valuable and entertaining matter from the pen of Mr. Leslie. He says: As you ask my opinion of Copley, you shall have it, such as it is. His merits and defects resemble those of West. I know not that he was ever a regular pupil of the president, but he was certainly of his school. Correct in drawing, with a fine manner of composition, and a true eye for light and shadow, he was defective in colouring. With him it wants brilliancy and transparency. His Death of Major Pierson, I think his finest historical work-you have perhaps seen it-at any rate you know the fine engraving of it, by James Heath. Copley's largest picture is in Guildhall; the destruction of the floating batteries off Gibraltar, by General Elliot. The foreground figures are as large as life, but those in the middle distance are either too small, or deficient in aerial perspective. Instead of looking like men diminished by distance, they look less than life. With the exception of this defect the picture is a fine one. His death of Lord Chatham is now in the National Gallery. It is the best coloured picture I have seen by him, but it has a defect frequent in large compositions made up of a number of portraits. There are too many figures to let. Too many unoccupied, and merely introduced to show the faces. His picture of Brooke Watson and the Shark, is in the large hall of the Blue Coat School. It is a good picture, but dry and bad in colour. He painted, I believe, a great many portraits but I have seen none of any consequence excepting the group of the King's Children I described to you in my last. It is a beautiful picture. I have heard Allston say, he has seen very fine portraits, painted by Copley, before he left America. I would advise you to write to Allston about it.' In another of Mr. Leslie's valuable letters we have the following:-' I know not if Allan Cunningham in his life of Copley, has told the following story of his tediousness as a painter. It is said, a gentleman employed him to paint his family in one large picture, but during its progress, the gentleman's wife died, and he married again. Copley was now obliged to obliterate all that was painted of the first wife, and place her in the clouds in the character of an angel, while her successor occupied her place on earth. But lo! she died also, and the picture proceeded so slowly as to allow the husband time enough to console himself with a third wife. When the picture was completed, therefore, the gentleman had two wives in heaven, and one on earth, with a sufficient quantity of children. The price, which was proportioned to the labour bestowed on the picture, was disputed by the employer, who alleged that the picture ought to have been completed before his domestic changes had rendered the alterations and additions necessary. Copley went to law with him; and his son, (now Lord Lyndhurst), who was just admitted to the bar, gained his father's cause. The story was told me by a gentleman, who was old enough to remember Copley, but he did not give me his authority for it, and I fear it is too good to be true. I remember one or two of Copley's last pictures in the exhibition, but they were very poor; he had out-lived his powers as an artist.'”

Gilbert Stuart was a portrait painter of a superior order, and excelled in that rare talent which is among the best props of genius -the power of drawing the mind of the sitter, which is illustrated by the following anecdote. Lord Mulgrave having engaged Mr. Stuart to paint a portrait of his brother, General Phipps, then on

the point of sailing to India, the picture drew from his lordship this exclamation-"I see insanity in that face!" The first news of the General after his arrival in India was, that he had gone mad and cut his throat! This painter's talent in conversation is said to have been extraordinary, as well as his judgment, sensibility, and impetuosity. The following is a capital anecdote of

him :

"He was travelling in England in a stage-coach, with some gentlemen, who were strangers to him, but all sociable, and full of spirits. After dinner they fell into conversation, in which Stuart, it seems, was conspicuous; for his conversation was at all times animated and various (and not the less so after dinner), upon any topic that came up, especially upon subjects that called forth nice discrimination, correct judgment, and rapid thought, apt phrases, ludicrous images, and Burke-like power of expressing them.

