wishes to see living merit and talents patronized and rewarded, independent of national customs, and national prejudices. Yet I fear that the arguments of a Cicero, and the eloquence of a Burke, would be ineffectually exerted, to correct that taste, which prefers an old, dry, hard, monotonous painting of the Flemish school, to one by an Englishman, though possessing truth of colouring, grandness of effect, correctness of drawing, harmony of tones, and all other essential requisites of a good picture. But whilst connoisseurs, or would-be connoisseurs, judge by proxy, and regulate their opinions by fickle fashion, instead of reason and sound judgment, such will be the case, in spite of any arguments or animadversions that sincerity can dictate, and energy enforce,That Englishmen have neither capacity por genius to excel, or even shine, in the fine arts, are the assertions (I will not call them arguments) of many writers, particularly, Dy Bos, Montesquieu, and Winkelman. If the evidence of facts were not sufficient to refute their unwarrantable remarks, I would refer the reader to a learned and ingenious work by Mr. Barry *, which is well calculated to exalt this polite art, and rescue English artists from the unjust opprobrium of misjudging foreigners. To describe every picture in this cabinet, its curious porphyry tables, and other embellishments, which it shares in common with almost every room in the mansion, would not only require a variety of talent and information more than I pretend to possess, but also exceed the limits of this publication; and though it is a task I should be ambitious to accomplish, yet I must content myself, at present, with giving a brief account of the principal paintings. Mr. Britton then proceeds to give a list of these pictures, interspersed with short remarks and occasional criticisms, which may be interesting to connoisseurs and amateurs. This detail, however, is probably not altogether new; nor should we obtain the thanks of the generality of our readers, if we were to follow the author through his enumeration and his discussions, The general remarks on painting, in the preceding extract, will perhaps be differently appreciated by different readers We think that they are not devoid of justice, nor undeserving of attention. Salisbury Cathedral in course attracts Mr. Britton's notice and descriptive powers; and in the course of his account, we find an anecdote of his present Majesty's generosity and pleasantry, which is worthy of quotation: The choir is finely terminated by the organ, which, from the elegance of the design, and being made to correspond in its structure with the fashion of the cathedral, produces a grand effect. This instrument was a present from his Majesty: It bears the following inscription: An Inquiry into the real and imaginary Obstructions to the Acquisition of the Arts in England.' Ee3 "MUNIFI 1 • MUNIFICENTIA GEORGII TERTII, PRINCIPIS CLEMENTISSIMI, PIENTISSIMI, OPTIMI, PATRIS PATRIÆ, ET HUJUSCE DIOECESEOS INCOLE AUGUSTISSIMI.' During the improvements which emanated from the designs and patronage of Bishop Barrington, his Majesty inquired of that Prelate the particulars of the intended alterations, and the means by which the expence was to be defrayed: The Bishop, in answering, stated the want of a new organ, and his fears lest the cost should exceed the funds which arose solely from the voluntary contributions of the gentlemen of the diocese: The King immediately replied, "I desire that you will accept of a New Organ for your Cathedral, being my contribution as a Berkshire gentleman." In the account of Downton, a small town near Salisbury, memorable for having had a castle belonging to King John, we are told that In this town was born DR. RALEIGH, elder brother to the famous Sir Walter, and son of Sir Carew Raleigh, a man who experienced a distressing transition of fortune; after being well educated, and serving as a regular commoner in the university of Oxford, he was appointed not only chaplain to Lord Pembroke, but received many other honours and preferments. He became a minor prebendary in the church of Wells, rector of Streat in the same county, chaplain to Charles the First, and at length dean of Wells. From this pinnacle of preferment he was thrown by the convulsive rebellion which then broke out; he was stripped of all his property, forced to fly for safety, forsaking his wife and family, and leaving his comfortable home as a fearful wanderer. He was taken at Bridgewater in 1645, sent to Banwell as a prisoner, and afterwards given to the custody of a cruel shoe-maker, who, upon being refused the sight of a letter he had written to his wife, stabbed him in the groin, of which wound he died. His wife and children were deserted, and left destitute of subsistence. His murderer was tried; but such was the chicanery and vice of the times, that he was acquitted. May a knowledge of this circumstance operate, in some degree, as a warn ing example to living revolutionists, and deter them from concerting, in word or deed, those horrors which certainly await anarchy and rebellion!' Since the appearance of these volumes, Mr. Britton, in conjunction with Mr. Brayley, has published another work of a similar nature, but more comprehensive in its design; The Beauties of England and Wales, 2 vols.; of which we shall give a farther account at a future opportunity. Capt. BY ART ART. XV. Anna's of Insanity; comprising a Variety of Select Cases, in the different Species of Insanity, Lunacy, or Madness, with the Modes of Practice, as adopted in the Treatment of each. By William Perfect, M. D., of West-Malling, in Kent. The second Edition, revised, corrected, and considerably enlarged. PP. 420. 8s. Boards. Murray and Highley. 1801. THE 8vo. HE former edition of this work was noticed in our 77th vol. p. 216.:—we now find it materially augmented; and, since cases of insanity are not so frequently described as other diseases, we consider the present volume as an useful addition to the former treatises on this subject. The value of the work would have been much increased, however, had the author favoured us with some general view of the motives of his practice, deduced from the particular cases here inserted. It is necessary, for the improvement of students, to point out the general results from individual facts; and it is gratifying to practitioners, to know the principles on which the management of so difficult a disease is conducted. Dr. Perfect seems to have treated his patients, like most physicians, according to the analogy which their different species of insanity bore to other diseases, either in their causes or symptoms; and he appears to have depended much on the effect of setons in the neck, which generally exert a powerful influence on irritations of the brain. We observe, also, that general bleeding has been much employed by Dr. Perfect; and the kali tartarizatum has commonly made a part of the course, for the purpose of keeping the bowels open, and of cooling the general habit. Camphor has been exhibited to several of these patients, and Dr. Perfect thinks with advantage.