phlet, entitled Remarks on the Signs viction, that the study of antiquities, of the Times. In these pages Mr. King as far as it tended only to cherish the pointed out, with becoming awe and idle admiration of frivolous works of timidity, some parts of scripture pro- refined ingenuity, applied at first even hecy of which he conjectured recent to the purposes of gross idolatry and events to be an accomplishment. His baneful superstition, is one of the most expositions certainly are singularly childish and useless pursuits on the striking, and wear some features which face of the earth. But, as applied, may have a resemblance to what has either by medallic remains or otherbeen for ages emblematically foretold, wise, to elucidate truth, and to invesEarly in the following year, he pub- tigate the real history of past ages, is lished a supplement to the pamphlet one of the most noble, and interesting just mentioned, in which he contended employments that can occupy the hufor the genuineness of the prophecy man mind." contained in the 15th and 16th chapters of the second book of Esdras, ielative to Egypt, Arabia, and Syria; and, connect ng some predictions of Isaiah, Zechariah, and Zephaniah, from the whole infers the restoration of the Jews to their own country, in part before their conversion to christianity, but principally after such an event is accomplished.

In 1799, he published, in folio, the first volume of Munimenta Antiqua, or, Observations on Ancient Castles, with Remarks on the whole Progress of Architecture, Ecclesiastical as well as Military, in Great Britain. This work Mr.King intended to complete in four volumes. The first refers solely to the earliest periods of ancient British history, to the days of druidism and of patriarchal manners. The second volume relates to the works of the Romans in this island, and the improvements introduced by them; to such works of the Britons as were imitations of Phoenician and Syrian architecture, with which they were made acquainted by the trathckers for tin. The third volume contains the history of what relates to the Saxon times; and the fourth, the history of the efforts of Norman genius. Of the last volume, he was induced to publish twenty-one sheets prematurely, in consequence of the Rev. Mr. Dutens controverting some of his positions relating to arches. In this elaborate work, Mr. King gave some account of his motives for undertaking it, and of the history of its progress, which his own words will best explain:-" A life begun in habits of intercourse with several persons of rented taste and elegant pursuits soon led to an admiration of the remains of antiquity; but fair reflection soon led also to a con

In 1784, on the demise of Dr. Mills, Mr. King was elected President of the Society of Antiquaries, and introduced a number of regulations, and the appointment of two regular secretaries, and a draughtsinan constantly; but at the succeeding election in the year following, after an unprecedented contest for the chair, Mr. King was obliged to resign it in favour of the Earl of Leicester. Previously to this, Mr. King had printed in the Archæo ogia some papers containing bis "Observations on Ancient Castles," which, as have been already mentioned, were afterwards collected into one volume.

In 1780, he published, but without his name, which on this occasion he studiously endeavoured to conceal, a very excellent octavo volume, under the title of Hymns to the Supreme Being; and, in 1796, he amused himself and the public with "Remarks concerning Stones said to have fallen from the Clouds, both in these Days and in ancient Times;" the foundation of which was the suprising shower of stones, said (on the testimony of several pusons) to have fallen in Tuscany on the 16th of June, 1769, and inves tigated in an extraordinary and full detail by Abbate Soldani, professor of mathematics in the University of Sienna.

Mr. King, in his literary career, met with some opponents, able to contend against those doctrines which he advanced apparently with so much caution. His pamphlet on the National Debt was ably answered by Mr. Aclaud, and Mr. Dutens attacked his positions relating to the Antiquity of Arches in two separate treatises. In the supplement to the Remarks on the Signs of the Times, he met with a temperate and learned antagonist in Dr.Horsley,

the Bishop of St. Asaph, in his Critical treatise On the Constitution of England, Disquisitions on the 18th chapter of Isaiah.

which was originally written in French, and translated by its author into the English language, and considerably enlarged and improved. The celebrated Junius speaks of this production more than once with high encomium, and recommends it as a performance deep, solid, and ingenious. Nor is it Junius alone who has praised it in the strongest terms; it has been

His first communication to the Society of Antiquaries was, his friend Dr. Griffiths's Account of the Discovery of Wheat under a Roman Pavement at Colchester. He next presented them with his Remarks on the Abbey Church at Bury, and on the Body of Thomas Duke of Exeter. He afterwards gave them an Account of mentioned with equal applause by an old Piece of Ordnance dragged up near the Godwin Sands; and an Account of some Roman Antiquities in Essex.

