THE PAST CENTURY.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 888, 25 February 1901, Page 2

THE PAST CENTURY.

[Extracts from Loudon Times]. 1811. April ll.—An Abt Criticism of the Period, A i.aroe historical painting, by thai veteran professor of the art • Mr W..-I, is now placed in the gallery of that mentoiious establishment the British Institution, in Pall Mall. It tfill he opened to public view next week : and is, till linn, to be seen only by subscribers and their fiiends. The subject of the piece, is " Christ, healing the sick." Iu the expression of character the artist has been eminently successful The principal figures of the dying old man, the expiring infant, and the feeble woman, possess the highest merit. Exhausted nature, departing age, and premature mortality, are depicted with nanseendent talents. The per.-ott of the Saviour is represented with most 1 xqmsite beauty. He wears a robe of celestial blue over a red tunic. The face is the tinast that can be imagined ; beaming with heavenly grace. There is an excellent idea of the painter's, to give to the expression of the countenance the character of "divine." Though ail the others in the composition hive their eyes fixed on their only benefactor, or on the subject of his goodness, his eyes arc directed to no particular person or object. Thus, the charcter of his be ,c----v.dence aud benefieeuce to all, is expressed with the most happy propriety, and the most impressive and edifying effect. The 'mads of .some of the disciples, St. Peter, and especially St. John at the elbow of his Master, are truly excellent ; and so are several in the different groups. The keeping of the whole has equal merits: light and shade are justly proportioned ; the most interesting objects are brought out to the eye, and not a (ignre is lost in the comparatively darker part* of the picture. The costume is observed after Mr West's best manner. The colouring is of that sober, well-mixed kind, winch, while it loses nothing from a want of variety, offends iu no instance by gatldiness or obstrusive glare ; but preserves a chaste, yet warm, rich, and digoilicd effect.

The ceiling-lights have been partially darkened--the room lined with green and purple drapery, placed above the frame of the picture, to put it into the best, point ( I vciw. The notice we gladly take of so noble a production of British art, in which such genius, skill, and knowledge, have been combined to enrich the canvas with this representation of human misery in many of its most sfllictiug forms, waiting the speedy relief of Divine Mercy. Mr U e-t has already done himself suliiCicnt honour by many great works. Perhaps, though wc do not- pledge ourselves to this, ihe present is his masterpiece, and seems to have brought forth most appropriately, the full harvest of his talents in the rich autumn of his profession il lift . 1812. May 12.—The Assassination of PerCKVAL. Prom onr report of the Parliamentary proceedings of the two Houses will an indignant and sorrowful nation learn the occurrence of one of those horrible events with which the annals of Great Britain have not often been stained,—the murder of Mr Perceval, the Prime Minister of ihe-e realms; u man, who, in bis personal intercourse, gave offence to no one,—in his private life was an example to all,—and who, however fitm and unbending in his principles, yet conducted political conflicts in a way that seemed to disarm them of their characteristic bitterness. What could have excited the wretched assassin to the commission of .-ii diabolical an act, we cannot conceive ; we shall not suggest, the only cause that can be urged in palliation of his offence, because we are certain that such pleas should be received with the extreme of caution and distrust, ; and, on the other hand, wc do not know that we arc justified in speaking in such terms as our hearts suggest, agaiust one who has to lake his trial for a crime at, which humanity shudders ; and who, if he is proved guilty, can expect no more mercy than he has shown to the innocent victim of Ins malignity. The act itself is a most atrocious one, but is compressed into too small a space to be much diversified by incident or surrounded with collateral circumstances ; in few words, Ml Perceval was murdered yesterday afternoon on his entrance into the lobby of the House of Commons.

We have said before that such occurrences do not often occur in England. God forbid they should ! The Duke of Buckingham was, wc believe, the last Minister that was murdered, by Felton. The life of Lord Oxford was likewise attempted by Ouiscard, but the assassin failed. The lo?s of Mr Perceval will be long and severely felt ; he was the faithful and persevering advocate of a system of opinions, which, however some may think them obsolete, are yet warmly cherished by many others as conducive to the support of religion, and through it to the welfare of the State. Amidst all the political changes that could have occurred during his natural life, he would ever have been heard, and not in vain, in their defence; and wo know not it (hey should bo doomed to sink with him, that they will make way for a moie enlightened policy, or more beneficial maxims ; but this we know, that Nngiand has seen her most glorious days ilufiuii the prevalence of those principles which his opponentshave impuyned its narrow and bigoted. That she may be equally great and glorious under their disgrace,—if such be now their fate, —is our fervent prayer !