digested opinions every where circulated respecting those two arts, when compared with that which is formed of others, included in the usual course of public education.

Poetry, it may be observed, is so well understood, that it's just degrees are readily ascertained, and appropriate praise is bestowed on every production of merit, that issues from the press. We know how to fix the just degree of Cowper, of Cumberland, of Rogers, of Walter Scott, and of Hayley; and although we do not boast an age surpassing all other epochs of poetry,we should hear with indignation that every puny wit of France, or rhymer of Italy, was indisputably superior to the poets just mentioned.

In painting, precisely the reverse happens in all points. We declare that painting is now at the highest point of general advancement, to which it has ever arrived in England, (and I believe we declare it with truth); but if you are bold enough, dare to mention an individual living painter, who is to be compared with an accredited master of a foreign school! And, in sculpture, was not lately the supposed superiority of a modern artist of Venice-but a truce to retort on that subject. It is not the legitimate purpose of enquiry to stir up hostile sensations. Fortunately, the amiable genius of Canova preserved the honour of our University: with the candour and temperate judgment, which no less than his professional abilities, adorn the first sculptor of his country; he declined the splendid task proposed to him, and with it (if report be true) the additional offer of three hundred pounds per annum, annexed as a condition of his residing amongst us, contented with the patronage of his own powerful Mæcenas. Much has been said, and is daily said, in the general circles of conversation, of the great encouragement now-a-days given to the arts; and while the disposition of such as continue to speak in this manner, seems so favourably bent to believe and hope, they know not what, it may not be useless to them to inquire, of what kind is this encouragement? What has been stated in relation to the highest actual example of public patroiage, will in a great measure answer the question. "An institution, founded on the most generous intentions towards the arts, directs its laudable efforts to the patronage and remuneration of younger students, and of less aspiring, or less

affluent practitioners, who choose to enter the lists of the establishment. To such alone its benefits can be extended; for as to any great work of an artist of settled eminence, it hitherto appears to be a point wholly beyond the scope of the Institution: a cabinet picture, an enamel, or a flower-piece, is eagerly seized by some ready purchaser, while a Venus by Nollekens, or a Daniel in the Lions Den, by Northcote, may go to the gallery and return to their homes as freely, and with as little interruption, as the artists and the directors think fit.

Beyond this scene of limited patronage, in what form does encouragement appear? When West, now the father of the English school, announced the completion of his classic work, of the Death of Nelson, and when it was known that it might be seen at his house, immense crouds of spectators instantly flocked thither, who thronged his painting-room, passages, door-ways, the very street in which his house is situated, in order to obtain a view of so interesting public work. The crouds of visitants continued for many weeks: it seemed impossible to satiate a just and general curiosity, and the picture was at length removed to the engraver's.

Many, in this numerous assemblage. conceived, no doubt, that they were shewing encouragement to the art and the artist, by their presence; and, as far as the tribute of politeness, and the attention of curiosity denote encouragement, they certainly were so; but is it not almost passing belief that, of all this extraordinary croud, no one individual should be found sufficiently wealthy, or sufficiently sensible of the merits by which he was attracted to the house, to become a candidate for the possession of a treasure capable of affording such extensive delight? Yet this, if report may be trusted, is the case even to the pre sent moment; and a picture, the best record of one of the most deeply affect ing, and most nationally important events which our history contains, would have been to this hour uncalled for, and would not have existed, if the professional ardour of the painter and the engraver had been as inactive, as the public patronage of established merit in the fine

Macklin, indeed are over, and their example is vanished without bequeathing either stimulus or knowledge, to suc ceeding Mæcenases; yet Stothard, Fuseli, and after them an innumerable train of minor historic painters, have derived the greater part of their employment from Sources of a similar kind. The nobility of the land purchase the books, to which the engravings from their pictures are annexed, and are content to be their patrons at second hand.

Such, on the whole, is a sketch of the inadequate state of public knowledge, and public attention, with respect to the arts of painting and sculpture. That there is a growing expression of desire towards them, discoverable in a large part of the public, no one can reasonably doubt; but it is desire unmatured, unformed, unauthorized. We judge as yet but of their surface. Of their nature, their properties, their constitutional growth and progress, it may without scruple be asserted, that we are, in this country, ignorant; if not wholly, at least too much so, to hope for any summary accomplishment of their highest excel. lences. The foundations of these must be laid in general, solid, regular, and permanent study. They are not superficial; they do not lie in the hand; they will never start out of ignorance. Their seeds are sown by the inmediate hand of Providence; but their maturity is neither a gift nor an inspiration beyond the ordinary processes of nature.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

Not vates only, but grammatici form the genus irritabile.

