Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

éity, and nature. During Elizabeth's reign it gradually degenerated; and under the sway of James we find a still greater debasement. Still we have reason to believe that some of the artists studiously endeavoured to perpetuate portraits, or true effigies, of the persons commemorated. Indeed it is quite clear that they aimed rather at likeness than tasteful composition. This is evinced in the statue of Queen Elizabeth, in Westminster Abbey Church; in the bust of Camden, in the same church; the statue of Lord Bacon, at St. Albans and in several others that might be adduced. All these show that the artists had their prototypes in nature; either by modelling the respective persons while living, or by taking casts after death.

It has been deemed advisable to offer these remarks relating to the Stratford Bust

because this has been hitherto wholly neglected by biographers and critics, or treated slightly and superciliously. In Dugdale's Warwickshire, Bell's edition of our poet, in the splendid one of Boydell, in Ireland's Tour of the Avon, and in Wheler's pleasing History, &c. of Stratford, it has been published; but in no one of these works has it been correctly delineated. In the two former, indeed, it is done in a vulgar and contemptible manner. The Bust is the size of life; it is formed out of a block of soft stone; and was originally painted over in imitation of nature. The hands and face were of flesh colour, the eyes of a light hazle, and the hair and beard auburn; the doublet, or coat, was scarlet, and covered with a loose black gown, or tabard, without sleeves: the upper part of the 'cushion was green, the under half crimson, and the tassels gilt. Such appear to have

• Although the practice of painting statues and busts to imitate nature is repugast to good taste, and must be stigmatized as vulgar, and hostile to every principle of art, yet when an effigy is thus coloured and transmitted to us, as illustrative of a particular age or people, and asa record of fashion and costume, it be comes an interesting relic, and should be preserved with as much care as an Etruscan vase, or an early specimen of Raffael's painting; and the man who deliberately detaces or destroys either, will ever be regarded as a criminal in the high court of criticism and taste. From an absence of this feeling, many truly curious, and to us important, subjects have been destroyed. Among which is to be noticed a vast menuEurop. Mag. Vol. LXX. July, 1816

been the original features of this important, but neglected or insulted Bust. After remaining in this state above one hundred and twenty years, Mr. John Ward, grandfather to Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Kemble, caused it to be "repaired, and the original colours preserved,"+ in 1748, from the profits of the representation of Othello. This was a generous, and apparently judicious act; and therefore very unlike the next alteration it was subjected to in 1793. In that year, Mr. Malone caused the Bust to be covered over with one or more coats of white paint; and thus at once destroyed its original character, and greatly injured the expression of the face. Having absurdly characterized this expression for "pertness," and therefore "differing from that placid composure and thoughtful gravity so perceptible in his original portrait, and his best prints," Mr. M. could have few scruples about injuring, or destroying it. In this very act, and in this line of comment, our zealous annotator has passed an irrevocable sentence on his own judgment. If the opinions of some of the best sculptors and painters of the metropolis are entitled to respect and confidence on such a subject, that of Mr. Malone is at once false and absurd. They justly remark, that the face indicates cheerfulness, good humour, suavity, benignity, and intelligence. These characteristics are developed by the mouth and its muscles-by the cheeks-eye-brows-fore head-and skull; and hence they rationally infer, that the face is worked from nature. Again, Mr. M. talks strangely of "his original portrait, and of his best prints;" as if there was

ment of antiquity on Marlborough Downs, in Wiltshire; and which, though once the most stupendous work of human labour and skill in Great Britain, is now nearly demolished.

+ Wheler's "Guide to Sratford-uponAvon." 12mo. 1814.

Mr. Wheler, in his interesting Topographical Vade Mecum, relating to Stratford, has given publicity to the following stanzas, which were written in the Album, at Stratford Church, by one of the visitors to Shakspeare's tomb.

