Mr. Chantrey's colossal bust of Lord St. Vincent, is intended, we suppose, to be placed at a considerable elevation: if so, it will look better in its place, than it does, while level, or nearly level, with the eye.

BRITISH INSTITUTION.

We meet with several of our former acquaintances in this gallery this year; but also with several new names, who are by this institution very advantageously introduced to the publick. We notice first, "Sampson breaking his bonds, by G. F. Joseph." We advise additional reflection to this artist, from whose performances we augur higher degrees of merit, hereafter. His Sampson is a Hercules. Sampson was a Nazarite from the womb: his hair therefore, never was cut or clipped during his whole life: yet Mr. J. has represented it short: this could not be. The immense breadth given to his body is certainly over-done, though well intended: because his strength is said to have been derived from "the Spirit of the Lord" coming upon him. The action of his mouth (vehement closure) diminishes the size of the head, and thereby the necessary fullness of expression. Dalilah should have been marked as sly and insinuating: Mr. J. should have obtained as a model some French intrigante. Philistine idols should have marked the scene decidedly. The bed-place of Dalilah was a recess in the side of the room.

We encourage Miss Jackson to proceed. She is not yet arrived on the top of Parnassus, but she has taken some steps towards it. If Devis's large picture of Bhavani be improved in merit, as it is enlarged in size, above his little sketch, it will be an admirable performance. We enter into the meaning of Cook, who has represented his Alcestis returned from the infernal regions with a very white complexion: it is a nicety to execute well: the paleness of disease and death is improper; the plaster of Paris whiteness is equally to be avoided: we could have recommended a little roseate tint. Howard's "Pygmalion's statue enlivened," is subject to the same remark; the flesh colour instead of being confined to the cheek, should have gradually spread itself over the bosom at least: down to the region of the heart. The gallery offers two compositions on the subject of "Themistocles taking refuge at the court of Admetus :" in neither of these is the return of Admetus from hunting expressed; yet the attendants, the dogs, game, &c. are picturesque as well as necessary.

There are other historical compositions; but it is useless to appreciate their merits. The landscapes are the chief support of the gallery, this year; they contain much merit; and we are happy in observing that the publick has discovered and encouraged it, as appears by the number of pictures sold. Not the least interesting part of the collection is the series of sketches for the monuments commanded to be erected to the memories of Gen. Sir John Moore, and Capt. Harding. We highly approve of thus subjecting them to liberal criticism before they are beyond the reach of improvement by animadversion. We perceive, too, that the remark made in the Panorama on the impropriety of adopting Roman dresses to modern characters has been felt, and that an artist whose model represents the fallen hero in Roman costume, has hung up a drawing of the same figure in the British military habit. It would have been a mark of good taste in some of his brethren had they paid equal deference to common sense. The subject of a monument for Sir John Moore is extremely favour able to the artist. We have had so many common place thoughts of Victory and Britannia that we want variety: the addition of the figure of Spain, &c. affords that variety. We heartily wish that the proposed designs for our publick buildings were equally the subjects of previous consideration : we should then have fewer wretched façades to lament as we pass by them.

SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOUrs.

If the prize be due to that collection which, with the greatest number of works of merit, combines the smallest number of exceptionable pieces, to that department of art which has made the most satisfactory progress since it last solicited the atten tion of the virtuosi, then will this society, in our judgment, bear away the prize.

The performances under inspection approach this year, more nearly to the powerful effect of oil pictures, than they ever did; this would be no great praise if we could not add, that they also approach more nearly to nature. Happily for their authors, the greater part of them are views in Britain, whereby, the artists being fastened to their subjects, with something of a portrait-like adherence to truth, they have done little more in the indulgence of imagination, than dismiss a few obstinate and unmanageable blemishes, from their composi tion; and have treated those objects which remained and be. came so much the more principal, with greater attention.

When we urge a caution against mannerism, which we would do with great solicitude, we shall not be misunderstood.Nature has no manner: imperfections may, and must be pardoned in art; but wherefore the same tints and the same blendings of colours in the same order for ever? why the same recipe on all occasions? let this be well considered.

Nobody who visits this room can overlook the fruit and flower pieces of Miss Byrne. That lady spares for no pains in her works; indeed the visible presence of care and labour forms their chief drawback as works of art. Less solicitude to finish every edge and outline in the subordinate parts, would give leave to impart a roundness and fullness of effect to the whole, which would complete these pieces. We suspect that Miss B. does not examine her works while in progress from a sufficient distance.

