imme hodical; rather rushing forward Both him and his style are equally lost himself than leading his auditors: but to the world. in the four lectures which he delivered He had nothing of the grace, deliat the Academy, soon after his appoint- cacy, and freedom of Vandyke; he had ment to the Professorship, he was more nothing of that power of giving charegular, progressive, distinct, and in- racter to every thing; of that amenity, structive; and shone more as Professor variety, and ideal beauty, which disat the Academy, than as Lecturer at tinguished the compositions of Reythe Institution. nolds. He had an mense force, a His success in copies from gross and rough exactness, a coarse severity of vulgar nature, such as his old Beggars, rendering every object that was before Rustics, &c. soon attracted the atten- him. He gave a relief to all his figures, tion of the public, and he became li- at once bold and deep; and, provided berally employed. At this period he the character was sufficiently marked attempted historical painting, and pro- and prominent, he would almost frame, duced his best works in this line, the as it were, the living object on his canDeath of David Rizzio, and the Mur- vass; he would give it with that gross der of James I. King of Scotland. He vigour, that severe and exact scrupuwas soon engaged by Boydell, in some losity, which might fatigue the induscompositions for the Shakspeare Gal- try of a Dutch painter. His tones of lery, for which he was well paid; but, colour were agreeable and appropriate, like many others, he seems rather to beyond example: In this quality, as a have looked to his price than to his re- portrait painter, he never excelled. putation. These were six subjects- His excellence was chiefly in the heads from the Winter's Tale, the First and of old men, in copies of gross and vulSecond Part of King Henry VI. Timon gar nature. In the softness and deliof Athens, Romeo and Juliet, and cacy of youth, and the grace of feHenry VIII. Several of the portraits male beauty, he could never succeed. which have embellished this Magazine, He had no creative powers; no conhave been copied after his pencil. ception of that ideal in art, which is As a painter, he was undoubtedly in alone seen and measured by the menthe first rank of his profession, and, in tal eye. The object which he had to losing him, a void has been made in draw was to be placed before him, and the art, which will not speedily be its qualities must have been of that filled. The want of an education, marked and decided nature, that the founded on principles and elemental imitation could casily be made. knowledge, was supplied by a vigour he had any thing to invent, to superof native genius, and a judgment, add, to combine, or polish, he was lost: which, without much study, was ma- he would give you what he saw; but tured by observation to tolerable cor- his mind could furnish nothing more. rectness. Being self-taught, he escaped Thus all his attempts at history, are all the insipidity and mannerism of a mere assemblages of portraits; like the school; and though he did not attain, Dutch painter, if he wanted a Jupiter, till somewhat advanced in the profes- he would copy the first burgomaster he sion, to a command in drawing, and met in the streets. In a late composi what may be called the knowledge of tion, Mr. Opie has given us a Belisarius academical proprieties, the absence of and a boy; and the first beggar he enthese qualities was sufficiently com- countered at his door, was perhaps the pensated by an originality of genius, model of the Roman General. an unfettered and peculiar style of If Opie can, with justice, be comthinking, an immense force and sub- pared with any other painter, ancient stance, both in colouring and pencil- or modern, we should say, he was the ing, which must ever distinguish him EnglishCaravaggio. Immense strength, original, unborrowed manner, coarse As a portrait painter (in which light exactness in delineating the object prewe must chiefly consider him), he was sent to his eye; bold relief; a substance neither a follower, nor imitator of any of colouring and penciling; a disdain that went before him, nor has he left of any thing artificial or ideal; an ap any to take those liberties with him, propriate tone of colour, agreeably diswhich he disdained to take with others. tributed and fitted to its objects, dis in art. If tinguished both masters. Such is the cible, and dark will ever accompany opinion which candour extorts from acts of horror. As a portrait painter, us, relative to the merits of the deceased he has great claims to praise; particuartist: we have meant only to be just. larly in his men, which are firm, bold, In private life, Opie was plain and and freely handled, and occasionally simple. His appearance was against well coloured. His women are heavy, him. His understanding was good, inelegant, and chalky, accompanied but not much cultivated; there was an with a hardness that destroys all invincible vulgarity about him which beauty." nothing could polish out. He was interred in St. Paul's cathe The following account of his style of dral, on Monday, the 27th