"Stranger, to whom this Monument is shown,

Invoke the Poet's curses on Malone;
Whose meddling zeal his barbarous taste
displays,

And daubs his tomb-stone, as he marr'd his
plays!"
F

one authenticated and acknowledged picture, and that, out of the multitude of prints, miscalled portraits of Shakspeare, any of them were good and genuine. It would not be difficult to show, to the satisfaction of every impartial reader, that there is nothing like proof, nor scarcely probability, in the genuineness of any of the paintings or prints that have come before the public, as portraits of our unrivalled Bard. That by Droeshout cannot be like any human face, for it is evidently ill drawn in all the features: and a bad artist can never make a good likeness. On such a print Ben Jonson's lines are futile, and unworthy of credit. From the time of the publication of that print up to the present, we have been insulted and trifled with by numerous things called of Shakspeare;

and lover of Shakspeare." In the end
truth will out."
J. BRITTON.

Tavistock-place, London,
April 23, 1816,
The Anniversary of the Birth

and Death of Shakspeare,
and the Second Centenary
after his Decease.

For the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. The EPISTLE from the YEARLY MEETING held in LONDON, by ADJOURNMENTS, from the 22d of the FIFTH MONTH, to the 31st of the same, inclusive, 1816. To the Quarterly and Monthly Meeting of Friends, in Great Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere.

DEAR FRIENDS,

E esteem it which calls

most, if not all, of which are as pal: W for our grateful acknowledg

pable forgeries as the notorious Ireland manuscripts.

Very recently an extraordinary trick of this kind has been played upon the lovers of Shakspeare. A printseller announced a newly-discovered picture of Shakspeare, closely resembling the "Statue at Stratford, and the print in the folio edition;" and asserts, that upwards of three thousand persons, of competent judgment, concurred in pronouncing it a genuine portrait of Shakspeare, painted from the life.". A short history of this portrait, it is hoped, will serve to warn collectors of prints, and illustrators of books, against future imposition. A maker and mender of old pictures, having purchased an old head, for a few shillings, first christened it Shakspeare, and then tried to sell it to a worthy shopkeeper, near Holborn, at a small profit. Not succeeding here, the manufacturer deemed it expedient to borrow Houbracken's engraved head, for the purpose of altering and improving the "true" original. Thus by putting in ear-rings, painting on the forehead, touching the mouth, rubbing on a little new paint in some places, and taking off the old from others, the portrait was completed, a purchaser was found for it at a price under five pounds, and this purchaser proclaimed it to the world as an original of the Bard of Avon.

It is ardently hoped that every subsequent attempt at imposition may be as easily detected, and that it may always be branded by the contempt and avowed indignation of every true Englishman

our

ment, that we have been afresh made sensible, on this occasion, of our HEAVENLY FATHER's love, and have felt that it reaches to all our dear friends, whereever they are situated. Our minds have been humbled in gratitude to Him, who by his Divine power raised us up to be a people, who bas from one generation to another blessed our religious society, and who is still to be felt at times in great mercy to preside amongst us. We have earnestly desired that these impressions may be an additional motive for us to consider, how far we are seeking to be established on JESUS CHRIST, the rock of ages, "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Heb. xii. 8. To this foundation of our predecessors, we desire to direct your most serious attention. Let it, dear friends, be our daily concern to seek for His Divine guidance and support. Great will be the advantages which we shall thence derive. The bitterness of our conflicts will be sweetened by the remembrance, that He unto whom we are seeking, and who is "not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," Heb. iv. 15. is " able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." Heb vii. 25. A sense of victory over our evil affections, through his power and mediation, will be a sufficient consolation. It will, if the watch be maintained, strengthen us to proceed in the way of our allotted duty; and though new trials and temptations may await us, and we may continue sensible of the dangers with which we are surrounded,

*

the blessing of true Christian experience, the result of patient perseverance in well-doing, will be ours. Thus from what we have known and what we have felt, we shall be constrained to acknowledge that there is no joy like unto the joy of God's salvation.

We observe with pleasure the increasing desire manifested by friends to obtain a guarded and useful education for their children. The reports on the schools under the notice of this meeting indicate the religious care and good order prevailing in them, and have yielded us great satisfaction. The improvement of the understanding, and the communication of that knowledge by which it may be more extensively prepared for the service of Him to whom we must all render our account, are duties not to be neglected. We desire, however, to impress upon all, whether parents, or those to whom they intrust their tender offspring, the supreme importance of inculcating the first of duties, the love and fear of God.

