a boar-hunt is shewn in mosaic; in the house of the tragic poet a chained dog is represented in a similar way. In the courts of the better houses are shallow baths, only a few inches deep, for strangers to wash their feet in. In the Temple of Isis there is an altar, mosaic floor, &c.; and in an adjoining room a table spread with cooked fowls was found, near to which the skeleton of a priest remained; a second skeleton was found in the temple. The Royal, or Borbonic Museum, removed from Portici to Naples, contains a vast collection of objects found in Herculaneum and Pompeii; in addition to those mentioned, there are bread-fruits, corn and oil mills, cinerary urns, bottles of medicine, superb bronzes, and many other remains. [Mr. Barry here shewed specimens of glass, mosaic, fragments of musical instruments, of the charred beams of Herculaneum, a human jaw, lachrymatories, &c. brought by him from those places.] The darkness attendant on the eruption of Vesuvius, which buried these towns, and which remained for several days, is described by Pliny in his letter to Tacitus, as exceeding that of any night he had ever known. Pliny the elder, (the naturalist), who commanded the Roman fleet, perished in a shower of ashes and clouds of sulphureous smoke on landing. BRITISH SCHOOL OF PAINTING. A picture is a poem without words.-Spectat. FROM the sublime to the ridiculous is but one step, so from Eucles, the subject of our last remarks upon this artist, we descend to Punch and Judy, or Life in London. On first looking at this picture, it presents a mass of confusion, of distrac⚫ tion to the eye, no harmony, no repose. Nor is this feeling allayed by further or more minute examination; although some of the individual parts are excellent, still as a whole it does not please. Punch's theatre is upon the left hand of the pic ture, before which stands a real country farmer, gaping and staring with true rustic credulity and delight, seemingly excited to admiration by the various antics of Punch and his wife. On his right, explaining with apparent disinterestedness and complaisance, is a sharper, whose female companion shelters with her cloak a young thief, who is busy picking the old farmer's pocket. A sailor stands behind the farmer, careless and smoking his pipe, not at all attracted by the leering of the female accomplice; beside the sailor is a Life Guardsman, with a Waterloo medal on his breast:" both sailor and soldier," says Mr. Haydon, "being a fair representation of the respective noble services to which they belong.' The buildings of Nottingham Place are the houses on the left, below which is seen a funeral procession, which, by the white feathers, tell the deceased to have died in single blessedness, though whether the dead be male or female we should never have known, had it not been for Mr. Haydon, who says it is "the funeral of a sweet girl." On the opposite side, or right, is Marylebone Church, and the extreme right corner of the picture is filled up by Jack in the Green, sooty and his lady; behind whom is a matrimonial pair returning from the altar of Hymen. Close to the farmer's heels is his dog, near to which stands a street sweeping boy, mimicking the action of Punch and his staff with his broom; behind him is a police officer, watching the boy picking the farmer's pocket. Over the sharper are seen two men on horseback, though of a truth we should not have known that they are fashionable young men, as Mr. Haydon is pleased to call them. But now comes the description of the sweetest figure in the whole painting-this is the fruit girl asleep on the left corner. It is indeed a delightful little gem; of itself ita is a picture, so placid, so calm, and asleep, amidst all the racket of the passing scene. Her position is easy and unconstrained, while the painting and colouring of it beggars description. The feet are most exquisitely done. This is sufficient to shew that Haydon can paint: even Etty, great as he undoubtedly is, has never surpassed this; and we wish that Haydon would always pay this regard to the finish of his figures. In the present performance there are instances of gross neglect and carelessness,-for example, the dog, and boy mimicking, and the feet of Jack in the Green. This it is which disgusts common spectators; we have found it so, and many is the time that we have spoken in defence, or extenuation of it, lest they might be too much prejudiced. It is a pity that a man should take so much trouble to ruin his reputa tion, when he could so easily obviate it. Next to the fruit girl, the farmer is the best figure; then the sailor and soldier ; and all the others are good. The expressions of all are in perfect accordance with their various characters and pursuits. In contrasting this picture with that of Eucles, it cannot, we are sure, be matter of any doubt as to which we judge the palm of excellence. Clearly