If the literary character of Mr.King be estimated from his works, it will be found that his eccentric mode of thinking caused him to view many things in a light somewhat different from popular apprehensions and prejudices; and by endeavouring to assimilate the modern discoveries in science with the philosophy of the scriptures, he sometimes delivered opinions not consonant to those which are generally received. However long and close an attention he for many years bestowed in the pursuit of philosophical enquiries, in the investigation of the most serious subjects, and in searching out the progress of arts and improvements in successive ages, yet his works will be regarded by posterity as containing speculations of curiosity, rather than essays tending to the promotion of science or the propagation of useful learning.

He died at his house, in Mansfieldstreet, on the 16th of April, 1806, in the 72d year of his age.

JOHN LEWIS DE LOLME, LL.D.

some of the most illustrious members of the British senate, among whom may be reckoned the names of a Camden and a Chatham. Nor is it the least remarkable circumstance respecting this work, that it was written by a foreigner, who had passed the greatest part of his life out of England.

In 1787, he published An Essay, containing a few Strictures on the Union of Scotland with England, and on the Situation of Ireland. The first part of this Essay gives a plain, concise, and perspicuous view of the relative state of England and Scotland, from the time of Edward the First, to the Union under Queen Anne in 1707. This part is a most excellent introduction to the History of that Union by De Foe. The seconì part relates to Ireland, in which M. De Lolme was assisted by another person. The professed object of this part of the work was to recommend an incorpe rating union between Great Britain and Ireland.

This was followed, in

the succeeding year, by Observations relative to the Taxes on Windows and Lights, with a Hint for the Improvement of the Metropolis. M. De La seriously but ludicrously proposed, that in lieu of the duty on windows, a tax on the tonnage of houses should

be substituted; and, like some famous

THIS gentleman was a native and citizen of Geneva, where he orators in the House of Commons, he practised some time as an advocate. ran on to a great length, turning and He afterwards resided in England, returning the playful images suggested and gained very considerable celebrity by his fancy, and pleased to think that in the character of an author. His his readers might be at least diverted, first work in this country was a Parallel if not much instructed. The improvebetween the English Constitution and ment proposed for the city of London, the former Government of Sweden, was the removal of the cattle-market which he published in the year 1772; from Smithfield to some place in the in which he seemed to apprehend that fields near St. Pancrass; and he huthe inhabitants of Great Britain were manely proposed that the poor, thirsty, in the greatest danger of falling under tortured cattle should be provided the power of an aristocracy, Three years with water. after this he published his celebrated

In 1789, he published Observations

on the late National Embarrassment. to religion or decency, many singular This alluded to the painful situation and ludicrous facts. Voluntary flagel of the king's health at that period, and lations began to be countenanced by contained some ingenious explanations men of great eminence, and to come of the rights of the heir-apparent, and into general practice in the eleventh some acute remarks on the conduct, century. The infliction of this punishrespectively, of the contending parties ment by the hands of the confessor in the course of the proceedings relat- became general after this, and was ing to the projected regency. This submitted to by princes, nay, women pamphlet was answered, rather rudely, became subject to castigation froin the by an anonymous writer, who endea- monks, which led to great abuses. voured to chastise M. De L. for the M. De Lolme died in Switzerland part which he took in those disputes. early in the present year. He was In 1777, he published, in quarto, remarkably temperate and simple in The History of the Flagellants. The his mode of living, and possessed an ends which the author proposed in this admirable temper, with a strong turn work were the information of posterity, for humour, and all he said, even on who will here find a minute detail of the most serious subjects, was marked wonderful facts; the moral instruction by something of an arch shrewdness. of the present age, by giving them a He did not sacrifice much to the graces, striking proof of that deep sense of in point of dress and personal delicacy, justice which exists in the breasts of but his conversation was always valuall men; and the entertainment of able; and it is much to be regretted, philosophers and critics, by furnishing that a man of his talents and informathem with an unusual subject of spe- tion was not shielded by patronage culation and debate, and by collect- against the necessities of life. ing into one view, without any offence

MODERN DISCOVERIES,

AND

IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTS, SCIENCES, AND LITERATURE; With Notices respecting Men of Letters, Artists, and Works

Mr. Nicholas Carlisle, secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, has in the press a Topographical Dictionary of England: the materials for which have been collected from the most authentic sources.

