first-rate beauties, the polite world flocked to fee the graces and the charms of his pencil, and he foon became the moft fashionable painter, not only in England, but in all Europe. He has preferved the refemblance of fo many illuftrious characters of the age in which he lived, that we feel the lefs regret for his having left behind him fofew hiftorical paintings. The principal hiftorical pieces which he produced were the following: Hope nurfing Love;-Venus chaftifing Cupid for having learned to caft accounts;Count Ugolino in the dungeon; the calling of Samuel;—Ariadne;—a Captain of banditti;-Beggar Boy;-a Lady in the character of St. Agnes-Thais; -Dionyfius the Areopagite ;-an infant Jupiter-Mafter Crewe in the character of Henry VIII-the death of Dido;-a Child acep;-Cupid fleeping;-Covent Garden Cupid ;— Cupid in the Clouds;-Cupids painting;-Boy laughing;-Mafter Herbert in the character of Bacchus ;-Hebe; Mifs Meyer in the character of Hebe; -Madena, a head; the Black-guard Mercurya little Boy (Samuel) praying an old Man reading;--Love loofing the zone of Beauty,the Children in the Wood;-Cleopatra diffolving the Pearl;-Garrick in the character of Kitely;-Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy ;-Mrs. Abingdon in the character of Comedy;-a Child furrounded by Guardian Angels ;-Mifs Beauclerc in the chara&er of Spenter's Una;-Refignation;-the Duchefs of Manchefter in the character of Diana; -Lady Blake in the character of Juno; -Mrs. Sheridan in the character of St. Cecilia ;-Edwin, from Beattie's Minftrel;the Nativity, Four Cardinal Virtues, and Faith, Hope, and Charity, for the window of New College Chapel, Oxford; the Studious Boy;-a Bacchante;-a Daughter of Lord W. Gerdon, as an Angel;-the Holy Family; the Cottagers, from Thomifon ;--the Veftal; the Careful Shepherdofs; a Gipfey telling Fortunes-the infant Hercules ftrangling the Serpent ;-the Moufe-trap Girl ;-Venus ;-Cornelia and her Children;-the Bird;-Melancholy;-Mrs. Siddons in Tragedy ;Head of Lear;-Mrs. Talmath in the character of Miranda, with Profpero and Caliban-Robin Goodfellow ;Death of Cardinal Beaufort ;-Macbeth, with the caldron of the Witches. In the exhibition of the Society for promoting Painting and Defign, in Li verpool, in the year 1784, is, "A landfcape, being a view on the Thames from Richmond, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. This is perhaps the only landfcape he ever painted, except thofe chafte and beautiful ones which compofe the back grounds of many of his portraits. In 1764, Mr. Reynolds had the merit of being the first promoter of that club which long exifted without a name, but which, at Mr. Garrick's funeral, became diftinguished by the name of the Literary Club. In 1769, the King founded an Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, under the name of the Royal Academy of Arts, and appointed Mr. Reynolds (in confideration of his prefeffional excellence) the Prefident, and to add dignity to the Academy, conferred the honour of knighthood on him. Sir Joshua delivered his firft difcourfe at the opening of the Royal Academy, on Jan. 2, 1769. Each fucceeding year, on the diftribution of the prizes, Sir Joshua delivered a difcourfe to the ftudents. In the autumn of 1785, Sir Joshua made a very pleafing excurfion to the Netherlands, and (as did numbers of English gentlemen, remarkable for their tafte in the fine arts) attended the grand fale of pictures at Bruffels. Thefe paintings were taken from the different monafteries and religious houses in Flanders and Germany by command of the Emperor Jofeph, and were chiefly upon fubjects from the Scriptures and Popish Legends. Sir Johua, in this country (fo much vifited by the curious and lovers of the arts), laid out about one thousand pounds. In 1788, he gave one fitting to his diftinguished rival Gainsborough; but the unexpected death of the latter prevented all further progrefs. The admirers of the art have to regret, that the engagement between thefe two artifts for the painting of cach other's portrait was not carried into execution, the canvas being stretched for both. Sir Joshua pofleffed great literary abilities, and was, through-life, a very brilliant companion. He was one of that felect party of aflociated geniuses fo adinirably characterized by Dr. Goldfmith in his Retaliation. Sterne, David Garrick, Goldfmith, Dr. Johnfon, Mr. Burke, the two Wartons, Dr. Beattie, Mr. Maton, Mr. Malone, all cultivated the the converfation, and enjoyed the friend- Be it, that here thy partial fimile approv'd fhip of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Mr. Garrick never had a warmer advocate than Sir Joshua Reynolds. The circle of his acquaintance, owing to the celebrity of his name, was very extended. Many illuftrious foreigners were perfonally intimate with Sir Joshua Reynolds. He was reforted to by perfons of the highest quality, who revered his genius as much as they refpected the excellence of his private character. His houfe was long the refort of excellence of every kind; the learned, the