Part 3

PAINTING ON GLASS.

An exhibition of paintings in enamel colours on glass has been opened at No. 357, Strand, which is likely to prove attractive to the patrons of art as well as to the sight-seeing public. It consists of faithful copies of Harlow's _Kemble Family;_ Martin's _Belshazzar_, _Joshua_, and _Love among the Roses;_ Sir Joshua Reynolds's celebrated group of _Charity_, and a tasteful composition of a _Vase of Flowers with fruit_, &c. The whole are ably executed, and calculated to advance the art of painting on glass to its olden eminence. The copies from Martin are of the size of his prints, and are perhaps the most successful: that of _Joshua commanding the Sun to stand still_ is powerfully striking: the supernal light breaking from the dense panoply of clouds is admirably executed, and the minuteness of the architectural details and the fighting myriads is indescribable. In the Hall of _Belshazzar_, the perspective is ably preserved throughout, though the interest of the picture is not of that intense character that we recognise in _Joshua_. The painting of the Trial of Queen Katherine is of the size of Clint's masterly print: it required greater delicacy in copying than did either of its companion pictures, since it has few of the strong lights and vivid contrasts so requisite for complete success on glass. The costumes are well managed, as the red of Wolsey's robes, and the massy velvet dress of Katherine. Of this print, by the way, there are appended to the Catalogue a few particulars which may be new and pleasant to the reader. Thus:--

"The Picture is on mahogany panel, 1-1/2 inch in thickness, and in size, about 7 feet by 5 feet. It originated with Mr. T. Welsh, the meritorious professor of music, in whose possession the picture remains. This gentleman commissioned Harlow to paint for him a kit-cat size portrait of Mrs. Siddons, in the character of Queen Katherine in Shakspeare's Play of Henry VIII., introducing a few of the scenic accessories in the distance. For this portrait Harlow was to receive twenty-five guineas; but the idea of representing the whole scene occurred to the artist, who, with Mr. Welsh, prevailed upon most of the actors to sit for their portraits: in addition to these, are introduced portraits of the friends of both parties, including the artist himself. The sum ultimately paid by Mr. Welsh was one hundred guineas; and a like sum was paid by Mr. Cribb, for Harlow's permission to engrave the well-known print, to which we have already adverted. The panel upon which the picture is painted, is stated to have cost the artist 15_l_.

"Concerning this picture we find the following notice by Knowles, in his _Life of Fuseli_. 'In the performance of this work, he (Harlow) owed many obligations to Fuseli for his critical remarks; for, when he first saw the picture, chiefly in dead-colouring, he said, 'I do not disapprove of the general arrangement of your work, and I see you will give it a powerful effect of light and shadow; but you have here a composition of more than twenty figures, or, I should rather say, parts of figures, because you have not shown one leg or foot, which makes it very defective. Now, if you do not know how to draw legs and feet, I will show you,' and taking up a crayon, he drew two on the wainscot of the room. Harlow profited by these remarks; and the next time we saw the picture, the whole arrangement in the fore-ground was changed. Fuseli then said, 'so far you have done well: but now you have not introduced a back figure, to throw the eye of the spectator into the picture;' and then pointed out by what means he might improve it in this particular. Accordingly, Harlow introduced the two boys who are taking up the cushion."[2]

"It has been stated that the majority of the actors in the scene sat for their portraits in this picture. Mr. Kemble, however, refused, when asked to do so by Mr. Welsh, strengthening his refusal with emphasis profane. Harlow was not to be defeated, and he actually drew Mr. Kemble's portrait in one of the stage-boxes of Covent Garden Theatre, while the great actor was playing his part on the stage. The vexation of such a _ruse_ to a man of Mr. Kemble's temperament, can better be imagined than described: how it succeeded, must be left to the judgment of the reader. Egerton, Pope, and Stephen Kemble, were successively painted for Henry VIII., the artist retaining the latter. The head of Mr. Charles Kemble was likewise twice painted: the first, which cost Mr. C. Kemble many sittings, was considered by himself and others, very successful. The artist thought otherwise; and, contrary to Mr. Kemble's wish and remonstrance, he one morning painted out the approved head: in a day or two, however, entirely from recollection, Harlow re-painted the portrait with increased fidelity. Mr. Cunningham, we may here notice, has erroneously stated, that Harlow required but one sitting of Mrs. Siddons. The fact is, the accomplished actress held her up-lifted arm frequently till she could hold it raised no longer, and the majestic limb was finished from another original."