and indisputably must it convince any being of sense and judgment, that Haydon undoubtedly excels in historical, not in familiar, nor comic, painting. To call him the Hogarth of our day is to insult him; as well might Hogarth be compared to Raphael, because he painted Paul before Agrippa, the good Samaritan, and Christ at the Pool of Bathesda. It ought rather to excite our pity, that a man possessed of such commanding talents should be compelled to waste his time and genius upon subjects, to others however agreeable, yet so irksome and inimical to his own feelings and ideas. There are numerous sketches and draw ings in oil and chalk hung about the room, and all display the vigour and masterly handling of a genius. Amongst the number are, the first sketch (in oil) of Eucles-Entry into Jerusalem, and Xenophon and the Ten Thousand. The first does not materially vary from the finished painting, excepting here the arm of Eucles's wife is stretched out, and the Greek on horseback having no cap.No. 16, Alexander and Bucephalus, has been before exhibited at the Royal Academy. It is a picture of great merit. There are Haydon's usual faults and excellencies in it: he has thrown great vigour and animation into the whole picture. Alexander sits his horse manfully and easily, but he is devoid of that masculine beauty and dignity which is naturally looked for in one so near appertaining to a God. Here likewise are his celebrated pictures of the Judgment of Solomon, and Entry into Jerusalem. In this style, and upon this scale of painting, the true genius of Haydon is seen to advantage. Here the vigour of composition, the majesty of his figures and sublimity of effect strike the spectator with wonder and pleasure. The design of his Solomon is grand, simple and solemn, suitable to the subject represented. The gravity and dignity of Solomon is striking; the majestic simplicity with which he is robed, gives an air of towering grandeur and awe, that makes us feel as if we were in reality a witness of the scene. The colouring of this, as well as of his Jerusalem, is rich and mellow, and shews that Haydon's principles of colouring can with stand time and neglect; for these two paintings have been bandied about and tossed amidst heaps in garrets, among rubbish and damp. The only figure which we object to here is, that of the man about to strike the child. In the first place, it tells too much of a studied figure, oo much of academical rules to be na tural,-again, it is too violent in its action; he is screwing up his strength sufficient to knock down an ox or an elephant, and we are certain, were he to strike as represented, he would undoubtedly annihilate the false mother, instead of the child. The architecture is very fine, elegant and solid, and the temple in the distance is masterly put in, though he may have violated chronology; but there are allowances to poets and painters not conceded to less ethereal personages. His Entry into Jerusalem is a fine picture-a picture that can bear comparison with the proudest of foreign countries, or any ever produced here, and had we time it should be examined more minutely, but suffice it to say, that it is a work that would alone have distinguished Haydon had he never painted any other, and that it is a burning shame, a stigma on the taste of this country, that the only man who endeavours to cultivate and dignify her historical school of painting should be left unprotected, unpatronised, and, as a last resource, be compelled to dispose of his productions by a raffle!—a system now even scouted from the stage of the itinerant mountebank; and yet it is practised in London, and noblementhe proud aristocracy of England, are humble enough to dabble in a lottery!Oh, most mighty and sapient race, prate no more about thy nobility. C.1.H. The Nate Book. I will make a prief of it in my Note-book. SPLENDID BRIBE. Bourrienne gives the following instance of a bribe :-The Prince de Conde offered to Pichegru to betray his country to the Bourbons, for the following price :"To be made a Marshal of France, a Governor of Alsace, a Cordon Rouge, the Chateau de Chambord, with its park and twelve pieces of cannon; a million of ready money; two hundred thousand livres per annum; a hotel in Paris; a pension of 200,000 livres, with a reversion of half to his wife, and a quarter to his heirs for ever; and, finally, that his native town of Arbors should bear his name, and be exempt from taxes for twenty years.' " SPECIMENS OF GERMAN GENIUS. There is no more potent antidote to low sensuality than the adoration of beauty. All the higher arts of design are essentially chaste, without respect of the object. They purify the thoughts, as tragedy, according to Aristotle, purifies the passions. Their accidental effects are not worth consideration. There are souls to whom even a vestal is not holy. August Wilhelm