elegant, the polite, all that were eminent for their worth, or diftinguished by their genius. From fuch connections, his mind, rich in its The pains he lavish'd on the art he lov'd." To Sir Joshua Reynolds (both in cons verfation and in writing) Shakespeare is indebted for many a beautiful eluci dation. Some of them enrich the later editions of this poct. The difcourfes which Sir Joshua Reynolds delivered to the ftudents of the Royal Academy, in the month of December in each year, from its inftitution, are the works which chiefly beftow on him the character of an eftimable writer. Thefe difcourfes (which were meant to animate and to guide the ftudents in their future atteinpts) have been regularly printed; and Sir Joshua's profound knowledge in the art he proown flore, received an acccifion of most feffed, his claffical attainments, his poextenfive knowledge, and an inexhauf-lithed mind, all appear confpicuous in 66 tible treafure for converiation. He was rich in obfervation, anecdote, and intelligence. "I know no man," said Dr. Johnton, "who has paffed through life with more obfervation than Sir Joshua Reynolds." In the year 1759 he wrote three letters, and prefented them to Dr. Johnfon, to be inferted in his Idler. They treat on the cant of criticifim, on Michael Angelo, and on the practice of the Italian and Dutch painters. They do not difgrace that valuable work. His veneration for Michael Angelo ap pears in one of thefe letters; and this veneration may be traced through the whole feries of his difcourfes to the thole difcourfes. They are treasures of information to the ftudent, and to the proficient, and the elegance and chastity of language which pervades them has very feldom been equalled by the moft eminent of our writers. In 1790, Sir Joshua poffeffed a very anxious defire to procure the vacant profelforthip in Perfpective in the Academy for Mr. Bonomi, an Italian architect; and as Mr. Bonomi had not yet been elected an affociate, and of courfe was not an academician, it became a neceffary ftep to raise him to thofe fituations, in order to qualify him for being a profeffor. The election proceeded, and Mr. Gilpin was a competitor for the affociate fhip with the Italian architect. The numbers on the ballot proved equal; and the Prefident gave the caft Academy. Whenever his pen touches on the learning and conceptions of Michael Angelo, he difcovers an enthufilm of intellectual energy. In the year 1782, the Rev. Mr. Ma-ing vote for his friend Mr. Bouomi, fon (the author of that celebrated work The English Garden) published in 4to. a tranflation of Du Freinoy's Art of Painting; and Sir Joshua's friendfhip for Mr. Mafon, induced him to enrich this edition with annotations. They are valuable both to the ftudent and connoiffeur; they are a happy difplay of that nice difcrimination which peculiarly marks the pen of Sir Johna Reynolds. To this edition is prefixed an epiftle from Mr. Mafon to Sir Joshua, which concludes in thefe lines: who was thereby advanced fo far to. The Pre I He was foon, however, perfuaded to return to the chair." About a year and a half after the above event, Sir Joshua Reynolds, finding that calamity increafe upon him which is fo feelingly adverted to in fome lines fent to him by Mr. Jerningham, and daily expecting the total lofs of fight, wrote a letter to the Academy, intimating his intention to refign the office of Prefident on account of bodilv infirmities, which difabled him from executing the duties of it to his own fatisfaction. A meeting of the Royal Academicians was held about the 15th of November 1791, for the purpose of electing affociates, when Mr. Weft. who prefided for Sir Joshua, read the letter from him, intimating his intenon. The company received this intelligence with the refpectful concern due to the talents and virtues of Sir Joshua, and either then did enter, or defigned to enter, into a refolution, honourable to all parties, namely, that a deputation from the whole body of the Academy fhould wait upon him, and inform him of their with, that the autho city and privileges of the office of Prefident might be his during his life; de claring their willingness to permit the performance of any of its duties which might be irkfome to him, by a deputy. From this period Sir Joshua never painted more his last portrait was that of the Hon. Charles James Fox (now in the hand of the engraver); and this aft effort of this great artist's pencil is a full proof that his fancy, his imagination, and his other great powers in the For fome time before his death, his illness produced a melancholy, which was the more diftreffing to his friends, as it was indulged in filence. For fome weeks before he paid the great debt, his fpirits were so low, that he was un able to bear even the confolations of friendship. The numerous attendances of many of our nobility and men of fcience during his iuefs, are the best teftimony of the value fet upon him, and of the regret with which they contemplated his illnefs, and prophefied his diffolution. "His illness," fays Mr. Burke, "was long, but borne with a mild and cheerful fortitude, without the leaft mixture of any thing irritable or querulous, agreeable to the placid and even tenour of his whole life. He had, from the beginning of his malady, a diftinct view of his diffolution, which he contemplated with that entire com. pofure, that nothing but the innocence, integrity, and usefulness of his life, and an unaffected fubmiffion to the will of Providence, could befow." On Thurfday night, 23d of Feb. 1792, this great artift and accomplished character paid the last awful debt to nature, in the 69th year of his age. [Further particulars of Sir Joshua Reznolds may be jeen by adverting to our Magazine, Vol. XXI. p. 213. 