1809.] Monthly Retrospect of the Fine Arts. Europe: Lines on the present War; by Reginald Heber, A.M. 25. English Bards and Scottish Reviewers, a Satire, with Notes. 4s. Latin and English Poems, Translations, &c. by the Rev. Richard Barnett. 8vo. 8s. The Holidays, or Application Rewarded, and Indolence Disgraced. 1s. Military Promotions, or the Duke and his 2s. 6d. Dulcinea; a Satirical Poem. POLITICS. A Letter to Mrs. Clarke, on her late Connection with the Duke of York, and the Charges brought against his Royal Highness in the House of Commons by G. L. Wardle, Esq. 3s. The Investigation of the Charges brought against his Royal Highness the Duke of York by G. L. Wardle, esq. M P. for Oakhampton, Devon; with the Evidence at large, and the Remarks of the Members. In Numbers, 12mo. 6d. each. A Summary Review of the Charges adduced against his Royal Highness the Duke of York. 1s. A Circumstantial Report of the Evidence and Proceedings upon the Charges preferred against his Royal Highness the Duke of York, in the capacity of Commander-inChief, by G. L. Wardle, esq. M.P. before the Honourable House of Commons: with Portraits. 8vo. 12s. 6d. An heroic Epistle to G. L. Wardle, esq. on his Charges preferred against his Royal Highness the Duke of York. 2s. 6d. Observations on the Conduct of Mrs. Clark; by a Lady. 2s. 6d. A correct and Authentic Copy of the Evidence taken before the House of Commons on 277 Highness the Duke of York; in which are 8vo. The Reign of Cytherea, a Defence of his An Attempt to elucidate the pernicious State of the Foreign Affairs of Great Bri- A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Hints to both Parties, or Observations on the Proceedings in Parliament, upon the Petitions against the Orders in Council, &c. 2s. 6d. A Memoir on the Affairs of Spain. 1s. 6d. THEOLOGY. A Sermon Preached in the parish Church The Alexandrian School, or a Narrative of the first Christian Professors in Alexandria, maintain over the established Church; by with Observations on the Influence they still M. Jerninghan. 2s. Hewlett's Bible, Part III. Royal 4to. 9s. demy 7s. MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF THE FINE ARTS. The Use of all New Prints, and Communications of Articles of Intelligence, are requested under COVER to the Care of the Publisher. Pictures, &c. the Works of British Artists, HE BRITISH SCHOOL of the Fine Arts, though still in its youth, is certainly the first of the present day, and making progressive strides towards the goal of perfection. The French School may perhaps possess more anatomical learning, and be perhaps better skilled in the grammar of art; yet the British School, falling short only in that point (which character it behoves her immediately to retrieve),surpasses her neighbours in every other essential quality. For variety, for style, for beauty, for truth, conception, she character, for for MONTHLY MAG, 183, A is unrivalled, and her elevated charac "Mais on a remarqué dans ces ouvrages une compasition suge de belles formes, des idées élevées de l'art. La beauté doit entres dans le caractère de l'école Anglaise, purce qu'elle est assez commune en Angleterre pour frapper sans cesse la vue des artistes."Such is the high opinion of one of the greatest critics of the Fine Arts in the French empire. To continue the pacalcolouring lel with other schools: if grandem was the characteristic of the Roman school ; colouring, of the Venetian; pathos, of the Lombard; or humour of the Flemish; each of these varieties is discoverable in the different artists of the English school. With West, Copley, Singleton, Fuseli, Howard, for the first; with Shee, Lawrence, Westall, Turner, De Loutherbourg, for the second; with Opie, Northcote, Howard, Londsdale, Phillips, for the third; with Wilkie, Sharp, Cook, Mulready, for the next; with the first landscape and animal painters that ever dig nified any school of art; with the schools for design and drawing, that the Royal Academy and Town Museum present; with the school for colouring, that the Patriotic Institution now under notice has founded; what may not be hoped from the future exertions of the British school of the Fine Arts? The limits of this department will not admit even the titles of all the pieces worthy of notice in this exhibition; many of them have been exhibited before at the Royal Academy, and are consequently well known to the public. Taking them from the catalogue seriatim : Richard Sass's Shipwreck (No. 6.) displays much knowledge of effect, and is an excellent picture. The Academician Westall's Belisurius (No. 19) is not unworthy of his fame, but is not equal to some of his other pieces in the present collection. The Peasants of Subiaco in the Ecclesiastical 'States, returning from the Vineyard on a Holiday, by H. Howard, R. A. is an admirable picture, well composed and forcibly coJoured. The Zephyr (No. 31) by Westall, is beautifully delicate; and a Holy Family, by the same Master, in the highest style of excellence. The Death of Nelson, by Devis (No. 70), is a national picture of such merit as makes every British heart glow: it suffers from its situation amidst so many brilliant pictures of a different character, and from the injudicious colour of the walls. Never was a story better told than this. The heroic, the regretted Nelson is in his last moments; every man is in the act of doing his duty; and every figure is a useful accessary to the affecting tale.