for Mr. unless he like brandy and water. Take that, sir, and I'll warrant you'll soon be well-you're a peg too low --you want stimulus, and if one glass wont do, call for a second."

There was a growling man, named Dobson, who, when his asthma permitted, vented his spleen upon both sides; and a lover of absurd paradoxes, named Heron, author of some works of merit, but so devoid of principle, that, deserted by all, he would have died from want, if Dr. Garthshore had not placed him as a patient in the empty Fever Institution.

Robinson, the King of the Booksellers, was frequently of the party, as well as his brother John, a man of some talent; and Joseph Johnson, the friend of Priestley, and Paine, and Cowper, and Fuseli. Alexander Chalmers, the workman of the Robinsons, and, through their introduction, editor of many large books, also enlivened the box by his sallies of wit and humour. He always took much pains to be distinguished from his namesake George, who, he used to say, carried "the leaden mace;" and he was much provoked whenever he happened to be taken for his namesake.

Cahusac, a teacher of the classics; M'Leod, a writer in the newspapers; the two Parrys, of the Courier, then the organ of Jacobinism; and Captain Skinner, a man of elegant manners, who personated our nation in the procession of Anacharsis Clootz, at Paris, in 1793; were also in constant attendance.

One Baker, once a Spitalfields manufacturer, a great talker, and not less remarkable as an eater, was constant; but, having shot himself at his lodgings, in Kirby-street, it was discovered that, for some years, he had no other meal, per day, besides the supper which he took at the Chapter; where, there being a choice of viands at the fixed price of one shilling, this, with a pint of porter, constituted his subsistence, till, his last resources failing, he put an end to himself.

Lowndes, the celebrated electrician, was another of our set, and a facetious man. Buchan, jun., a graduated son of the Doctor, generally came with Lowndes; and, though somewhat dogmatical, yet he added to the variety and good intelligence of the discussion, which, from the mixture of company, was as various as the contents of the newspapers.

Dr. Busby, the musician, and a very ingenious man, often obtained a hearing, and was earnest in disputing with the Tories. And, Macfarlane, the author of the History of George the Third, was always admired for the soundness of his views: but this worthy man was killed by the

pole of a coach, during a procession of Sir Francis Burdett and his friends, from Brentford. Mr. W. Cooke, author of Conversation, constantly exemplified his own rules in his gentlemanly manners and well-timed anecdotes.

Kelly, an Irish schoolmaster and gentlemanly man, kept up warm debates by his equivocating politics; and was often roughly handled by Hammond and others, though he bore his defeats with constant good humour.

There was a young man, named Wilson, who acquired the name of Long-bow Wilson, from the number of extraordinary secrets of the haut ton, which he used to retail by the hour. He was a good-tempered and amusing person, who seemed likely to be an acquisition to Wittinagemot; but, having run up a score of thirty or forty pounds, he suddenly absented himself. Miss B., the keeper of the house, begged of me, if I saw him, to tell him that she would give him a receipt for the past, and further credit, if he would only return to the house; "for," said she, "if he never paid us, he was one of the best customers we ever had, contriving, by his stories and conversation, to keep a couple of boxes crowded the whole night, by which we made more punch and more brandy and water, than from any other single cause whatever."

Jacob, afterwards an alderman and M.P., was a frequent visitor, and then as remarkable for his heretical, as he was, subsequently, for his orthodox opinions in his speeches and writings.

Waithman, the active and eloquent Common Councilman, often mixed with us, and was always clear-headed and agreeable. One James, who had made a large fortune by vending tea, contributed many good anecdotes of the age of Wilkes.

Several stockbrokers visited us, and, among others of that description, was Mr. Blake, the banker, of Lombard-street, a remarkably intelligent old gentleman; and there was a Mr. Patterson, a North Briton, a long-headed speculator, who had the reputation of being a skilful mathematician, and taught mathematics to Pitt.