A new publication has been announced, under the title of An Encyclopædia of Manufactures, which, it is supposed, will extend to eight or ten volumes in octavo, a part of which will be published every two months, illustrated by plates, making a volume annually. It is not intended to follow an alphabetical arrangement.

The Military Annals of Revolutionary France, from the beginning of the last war to the end of 1807, will be published by subscription in four large volumes quarto, by the author Mr. Pinkerton has undertaken to be of the Revolutionary Plutarch, as- the editor of a General Collection of sisted by a general officer and other Voyages and Travels, forming a comeminent military characters. Besides plete history of the Origin and Promaps of the countries, which have gress of Discovery by sea and land, been the seat of war, plans of encamp- from the earliest ages to the present ments, sieges, and battles, these vo- time. It is not intended merely to lumes will be embellished with por- reprint the narratives, which have altraits of all the commanders in chief ready appeared, nor to adhere to the of note and other generals. strict chronological order of the oc

currences which they detail, but in Mr. Jones, of Hafod, to whom the most cases to class the subjects and public are under obligation for his consolidate the materials of different splendid edition of Froissart, is now writers, so as to exhibit at one view engaged in a translation of the Chroniall that is interesting or important in cles of Monstrelet, which include the their several publications, and to pre- period from 1400 to 1467, and describe sent the reader with a regular, suc- the particulars of the conquests of cinct, and separate history of the pro- Henry V, and of the subsequent exgress of discovery in every great divi- pulsion of the English from France. sion of the globe.

Dr. Abbot, of Oakley, in Bedfordshire, is about to publish some ermons, which will bear the title of Parochial Divinity.

The Clarendon press is at present engaged in printing the Alcestis of Euripides and other Greek plays, for the use of schools. A republication of Creech's edition of Lucretius is also proceeding with for similar purposes.

Mr. Samuel Rush Meyrick, of Queen's College, Oxford, has circulated proposals for publishing by subscription a History of the County of Cardigan, which will be illustrated with 18 plates. The work will form one voluine in quarto.

Dr. Jarrold, of Manchester, has in the press a Dissertation on the Form and Colour of the Person of Man.

Mr. Raymond, author of the Life of Dermody, is preparing a complete edition of the Poetical Works of that wonderful but unfortunate youth.

Mr. Belsham is about to publish a Collection of State Papers, Official Letters, and other Documents, illus trative of English history, from the revolution to the peace of Amiens. These papers extend to two volumes, and are so printed as either to be sold separately or in connection with the various volumes of his history, to which the papers respectively appertain.

An Historical Essay on the Life of the Great Condé, writen by his Se rene Highness the Prince of Condé, his descendant in the fourth degree, now in England, translated from the original manuscript found at Chantilly, and published at Paris, is now in the press, and will be shortly published in one volume octavo.

The first number of the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, is expected to make its appearance early in June.

FINE ARTS.

A new and greatly enlarged edition of the Biographia Dramatica, or Companion to the Play-house, is in preparation, containing historical and critical memoirs, and original anecdotes of dramatic writers from the commencement of our theatrical exhibi- The exhibition of the Roval Acations. demy opened on the 4th of May, with The Rev. T. F. Dibdin intends to a display of pictures highly gratifying publish, in five quarto volumes, a new edition of Ames's Typographical Antiquities, which he proposes to bring down to the present period.

to national pride, there being fewer portraits and more works of genius and fancy ti an have appeared for se veral years. Northcote has a fine picMr. Olinthus Gregory, A.M. of the ture of The Chess Players; in the com Royal Military Academy, has now in position of which he has displayed the press a Translation of the Abbe much mind, and it is designed and Hau's valuable work, entitled coloured in his best manner. Turner's Traité Elementaire de Physique, with picture of A country Blacksmith disnotes, historical, illustrative, and cri- puting with a Butcher respecting the tical. The translation will make two price charged for shoeing his Pony is volumes in octavo. well designed; the lights and shadows Mr. Paik, editor of the new edition are happily distributed, and the whole of Walpole's Royal and Noble Au- executed with a bold and masterly thors, has undertaken to republish touch. Westall has a beautiful cabiWarton's History of English Poetry. net picture of Flora unveiled by the