266. 414.] DROSSIAN A. ANECDOTES of ILLUSTRIOUS and EXTRAORDINARY PERSONS, PERHAPS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN. A THING OF SHREDS AND PATCHES! HIS ingenious Swifs Profeffor in HAMLET. fituation that enables him to contribute to this great end, and every where diffufes a This Law of Nations,' (a book (pirit of true patriotifm, which is zealously much recommended to his young friends at the Bar by the late venerable Earl Mansfield) in his celebrated Chapter upon the Duties of a Nation to itfelf, breaks out into this panegyric upon the People and the Conftitution of England: "That illuftrious Nation the English diftinguishes itself in a glorious manner by every thing that can render the State moft flourishing. An admirable Conftitution there places every Citizen in a employed for the public welfare. We there fee fingle individuals form confiderable enterprizes in order to promote the glory and the welfare of the Nation; and whilft a bad Prince would be abridged of his power, a King endowed with wifdom and moderation finds the most powerful affiftance to give fuccefs to his great defigns. The Nobility and the Reprefentatives of the People form a bond of confidence between the Mo-, narch narch and the Nation, and concur with him in every thing that regards the common welfare, eafe him in part of the burthen of Government, and render him an obedience the more perfect as it is the more voluntary. Every good Citizen fees that the ftrength of the State is really the welfare of all, and not that of a fingle perfon. Happy Conftitution! which the people who possess it did not suddenly ebtain. It has coft them rivers of blood, but they have not purchased it too dear!" May Luxury, the Profeffor might have added, and may Faction, thofe Minifters of corruption, fo dangerous to Liberty, To the EDITOR of the SIR, THE death of a perfon fo eminent in the literary world as Mr. Gibbon, railed my curiofity to know the particulars of his life, and therefore expecting this fpecies of information in your Magazine, I looked into your Obituary, where I found myself directed to a former Number (March 1788), in which fome particulars are omitted which perhaps you may think worthy of infertion Mr. Gibbon was born at Putney. His grandfather was a South Sea Director, and died in 1736. His father was Member for Petersfield in 1734, and for Southampton in 1741. On the death of Sir William Rous in 1743, he was elected Alderman of Vintry Ward, but refigned his gown in the year 1745, and died in the year 1770. Mr. Gibbon received part of his education at the fchool of Mr. Woodefon, of Kingfton, father of the late Vinerian Profeffor, who had the honour of educating fome other gentlemen ftill living, of great celebrity as men of letters +. From Mr. Woodefon's he went to Weftminster, and from thence to Magdalen College, Oxford. It feems probable that while in this University, he firft fhewed thofe figns of a wavering difpofition with refpect to his religious fentiments, which terminated in a confirmed infidelity. Bishop Horne, who was of the fame College, fpeaking of him, fays, "A young gentleman fome years ago fuffered himfelf to be fedu ced to Popery. His friends fent him to the Sage of Ferncy for a cure; and a moft effectual one indeed was wrought. He came home a confirmed infidel, and has employed himself ever fince in writing against Christianity." An anecdote of Mr. Gibbon's life became public a few years ago, by the difperfion of a celebrated Orator's library, * Lylons' Environs of London, 66 never overthrow a monument that does fo much honour to human nature—a monument capable of teaching Kings how glorious it is to reign over a free people. "The British Nation," faid fome Frenchman archly one day, may be compared to a hypochondriacal patient with a strong and excellent conftitution. State quacks have to be fure bled and purged her a little too much occafionally, but the feems always to recover her strength again when left to herself, and permitted to make use of thofe internal refources with which she is furnished by nature." EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. UPON THE PROMOTION OF THE AU KING George in a fright, The ftory of Britain's disgrace, Than to give the Historian a place. Tho' he write not a line, Yet a caufe of Decline, In the Author's example we read. His book