Some young men of talent came among us, from time to time, as Lovett, a militia officer; Hamell, a coal-merchant; and some others; and these seemed likely to keep up the party. But, all things have an end: Dr. Buchan died; some young sparks affronted our Nestor, Hammond, on which he absented himself, after nearly fifty years' attendance; and the noisy box of the Wittinagemot, was, for some years previously to 1820, remarkable for its silence and dulness. The two or three

last times I was at the Chapter, I heard no voice above a whisper; and I almost shed a tear on thinking of men, habits, and times gone by for ever.

The Chapter Coffee-house will, nevertheless, always be attractive, by its good punch, its collection of scarce pamphlets, and its liberal supply of town and country newspapers.

66

(To be continued.)

INCHKEITH.

INCHKEITH, in Fifeshire, is an elevated rocky island, covered, in many places, with fine earth, and lying towards the middle of the Frith of Forth. Brantome calls it L'Isle des Chevaux; and it was, probably, a safer stable" than many others in his time. It appears that, in the year 1497, it was allotted for the reception of those who had a certain disorder, of Spanish origin, which was regarded as a species of plague amongst the ancient good folks of Edinburgh, to whom the Privy Council sent a letter, in which occurs the following curious piece of orthography: they ordered "that all manner of persons, being within the freedom of this burgh, guhilk are infectit, or has bene infectit, and uncurit of this said contagious plage, callit the grand gore, devoyd, red, and pass furth of this toun and compeir, upon the sandis of Leith, at ten houris before none, and thair sall have and fynd botis reddie in the havin, ordanit to thame be the officaris of this burgh, reddelie furneist with victualls to have them to the Inch, and thair to remain quhill God provyde for their health." This island anciently belonged to the noble family of Keith, but became forfeited to the Crown, in consequence of the head of the family having joined the rebellion in 1715.

Inchkeith is now employed for a much better purpose than formerly, and is a most delightful and healthy spot; it has some good pasture upon it, but no trees. The entrance to the island is by a small bay, protected by a low pier; and, after passing over a good road, by a tank for supplying ships with water, we reach the elegant lighthouse, which crowns the lofty summit of the island.* An inscription above the doorway states it to have been completed on May 18, 1803, and first

*This lighthouse was, in part, constructed with the materials of a fort, which formerly stood upon the island, and bore the inscription, "Maria Re:" (Queen Mary) “1564." It was minutely inspected by Dr. Johnson, in his visit to the Hebrides, in the year 1773, and, accordingly, figures in Boswell's entertaining Life.

lighted on September 1, 1804. From the top, or lantern, there is a charming view of the city of Edinburgh; the sea, its islands, and the shore on either side.

Upon reference to the Report of the Select Committee on Lighthouses, printed by order of the House of Commons, in 1834, we find some interesting details of "the Inchkeith Light." In the previous year, it was resolved to fit up this lighthouse with polyzonal lenses, and quadruple Argand burners, in place of a reflector and single Argand burner. This is stated by Mr. Stevenson, in his evidence before the Parliamentary Committee, to have been the first trial at a British lighthouse. These lights had been previously used upon the French coast; and, upon Mr. Stevenson's recommendation, the Board of Commissioners ordered two lenses from Paris, in 1824 with those lenses, there were a number of experiments made, from which it was thought advisable to make further trial in an establishment of the magnitude of the Inchkeith Light; which was likewise suggested as the fittest place, from its being near Edinburgh, and, of course, under the constant view of the Board of Commissioners for Northern Lighthouses. In the Appendix to the above Report, the expense of the Inchkeith Light, in the year 1833, is stated at £371: 9s. 7d. In this time there were consumed 300 gallons of sperm oil; the rent of the lighthouse ground was thirty-five pounds; salaries of two light-keepers, eighty pounds; clothing for the same, about twenty-three pounds; cost of the attending boat, and its crew, twenty-one pounds; of the lighthouse flag, £1: 2s. 6d. The light-keepers are provided with a medicine chest, an almanack for the tides, and a newspaper, weekly. The light has only seven burners.