A translation of Chaptal's new work, entitled Chemistry applied to Arts and Manufactures, will he published early in June, in four large volumes octavo.

zephyrs, in which the artist has man fested profound knowledge in the science of colouring. Wilkie's preture of The Blind Fidler surpasses in

expedition he lost his arm. In these four pictures, Mr. Westall has exhibited his usual manner of thinking, and peculiar facility of composition; and the animation which pervades the whole of these works, cannot be too much commended. There is a courage as well in the conquered as in the conquerors. The figures throughout are well drawn, full of appropriate action, and the just ex, ressions belonging to them. The movement of the lines which form the groupes are harmonious and skilfully contrived, and the clare obscure is arranged so as to produce a very pleasing effect.

The society of painters in watercolours began to exhibit this season at the Old Royal Academy Rooms, Pall-mall, having removed from Lower Brooke-street. Many of their productions are in a superior style, and we shail be happy in giving an account of them in our next.

merit that of the Village Politicians, presents his lordship landing on the which he exhibited last year. The mole of Tenerife, in which ill-fated design of this picture is most felici tous; a blind musician, accompanied by his wife, is represented as seated by a cottage fire-side, in the act of calling forth dulcet sounds' for the amusement of a rustic family; every member of which is happily occupied: the mother, a very interesting figure, is dancing an infant on her knee, while the father i, snapping his fingers in concert with the instrument in order to fix the attention of the child; an older girl is listening with rapture over the back of the mother's chair, and a waggish boy is imitating the action of the tidler by pretending to play on a pair of bellows. This picture is coloured with a local correctness which is hardly exceeded in the best productions of the Flemish school. The late Mr. Gilpin's picture of Dun can's Horses, from Macbeth, is one of the last productions of this lamented artist. It manifests all that grandeur of design for which his pictures have There has been recently placed in obtained such celebrity, but it has the the vestibule of the British Gallery in appearance of having been left in an Pail-mall a colossal statue of Achilles, undini-hed state. Fuseli has a fine executed by the late Mr. Banks, which picture, representing Cremhild the is esteemed to be the first work of its widow of iviil, slewing to Irony in kind that this country has produced. prison) the head of Gurther, his ac- Achilles is represented kneeling on complice in the assassination of her his left kace; the thigh being suphusband. The clore obscure of this ported on that side by his shield thrown picture, as well as the colou ing, are obliquely on the grourd, and grouped well appropriated to the subject; and as an incline i piane, with his helmet, Mr. Fuseli must be congratulated on battle-ax, and sword behind it. The the colouring of this efort of his pen- left leg in this view is oce shortened, cil, as transcending every thing that and the fort bears strongly against a he has hitherto producel. Though fragmen of a stene. The extended low in tone, it is without blackness, action of the right lower extremity, and though clear it is without gandi- shewing the front of the thigh to the ness.--Mr.Westall has four pictures re- happiest advantage, places this leg in presenting the leading heroic achieve a fore-shortened view also, the entire ments of personal courage in the life limb resting on the great toe. A draof Lord Nelson. The first repre ents pery, ari-ing from behind the figure Lord Nelson, when second lieutenant and passing over the top of the helof a frigate, going to take possession met and shield, extends over tha upof an enemy's ship in a rough gale of per part of the left thigh. The body wind, when every one on board de- rises erect from this complicated but clared it was impracticable. The se- natural and vigorous disposition of cond represents Lord Nelson receiv- the lower extremities; the chest ining the sword of the dving Spanish clines a little forward; the head is admiral, whose ship he had boarded thrown rather back upon the right and taken in the battle of Cape t. shoulder, supported by the right hand, Vincent. The third represents this expanded and passionately fixed upon illustrious hero attacking, in a com- the hair, which is in a dishevelled non barge, a Spanish launch, which state. The face looks upward over he succeeded in taking. The last re- the left arin, which is extended in a