of April, painting is from Mr. Daves, and was when his remains were attended by published during the lifetime of the several noblemen, gentlemen, royal artist, whose works are the subject of his academicians, &c. The body was criticism: drawn in a hearse by six horses, with ostrich feathers; then followed thirty mourning coaches, containing the mourners, pall-bearers, and the president and gentlemen of the royal academy; and thirty noblemen's and gentlemen's carriages, which closed the procession. The pall-bearers were Lord De Dunstanville, Sir John St. Aubyn, Sir J. F. Leycester, Hon. Mr. Elphinstone, Mr. Whitbread, and Mr. W. Smith. He has left a widow, formerly Miss Alderson, of Norwich, the admired authoress of several popular literary productions. "His manner approximated to that of Rembrandt; his style is bold and vigorous, and, like that master, he has seldom more than one light in his pictures. The subjects in which he succeeded best are where the rough, unpolished parts of nature appear; with these his dark and forcible manner of light and shade suits admirably; but where he attempts at characters that require elevation, he is generally deficient. His chiaro-scuro is broad and powerful, but destitute of clearness of colour; a fault that also attaches to his lights, which are often heavy and cold; his touch is firm, broad, and The disease which terminated his spirited. Where he feels his subject, life had its origin in a cold, caught in no one cau euter more into its spirit returning from a visit to his friend, than himself; as in the Assassination Mr. Tresham. This cold produced, of James of Scotland, Rizzio, &c. at first, but a slight indisposition, atwhich justly class him among the first tended with a fever; the symptoms, masters. Of feminine beauty he ap- however, encreased in a very alarming pears not to have the least feeling; manner, and an inflammation in the his forte is undoubtedly the terrible, brain, which deprived him of his senses, and for this his manner is best calcu- was the result of a few days' illness. lated: some of his heads are full of Such was the rapidity of his disorder, spirit, and finely executed. Those that the assistance of his physicians scenes of assassination from which he was of no avail; and there was that underived his reputation, associate per- certainty as to the nature of his comfectly well with the severe, dark style, plaint, that it may be affirmed that which he pursues; and that from a medicine had not its fair chance. principle in nature, as the abrupt, for STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. N NO PURRY This has been by Protestants from Popery, and that TO POPERY! NO POPERY that no danger was to be apprehended a cry in some parts of the united the once formidable name of Pope was kingdom; but we may congratulate now rather an object of contempt than the country in general, that it has of indignation. In the metropolis, the been followed with very little mis- words may have been written now and chief. People seem to have been then upon the walls, but no mob was convinced that the cry was set on foot formed, roaring out against the papists, merely for electioneering purposes; or committing the riots of seventeen hundred and eighty. The lowest of much as it deserves, that the papists the People had too much sense to be formerly kept the scriptures in Latin, duped by a bye-word. In the city, in and precluded the people as much as Westminster, and in the borough, the possible from having any insight into elections were contested, yet the can- them: the protestants allow to the didates carried on their respective people the use of the Bible in their claims without mobs to assist the de- own language; but many of them are fence of the church. Indeed we may in a terrible passion if a person excongratulate the country that they have plains a passage in a different manner so acted. The cry has been attempt- from themselves, and will not submit ed, and the failure of the attempt is a his understanding to an authoritative good indication of the improvement decision, made in exploded articles or of the people on subjects connected ridiculous catechisms. with religion. Whatever wicked priests The cry of NO POPERY has been and temporising politicians may have raised; we shall see whether with due done in former times, by abusing re- effect-whether the popish spirit has ligion to their infamous purposes; the been subdued or not. Wickliffe in time seems now to be gone by the our country, and Martin Luther in cheat is detected: the trick is found Germany, nobly opposed the errors out: the ring-droppers can no longer of popery, and boldly stood forward succeed. Every body now has seen for the grand right of bringing every into the nature of priestcraft; and thing to the test of scripture. A cirpope and prelate may hurl their ana- cumstance happened last year, which themas, to be a subject only of laughter and derision. begins, we understand, to operate, and by which we shall have an oppor Popery, Mahometanism, ard,Calvin- tunity of judging what is the spirit of ism, are three grand corruptions of the Church of England. Mr. Stone, Christianity. It