In the above Report and Evidence are many interesting details of the lamented Mr. Drummond's Oxyhydrogen Light, and its application to Lighthouses. Mr. C. Cunningham states that, in a series of experiments between the Calton Hill and Gulan, from the last station, the Drummond Light was so strong as to reflect on the road in Porto Bello, twelve miles and a half distant. The Board considered, that could Mr. Drummond's Light be rendered of practical utility in lighthouses, it would be a great improvement; but, in 1834, Mr. Maconochie thought "he would be a very bold person indeed who would recommend the general adoption of it in lighthouses." This opinion coincides with Mr. Drummond's own opinion, politely addressed to ourselves, in reply to an inquiry as to the practical value of the invention.

We are

not aware that Mr. Drummond was ever

Fine Arts.

EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

THE full tide of unanimous approbation has evidently set in towards this year's Exhibition; which is certainly the best collection of pictures, by contemporary artists, yet assembled within the walls of the soi-disant National Gallery. This merit has been tolerably well bruited; for every one is anxious to say something favourable of the contents of the Gallery, as a relief to the universal censure which has been adjudged to the place itself. Hence, the attraction is up; and the rooms are crowded with visitors; from the artistical parties, who come with clear heads, in the freshness of morning, to the idlers who flock thither in the blaze of noon, or towards "dusk." All this curiosity and expectation will, doubtless, be well repaid; for the collection, though it number very few, if any, specimens of high art, is varied and pleasing, and is rich in attractive subjects for the largest class of admirers. The portraits are less numerous than usual; wherefore the interest is more general: and, if it seldom rise to the sublime, it must be allowed that it presents but few specimens of the ridiculous. We have already reported our first glance at the collection; and we now subjoin a few notes of our revisit.

No. 10. The reduced Gentleman's Daughter, R. Redgrave, is a scene from the Rambler, No. 12, in which "the daughter," in applying for a situation, is shewn in to Mr. Courtly and his lady at picquet, who have thrown down their cards in hope of better sport: the affected gravity of the lady, in her inquiry of the girl, is well told, in contrast with the modest demeanour of the beautiful applicant. In short, the story is admirably related, and the picture is well painted throughout: the accessories, as the furniture, especially the French clock and table, in the left foreground, are very carefully detailed.

13. Citara, in the Gulf of Salerno, looking towards the Coast of Calabria, C. Stanfield, R. A., is one of the finest pictures in the collection, in brilliancy of colouring and effective management: and, whether we consider the reality of the atmosphere, the tranparency of the water, or the picturesque grouping of the figures, this picture must be regarded as nearly approaching some of the most beautiful realities of nature.

15. Town and Château of Pau, Pyrenees, France, W. Oliver, is interesting as the birth-place of Henry IV.; or, rather in subject than in treatment. It is full of detail, much of which is lost from its being placed immediately beneath the cornice of the room.

18. Children of the Hon. Baron Alderson, with a favourite Pony, H. B. Briggs, R. A., deserves notice, for the exquisite expression of the younger girl in the right hand foreground; her peering archness is very delightful.

21. Nell Gwynne, C. Landseer, A., represents the handsome orange-girl having just entered a tavern, where are Charles II., Rochester, and others, taking wine. The figures are cleverly drawn, and are gay, but not theatrical: the gusto of Rochester, who has just risen to a toast, is admirable: Nelly is not too handsome, recollecting that old Pepys describes her "a most pretty woman,' "a mighty pretty woman she was too," &c. The accessories, as the antique furniture, glass, &c., are nicely painted, and the colouring is, throughout, admirable.

24. Robert Burns, C. Hancock; a very unpoetical embodiment of "his hand on the plough, and his heart with the Muse." We now come to the bevy of Mr. Turner's pictures, which are: 27. Bacchus and Ariadne; 55. Venice, the Bridge of Sighs; 71. Venice; 202. The new Moon; 419. Rockets and Blue Lights, to warn Steam-boats; 464. Neapolitan Fisher-girls; to all of which, the same remark will apply that neither in drawing, colouring, subject, nor treatment, do they present any novelty in the artist, though abounding in effects that never yet had existence. Luckily, they stand, or, rather, hang, per se, and the painter is alone in his fantastic glory. One picture, however, remains for notice. 203. Slavers throwing overboard the dead and dying; Typhon coming on. This scene is indescribable, except we call it "an anti-slavery picture :' the Typhon appears to have worked upon the artist's palette, in the myriads of fishes, and the substantial bait of the negro's leg. 26. Andromeda, Perseus coming to her rescue; 30. Mars, Venus, and Attendant, derobing her mistress for the bath; both by W. Etty, R. A., and, to our minds, a sad waste of colouring, from their treatment being ultra-commonplace.