-Musk has proved useful in some cases. The following note occurs at p. 377; which we give to our readers, without hazarding an opinion respecting the practice mentioned in it: we shall only say that the cases in question are generally found to baffle rational modes of treatment: In some cases of obstinate abstinence, where the lives of the patients have been in imminent danger from famine, I have been well informed by a practitioner, whose peculiar province affords him frequent opportunities of seeing patients in all the different stages of mania, that he has found nothing succeed better than strong drastic purges repeated at proper intervals, and that in some instances of this kind he has even given half an ounce of jalap at a dose, with the best effect.' From the particular detail of symptoms, and the variety of practice exhibited in this volume, it will naturally be much consulted by practitioners who are not in the daily habit of seeing lunatics. Dr. Perfect's method of treatment seems in E e 4 general general to have been judicious; though he occasionally ascribes a greater degree of efficacy to some medicines, especially to musk and camphor, than seems to be warranted by general experience. We are sorry to conclude our account with a remark on the style of this performance: it is not merely inelegant, but incorrect: witness the following passage: such was her devoted purpose, that she effected it in a manner that would appear incredulous to those who are unacquainted with the almost supernatural cunning and contrigance attached to dementated human nature.' Other instances of equally strange incorrectness might be produced, if we were solicitous to point out faults. Fer. ART. XVI. A Defence of Public Education, addressed to the Most THE HE decision of Aristotle in favour of a public education, though sanctioned by other great names in antiquity, has been controverted by many antients and many moderns, and particularly by Mr. Locke, in his celebrated treatise on the subject. This opinion of the great Stagirite, however, will perhaps appear in no instance better confirmed than by the experience of our own country; and by the numerous distinguished scholars in every department of literature, who have become the orna ment of their age, after having received their education at our public schools. The author of the Defence now before us, which has already passed through several editions, is well known by the respectable station which he lately held as Head Master of Westminster School; by the character which he so eminently sustained in that office, as a scholar of superior talents and attainments; and by several publications with which he has enriched our literature. Since the appearance of this pamphlet, Dr. V. has been promoted to the Deanery of Westminster. It appears that Dr. Vincent was induced to write a Defence of Westminster School, in vindication of himself among others who are engaged in superintending the education of youth; on account of certain charges which had been brought forwards, though not directed particularly against that seminary, by Dr. Rennell, and afterward repeated by the Bishop of Meath, in their sermons preached at St. Paul's before the Society for promoting Christian Knowlege, and published by that Society, To the latter personage, this pamphlet is addressed. A passage, which the Doctor quotes from a note subjoined to the 13 Bishop's Bishop's sermon, will explain to our readers the nature of the Charge: "I had proposed to say a few words on the sad degeneracy of our Public Schools, in this most important part of Education, and their systematic neglect of that religious instruction which in the earlier parts of the Reformation, and even to a much later date, was so carefully provided for the higher and wealthier classes of the British youth; but I found the subject anticipated by Dr. Rennell, in his Sermon on this anniversary, and I could add nothing to what that zealous and eloquent preacher had there urged, to call the public attention to this portentous evil." Under this severe accusation, the learned author proceeds to remark the cruelty and unfairness of condemning all public schools in general, in one sweeping clause,' for degeneracy and systematic neglect. Admitting that defects must unavoidably be found in all public institutions, the Doctor enters on the controversy with a full assurance of confuting his opponents, and proving to the public the fallacy of their accusation. The specific charges advanced by Dr. Rennell, and to which the Bishop of Meath alluded, are here comprized under three separate heads: First, That the religious education in charity-schools is better conducted than in public seminaries. This charge, which Dr. V. considers as levelled at the Universities as well as at public schools, he endeavours to refute, by alleging the number of learned productions in Theology which have of late issued from the press of the Universities, and by the following re marks: But in Public Schools, wherein does this lamentable and notorious defectiveness consist? and why is a preference given to the Teachers of Charity Schools rather than to the Instructors in a higher sphere? Could not a popular audience be sufficiently flattered without levelling all above them? Could not the educators of the lowest be com soled under their laborious duty without detracting from those whom the public voice, and the discernment of their nominators or electors, had appointed to the management of the first Seminaries in the kingdom? Are not these men of the same profession as their accuser? And does Dr. Rennell deny faith and ability to every Churchman but himself?—No, not ability but will; that shall be answered in its place. But why are men, bred to the instruction of youth by an ap prenticeship, supposed more willing to execute their trust than those who have received the most liberal education known in Europe? This is no vain glorious boast. Foreigners subscribe to it; they allow the palm of general information to English travellers above all others. Where did they acquire it? In English Schools, in English Universities; and in nineteen instances out of twenty from the English Clergy. Why are these foundations to be decried? Why are these men to be degraded by a comparison with those who have never had similar |