A watchful parent will at no time be more alive to the welfare of his children, than when they are passing from the age to which we have just adverted, to the succeeding stage of life. The situations in which they are then placed, and the companions with whom they associate. may have a decided influence on their future character. We would therefore encourage both parents and masters not to relax at this critical period, either in care or counsel, or in proper restraint tempered with kindness. Here we would advert to the importance of good example, and to the great dblessing which will attend the labours of those whom we are now addressing, as they seek to become preachers of righteousness, in life and conduct, to those around them. How inviting, how instructive, it is, to behold such as by the purity of their lives, by the meekness of their spirits, and by the benevolence of their characters, are adorning their profession!-This is a duty which is enjoined by the highest authority;-Matth. v. 16: and we earnestly press upon all to consider whether their moderation, the self-denial, their habits of life, are such as become the Christian religion.

Our solicitude has at this time been awakened for our young men employed as travellers in business. The exposure of those to the temptations to which they are often unavoidably subjected,

has tended to draw aside from that simplicity, that purity of heart and thought, that strict morality, which our Christian principles require. We would submit to the serious consideration of their parents and employers, the extreme danger of sending forth into such service any young persons whose religious principles are not fixed, nor their habits formed; and we would encourage friends in different places, where those in this line of employment may travel, to continue and to extend that kind of hospitable notice which has been already manifested. The situation of some of our young friends in other occupations, may deprive them of the advantage of virtues and instructive associates; these also we hope will not be overlooked by those to whom they are known.

We lament that reproach should have been brought on our society, by the failure of any of our members in discharging their just debts. We consider it to be the duty of all, but especially of every person under pecuniary difficulties, to inspect narrowly into the state of their affairs; and this we conceive might often prevent such an issue. Let all friends be careful to live within their incomes, retrenching, if necessary, their expenses; and we desire that it may be their uniform endeavour to conduct their business in such a way as may subject them to the least risk or danger. For those who, possessing integrity, yet from the pressure of the times, are, with honest and upright intentions, struggling under many difficulties, wel feel near sympathy. Let these be encouraged; they will not fail, we trust, if they seek it, to obtain the kind advice of their friends. Let it be their earnest concern, under these trials, to hold fast their confidence in our all-wise and gracious Helper: as likewise their love to their brethren. This love, we believe, is peculiarly endangered, whenever the mind is disturbed by the perplexing cares arising from embarassed circumstances.

The amount of sufferings reported this year, occasioned by claims for tithes, and other demands of an ecclesiastical nature, with a few for military purposes, is upwards of fitteen thonsand pounds. Our brethren of all the Yearly Meetings on the American Continent have again given proofs of their love, by written communications. The interesting work of Indian civilization still occupies their attention. In some

of the tribes, the improvements which, notwithstanding the late commotions, have been gradually going forward, are truly encouraging, In others, those who are concerned in this good work, have probably already renewed their exertions, where the ravages of war had desolated many of the settlements. The persevering labours of friends in Virginia and some other parts, to procure the freedom of many negroes illegally as well as unjustly held in slavery, have in several instances been crowned with success; and it is very gratifying to observe that the rights of this injured people are still dear to our American brethren. We hope that in this country friends will continue to feel a deep interest in the welfare of the African race, and not dismiss the subject from their thoughts, until such wise and prudent measures may be adopted as shallpromote and finally secure universal emancipation.

So excellent is Christian love in its nature and effects, that it is deeply painful when we hear of any differences existing amongst us. How can those

who are at variance one with another unite acceptably in the performance of worship to Him who is emphatically styled Love? It is an awful consideration that that disposition which separates man from man, does at the time estrange him, and will, if it continue, eventually seperate him from his Creator. We therefore earnestly recommend to friends to watch the first appearances of discord: patiently and kindly to endeavour to assist those who may be thus affected, or who are in danger of becoming hardened towards their brethren. Christian charity and tenderness for the infirmities of our friends, are bonds in religious society. These do not preclude that kind and tender admonition, that exercise of our discipline in the spirit of the Gospel, which we have from time to time been engaged to recommend. Although we are not a numerous society, yet if we are preserved in love, and dwell under the government of CHRIST, we may hope to fulfil the designs of Divine Providence in having gathered and established us a separate religions body: we may show forth the excellence of the Christian religion by the spirituality of our worship, and by the purity of our lives.