UTHORS in general are like the

ing imbibed the rudiments of Latin in Dr. Valpy's Graminar, I recognized my old friend's in the poetical rules given by Mr. G. Our author represents the critic as "petulant," because he has discovered, that he took “ a few verses from Dr. V. respecting the gender of nouns." The fact is, that he has taken not only all the verses on the gender (p. 3032 of the Institutes), but those on defeetive verbs (p. 121--122), besides a certain proportion of prose, which might be pointed out, from Dr. V.'s Grammar. These verses are so totally different from those in other graminars, that I cannot but call them "original," although Lily certainly devised the three special rules, and Despauterius and older grammarians mentioned the irregularities in verbs. That Mr. G. has not always neglected to acknowledge his originals appears from page 37, in which he quotes verses from the Westminster Grammar, though I believe that Dr. Busby himself laid no more claim to originality than Dr. V. probably does. And yet the merit of versification in Lily's, Busby's, and Valpy's Grammars will be acknowledged by those who compare it with that of Clarke, Milner, Holmes, and some other grammarians. Technical and didactic versification presents greater difficulties than any other species of poetry. Virgil bestowed greater labour on the Georgics, than on the Pastorals, or even on the Eneid.

A plagiarism from a living author seems to be the ground of the critic's objection. Dr. Carey, in his excellent book on Prosody, has taken the metrical rules of Alvarez, and with unquestioned propriety.

Mr. G. has by way of recrimination

court criticism, but are displeased if it loes not confer unqualified praise upon them.

Of this we had an instance in your last Number, (p. 141, &c.) in the letter of Mr. Grant. I had read the observations of the British Critic on his Latin Institutes, and had in consequence of that character purchased the book. Wishing for information on the subject of Latin Grammar, I did not object to the Author's adoption of materials from other writers. This was, in my opinion, a recommendation of the book.

Dissimilar must be the object of the critic. He is bound by his office to detect plagiarisms, whether they affect the authenticity of the writer or not, Hav

the British Critic.-To your experience and candour, Mr. Editor, who are so remarkable for correctness, I may justly appeal on this subject. You, who, like the Critic, are obliged to print periodically, know the difficulty of being perfectly ac curate in the hurry of composition; and if your correspondents are correct, you know that the printer will sometimes, almost unavoidably, shew the woful ef fects of haste and hurry. As well might Mr. G. expect accuracy in a daily paper.

The efforts of the British Critic to support the cause of the religion and of the government of this country have merited the praise of good intentions, and they not unfrequently present their readers with articles of real excellence, although

a few

a few trifling inaccuracies may escape them; and I may be permitted to add, that some of those expressions, which have been noticed by Mr. G. might be vindicated.

Mr. G. adds, that the B. C. appears to have been desirous of " paying some attention to Dr. V." If he will turn to the last edition of Dr. V.'s Humane Society Sermon, he will find the author complaining of the severity, and defending himself from a charge, of the British Critic, in a preface of no common length. He certainly does not there consider that review as partial to his publi

direction; but, unfortunately, as pot after pot becomes expensive, he is desirous of making it last as long as he can, aid, by consequence, does not take the dose necessary to remove the disease. Blame then does not rest with the physician, but with the patient. In order, therefore, to avoid the inconveniencies of the first mode abovementioned (for it has inconveniency, the dose even in that not being exactly proportioned), and to avoid also the error of many a regular practitioner, I have for many years recommended, and, in innumerable instances, with much success, the following method:-Take of yellow bark in powder one ounce, divide it into eight equal parts, of which take one at eleven o'clock in the morning, and another at four in the afternoon, either mixed with a few spoonfuls of ginger-tea, strong beer, ale, or cyder, or even water: if in London, I should not hesitate to recommend its being taken in good porter, or Windsor ale. Should not one ounce

SIR,

O the subject of Age, Elizabeth

N the subject of Ague, when I

Milliar, it did not occur to me that any thing new or important could be advanced, as the Peruvian Bark has long held the foremost rank for its cure. However, as even the mode for administering the Bark is, in this county (Somerset), where Agues are so rife, of much importance, perhaps it may be of service to communicate the mode in which it generally succeeds best. The way in which it is given here, and which is, in the strictest sense of the word, a popular way, is to take of yellow bark in powder one ounce, salt of wormwood (Kali ppt.) forty grains, Virginian snake root in powder thirty grains. Let these be mixed together in a quart of either strong beer, good ale, or cider (some use port-wine), a wine-glass of which is to be taken twice a day, taking care to shake the bottle previously to pouring out the dose. This is, in course, for a grown person; for children, the dose must be proportionately less.