"After he had been blazing away in his dramat ic manner, his companions were very desirous to know who and what he was, for whatever Doctor Franklin may have said a century ago of the question-asking propensity of his countrymen, I never noticed so much of that kind of travelling curiosity in New England as in Britain. On the contrary, I am certain that we in the United States are remarkably free from that sort of travelling importunateness. To the round-about question, to find out his calling or profession, Mr. Stuart answered with a grave face and serious tone, that he sometimes dressed gentlemen's and ladies' hair (at that time the high-craped pomatumed hair was all the fashion.)—' You are a hair dresser then?' What!' said he, do you take me for a barber?' 'I beg pardon, sir, but I inferred it from what you said. If I mistook you, may I take the liberty to ask what you are then?' Why I sometimes brush a gentleman's coat, or hat, and sometimes adjust a cravat.' 'O, you are a valet, then, to some nobleman?' A valet! indeed, sir, I am not. I am not a servant;-to be sure I make coats and waistcoats 'for gentlemen.' Oh! you are a tailor!' Tailor! do I look like a tailor? I'll assure you, I never handled a goose, other than a roasted one.' By this time they were all in a roar. What the devil are you, then?' said one. I'll tell you,' said Stuart. Be assured all I have said is literally true. I dress hair, brush hats and coats, adjust a cravat, and make coats, waistcoats, and breeches, and likewise boots and shoes at your service.' 'Oho! a boot and shoe-maker after all !' Guess again, gentlemen, I never handled boot or shoe but for my own feet and legs; yet all I have told you is true.' 'We may as well give up guessing. After checking his laughter, and pumping a fresh flow of spirits by a large pinch of snuff, he said to them very gravely, Now, gentlemen, I will not play the fool with you any longer, but will tell you, upon my honour as a gentleman, my bona fide profession, I get my bread by making faces.' He then screwed his countenance, and twisted the lineaments of his visage, in a manner such as Samuel Foote or Charles Matthews might have envied. When his companions, after loud peals of laughter, had composed themselves, each took credit to himself for having all the while suspected that the gentleman belonged to the theatre,' and they all knew that he must be a comedian by profession; when to their utter surprise, he assured them that he never was

on the stage, and very rarely saw the inside of a play-house, or any similar place of amusement. They all now looked at each other with astonishment.

"Before parting, Stuart said to his companions, Gentlemen, you will find that all I have said of my various employments is comprised in these few words: I am a portrait-painter. If you will call at John Palmers's, York-Buildings, London, where I shall be ready and willing to brush you a coat or hat, dress your hair, à la mode, supply you, if in need, with a wig of any fashion or dimensions, accommodate you with boots or shoes, give you ruffles or cravats, and make faces for you.'

"While taking a parting glass at the inn, they begged leave to inquire of their pleasant companion, in what part of England he was born; he told them he was not born in England, Wales, Ireland, or Scotland. Here was another puzzle for John Bull. Where then?' 'I was born at Narraganset.' Where's that?' Six miles from Pottawoone, and ten miles from Poppasquash, and about four miles west of Canonicut, and not far from the spot where the famous battle with the warlike Pequots was fought,' In what part of the East Indies is that, sir?'' East Indies, my dear sir! it is in the state of Rhode Island, between Massachusetts and Connecticut river.' This was all Greek to his companions, and he left them to study a new lesson of geography, affording another instance of the ignorance of islanders, respecting men of genius, whose vernacular tongue is the same with that of Bacon, Newton, and Locke, Shakspeare, Milton, and Pope.'"

We do not wonder, after this, that it is recorded of him, he could very soon make those that sat to him feel at their ease, and fall into their peculiar appearance and character, when alone a faithful likeness can be taken. It is not every one that can thus remove that sort of awkwardness which most sitters experience, when stiffened into attitudes before the scrutinizing eye of a painter. Stuart spent many years of his life in the British metropolis, where his neglect of prudential maxims often entangled him in pecuniary difficulties.

Mr. Dunlap gives an interesting sketch of miniature painting, which appears to have many cultivators in America. There is a useful chapter also on architecture. The second volume treats of artists that may be said to be more American than West, Copley, or Stuart, inasmuch as these three came to be established as citizens of London. Some of those we now refer to, have lent a great lustre to their country, and some of them continue to increase its stores in works of art. Mr. Alston is living among them, and through his enlightened intercourse with the most illustrious men of Europe, he has mastered the profoundest principles with the minutest details of his art. And this leads us to observe, that America will doubtless continue to rise in the number and excellence of her artists. The galleries of Europe are annually thronged with pilgrims from the new world. There are academies which have done something and promise to do more in that new world. There are annual exhibitions in all the principal cities of the Union. From

time to time, great works find their way from Europe to the transatlantic shores; and who dare say, that the free institutions of America may not do as much in fostering the most beautiful sentiments, and in sustaining a noble emulation, as ever the venerable scenes or subjects in the old world did?