Dear friends, we desire, in conclusion, reverently to acknowledge that this

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THE HIVE.

and the caput mortuum of common

sense.

No. XIX.

CHARACTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

LIZABETH, who was raised from a

sufficiency that does great honour to her sex; and with a dignity essential and peculiar to her character. Though her passions were warm, her judgment was temperate and cool: hence it was, that she was never led or over-ruled by her ministers or favourites, though men of great abilities and address. She practised all the arts of dissimulation for the salutary purposes of government. She so tempered affability and haughtiness, benevolence and severity, that she was much more loved than feared by the people; and was, at the same time, the delight of her own subjects, and the terror of Europe. She was parsimonious, and even avaricions: but these qualities were in her rather virtues than vices; as they were the result of a rigid economy that centered in the public. Her treatment of the Queen of Scots, the most censurable part of her conduct, has in it more policy than justice, and more spleen than policy. This wise princess, who had never been the slave of her passions at the time of life when they are found to be most powerful, fell a victim to their violence, at an age when they are commonly extinguished.

ANECDOTE.

A society who piqued themselves upon being men of wit and genius: one of them was nothing more than a pretender, who, after many ineffectual attempts, at length set the table in a roar, by a most execrable pun; he joined in the laugh, and fancied he had now been very successful, when a gentleroan, turning to Lord Ch →→ -d, asked his lordship what was his opinion of purning in general? To which his lordship replied, “I conceive punning has a double advantage in company; for a very good pun makes one laugh, and a very bad one makes one laugh still more, as was the case just now: but," said he, "an indifferent pun is the most indifferent of all indifferent things; having neither salt enough to make one smile, or stupidity enough to excite the risible muscles at the author: and may therefore be stiled the dregs of wit, the sediment of humour,

APOLOGIES FOR CRUELTY.

Dr. Brokesly, in a letter to the Royal bility of several parts of animals, endea Society on his experiments of the irritahe inflicted, by informing them, "that vours to apologize for the tortures which the pain and misery by him caused to the victim of this subject, were to be regarded much less than what happens every day at Smithfield to twenty oxen and parts of the skin, and then driving and sheep, by cutting off their tails them several miles afterwards.

Of this kind was the apology which a desperate footpad made, one night, to his companion, after they had robbed and maimed a man, and thrown him into a ditch. "'Twas dd cruel in you, Jack, to lop off three of the poor fellow's fingers."-" They were in my way, b-st me," said Jack; "I could not get at his pocket. But you were a cruel dog, indeed, Dick, to slit his nose, which was not, I am sure, in

your way. I hate mortally to disvigure a man, except, d'ye see, there is a necessity for it."

OLIVER CROMWELL'S PRAYER THE EVENING BEFORE HIS DEATH.

O Lord! I am a miserable creature, yet I am in covenant with thee, through grace; and I may, and will, come in to thee, for thy people. Lord! thou hast made me (though very unworthy) a and thee service; and many of them mean instrument to do them some good, had too high value of me, though others howsoever thon disposest of me, do would be glad on my fall. But, Lord! good for them. Give consistency of judgment, one heart, and mutual love

unto them. Let the name of Christ be glorious throughout the world : teach those who look with much affection to thee. Pardon such as delight to tramthy instrument, to depend more upon ple upon the ashes of a worm, for they. folly of this short prayer, even for Jesus are thy people too. And pardon the

Christ his sake. Amen.

REMARKABLE DYING SPEECH OF MR. CUFFE, WHO WAS EXECUTED IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

I am here adjudged to die for acting an act never plotted, for plotting a plot

« ZurückWeiter »