is not the name, it is a venerable presbyter of that church, the spirit of each, that we ought to rector of a parish, and father of a very detest; and, wherever that spirit ap- large family, having been called upon pears, we should endeavour to sup- to preach before the Archdeacon and press it, whether in ourselves or others. an assembly of presbyters, took upon It may justly be questioned, whether himself to call in question several rethis spirit does not prevail at present ceived doctrines of the church, and in many churches called protestant, he adjured his brethren to listen more than it does in those called to him in the spirit of love, and to popish? The way to try this question bring his opinions to the test of is, to examine in what manner a re- scripture. In consequence of this ligious opinion is entertained by the proceeding, the Bishop of London, as community to which, either from induty bound, is enquiring, we underchance of birth or from choice, we stand, into the nature of these opihappen to belong. If the community nions, and is questioning Mr. Stone is tenacious of any opinion, merely more thoroughly respecting them. because it has been adopted by its Now, if the enquiry is carried on by predecessors, and is unwilling to bring the bishop in the spirit of love and it to the test of scripture, and to be affection, and the scriptures are fairly decided solely by the scriptures; and, examined by him and his brethren; if it is violent against those of a dif- if the arguments of Mr. Stone are ferent persuasion, and would use any judiciously sifted, and his errors (if other methods of argument than those they are such) are pointed out in a which love prescribes; then that com- manner that becomes christians; we munity is popish; and an individual cannot doubt that the Church of Engwill do well to remove himself entirely land is freed from that popish spirit from it; or, if this cannot conveniently be done, he should take no part in its concerns, but preserve himself, as well as he can, from being tainted by the pernicious spirit of that church or meeting. We may add, also, for the circumstance is not attended to so which was the disgrace of former ages. The bishop and the presbyter are nearly of the same age: the controversy is of great importance; we shall attend to the mode in which it is carried on, and shall be curious to know the result. squadron through the Strait, and in If the Pope is less in fashion with the ruling powers than he was some few years ago, Mahomet has also fallen in our estimation. Adieu to the crescents, the feathers, the horses' tails, which are no longer to find their way to our gallant commanders. It is now ascertained, that we have made a complete The consequences of this rash step breach with the Porte, but the mode have been just what was to be exin which we have done it does not add pected-indignation on the part of to our credit. Our admiral with his the Turks, and a complete union of fleet sailed through the Bosphorus, them and the French! A seizure of approached within a few miles of Con- British property in every part of that stantinople, destroyed some Turkish vast empire, and a complete change. ships, and then entered into a nego- in our politics with respect to the Metiation. The Turks, assisted by the diterranean. The grounds of the French, not only negotiated very well, but made preparations to cut off the admiral's retreat. The ambassador was on board his ship, but the joint wisdom of both was not a match for the policy of the enemy; and, after a fruitless interchange of letters, the admiral did not think it expedient to sail on to bombard Constantinople, nor safe to remain where he was: the only course he then had to take, was to sail back to the place from whence he came. strange conduct of the English will The sailing back was not so easy an expedition. The Turkish cannon have long been talked of, but they joined with the Russians against the were supposed to be objects of curi- French. Policy made us then change osity rather than of real utility. It hands: and thus, in the course of remained for an English fleet to make the wars since 1789, the world has the experiment. During the nego- seen Great Britain beating every one tiation the French engineers got all of its allies, except the Russians who these cannon in order, and placed offered her the greatest insults, seizing batteries in every place, whence they her ships, and driving her men into might annoy us; and annoy us they exile into Siberia. did most terribly. It is probable, that But as to the right or wrong of this the engagement was the severest that cause, politicians may argue; the has been fought by our ships. They facts seem to indicate that the Turkindeed had nothing else to do but to ish empire is in great jeopardy. The make the most of the wind, and to sail French will profess the greatest friendthrough the Strait as fast as possible. ship for it, will send troops to its asHad the admiral staid a day longer, sistance, will insinuate themselves into not a ship probably would have re- every quarter, and by finesse obtain turned. As it was, the slaughter on