The lights of _Love among the Roses_ are vivid and beautiful: the whole composition will be recollected as of a charming character.

By the way, persons unpractised in the art of painting on glass, or in transparent enamel, have but a slender idea of its difficulties. Crown-glass is preferred for its greater purity. The artist has not only to _paint_ the picture, but to fire it in a kiln, with the most scrupulous attention to produce the requisite effects, and the uncertainty of this branch of the art is frequently a sad trial of patience. Hence, the firing or vitrification of the colours is of paramount importance, and the art thus becomes a two-fold trial of skill. Its cost is, however, only consistent with its brilliant effect.

[2] Quoted in Cunningham's Life of Harlow.

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NOTES OF A READER.

TEA.

What can we do with this pamphlet?--_British Relations with the Chinese Empire--Comparative Statement of the English and American Trade with India and Canton_. What a book for a tea-drinking old lady, or Dr. Johnson, of tea-loving notoriety, with his thirteen cups to the dozen.

"The writer has passed the last eleven years of his life in visiting every quarter of the globe, and the colonial possessions of Great Britain, in order to acquire an intimate knowledge of her commercial affairs, for political purposes." The reader will, perhaps, say this pamphlet is purely political, and what have you to do with it? But it is not so: there are facts in these pages which interest every one and come home to every man's mouth: the political purpose is to us like chaff; and these facts like grains of wheat, so we will even pick a few. Meanwhile, the whole pamphlet must be important to all, as to ourselves parts are interesting: it represents the literature of the tea trade, and, best of all, the profitable literature of _L.s.d._ It is written in a patriotic spirit; witness this extract from the preface: "To a commercial union of wealth, and a co-operation of talent and patriotism, a small island in the Western Atlantic is indebted for the acquisition of one of the most splendid empires that ever was subjected to the dominion of man, and also for the rise and progress of an extraordinary commerce with a people inhabiting a distant hemisphere, and heretofore shut out from all intercourse with the majority of the human race;--a commerce equal in extent to 10,000,000_l_. annually, and involving property to the amount of ten times that sum."

Our _facts_ must stand isolated, since to weave them into an argument would be altogether foreign to our purpose.

_East India Company_.--Although the East India Company can alone import tea, they cannot choose their own time of sale; they are compelled to put up the tea at an advance of _one penny_ (_they do at one farthing_) per lb.; they are obliged to have twelve months' stock in hand; and while the tea in America has _increased in price_ and diminished in consumption, the _very reverse_ has taken place in England, as _official returns_ prove!

_China_ presents the very remarkable spectacle of _a civilization entirely political_, whose principal aim has constantly been to draw closer the bonds which unite the society it formed, and to merge, by its laws, the interest of the individual in that of the public; an empire possessing an active, skilful, and contented population of 155,000,000 souls, who are spread over 1,372,450 square miles of the fairest and, probably, earliest inhabited region of the globe--that maintains a _standing army_ of 1,182,000 men, and levies a revenue of only 11,649,912_l_. sterling--an empire that has preserved the records of its dominion and the integrity of its name from a period of three thousand years antecedent to our era, while the most powerful monarchies of remote or modern ages have dwindled into nothingness, or been borne towards the ocean of eternity, by the swiftly destructive gulf of time,--an empire whose people have materially contributed to advance the civilization of Europe and America, by the discovery of the most useful arts and sciences, such as writing,[3] astronomy, the mariner's compass, gunpowder, sugar, silk, porcelain, the smelting and combination of metals,--and, in fine, enjoying within its own territories all the necessaries and conveniencies, and most of the luxuries of life; standing, as it proudly asserts, in no need of intercourse with other countries,[4] which it is its studied policy to prohibit,[5] openly and arrogantly proclaims its total independence of every nation in the world!

