sée subscribed to the work; but the delicacy of the author declined the adaptation of such flattering praise. The lines were "Laudat Romanus Raphaelem, Græcus Apellem, Let Rome her Raphael, Greece Apelles praise, Some other dignities were conferred at different periods upon Sir Joshua, which, though minor in themselves, may seem to deserve enumeration, as so many proofs of the general repute in which his character was held. Thus we find him chosen a Fellow of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies; and in 1784, presented with the freedom of the city of London. Again, when Lord North was made Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Reynolds shared the honours of the occasion, by an admission to the title of Doctor of Laws, an academical distinction to which his talents as a writer justly entitled him. For, independent of the lectures already favourably mentioned, Sir Joshua is remembered among authors for a few papers contributed by him to the 'Idler,' as early as the year 1759. They were his first literary productions, are marked numbers 76, 79, and 82, are all upon the appropriate subject of painting, and claim attention for a pleasantness of observation, and strength of diction, which makę them truly favourable companions to the essays of the mighty Doctor, who, it may be here aptly observed, was not more partial to than proud of the President. Johnson often declared, and with evident satisfaction, that he considered Reynolds as one of the first pupils he had raised in his own school of writing. To these praises he also contributed by gracing Mason's Translation of Dufresnoy's Essay on Painting,' with the addition of an excellent body of notes. 6 The life of Reynolds continued its progress in general favour, and considerable enjoyment. His gentle manners and agreeable conversation procured for him a crowd of friends, amongst whom are to be mentioned, with preference, the members of the celebrated Literary Club, with whom he was particularly associated. Added to these advantages was the ability he derived from the large emoluments of his profession of living with all the splendour and comforts of a man of fortune. He was thus invested with a double capacity for communicating pleasure, by himself directly, and also through the channel of hospitality. The decline of his life suffered some abatement of this unbroken felicity, by the attacks of an illness, which, after a long endurance of sufferings, put a period to his life. The complaint was deeply seated in a diseased liver; and was farther aggravated by a fit of paralysis, in 1789, through which he lost the sight of his left eye; but under all the pains thus heaped upon him, he preserved to the last moment of his life that gratulatory and agreeable habit which had all along so placidly characterised the tenour of his existence. He died unmarried, and deeply lamented, on Thursday, the 23d of February, 1799, at his house in Leicester-square. His property, which was considerable, devolved to a niece, married to the Earl of Inchiquin; and his remains, after being laid out in solemn state, in the apartments of the Royal Academy, in Somerset House, were interred with public honours, in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. The funeral of Sir Joshua Reynolds was one distinguished by singular magnificence and respect. No pomp could more fully display the command which merit and genius must ever usurp over every rank, and all other honours. On this generous occasion, private friends and public admirers, all that was elevated among our gentry, and ancient among our nobility, crowded together to testify their sorrow for the man, and their veneration for the artist. The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and public functionaries of the city of London, met the procession at the confines of their jurisdiction, and supported the mourners to the Cathedral. It was remarked as an unusual coincidence of homage, that among a body of ten men who carried the pall of his coffin, all were noblemen of the first rank, and greatest name. The last melancholy ceremony performed, the assemblage slowly returned to Somerset House, where Mr. Burke, who had long been the intimate friend of Sir Joshua, came forward to thank them, in the name of the family, for the respectful tribute they had paid to the memory of the deceased; but for once, grief was su perior to eloquence; and the orator stood mute in tears before the assembly. Thus concludes all that is perishable of an Englishman, who, by his works in art, as well as by his writings; and even more, by the beneficence of his heart, will ever continue an ornament to the history of his country. Beyond all comparison, Sir Joshusa Reynolds was not only the best painter of his age, but the best of all we as yet possess. He was the first amongst us who, in any great or decided degree, added the most standard merits of his profession to the glories of Great Britain. Since the period of his death, his works have only risen progressively in pride and value; and the last production of his easel (the celebrated portrait of Mrs. Siddons, in the character of the Tragic Muse,) which was offered to public sale, was purchased for the unprecedented sum of 3500 guineas. He possessed the theory, as well as the practice of his art; in historical painting there was a grace, and in all he performed, a facility that stamped a character of superiority; but his portraits, for fancy, ease and variety, are far more exquisitely engaging than those of any other English painter. He expired with the full promise, and his memory may already be considered secured in the reversion, of having been the father of the British School of Painting. RODNEY, LORD RODNEY, K.B. THE design of this monument, which stands in the recess under the western window of the north transept in St. Paul's Cathedral, is thus explained. The seated figure is meant for a personification of History: she is listening to Fame expatiating upon the merits of Rodney, whose statue is elevated upon the pedestal in the centre. Rossi was the artist employed upon the group, for which he received the ample reward of six thousand guineas; and yet |