what we wished to ravish by force. board our ships, and the damage done The vizir is marched with the holy to the masts and timbers, was im- standard of Mahomet against the Rus mense. We may form a tolerable sians: the latter must collect their judgment of the nature of the enter- forces to repel the French on the prise from the effect of one ball, which banks of the Vistula. It is probable was eight hundred pounds weight, and then, that the Turks may be successstruck the mainmast of a ship. Had ful on the banks of the Danube, and it struck the ship between wind and re-establish for a short time their totwater, the whole crew would have tering empire. Constantinople at any gone down to the bottom. With great rate will be safe from Russian attacks, difficulty the admiral convoyed his and the defeat of the English navy will set the seraglio at rest from any the sun to have a clear view of the attack of the Russian marine. solar system; so to have a true knowAt any other quarter of the Turk- ledge of the system of earthly things, ish empire, danger menaces it. We we must derive our information from have taken Alexandria, the key of the sun of righteousness. We must Egypt. We have retaken what we look up to the hand of God in the ought never to have surrendered up, great niotions on the earth. We live and under our care, if the least care in a time when the antichristian is taken, Egypt may in a very few years churches are near their fall, and the be restored to its former splendour. It mode in which their fall will be acis astonishing in how short a time this complished will, with their rise and miserable country may be recovered. progies, form a complete study for A good government for five years the next generation. would again make that country a paThe eyes of all Europe are turned radise. The Copts are a miserable now to a very different object. The race, fulfilling the prophecy of Eze- troops that are collected between the kiel; they are incapable of raising Vistula and the borders of Russia themselves to the dignity of inan, cannot be kept long in inaction. It Ήμισυ της αρετης αποκινούνται δέλιον ήμαρ. is most probable, that the dreadful Slavery of many ages has broken battle has, by this time, been fought. down their minds, and the de- So great a military force, with such scendants of those who were renowned trains of artillery, on each side, for wisdom and bravery are distin- has never been seen in Europe. Two guished for ignorance and abject ser- emperors and a king will grace the vility. Still the country is the same. field of battle. The emperor of Rus The fertilizing Nile runs through the sia has left his capital, and had a midst of it, and waters, as usual, its va- meeting with the king of Prussia at rious regions. But the canals, made Memel. They there probably recol by the wisdom of former ages, de- lected their solemn oaths over the stroyed by the Persians, restored by manes of the great Frederick: they the Ptolemies, fallen again into decay there settled the plans of the grand at the ruin of the Roman empire, and campaign, reduced in their ideas Borestored by the Caliphs; again neg- naparte to his primitive insignifilected by the Turks and Mamelukes, cance; and indulged in the prospect, are choked up with sand, and remain the one of the restoration to his kingto be emptied by the energy of the dom, the other of immortal glory to English. Five years are amply suffi- his arms. The French, in the mean cient for this purpose. The port of time, were rejoicing at this meeting: Alexandria would then be filled with they are not terrified at the name of a ships, and Egypt would bless the day crowned head, and felt a secret satisthat put her under the protection of faction that two sovereigns would take Britain. the lead, whose presence would emThese events cannot fail of making barrass the proceedings of their own an impression on the serious mind generals. Bonaparte himself, after The changes in governments appear the conquest of the emperor of Austo the superficial politician as mere tria, when united with Russia, can natural elfects of various combina- have little dread of a conquered king tions of human ingenuity, without of Prussia by the side of the Russian any reference to a higher government. emperor. The real situation and the What has been, he thinks, must al- numbers of the respective armies, ways be, and he judges of the real with the plans of the projected attacks, system of the world only by the little we shall not know till victory has he sees every day, and by the little in crowned the enterprise of one or the which he takes a part. He is exactly other party. If the French are victoin the same situation as the astrono- rious, all Poland will be a prey to mer of former times, who determined them, and the Turks will drive the every thing by his position on the Russians from the shores of the Daearth, and formed a system totally re- nube. Should the Russians gain the pugnaut to that of nature. As in day, it is scarcely possible for Bonaastronomy we must place ourselves in parte to make good his retreat, and UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII. 3 M |