_Origin of the Tea Trade of the East India Company_.--In 1668, the East India Company ordered "_one hundred pounds weight of goode tey_" to be sent home on speculation. A taste for the Chinese herb was created and carefully fostered; the invoice was increased from year to year, until it now amounts to 30,000,000 pounds weight (notwithstanding the excessive duty of 100 per cent, and the onerous restrictions of the commutation act, since 1784), yielding an annual revenue to government, on a _luxury of life_, of about 3,300,000_l_. sterling, with scarcely any trouble or expense in the collecting;--employing 35,000 tons of the finest shipping,--requiring annually nearly 1,000,000_l_. sterling worth of cotton, woollen, and iron manufactures, and affording employment to a numerous class of society, for the wholesale and retail dealing in a leaf collected on the mountains of a distant continent!

To enable them the better to prosecute this valuable commerce, the East India Company sought and obtained permission to build a factory at Canton, where their agents were permitted to reside six months in the year--a favour specifically accorded as a matter of compassion to foreigners, who are carefully debarred all intercourse with the interior of the country; a dread being entertained that the introduction of Europeans to settle in China, would lead (according also to ancient prophecy) to the total subversion of the empire.

Other brunches of trade were subsequently added to that of tea. In 1773, the East India Company made a small adventure of opium[6] from Bengal to Canton; and the consumption of opium increased as rapidly among the Chinese as tea did among the English, until it now yields (although a contraband trade) 14,000,000 Spanish dollars annually,[7] and pays a revenue to the Indian Government of 1,800,000_l_. sterling. Raw cotton forms another extensive article of export to China; it is in general a less profitable remittance than bills of exchange, but the exportation is encouraged for the benefit of the Indian territories.

_Character of the Chinese_.--The Chinese are a haughty and independent race of people, whose commercial policy it is to prohibit, as much as possible, every species of manufactures[8] and bullion; and encourage the importation of food, and raw produce; holding themselves aloof from Europeans, and particularly jealous of Great Britain, on account of the proximity of her Indian empire; exacting upwards of 1,000_l_. in fees and port dues[9] on each foreign vessel that enters Canton, the only harbour to which they are admitted,[10] imposing severe sea and inland customs and regulations regarding woollen and other manufactures, entirely interdicting some branches of trade, and permitting all by sufferance, or as a matter of favour rather than from necessity, or by right.

_Tea in Ireland_.--In Ireland, the consumption of tea in the year 1828, was 1,300,000 lbs. _less_ than in 1827; and although the population of Ireland has rapidly increased, indeed, nearly doubled itself, since the commencement of the present century, yet the quantity of tea imported into that country is 400,000 lbs. _less_ in 1828, than it was in 1800!

_Tea in America and England_.--

American consumption of tea. 1819--5,480,884 lbs. 1827--5,372,956 --------- Decrease! 107,828 lbs.

British consumption of tea.

1819--24,093,619 lbs. 1827--27,841,284 ---------- Increase 3,747,665 lbs.

_Consumption of Sugar_.--

In France each individual, annually 5 lbs. Hamburgh do. do. 10 Germany do. throughout 6 United States do. do. 8 Ireland do. do. 3 Great Britain do. do. 14

Fourteen pounds of sugar per annum, will afford but little more than _half an ounce_ a day to each individual; a quantity, which it is well known the youngest child will consume, and yet a large portion of the sugar entered for home consumption, is used in breweries, and distilleries, so that it is even doubtful, whether the personal direct consumption of tea or sugar be the greatest; notwithstanding the latter may be had in such great abundance and in every country within the tropics.