-There is a tolerably successful effort at humour in Cosse's picture of a Private of the 17th Regiment endeavouring to inlist a Tailor (No. 73); but a little more attention to the model, and a higher degree of finish, will enable this artist to pursue such subjects with more effect,Cook's Cymon and Iphigenia (No. 93) must not be passed over; it is an admirably well com. posed picture, the vis comica is excellently kept up in the figure of the fool of nature, whose gaping mouth and stupid eyes are so truly expressed, that it would be impossible to mistake the love-struck idiot.-Drummond's Deserted Milk Maid (No. 101) possesses much merit, but there is too much affectation of colouring in this, as well as in some others of the same artist.-Barker's Maniac (No. 105) is horror personified; it would serve to bring men to reason from the revels of Bacchanalian debauchery, or seduction.-The first Navigator (No. 113), by Howard, is a fine idea; it possesses the rare merits of grand composition, and a chaste unaffected tone of colour. Atkinson's Cossacks (No. 114) is a spirited characteristic design, though but slightly finished. Poor Freebairn's posthumous work of the Temple of the Sun is eclipsed by none in the rooms. Portrait of William Congreve, Esq. directing the Discharge of the. Fire Rockets, invented by bim, into the town of Copenhagen, during the Bombardment by the British Forces, under the Command of the Right Hon. Lord Cathcart, in 1807; painted by J. Londsdale, engraved by G. Cliat, and published by J. Londsdale, 8, Berner's-street. Mr. now Lieut.-Colonel Congreve, the ingenious inventor of the Fire-rockets, that proved so destructive to the metropolis of Denmark at the commencement of the present war, and so essentially contributed to our success in the expedition against that Power, is here represented in whole length, with a fixed and earnest attention directed to the flight of a rocket, which has just reached above the picture, and from the tail of which all the light proceeds that illumines his figure. Copenhagen on fire makes up the distance; and several attendant figures employed in preparing or discharging the destructive engines, form the accessaries of the picture-Sir Joshua Reynolds has been much and justly praised for the dignified character with which he enrobed his portraits, and his Lord Heathfield might be mentioned as one possessing the highest claims to this praise. Mr. Lonsdale has, in this very interesting picture, adopted the same principle, and with the greatest success; for instead of being only the dull delineation of the human face on canvas, he has by this, as well as in many other well-known portraits, proved himself a truly philosophical painter. The management of the chiaroscuro, the drawing of the figure, the penetration, mind, and depth of thought, in the phy siognomy, siognomy, constitute but a small portion of the merits of this admirable print. The engraving, in mezzotinto, by Cliat, is no less beautiful in execution, than correct in being a perfect copy of the original picture, which the public will remember hung over the door of the great room at Somerset Place, in the exhibition of 1808. Hewlett's Bible, Part 3d. The Plates in the present Number are the following: 1. Christ asleep in the Storm-engraved by Neagle, from a picture by S. de Vliegen. 2. Daniel interpreting the Writing on the Wall-engraved by Tomlinson, from a picture by West. 3. Adam and Eve in Paradise-engraved by Neagle, from a picture by Gaspar Poussin. 4. Christ in the Garden-engraved by Tomlinson, from a picture by Rembrandt. 5. Mount Sinai engraved by Neagle, from a picture by Breughel. 6. The Vision of Ezekiel-engraved by Worthington, from a picture by Raphael. They preserve the character given of the two former parts, and are creditable proofs of the talents of the contributing engravers. INTELLIGENCE RELATIVE TO THE FINE ARTS. The encouragement and love of the Fine Arts is daily increasing in this country. The public will therefore bear with much pleasure of the foundation of a new Society, for the Exhibition and Sale of the Works of British Artists, to be called "The Northern Society." Its first exhibition will be at Leeds, and will open on the Sd of April: it shall be noticed in the ensuing mouth's Magazine. The Artists are now all busy in preparing for the approaching Exhibition at the Royal Academy, which is to open on the 1st May: the 3d and 4th of April are the days appointed to receive pictures, and other works of art. Mr. Phillips, the Royal Academician, has some excellent Portraits in preparation; one of which is of Sir Josephi Bankes, which, perhaps, for a singlehead was never excelled. Mr. Lousdale has a whole length of Catalani, in the character of Dido. Mr. Elmes has a Design for the Improvements of Westminster, from a se ries designed by order of the Commissioners for the said Improvements, and some other