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interior of North America have come to Chios, to study the language of Homer. Mr Varvoti, one of the richest Greek merchants, has presented 30,000 francs to the College, together with a number of books purchased at Paris.

A quite new and very useful establishment at Constantinople, is a phi. lanthropic fund for the support of indigent students. It is under the immediate direction of three Greek archbishops, and several merchants. The celebrated Patriarch Gregory constantly shews himself a zealous friend and protector of public instruction, and courageously opposes the rapacity and machiavelism of the greater part of the Phanarists, i. e. the Greeks who are in the service of the Sultan.

The Abbé Amadeus Peyron, Professor of oriental languages in the university of Turin, has discovered some fragments of Cicero, in a MS. from the monastery of St Colomban di Bobbio, a town on the Trebia, in the King of Sardinia's dominions. This MS. contains important new readings of orations already known, and confirms the identity of several texts which have been tortured by indiscreet critics. It contains, besides, fragments of the orations, pro Scauro, pro M. Tullio, in Clodium, which are unfortunately lost. Some of those fragments have been already published by M. Maïo, after a MS. of the same library at Colomban, preserved in the Ambrosian library at Milan.

RUSSIA. According to the latest estimation, there are 350 living authors in this country, about one-eighth part of whom are ecclesiastics, but the far greater proportion consists of persons of rank. Backmeister, in his Russian Library, computed, that, previously to 1817, there existed about 4000 different works in that language. In the extensive collection of national literature belonging to the Academy of

Sciences of St Petersburg, there were, in 1800, 3000 works printed in the Russian tongue; among which, only 105 belonged to the class of novels and romances. Since this period, authorship has increased so much, that last year no fewer than 8000 volumes were printed in this language. Translations are very numerous, particularly of dramas, novels, works of imagination, and the Belles Lettres. There are newspapers and journals, both German and Russian, published at St Petersburg, Moscow, Riga, Revel, Abo, and other principal cities. At the first of these places there are fifteen printinghouses, and ten at Moscow.

NEW SOUTH WALES.-On the 23d of March, 1820, Governor Macquarie, (New South Wales) laid the first stone of a school for the education of poor children. It is to contain 500, and adopt Lancaster's method. There is another school in the colony for orphans, (male,) another for ditto, (female,) and a third for indigent children of both sexes. In these are taught, the elements of the Christian religion, reading, writing, and arithmetic, the principles of drawing and practical agriculture. Their progress, as reported, is very satisfactory. Civilization is making advances among the savages, many of their children being in these schools. The ulterior intention is to intermarry the young persons, when of age, and to grant them farms, cattle, ploughing implements, &c. On the 1st of Dec., 1820, Governor Macquarie laid the foundation of a new town, to be called Campbeltown. The situation is in the district of Aird, within a large level territory of the same name. This will make the seventh town erected in that part of the world. The others are Sidney, Paramatta, Windsor (late Hawksbury,) Liverpool, Newcastle, and Bathurst.

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Land, New Holland. The first book from this press is the History of a fugitive exile, named Michael Howe, who, at the head of twenty-eight other run-aways, disturbed the tranquillity

of the colony for six years. The work derives importance from the singular. ity of the circumstances, and from the story.

NOTICES RELATING TO THE FINE ARTS.

DURING the two years, 1820 and 1821, which we are now to survey, the Fine Arts sustained a severe loss in the death of Benjamin West, President of the Royal Academy, and the first of British historical painters. In the course of it, however, two new artists rose to high distinction. Mr Haydon exhibited his pictures of "Christ's Entry into Jerusalem," and the " Agony in the Garden," performances which bore the stamp of genius; vigorously conceived, and richly coloured; yet the beautiful figures of which were allayed by the mixture of others injudiciously introduced, and characterized by a strained and often false expression. Mr Martin also produced his "Belshazzar's Feast," and "Joshua," pictures holding a sort of intermediate place between landscape and history; and, if they cannot reach the dignity of the latter, displaying at least very brilliant tints, powerful perspective, and a high vein of poetical feeling.

In the exhibition at the Royal Academy, Sir Thomas Laurence's portraits were considered as the most splendid. The subjects were, the Marquis of Londonderry-Mrs H. Baring and children-Sir Humphrey Davy-Lady Louisa Lambton-President West-Viscountess Pollington and child-James Palmer, Esq. Raeburn had a fine portrait of Lord Bute; Phillips excellent ones of Sir Wm.

Grant and D. Ricardo, Esq.; several also by Lane and Lonsdale were deemed well worthy of notice.