31. Henry I. receiving Intelligence of the Shipwreck and Death of his only Son, S. A. Hart, R. A. Elect, wants the dignity of historical painting, and even the semblance of real life.

38. The Hon. Baron Gurney; H. P. Briggs, R. A.; an admirable portrait.

41. Stacking Hay, W. F. Witherington, R. A. Elect; has the usual finish of the artist, but mostly wants the freshness.

48. Benvenuto Cellini presenting a silver Censer, of his own workmanship, to Pope Paul III.; Sir D. Wilkie, R. A.; a fine picture: the confident expression of Cellini, the approving air of the Pope, and

the management of his flowing drapery, are very clever and effective.

56. Hope, W. Boxall; a beautiful composition, though of a class which is somewhat passé in general appreciation.

61. The Salutation of the Aged Friar; C. L. Eastlake, R. A.; a very interesting picture, of first-rate artistical merit-as purity of style, beauty of colouring, and fine treatment. It would be difficult to name a more satisfactory performance.

62. Portrait of the Queen; Sir D. Wilkie, R. A.; altogether unsuccessful in likeness, as well as in the requisites of first-class portrait-painting. The robes of state are very poorly treated.

67. The Duke of Sussex, in the chair of the Royal Society; T. Phillips, R. A. This portrait has been painted for the Society's council-room: it appears to lack the natural ease of the illustrious original; though he disliked the velvet costume and insignia of his office, he is here too evidently "sitting for his portrait."

72. Scene from the Gentle Shepherd; A. Johnston :

"Last morning I was gay and early out,
Upon a dike I lean'd gloaming about:
I saw my Meg come linkan o'er the lee;
I saw my Meg, but Meggy saw na me."
Vide Gentle Shepherd.

The drawing of this picture is beautiful, but the colouring feeble. Meggy is a charming creature.

74. Our Saviour with Doctors in the Temple; W. Collins, R. A.; a meritorious picture, but lacking divine dignity in the principal character: though the colouring is excellent.

75. Lord Denman; the President's (Sir M. A. Shee) best portrait: but the justiciary robes might surely have been more gracefully treated.

89, 92. Two pleasing pictures, by T. Uwins, R. A.-1. A Neapolitan Boy decorating the Head of his Inamorata at a Festa; 2. The Loggia of a Vine-dresser's Cottage in the afternoon of a saint's day. The colouring of both is very chaste: in the latter, the child learning to dance the Tarantella, and the female musician, are very characteristic, but far from novel. Do we not remember a similar group by the same artist?

96. Near Leyden, moonlight; J. B. Crome; a clever picture.

99. An Interior; W. Mulready, R. A.; a brilliant, sun-lit picture, of high merit.

100. Scene from Le Diable Boiteux; A. E. Chalon, R. A. Barring the indelicacy of the incident of the rose-coloured stocking and silver garter, this is a work of merit, and proves that we are as competent as our neighbours to illustrate Le Sage.

112. A very clever sketch, by Wilkie, for a picture from Allan Ramsay's Gentle Shepherd.

120. Horses taken in to bait; the property of J. Marshall, Esq.; E. Landseer, R.A. Excellent portraits of noble animals.

123. Scene from a Legend of Montrose; F. Stone; Annot Lyle, Allen M'Aulay, and the Earl of Monteith: "She sat down at a little distance from Allan, and, turning her chair back, she accompanied it with her voice." A very interesting picture.