Architectural Designs. Many other annunciations are omitted for want of room, which shall be no ticed next month. cal parts, on a large quarto: and each The work to be published, in periodipart to contain: 1. A portrait of an eminent person, from the most esteemed picture; 2. An historical, or fancy composition, from a celebrated English painting; 3. A statue or group; 4. A specimen of architecture, in one or two prints from some grand or elegant public building. This work is brought forward for the express purpose of exhibiting in a series of highly wrought engravings, the peculiar or characteristic excellencies of English artists; and thereby manifesting and confirming their claims to the reputation of genius, science, and talent. Thus, though their paintings, and other productions, are mostly immured in private apartments, or fixed to certain spots; yet, by the aid of the skilful and accurate engraver, faithful copies and representations may be extensively disseminated. These will be rendered additionally interesting, by historical and professional anecdotes, correct descriptions, and liberal critical annotations. The literary department of this work will be supplied by such gentlemen as are best calculated, by their professional studies, erudition, or taste, to furnish the most interesting and satisfactory information on the respective subjects of painting, architecture, and sculp ture. It is indeed the unanimous wish of the proprietors to produce a work that shall satisfy the English artist, gratify the connoisseur, interest the discri minating part of the literati both at home and abroad, and collectively exhi bit the mental and professional talents of our countrymen. The present epoch, it is conceived, is favourable to this undertaking, as the productions of Englishmen are beginning to be appreciated, and the best works of Reynolds, Wilson, Gainsborough, Mortimer, Romney, Barry, Opie, &c. highly prized. A British Institution" is also formed to promote and cherish them; the living artists are nobly emulous; and At and several books are publishing, both in England and France, to illustrate, and exalt, the ad, and French masters. such a time, and under such circumstances, an embellished literary work, truly English, prefers its claims to English patronage; but requests no more than shall be due to its intrinsic qualities; and solicits it no longer than it shall be found fully deserving of that cheering reward. VARIETIES, LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL, Authentic Communications for this Article will always be thankfully received. THE HE attention which has been generally excited throughout England, by the elegant specimens we have inserted in the Monthly Magazine, of Mr. BARLOW'S COLUMBIAD, has deterinined the proprietor of this work to print an edition in London, in royal octavo. Of the original, which is a magnificent, and very expensive quarto, there is only one copy in England; and in the present state of interrupted communication with America, it may probably be a consider able time before any other copies of the original can arrive. NEW PRINTS. Two views of Richmond, Yorkshire. Dedicated There are at this time in course of pub lication, in London and Edinburgh, no less than five considerable Cyclopædias, all of them possessing peculiar claims on public notice, and enjoying, we believe, an extensive degree of patronage: 1. The GREAT ENGLISH CYCLOPÆDIA, edited by Dr. REES, and to be completed in about thirty volumes quarto, at sixty guineas. 2. The ENCYCLOPEDIA LONDINENSIS, edited by Mr. WILKES, its proprietor, and to extend to about twenty volumes, quarto, at the price of forty guineas. 3. The ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, edited by Dr. G. GLEIG, and extending to twenty volumes, quarto, at the price of thirty guineas. 4. The PANTALOGIA, edited by Mr. GOOD, to extend to ten volumes, royal octavo, at the price of twenty guineas. 5. The EDINBURGH ENCYCLOPEDIA, conducted by Dr. BREWSTER, and not to exceed ten volumes, quarto, price nine guineas. Two others of moderate extent, and perhaps not inferior in utility, were completed within the last year; one by Dr. GEORGE GREGORY, in two volumes, quarto, price six guineas; and another under the name of NICHOLSON, in six volumes, octavo, price six guincas. Mr. JAMES MACDONALD, late lieutenant-colonel of the Caithness Fencibles, having been wrecked in November last, on the Schaw, proposes to publish an account of his subsequent travels through Denmark and Sweden. He left Gottenburgh so late as the 13th of March. Dr. WILLIAM NEILSON propuses to publish two large maps of ancient and modern geography combined. The first will comprehend all that part of the world which was known to the ancients, exhibiting together the ancient and modern names of each place. The second will contain only the central part, or Roman and Grecian empires, with their dependencies. And, on the sides of each map, will be alphabetical lists of all the ancient names, with the corresponding modern ones, longitude latitude, &c. So as to form a complete view of ancient geography, presented to the eye at once. The public curiosity, which has been so universally, and so justly excited respecting Mrs. CLARKE, and her intimacy with the Duke of York, is about to be amply gratified by the publication of two volumes of Memoirs and Original Letters, from the pen of the Lady herself. Mr. SURR's new Novel is in the press, and will be published before the birthday. The concluding volume of the Abridgment of the Philosophical Transactions, will make its appearance in the ensuing month. Mr. CUSTANCE has in the press, a new and improved edition of his Concise View of the Constitution of England. A Selection from the Gentleman's Magazine, arranged under the heads of 1. History and Antiquities. 