The subjects treated by Mr. Heaphy, display his customary skill and his no less customary finishing. Some parts of them are admirable: some heads are exquisite. We caution him against too frequent repetition of the same model; notwithstanding his works may ornament different collections. For once a minute criticism shall escape us : in his "Marketing" he has introduced a basket of eggs in a waggon, which, were they on the fore-ground would be large enough; but where they are, though not equal to those of the Ostrich, they are more than equal to those of the goose what bird in this country could lay them? The variety of landscapes in this room is highly interesting. We have corn fields (one is truly admirable!) extensive ranges of mountains, deep glens, shaded woods, cultivated plains, peasants' cottages, venerable cathedrals, ancient tombs, ruined castles, and sea-pieces, delightful or terrifick. We have cattle, and human figures: with whatever land or water presents. We shall not further particularize: we recommend this exhibition to the careful examination of young artists, whether practising the arts as a profession, or as an amusement,

We conclude this article by noticing the exhibition of Water colour Paintings from the Old Masters, which form the subjects of a work of engravings, publishing by Messrs. Longman and Co.; some of these drawings are exquisite: others are so vexatiously small in size, that they defy the examination of the unassisted eye. The reason for choosing such diminutive and even contemptible dimensions eludes

our, comprehension. We have some acquaintance with the originals of most of these drawings; and we know that there was no cause for such minification of them. Many of those to which this censure does not apply, we think highly meritorious; others are extremely curious as specimens of the manner of ancient masters. We can pardon in Giotto and Cimabue the distance between their works and those of Raffaelle and Titian; to the former we direct our reverence, to the latter our admiration.

It is singular enough, that the subject of No. 18, "Christ appearing to St. Peter after his resurrection," should be no better explained. The story of it is the origin of the church of Domine quo vadis? a short distance from Rome. The legend says that St. Peter journeying to Rome, when coming near the city, met his divine master, carrying his cross, com. ing from thence, and saluted him with the question, "Lord whither goest thou?"-whence the church afterwards built on the spot received its appellation.

From the London Monthly Magazine.

ENGLAND.

On the 24th of February, at an auction in the capital, there was sold a Greek manuscript, collected by one of his majesty's foreign ministers, at the island of Patmos, in the Archipelago. It is a folio volume, in appropriate classical binding, vellum, with rich gold Ionick border, and gilt edges, and contains upwards of seven hundred and eighty pages, on cotton paper; with, generally, twenty-nine lines of text, in a twoinch margin on each page; illustrated by about sixty illuminated figures. The principal title is, AOHNAIOY HEPI MHXANHMATON, which is followed by several treatises on similar subjects, by other writers. Concerning. the first author, Lempriere, in his Classical Dictionary says, "Athenaeus was a Roman general, in the age of Gallienus, who is supposed to have written a book on military engines." In Fabricii Bibliotheca Graeca, vol. v. the title of this book stands No. 143 in the catalogue of Greek manuscripts belonging to the royal Neapolitan library. This manuscript is written in three different hands, but all fair, and thus dated at the end: "Finished on 7 May, 1545." But the characters at the beginning evidently denote an antiquity of at least a century anterior to

that date; and it will doubtless occur to the recollection of the learned, that the late Porson pronounced Greek manuscripts of that age to be equal to Latin works of the ninth century. On the first page is written, in more modern Greek, "This present book belongs to the God-trodden mountain Sinai." The sum for which it was sold was sixty-one guineas.

RUSSIA.

Several marbles, with Slavonick inscriptions, were discovered in 1792, among the ruins of Phanagoria.. These inscriptions stated, that a Russian prince, Glied of Tmuktorakan, had caused the extent of the Cimmerian Bosphorus to be measured in 1068. On this occasion, count Mussin Puschkin published, in 1794, Historical Researches on the geographical situation of the principality of Tmuktorakan. Alexei Nicolai Olenin, counsellor of state, has published a letter on the same subject, addressed to the count, in which he describes, among others, five manuscripts of Nestor, the most ancient historian of Russia.

GERMANY.

The successes of the French armies, and their long residence in Germany, have procured them an advantage which they formerly dispensed with in their victories, but of which they will not fail to avail themselves in their future military enterprizes. They have put them in possession of a map of· Germany, surpassing all its predecessors in perfection and accuracy. Hanover was surveyed by Epaillu, chef de bataillon, immediately after its occupation by the corps of Mortier. In Brandenburg and Silesia, the French had two year's time to collect the requisite topographical information; and it is not improbable, that the beautiful maps of several provinces, drawn up by order of the Prussian government, have fallen into their hands; as their entrance into Berlin was so sudden, that a great quantity of important papers and valuable effects could not be secreted. Saxony caused a portion of its states to be surveyed every year: at the request of the French government, the work has been for some years accelerated; and the court of Dresden has made such communications as were required. It is believed, that the same has been done by Denmark, in regard to the dutchy of Holstein, and perhaps of the whole Cimbrian peninsula. The French government has caused not only the northernmost provinces of Germany to the North Sea and Baltick, but likewise the counties of Stol