_Price of Tea in China_.--Bohea, which cannot be purchased in China at less than _eight-pence half-penny_, may be obtained at Antwerp for 7-3/4_d_.; in France for 6-1/2_d_.; and at Hamburg for 5_d_.! Congou, of which the Canton price is from 11_d_. to 1_s_. per lb., may be bought in France at 10-1/2_d_., and at Hamburg from 8-1/4_d_. to 10-1/4_d_.! Canton price for Hyson, 1_s_. 9-3/4_d_.; French price 1_s_. 8-1/2_d_. Young Hyson costs in Canton about 1_s_. 8-1/2_d_. per lb., and _only one half that sum at Hamburg!!_ The Chinese cannot afford to sell Twankay at less than 11_d_. per lb.; but the American speculators enable the good people of Hamburg to drink it at _seven-pence farthing!_ Souchong, a good quality tea, sells at Hamburg for _five-pence_ per lb., which is the _same price_ as the vilest Bohea costs in the Hamburg market, and is only _one-half the price of Bohea_ in Canton.

_Cost of a pound of Seven Shilling Tea_.--Take a pound of Congou for instance, according to the evidence of Mr. Mills, a tea broker, before the House of Lords:

One pound of good Congou, _put up_ at the East India Company's sales at --------------- 1 8 Buyers purposely and for their own advantage raise it ----- 0 9 ----

Purchasing price by the Brokers --- 2 5 Duty levied by the Crown ----------------- 2 5 Retailer's profit, brokerage, &c. -------- 2 2 ---- Shop price 7 0

Thus it will be seen, the tea that the Company offers for sale to the consumer at 1_s_. 8_d_., or at the utmost say 2_s_., is enhanced to 7_s_. before it finds its way to the drinker's breakfast table.

_Coffee-Shops_.--There are 3,000 coffee shops in London, in which are daily consumed 2,000 lbs. of tea and 15,000 lbs. of coffee. The consumption of _coffee_ in these establishments has increased as follows:--In 1829, 1,978,600 lbs. In 1830, 2,251,300 lbs. In 1831, 2,899,870. Of tea the increase has only been, during the same periods, 239,700 lbs.--249,400 lbs.--263,000 lbs.

[3] A celebrated Hungarian, named Cosmös de Körös, has lately discovered in a Thibetian monastery, where he has been engaged translating an Encyclopaedia, that _lithography_ and _movable wooden types_ were known to the Chinese many centuries ago.

[4] A Chinese who leaves his country is considered as a traitor, and is punished with death if he ever return to it.

[5] The grand maxim of Confucius is, "to despise foreign commodities."

[6] The Chinese use this stimulant as we do wine and spirits, and with perhaps, less deleterious consequences to their health, and less evil results to their morals.

[7] About 7,000,000 of which, or bars or moulds of silver to that amount, are sent to India, the Chinese being unable to make sufficient return in merchandise. This remittance is of material assistance in helping to provide funds on the spot for the purchase of tea.

[8] A late No. of the _Canton Register_, mentions a fact, which is one instance out of many, of the desire to be independent of foreigners; it is as follows:--"Prussian blue, an article which was formerly brought in _considerable quantities from England_, is now _totally shut out_ from the list of imports, in consequence of its mode of manufacture being _acquired by a Chinaman in London_; and from timely improvement it has been brought to that perfection which renders the _consumers independent of foreign supply!"_

[9] The port dues on a vessel of 1,000 or of 100 tons are _alike!_

[10] The Chinese will not admit a foreign nation to trade at two places; for instance, the Russians are excluded from Canton because they enjoy an overland trade at Kiachia, which is 4, 311 miles from St. Petersburgh, and 1,014 miles distant from Pekin.

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FOX-HUNTING.

The following are the items of expenses, laid down by Colonel Cooke, in his "Observations on Fox-hunting," published a few years since. The calculation supposes a four-times-a-week country; but it is generally below the mark; we should say, at least one-half:--

Fourteen horses ................................. £700 Hounds' food, for fifty couples .................. 275 Firing ............................................ 50 Taxes ............................................ 120 Two whippers-in, and feeder ...................... 210 Earth stopping .................................... 80 Saddlery ......................................... 100 Farriery, shoeing, and medicine .................. 100 Young hounds purchased, and expenses at walks..... 100 Casualties ....................................... 200 Huntsman's wages and his horses .................. 300 ----- £2235

Of course, countries vary much in expense from local circumstance; such as the necessity for change of kennels, hounds sleeping out, &c. &c. In those which are called hollow countries, consequently abounding in earths, the expense of earth-stopping often amounts to 200_l_. per annum, and Northamptonshire is of this class. In others, a great part of the foxes are what is termed stub-bred (bred above ground), which circumstance reduces the amount of this item.--_Quarterly Review._

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THE GATHERER.