v. Schlegel. Each minute appears to us the end, the object, of all former minutes. We mistake the seed of life for the harvest-the honey-dew on the ears for the sweet and nourishing juice-and, like beasts, we chew the blossoms. Jean Paul F. Richter. The most agreeable of all companions is a simple, frank man, without any high pretensions to an oppressive greatness; one who loves life, and understands the use of it; obliging,-alike at all hours; above all, of a golden temper, and steadfast as an anchor. For such an one, we gladly exchange the greatest genius, the most brilliant wit, the profoundest thinker. Lessing. The most perfect specimens of ordinary women have a very acute and distinct perception of all the boundary lines of every-day existence, and guard themselves conscienciously from overstepping them. Hence their well-known and remarkable uniformity. They cannot bear excess, even in refinement, delicacy, truth, virtue, passion. They delight in variety of the common and accustomed. No new ideas, but new clothes. Fundamental monotony-superficial excitement. They love dancing, especially, on account of its light, vain, and sensual character. The highest sort of wit is insufferable to them as well as the Beautiful, the Great, the Noble middling, or even bad books, actors, pictures, and the like, delight them. Novalis. It is a coarse but very common misapprehension, that in order to represent the Ideal, an aggregate of virtues as numerous as possible must be packed together under one name: a whole compendium of morality be exhibited in one man. Nothing is effected by this but the utter extinguishment of individuality and truth. The Ideal consists not in quantity but in quality. Grandison is exemplary, but not ideal. A. W. von Schlegel. Germans are serious in society, their comedies are serious, their satire is serious, their whole polite literature is serious. Is the comic alone always unconscious and involuntary in this people? Ib. There are ideal trains of events which run parallel with the real ones. Seldom do they coincide. Men and accidents commonly modify every ideal event or train of events, so that it appears imperfect, and its consequences are equally imperfect. Thus it was with the Reformation-instead of Protestantism, arose Lutheranism. Novalis. ORIGIN OF THE MALT AND BEER TAXES. The following memoranda may just now be interesting: Alehouses were established in this country as early as 721; and are mentioned in the laws of Ina, King of Wessex. Public houses were first licensed in 1621, authority being granted for that purpose to Sir Giles Montpessan and Sir Francis Michel, for their own emolument. In 1553, the number of taverns in London was limited to forty. The malt tax was established in 1697, increased in 1760, and new modelled in 1766. An Excise duty on beer and ale was first legally imposed in 1660. MARRIAGE A MEDICINE. It is a custom in Syria to allow sick women to be present at weddings, from a popular superstition that the marriage benediction is a certain remedy for all their disorders. The same superstition seems gaining ground here, for many sick (love-sick) females wish to be present on such an occasion. FONDNESS OF THE RUSSIANS FOR ORNAMENTS. It Independently of the cheap price of provisions, there is something else favourable to residing in Moscow; one is not dazzled from morning to night by the brilliant uniform of the officers; and a gentleman looks more in his proper place in Moscow than in the northern capital. I remember a certain Prince, who dined with ine, making his appearance with thirteen orders-every thing, from the copper medal for the battle of Moskowa, to the superior order of St. Anne. required about an hour's time to learn the history of his different exploits; he fought all his battles o'er again, and about six hundred times he slew the slain. I have seen a Professor of great celebrity writing letters in his dressing-gown, with three stars stuck upon the same robe-de-chambre. Once when, during a bitter cold morning, an elderly gentleman alighted from his travelling carriage at a miserable inn, to endure the half-hour's uncomfortable delay always experienced in changing horses, and, to enjoy a little real heat, disrobed himself of his shube, to my great surprise, I saw no less than five stars and orders. The rage for appearing in this trumpery baffles all belief. Every common soldier has four or five of 66 New Month. Notices of New Books. The English Army in France: being the Narrative of an Officer. 