campbell died on the 3d of January; and the witness was of opinion, from the beginning, that it was impossible to have saved his life; that he was in a stupor, or rather delirium, all the time he was in the hospital. Mr-James Russell and Mr William Wood were present at the examination of the body of Campbell. Mr James Russell, surgeon, said, that he was present when Campbell's body was inspected, and was of opinion that his death was occasioned by the wounds he received on the head; and that, from the nature of the injury he sustained, his life could not have been saved. Ensign Humphry Cochrane, of the Renfrewshire militia, said, that, about a little after eleven o'clock, he was attacked, going up to the Castle, near Mrs Coulter's John Monro, police watchman, shop; that he was knocked down, said, that on the last night of the much hurt, and was hauled into a year, after eleven o'clock, Camp- close, and robbed of four notes, bell was brought to the Police 13s. 6d. in silver, a silver watch, a Office, in a most deplorable state, watch-chain of gold, two seals, a his head was covered with blood, watch-key, and two handkerchiefs and he was quite insensible. Hehe identified his watch. The mob mob never asked him for money; but he was knocked down, while running from the scene of riot. There was a great mob, but he could not identify any of the pannels. Mr Roger Hog Lawrie said, that he was on the North Bridge, near the Post Office, on the last of December, a few minutes before twelve o'clock; that the number who attacked him might be above thirty; that they asked him for money to drink, and he gave them a crown; he was then knocked down, but he rose speedily, and proceeded along, when he was met by person in a grey jacket, with a large stick, who seemed to be in the act of striking him; but suddenly made a dart at his watch, when the chain broke, and the robber got off with the seal and part of the chain; that he gave the money under an impression of fear, as a boy informed him that the mob were ill-using gentlemen. Being shown a seal, said it was his -a stick was also shown to the witness, who said, he thought it was like the stick the man with the grey jacket held up to him when he made the dart at his watch. Mr Francis James Hughes said, that he was on the streets on the evening libelled, about twelve o'clock, and was attacked between the North and South Bridges, by a party of young men, who spoke a word as if it was a signal. Witness was repeatedly struck, and several times knocked down; that he was robbed of the articles specified in the indictment, No. 5; that he was lying on the ground when he was robbed, and particularly noticed the person who took them, and, running after him to recover them, he was again attacked by the mob, and obliged to desist. The witness identified two seals and a watch-key as his property; could not identify any of the pannels. He received many blows, and was much cut and bruised. Mr Nicol Allan, Manager of the Hercules Insurance Company, said, that he was on the streets about one o'clock on New-Year's morning, and, passing Mr Weddell's shop, was knocked down by a blow on the forehead; that he got up, and walked on, when he was again knocked down by several more, who came to assist the person who struck him first; that he had a stick in his hand, and he struck the person who assaulted him first; but he was knocked down by repeated blows, and was robbed of the property marked in the indictment, No. 6.-He identified the watch and chain. The person who struck him had a large stick in his hand; was dressed in a blue short coat; no words passed at the time. He was knocked down the second time near Mrs Coulter's shop, and rather thinks he was robbed before he fell the second time, as the whole of them pressed close to him. He was much stunned, aud, after he got up, he went to the Police Office. Mr Duncan Fergusson, clerk to Mr W. Campbell. W. S. said, that he was in Barclay's Tavern, Adam's Square, which he left about 12 o'clock; and when he and his companions were near the pavement on the South Bridge, they were attacked; that he was knocked down, and much bruised; but did not know he was robbed till he went back to Barclay's, where Mr Hughes, (a former witness, who had been pursued by the mob into Barclay's), mentioned that he (Mr Hughes) had been robbed of his watch; that he then perceived he had lost his seal, watch-key, and about ten shillings in silver, and also his hat. The witness identified his seal. Mr |