Fusali and Northcote had several historical pictures, among which were, by the latter, "The Burial of Edward V. and his brother, the Duke of York;" and "The Marriage of the Duke of York to Lady Anne Mowbray." Mr William Allan of Edinburgh exhibited the "Murder of Archbishop Sharp," which fully sup ported the high reputation he had gained by his "Circassian Captives." Geddes's "Discovery of the Regalia of Scotland," Cooper's "Heroic conduct of Cromwell at Marston Moor," and Etty's "Cleopatra's Arrival in Cilicia," were also noticed. A num ber of other subjects of minor im portance displayed the talents of Bri tish artists.

Besides this exhibition at the Royal Academy, another was made in the rooms of the Royal Institution; another by the Society of Painters in Water-colours. On the removal of the pictures of British artists from the apartment of the Institution, their place was supplied by a collection of the works of the old masters, furnished from several of the principal galleries in the kingdom, and containing many works of distinguished merit.

Mr Holland and Mr Glover made particular exhibitions of their own pictures. Signor Revelli produced s

large picture of the Queen's Trial. An exhibition of the works of British engravers was made in Soho Square.

In Edinburgh, also, an exhibition this year took place, which was in no little degree honourable to Scottish art. Raeburn, in his portrait of Lord Hopetoun, to mention no other, rivalled anything which the sister kingdom could boast. Watson displayed his usual truth and nature; and his nephew, John Watson, that elegance and delicacy which, for female subjects, and others requiring these qualities, place him perhaps above any other Scottish artist. The portrait of Mr Oswald, by Geddes, was also considered a masterpiece. The miniatures of Mr J. Thomson possessed their usual excellence.

In landscape, the exhibition was very powerful. Nasmyth, in his pictures of Glenco and the Pass of the Cows, gave excellent specimens of his peculiar style. Peter Nasmyth had also landscapes of great merit, though in a mannered style. Andrew Wilson drew peculiar admiration by a sea-port, tinted with the finest hues of Italy. The Rev. J. Thomson, who used to be chiefly admired for the richness of his wooded scenery, displayed, in his " Aberlady Bay," that power of marine painting which he has carried to such perfection. Peter Gibson produced several landscapes, marked by classic dignity and taste. There were also meritorious pieces by J. F. Williams, John Wilson of London, and others.

This exhibition displayed a degree of merit in sculpture, to which Scotland had hitherto been a stranger. Besides two busts by Chantrey, it contained pieces by Joseph and Scoular, two young artists of great promise.

may gratify those who take an interest in the Fine Arts:

Sale of the late Marchioness of Thomond's pictures, by Mr Christie. The pictures of Sir Joshua Reynolds, which belonged to this lady, who was his niece, and well known at her uncle's parties as Miss Palmer, produced unusual and even unexpected prices. Among them we produce the following as an example:

The "Charity" sold for 1500 guineas, a larger sum than has ever been given before for a single picture produced by an Englishman, with the exception of "Christ Healing the Sick," painted by the late Mr West for the British Institution.

The following eleven pictures are the original designs for the compartments of the window of New College, Oxford, which were copied on stained glass by Jarvis; that picture which forms the centre of the window, the subject of which is the Nativity, was the property of the Duke of Rutland, and destroyed by fire at Belvoir Castle:

Charity, purchased by Lord Normanton, for 1500 guineas.

Faith, by ditto, for 400 guincas.
Hope, by ditto, for 650 guineas.
Temperance, by ditto, for 600 gui-

neas.

Justice, by ditto, for 1100 guineas. Fortitude, by ditto, for 700 gui

neas.

Prudence, by ditto, for 350 guineas. Portraits of Sir Joshua Reynolds and Jarvis, as Shepherds at the Nativity, by Earl Fitzwilliam, for 410 guineas.

A Shepherd Boy and Dog, by ditto, for 600 guineas.

Young St John and the Lamb, by Mr Danby, for 175 guineas.

A Nymph and Cupid; the admirable fancy subject usually termed the Snake in the Grass; was purchased by Mr Soane, the architect, for 510 The following detached notices guineas; who also bought Sir Jo

VOL. XIV. PART II.

U

shua's copy of the Marlborough Gems for 77 guineas.

Dido on a Funeral Pile, bought by Sir C. Long for the British Institution, for 700 guineas.

Hope nursing Love, by Mr Morrell, of Portland Place, for 215 gui

neas.

A Young Shepherdess, by Colonel Howard, of Grovesnor Square, for 210 guineas.

Portrait of Lady Spenser, by M. Wansey, for 55 guineas.

A whole-length Portrait of the late Earl of Dunmore, for 145 guineas. Portrait of Admiral Lord Rodney, for 115 guineas.

Portrait of the Dutchess of Marlborough, for 90 guineas.

A Girl's Head, with a string of pearls interwoven in her hair, by Lord De Dunstanville, for 42 guineas.

A bold Landscape and Figure, by Mr Cuncliffe, for 400 guineas.

Stuart Wortley purchased the Portrait of Mrs Robinson, in the first day's sale, at a large price.