Curious Epitaph._--In Nichols's _History of Leicestershire_, is inserted the following epitaph, to the memory of Theophilus Cave, who was buried in the chancel of the church of Barrow on Soar:

"Here in this Grave there lies a Cave; We call a Cave a Grave; If Cave be Grave, and Grave be Cave, Then reader, judge, I crave, Whether doth Cave here lye in Grave, Or Grave here lye in Cave: If Grave in Cave here bury'd lye, Then Grave, where is thy victory? Goe, reader, and report here lyes a Cave Who conquers death, and buryes his own Cave."

P.T.W.

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_Equality._--All men would necessarily have been equal, had they been without wants; it is the misery attached to our species, which places one man in subjection to another: Inequality is not the real grievance, but dependence. It is of little consequence for one man to be called his highness, and another his holiness; but it is hard for one to be the servant of another.--_Voltaire._

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The famous Duke of Cumberland showed more cleverness as a boy, than he ever did as a general. Having displeased his mother one day, she sent him to his chamber, and when he appeared again, she asked him what he had been doing. "Reading," replied the boy.--"Reading what?"--"The Scriptures."--"What part of the Scriptures?"--"That part where it is written, 'Woman! what hast thou to do with me?'" After the loss of a battle, an English prisoner observing to a French officer, that they might have taken the duke himself prisoner; "Yes," replied the Frenchman, "but we took care not to do that--he is of far more use to us at the head of your army."--_Georgian Era._

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_The letter Y._--Pythagoras used the Y as a symbol of human life. "Remember (says he) that the paths of virtue and of vice resemble the letter Y. The foot representing infancy, and the forked top the two paths of vice and virtue, one or the other of which people are to enter upon, after attaining to the age of discretion."

P.T.W.

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_Royal Combat._--Near the city of Gloucester, on the Severn, the river dividing, forms a small island called _Alney_, which is famous for a royal combat fought on it, between Edmund Ironside and Canute the Dane, to decide the fate of the kingdom, in sight of both their armies. Canute was wounded, when he proposed an amicable division, and accordingly he obtained the northern part; the southern falling to Edmund.

E.F.

_Effect of Music._--A Scotch bag-piper traversing the mountains of Ulster, in Ireland, was one evening encountered by a starved _Irish_ wolf. In his distress the poor man could think of nothing better than to open his wallet, and try the effects of his hospitality; he did so, and the savage swallowed all that was thrown to him, with so improving a voracity as if his appetite was but just returning to him. The whole stock of provision was, of course, soon spent, and now his only recourse was to the virtues of his bagpipe; which the monster no sooner heard, than he took to the mountains with the same precipitation he had left them. The poor piper could not so perfectly enjoy his deliverance, but that, with an angry look, at parting, he shook his head, saying, "Ay, are these your tricks? Had I known your humour, you should have had your music before supper."--_Bowyer's Anecdotes._

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_Epitaph on Mr. Nightingale, Architect._

As the birds were the first of the architect kind, And are still better builders than men, What wonders may spring from a _Nightingale's_ mind, When St. Paul's was produced by a _Wren._

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_Poets._

The effects of disappointed love ......_Akenside._ Part of a lady's dress ................_Spencer._ What the ladies do, and a weight ......_Chatterton._ A manufactory, and a weight ..........._Milton._ The prayers of a glutton .............._Moore._ An indication of old age .............._Gray._ What a mortgage will do ..............._Cumberland._ The contributions of a miser .........._Little._ A troublesome companion ..............._Bunyan._ The soldier's home, and an alarm ......_Campbell._

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