Horatio Greenough is at present in Florence, having given himself wholly to sculpture, and already executed works that are highly spoken of. His enthusiasm for the art, and his love of native country, are described as of the most lofty order. And though he is gathering from the treasures of ancient and modern art in a country of beauty and song, who can deny that in his own land. there are subjects of unexampled dignity and splendour for the efforts of genius, when we hear that he is engaged on the statue of Washington, for which he has lately received a commission from the government of the United States. It may be said, that this is the sublimest subject of mere human history; and although Chantrey and Canova have, it is thought, tried their hands upon it with no eminent success, the enthusiasm of an American heart may bring all the necessary powers to the completion of the undertaking.

ART. X. Gleanings in Natural History. Third and last Series. To which are added Notices of some of the Royal Parks and Residences. By EDWARD JESSE, Esq., Surveyor of his Majesty's Parks, Palaces, &c. London: Murray. 1835.

SURELY no taste can be more amiable and pure than that evinced by the author of these Gleanings; nor can we name any work in which the spirit of the writer is more effectually conveyed to his readers. Old and young must be delighted with such entertaining and instructive anecdotes and notices as are here crowded together. The volume, like the former ones of the series, is full of the best light reading that can be thought of; and over the young, who once have a glimpse of its contents, it will operate most wholesomely, by strongly impressing them with the claims which the inferior animals have upon our kindness and tenderness. Montaigne, as is well quoted by the author, has remarked, that few people take pleasure in seeing animals happy and playing together, whilst almost every one excites them to lacerate and wound each other. It cannot be doubted that much of this feeling would be removed were persons made aware of the peculiar faculties and sensibilities of such creatures, and how often they display many of the qualities in highest estimation among mankind. It is also to be remarked that our own countrymen evince a general inattention to the rights of the brute creation. Owing to a want of thought and close observation, comparatively few have a notion of the capacities of any animal we can name, and how worthy many

of those most despised or roughly handled are of a claim upon our tenderness, or how well they would repay our good treatment of them. Every one has something to say on behalf of a favourite dog, and yet how many treat this faithful, intelligent, and courageous race of animals with a cruel neglect, not to speak of the real torments inflicted upon them! It is, to a person who considers the matter, a most painful sight to see, in such weather as we have had of late, many of these servants, as upon the streets of London, put to unseemly, or at least to an overburdensome drudgery, while in real want for a drink of cold water. How often, too, do we see the little feathered prisoners exposed to the burning rays of a meridian sun in front of a reflecting wall. How often, again, do we behold the noble horse, that complaineth not, tormented with parching thirst, as intimated by his foaming mouth! There is such obvious misusage in this treatment, as must alone take its rise from a want of thought, and not from any absolute cruelty. Indeed, were mankind only to reflect a little, or try the experiment, they would, in reference to any domestic animal of the brute creation, find that it was able, willing, and fond of returning ample payment for fair treatment. How beautiful it is to behold the horse saluting the beckoning hand! how shocking to see it afraid of its master's threat, because that hand has been frequently raised to smite it in the face! Who considers how fond the abominated swinish brutes are of a clean bed, or who has been at pains to cultivate their sagacity, which is great? The goose is proverbially stupid, and yet, if treated with kindness, and habitually addressed as a wise animal, it will evince such parts as are generally alone attributed to the dog. What a change there would be in the aspect of society, were mankind universally to feel and to reflect as our author has done, and exhibits in the volume before us! We wish, as the next best thing, that every one may be taught by him, and therefore we shall insert, at considerable length, his Gleanings, satisfied that, wherever they are read, a manifest influence will be conveyed.

Mr. Jesse's work is the reverse of systematic or technical. He has evidently an extreme pleasure in watching the habits and character of the inferior animals, and a talent in interpreting their language and ways, which he is constantly exercising-setting down his discoveries just as they are made, warmed by an immediate admiration, till the list of striking facts amounts to a volume. His work is exactly that which it is called, without many generalizing remarks, which, indeed, would have required something like arrangement, but which were unnecessary, as every anecdote or fact naturally suggests whatever of the sort that need be said or thought.

We are too apt, because it saves trouble, to limit the course of nature, under certain sweeping generalities. With regard to the classification of birds, it is usual to say that those species which are