There were a few bronzes and pic tures of the first class by the Old Masters, but as the productions of Sir Joshua's pencil were evidently the great point of attraction, these were considered to obtain but indifferent prices.

The Marriage of St Catherine, painted by Coreggio, to the eloquent and elaborate description of which Mr Christie has devoted two entire pages of his catalogue, and which formerly was valued at 2000l., was purchased for the Duke of Northumberland, for 215 guineas.

An original Bust of Sir Joshua Reynolds, in marble, by an Italian artist, and from which Sir Joshua seems to have taken all the portraits of himself, painted late in life, was purchased by Mr Geo. Watson Tayfor, for 160 guineas.

A noble group of Nessus and De

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ganin, in bronze, was purchased by Lord Yarmouth for the King, at 75 guineas.

A fine equestrian figure of Marcus Aurelius, in bronze, sold for 35 gui

neas.

A Sleeping Cupid, by Guido, bought by Mr Danby, for 85 guineas.

The Enchantress, by Teniers, sold for 160 guineas.

Cleopatra Dissolving the Pearl, painted by J. Steen, sold for 70 gui

neas.

A fine plaster Bust of Dr Johnson, much esteemed by Sir Joshua Reynolds, was purchased by Mr James Boswell, for 10 guineas.

The amount of the second day's sale exceeded 15,000l.,which is 5000!. more than the highest and most sanguine estimate previously made of their value.

At a meeting held pursuant to advertisment at the public office, in Birmingham, on the 7th of February, 1821, to take into consideration the propriety of forming a society for promoting the cultivation of the fine arts, Samuel Galton, Esq. in the chair,

It was resolved, 1st, That an institution be now established in Birmingham, for the encouragement of Arts and Manufactures, and that it be called

Arts."

The Birmingham Society of

2d, That a Museum be formed for the reception of casts and models of the most approved specimens of sculpture, and of all such other works, illustrative of the different branches of art, as the society may have the means of procuring.

3d, That suitable accommodation be provided for students in the fine arts.

4th, That if at any time it shall be deemed expedient, the committee have the power of making arrangements for public exhibitions of the works of art.

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An institution having been formed in Glasgow, for the purpose of promoting the Arts of Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, &c., an Exhibition was opened on Monday, the 6th of August, in which artists resident in the united kingdom may be exhibitors, and works of deceased British artists were also received for exhibition and sale.

The art of engraving on wood has lately been carried into practice with surprising success; and by their lasting means, popular books have received embellishments at a low price, which they must otherwise have been without, except at treble their cost.

MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE VICTORIES OF THE BRITISH ARMS IN THE PENINSULA.

This stupendous work of art is now completed, and will shortly be erected in St James's Park, immediately opposite the Horse Guards, where the royal mortar formerly stood.

The colossus is 18 feet high, and is cast in metal from the cannon taken during the war; it is to be placed upon a pedestal of Aberdeen granite, of the height of 12 feet, on which will be engraved an appropriate inscription. The original of this figure is on the Monte Cavallo, one of the seven hills on which Rome was built; it is executed in marble, and supposed to be the work of the celebrated Phidias; the analogy between this and the Elgin marbles certainly justifies the supposition. The figure is in an attitude of defiance, not unlike the Gladiator; in the right hand is a Roman sword, and on the left arm an orbicular shield; a very massive fold of dra

pery falls over the left arm, and behind the body of the statue, on the right side, is placed the cuirass armour, about seven feet high, which is most judiciously introduced for the purpose of balancing the great height of the figure, which is not so muscular as the Hercules of Praxiteles, but it has the fulness of youth and energy. The usual fault in all the Greek statues is also visible herein-the shortness of the neck; but this we know was with the Greek sculptors considered indicative of strength. The muscle on the body is finely heroic. The horse is not introduced, as it has always been considered very inferior to the figure, and from its not being equally colossal, detracts from the merit of the performance. The statue weighs three tons, and is the boldest attempt to rival the ancients in bronze that has yet been made.

The present state of the fine arts in Spain is not so deplorable and degraded as may be thought; there are departments which demand applause, and which, if distinguished in the true point of light, would appear to great advantage. There are painters in that country who display eminent abilities; the names of the following may be given as a partial specimen :-Gorga, Lopez, Velasquez, Aparicio, Madrazo, Rivera, for history; Montalvo and Sanchez, for landscapes and sea pieces; Parra and Lacoma, for flowers; Rivellez, Galves, &c. for decorations.

Connoisseurs may well appreciate the knowledge and taste displayed by Gines, Agreda, and Alvarez, in sculpture, each of whom has been in Rome for the sake of instruction and diligent imitation.

In architecture, Spain possesses men of considerable intellectual endowments; such are Perez, Agnado, Velasquez, and Moreno. In the line of engraving, Carmona, Esteve, Amul

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