2. Ancient and Modern Literature, Criticism and Philology. 3. Philosophy and Natural History. 4. Letters to and from emi nent Persons. 5. Miscellaneous Articles, &c. &c. ir three volumes, 8vo. will shortly issue from the press at Oxford, under the superintendance and care of a gentleman of that University. Dr. SERNEY, has in the press, a Treatise on Local Inflammation, more particularly applied to Diseases of the Eye. The Rev. Dr. CARPENTER has in the press, Discourses on the Genuineness, Integrity, and Public Version of the New Testament. Two volumes of Practical Sermons, by the Rev. Dr. REES, will be ready for publication in the course of the present month. Mrs. HOLSTEIN will speedily publish a novel, under the title of the Assassin of St. Glenroy, or the Axis of Life. Mr. J. RICKMAN, surgeon, of Lewes, proposes to publish, in the course of a few weeks, a small volume, entitled, Epistola Amicitia, or The Friendly Call. Mr. JOHN GIFFORD, author of a History of France, and various political writings, has announced a History of the Political Life of the late Right Honourable William Pitt, including some Account of the Times in which he lived. The public expect with impatience Mr. CLARKE's Life of Lord Nelson. This work, it will be recollected, is brought forward under the immediate patronage of the Prince of Wales, and is founded on documents communicated by the Duke of Clarence, Earl Nelson, Mr. Rose, General Stewart, Lady Hamilton, Dr. Beatty, Sir T. B. Hardy, &c. &c. The same author announces, Naval Records of the Late and Present Wars; consisting of Historical Accounts of our principal Engagements at Sea, since the commencement of the War with France in 1793; accompanied by a Series of Engravings from original designs, by NICHOLAS POCOCK, esq. Mr. ADOLPHUS is far advanced in his Account of the Political. State of the British Empire; which is to contain a general View of the domestic and foreign Possessions of the Crown, the Laws, Commerce, Revenues, Offices, and other Establishments, Military as well as Civil. There is at this time in progress, an Edinburgh Annual Register for the year 1808: it will appear in two volumes, Octave. Messrs. MURRAY, of London, and BALLANTYNE, of Edinburgh, have announced a splendid collection of the most esteemed Novels and Romances, printed from, and collated with, the best. editions; including Translations, selected from Foreign Languages; with Critical and Biographical Prefaces, in twenty volumes, royal 8vo. Certain booksellers of London, the proprietors of the best novels, have announced another Collection of Novels, to be edited by Mrs. BARBAULD, and to contain every work of merit in that department of literature. Proposals have been issued by JOHN LLOYD, of Cefufaes Maentwrog, Merionethshire, for publishing by subscription, a work entitled, The Records of North Wales, consisting of all the statepapers relating to that part of the Principality; the correspondence between the ancient Welsh princes and the English court; grants to the different Borough towns; ancient letters relating to the affairs of the Principality, or respecting some conspicuous part of it, as its castles and the articles of capitulation of castles in the civil wars, grants of lands to any other public bodies, as to the monks of any particular monastery, and lists of the sheriffs of the six counties from the first appointment by statute to the present time, and in short every do cument that will throw light on the history of former times, as to North Wales or any public part of it; arranged and digested in proper order, with notes historical and explanatory. Mr. RENOUARD, of Trinity college, Cambridge, will speedily publish a Treatise on Spherical Trigonometry. A new edition of Quintilian, after the manner of ROLLIN'S Compendium, is nearly ready for publication. A System of Surgery, will soon appear in four volumes, 8vo, by Mr. RUSSELL, of Edinburgh. There is also in the press another System of Surgery, of the same size, by Dr. JoHN THOMPSON, Professor of Sur gery to the Royal College of Surgeons, and Regius Professor of Military Surgery, in the University of Edinburgh. Two volumes of Sermons, by the late Bishop HORSLEY, are intended to be published by subscription, and will be ready in June next. Mr. M. MURFITT, of Trinity college, Cambridge, is about to publish an Essay on the Life and Character of Agesilaus, Son of Archidamus. A History of the Germanic Empire, from the pen of Mr. SMITH, of Dublin, will shortly be given to the public. A cor |