2 vols, 12mo. Colburn and Bentley, 1830. THIS amusing work is more á series of personal anecdotes than a " History of the Wars," which might be supposed from its title. As far as we can judge from a hasty perusal, it bears the stamp of reality; and indeed, on this point, the author says in the preface, "I have invented nothing, but I have described faithfully what rose to my observation among events in the causation of which I had no concern. And, in truth, he appears to have one great merit for a "reminiscence" writer, he is not always intruding himself before the reader the greater part of the stories relate to his comrades. We think it scarcely possible for any one to read two pages without feeling interested in this work. The narratives are told in a very easy and playful manner; and, as light reading to pass an otherwise dull hour, these volumes cannot be too highly recommended. By way of illustrating our remarks, we introduce the following bit to our readers. The Morning af Waterloo.-After a hasty but substantial breakfast, "the serious business of the memorable day commenced. I recollect several of us our feeling drowsy after so very solid a re- Napoleon was not a likely man to send his compliments, with a message to inform him when he would enter upon active operations, and where he purposed to commence; and as to the post,' where would these wise folks have assigned it? Do they think it was either fit or necessary for the commander of an army to be performing the duty of a vidette, or at most of an officer on picquet? His proper post was precisely where it was, and where, on all corres- country were the seat of war for one In our next we shall make a few further extracts from these amusing volumes. Customs of Various Countries. CUSTOM OF BURNING HEIFERS FOR ASHES, For the Olio. mon people that brought a vessel out of the house, though an earthen vessel and said, 'This vessel is clean for the Sin Water,' it was presumed to be clean, sanctified and sprinkled. And so, if any of the common people said, 'I am clean for the Sin Water, or had the Sin Water by him and said it is clean,' his word was taken, for there was no man in Israel too vile for it. How clearly this sprinkling is practised by the Romish priests, it requires not a word; and it is equally clear that the water now denominated the Holy Water' in the chapels, is the same in effect as the Sin Water' used by the Israelites, with a view of being cleansed from all sin. There was the water of sprinkling and the blood of sprinkling. The difference between the old and new dispensation is the only real cause why water is now in use instead of blood. Anecdotiana. ANOTHER GOOD ONE. (For the Olio.) PYLA. "You are an old stager with the ladies," said A to his friend; "you kiss all you meet."— "Pardon me," replied another, "in that case he's not a stager, but an Omnibus!" A GENTLE REPROOF. A short time since, a respectable lookWhen the Priest burnt the Heifer he ing person entered a conventicle at no was separated from his house to a chamber great distance from Portsmouth, during prepared in the court of the Temple called the delivery of a discourse upon charity the Stone Chamber' containing stone and good will toward our neighbours. vessels, in which he ministered seven days. The visitor walked leisurely along until he After the Heifer was burnt, she was beaten reached the pulpit, from which the sleek with staves; her and the wood of the pile headed gospeller was launching his wherewith she was consumed, were sifted thunders on the ungodly; casting his with sieves and whatever was black which eyes to the right and to the left, in hope could be possibly pounded was made into that some friendly one would offer him a ashes, and that which had no ashes in it seat, but not a single pew door was openwas left to be pounded separately. Not ed. Instead of betraying any ill feeling any of the ashes were laid up in the court, at this unchristian conduct, the person but divided into three parts-one part in aforesaid deliberately walked out of the the fort or frontier; another part in Mount chapel, but shortly returned with a huge Olivet and the third parted to all the wards.log of wood upon his shoulders, which That which was parted to the wards the priests sanctified with it. That which was put in Mount Olivet the Israelites sprinkled with it; and that which was put in the fort was received. And thus, some of every burnt heifer was laid in store and safety. After this precept was commanded nine red heifers were burnt till the desolation of the second Temple. The first, by Moses, the second, by Ezra, and seven after him till the Temple was destroyed. In respect of the ashes, however, it is necessary to remark that all Israelites were fit to keep it. Therefore any of the com he set down under the pulpit and used as a seat. As he entered, every pew door flew open-the congregation were abashed and felt the reproof most bitterly; but he who had thus confounded them, heeded not the effect he had produced, and quitted the place upon the conclusion of the discourse, having assured himself that the hint was effectual. A. If Mr. Pitt had been born without that which is usually designated the seat of honour, what would he be like? The Bottomless Pit. A. |