well deferibes, How corruption and bribes Overthrew the great Empire of Rome, Which his conduct exhibits at home. We are told that when he first went to Lausanne in early life he ftudied under the father of the prefent Mrs. Necker. He had acquired a predilection for that town, and intended to have paffed the reft of his days there. On his coming to England laft fummer, he refumed a defign which had been fug+ Wakefield's Life. Letters on Infidelity. gested gefted to him many years ago, of publifhing in a body the ancient English Hiftorians, in which he was to affift Mr. Pinkerton, who was to have been the Editor, with the Prolegomen, and his advice and opinions through the whole publication. This fcheme will now, perhaps, not be executed. The Profpecus is believed to have been begun, if not finished. His diforder was a rupture, for which he had undergone fome operations, but his death was fudden. On the 23d his remains were carried to Sheffield Place, and depofited in the Maufoleum of Lord Sheffield's family. Some memoirs of his life are faid to have been found, but in too imperfect a ftate for publication. I am, &c. ACCOUNT OF CHERBURG. CHERBURG, a city and fea-port, ftands in a plin on the North-fide of the Lower Normandy, in the diftrict of La Hogue, and in the Peninsula of the Cotentin, at the bottom of a large Bay in the form of a crefcens, between the capes of La Hogue and Barfleur, being about nineteen miles diftant from the former, and fixteen from the latter. It has on the North the fea; on the Eaft a large plain, above three miles long; on the South a very agreeable fpot of fruitful ground, and the eminence called the hill of Roule, on the top of which is the great foreft of Brix and Tourlaville; and on the Weft another plain, about a mile and a half long. It lies in 49 deg. 38 min. North latitude, longitude 16 deg. 18 min. reckoning from the meridian of Ferro. It is 13 miles diftant from Valogne, 51 from Coutances, 64 from Granville by land, about 60 from the lile of Wight and Portsmouth, 51 from Guernfey, and 57 from Jerky by fea. It pretends to very high antiquity, having been as it is faid originally called Cæfarbourg. Richard the Second. Duke of Normandy, and uncle to William the Conqueror, built a strong Cale here, and having come in perfon to view it, was fo pleafed with the fituation of the place, and its importance as it appeared to him for the defence of his dominions, that he exclaimed in a rapture," Ly caftel eft un cher bourg per mi!" This trifling circumauce was the origin of its prefent name. It formerly was in the poffeffion of the English, and Charles the Seventh terminated his long train of victories over the timid and divided counfels of our Henry the Sixth by this important conqueft. It was re-annexed to the crown of France in 1455. In the year 1687, Lewis XIV. upon the reprefentation of Marihal Vauban, tended to enlarge the town, fortify it in the modern way, and add a large bafon to the harbour; and in confequence of this refolution, these works in C. D. were actually begun, and the new wails were carried to a confiderable height in the year 1658; but in the year following, “for reafons of State" (fays an eminent French writer), the old and new fortifications were entirely demolithed. At all times (fays another French writer) the English and Dutch have endeavoured to get us to demolift any confiderable fea-ports we have had in the Channel; thefe Ports give um brage to them, and extremely incommode their commerce. But their continual oppofition is an invincible prof that it would be benencial to our commerce and navigation, to have at leaft one fecure retreat for our fhips towards the middle of the Channel." Cardinal D'Offat was fenfible how neceffary this was; for in his goth letter, dated Dec. 14, 1696, he fays to Monfieur de Villeroy, to whom he writes, "it is of very great importance to us to have men of war in that Straight. Now we can have no fhips there without a port for their retreat. I have always heard it faid, that with a little expence we might make an excellent one at La Hogue in Lower Normandy; this is the place in the world moft proper for raifing an important fortrefs either for commerce or for hips; all who are acquainted with the affairs of the navy, and with navi. gation, agree that we ought to labour at it, notwithstanding the oppofition of our neighbours; for the more they fet themfelves in oppofition to it, the more ought we to be fenfible that it tends to our advantage. We ought by no means to be afraid of them: this would be to do them too much honour. The late Marthal Vauban has I am told laid down the whole plan and fcheme of the work." Intending fhortly to prefent our readers with another View of Cherbourg, we thali poftpone the remainder of our account of this place until that opportunity. The paffage from Portsmouth to Cherbourg is fo eafy, that we are informed Lord Chatham, with a few gentlemen, a fhort time before the prefent war, failed from Portsmouth u the morning, dined at Cherbourg, and returned in the evening. |