125. Milton dictating to his Daughters; Sir A. W. Calcott, R. A.: a great painting, of little merit; though pains have been taken with the accessories; the basrelief, in the background, of the Temptation and Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, having been copied from a ceiling picture of M. Angelo, in the Sistine Chapel; and the picture above it, of Paradise Regained, being from a Raffaelle, in the collection of Mr. Rogers. Yet these niceties do not redeem the commonplace of the blind poet and his daughters: the divinity of the incident is altogether marred.

132. Mrs. Ferguson, of Raith. This is, beyond comparison, Sir David Wilkie's best portrait. The picture is of oblong form: the lady, wearing roseate velvet, and a striking hat and feathers, is seated at a table, upon which are spread bijouterie and artistical curiosities; whilst, in the distance, through an open window, lies a landscape of picturesque wildness and beauty. The picture, altogether, partakes very little of the English style; and the colouring is far beyond it.

133. First Love; W. Mulready, R. A.; a very charming scene, full of truthful nature and beautiful sentiment.

116. Fair-time, by the same artist, is a pleasing scene of home life.

136. Prince Charles Edward in Adversity; W. Allan, R. A.; a picture of considerable merit.

139. Macaw, Love-birds, Terrier, and Spaniel Puppies, belonging to Her Majesty ; E. Landseer, R. A. The gay group are painted upon a bright white ground, by which novel means the plumage is admirably thrown up. 149, by the same artist, is a Lion dog, (from Malta, the last of his tribe,) the property of the Duchess of Kent; a majestic old fellow, finely contrasted with his minikin playmate.

148, 155. Two beautiful pictures by C. Stanfield, R. A. 1. Ancona, on the Adriatic; 2. Sorrento, Bay of Naples. The characteristic transparency of the water would have delighted even Sir H. Davy. (See his exquisite remarks on the colour of water, in his Consolations in Travel.)

162. Equestrian Portraits of the Queen,

attended by Viscount Melbourne, the Marquis of Conyngham, &c.; F. Grant. The party are just issuing from one of the gateways of Windsor Castle. The portrait of Her Majesty is one of the best likenesses, if not the best, yet painted; the likeness of Lord Melbourne is also very striking. Altogether, this is a very superior picture of its class, and is the work of a rising artist. It is to be wished that equal praise could be awarded to 173, Portrait of Prince Albert, in the Robes of the Garter, G. Patten, A. Its only merit is in the likeness, which is allowed to be correct; but, in general treatment, we take it to be one of the least successful pictures in the collection. The velvet, ermine, embroidery, feathers, and jewels, have a very factitious appearance; the attitude is ungraceful, and the colouring, in our humble judgment, falls far short of what we had been led to expect by the published encomiums upon this picture.

392. William Fawcett, Esq., by the same artist, is a decidedly superior painting. Throughout the accessories of the first portrait there is nothing to compare with Mr. Fawcett's plain, black satin waistcoat, which, we predict, will delight the weavers of Lancashire, when this picture is placed in the Mechanics' Institute at Liverpool, for which establishment it has been painted.

184. Lord Glenelg; H. P. Briggs, R. A. The drawing of the figure, from the knee to the chin, is surely very incorrect: we cannot describe its gaucherie; and, as is said of excellence, this performance of mediocrity must be seen to be appreciated. However, the New Brunswickers, for whom this portrait has been painted, may think better of it.

185. Charcoal-burning; F. R. Lee; a pleasing picture.

191. Lady Anne Walsh and Child; F. Grant; beautifully painted, and reminding one of Gainsborough's life-like portrait style, and his natural tone of colour.

189. Terrace of the Capuchin Convent, Bay of Naples; J. Uwins; a charming picture in composition and colouring.

Miss Nasmyth has three cabinet pictures of great merit; viz., 86. Cottage in Epping Forest; 93. View in Essex; 206. Mount Claret, looking towards Ben Lomond and Stirling; all of which are in the beautiful crisp style of this accomplished artist.

The Naturalist.

SALMON FRY.

IN Blackwood's Magazine for April, is a notice of several papers, by Mr. John Shaw, "On the Development and Growth