Medical men frequently fail in curing the Ague here, when the above medicine succeeds; and I think that this is easily accounted for: the mode in which the bark is frequently administered by them, is in the form of an electuary, with conserve of orange peel and other warm stimulants; all, no doubt, very good and effectual, provided the patient follow the

must be taken, and it is best to leave off the use of the bark gradually, by taking only one dose a day for some days, or even a fortnight, after the ague is gone. For a boy or girl, twelve years of age, I usually order the ounce to be divided into twelve parts; for nine years of age, into sixteen parts; and for four years and under, twenty parts. It may be asked, how it happens that I recom mend the bark alone? I answer, because I am decidedly of opinion, that, in the far greater number of cases, addıtional medicines are of no importance; and, although in some cases they certainly are, yet as popular exhibitors of medicine cannot discriminate in such cases, it is better to give nothing but the bark; and I think in powder too, without having been previously mixed with any liquid, except at the time of taking it. The modus operandi of this, and a variety of other very valuable medicines, will pos sibly for ever remain unknown, I have, however, strong reasons for believing, that bark, previously immersed in any liquid, is not so active as it is when no previous mixing, except as above, has taken place. This, however, is not a place for such a discussion.

It sometimes happens, that you cannot get the bark in powder down young children; in such cases I have given a strong decoction, made with two ounces of the powder to a pint of water, and boiled for about twenty minutes in a covered vessel, and when cold strained from

the

the fæces; two table spoonfuls of which I have given, sweetened with sugar, to a child three years old once a day with good success. Emetics are here also frequently had recourse to; and, in slight attacks of ague, half an ounce of antimonial wine as an emetic, and working it off with camomile tea, will sometimes remove the complaint; but my own experience does not warrant me in recommending them, where any thing like obstinacy in the disease is manifest; and, generally speaking, the bark acts very effectually without a previous exhibition of an emetic.

Besides these various means of using the same remedy, I have found it essentially necessary to insist upon an ague patient's living better than ordinarily. To one accustomed to water I recoinmend cyder or ale; to cyder, ale or strong beer, in moderate quantity; and to one accustomed to strong beer, an occasional dose of port wine: animal food in preference to vegetable, and roast in preference to boiled. An avoidance of cold; and of wet feet. Indeed, living better alone will sometimes keep off the ague, when there is a predisposition for it.

From the many cases which I have seen, I am of opinion, that the Ague is not, as is too frequently imagined, an invisible something that can be expelled by a vigorous coup de main at once; such an idea may suit the poet, who may be desirous of depicting it as a shivering hag, but in sober reasoning, wherever the ague is present, there also previously existed debility (notwithstanding now and then some appearances to the contrary), and therefore the only mode of cure must be to invigorate the constitution, and the ague ceases to exist. Daily experience teaches us, who are but just permitted a glance at the threshold of the temple of Medicine, that the bark is the first medicine in the list of stimuli for the cure of the ague, and on that sheet-anchor must both the initiated and uninitiated depend.

I fear that I have already swelled this letter to an immoderate length. I have endeavoured to be as plain and intelligible, as is consistent with a notice on popular medicine to be, but suspect, that Touch conversation with medical men, as well as an intimacy with medical books, have made this letter less popular than the generality of your readers may desire. I have, however, no mo.

P.S. While on the subject of Bark I would say, that I have been informed, that the bark of a species of willow, growing in this country, called Broad-leaved Willow, will cure the Ague. I know nothing of it. Can any of the Correspondents of the Monthly Magazine give any information on the subject? I have seen some of the yellow Bark attached to the wood on which it grows.

The wood has much of the grain, colour, and softness of the wood of the willow.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

A

SIR,

FEW days ago I met with some observations, accompanied with a plan, of an intended Archway under Highgate Hill, by Mr. Robert Vazie, who has not quite finished his proposed archway under the River Thames.

If it was proved, that there is no way of avoiding that hill, but by a tunnel, it probably might deserve the support of the public; but as it appears from a survey made by Mr. Thompson in 1805, that nearly the whole of the difficulty can be avoided, and yet the road kept in open day-light, without adding any thing to the distance, I think it will appear something like cutting out a job, to propose a tunnel, where the public may be better accommodated at one-fourth of the expence. It has been supposed, that the principal objection to the plan proposed by Mr. Thompson lies with two noblemen, upon the ground that it might possibly interfere with their pleasuregrounds; but surely no noble man would make that a pretence for preventing an improvement so desirable, and useful to the public at large. Is there no pleasure in accommodating the public? Are the public to pay the interest of 75,000l. (which would not be sufficient to finish the tunnel or archway), and be made to pass a narrow, dark, damp passage for near a mile, and all this for the pleasure of two noblemen, and the doubtful profit of a few speculators? For that reason also, are all the wells in Highgate to be laid dry, and the people of delicate babits to be exposed to injury in their health, by passing in the hot sultry sommer's day, for 15 minutes, through a cold and damp vault -Suppose any accident, similar to what happens daily in the

streets