AN EXTRAORDINARY GENIUS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 361, 26 September 1868, Page 7

AN EXTRAORDINARY GENIUS.

The productions of an extraordinary artist, John Carter, who painted his pictures without the use of his hands, nave lately attracted much attention in England and America. His productions are few in number, but their excellence is equal to their rarity. The most remarkable thing about: them is of course that they are the pro ; duction of a poor self-taught man, who was totally deprived of the use of his limbs, and who painted them by holding his pencil or brush in his mouth. His story is a moat remarkable one. Attention was drawn to his pictures by the spirited and striking execution before anything was known of the singular way in which they were produced. His most celebrated picture —" Th e Eat-Catcher and his Dogs," is executed in ludian ink. The difficulties he was obliged to overcome in executing such work with the point of a hair pencil which was held between his teeth, were so many and so great, that it will surprise no one to be told that he produced very few drawings. Five only are known to exist, of which *? The Eat-Catcher and his Dogs " is said to be by far the finest. Of the remaining four, one is in the possession of the Queen, another belonged | to the late Queen Dowager of England, f and Osgood Hanbury, Esq., of Hold- \ field Grange, and Eichard Mespedith White, Esq., of Highfields, ftear; Cogges hall, Essex, two gentlemen; who greatly befriended Carter, "each; own one. " The Eat-Catcher and his dogs "is the property of E. -3". Mills, Esq., to whom it was presented by Mr White on the occasion of a marriage, between the families. When we consider the extraordinary character of this little picture, the excellence of its composition, telling the story at once, its truth to nature, and the combined, vigour and delicacy of the drawing, such that, whilst it loses nothing by beDg seen at a distance, it will ye, bear and repay the closest inspection it is not surprising that many persons have been unwilling, perhaps unable to believe that it was made by a poor unlettered peasant working under the painful condition we have described.

The following sharp passage of arms is reported in the " Otago Daily Times'* as having taken place in the Supreme Court, Duneditt> during the hearing of the case Jones v. Orbell, in which the defendant was ejected from his farm i—t* Mr Smythies: I*rom the first of this case, I have had every possible obstacle thrown in my way by your honor. I don't know whether it is because Mr Jones is a rich man. The Judge: Mr Smythies, if you are guilty of impertinence to me, I will commit you. I have sat, upon the bench now for 16 years, and I never had to resort to the power of committal;; but I would not submit to impertinence. After the conclusion of the case, the Judge (who, on the return of the jury, had directed Mr. Smythies not to leave the Court) said : I did not take sufficient notice of the gross insult offered to me hy you to-day, because I desired »ot to do anything that conld tend to prejudice the case of your client. I now think it incumbent upon me to notice that insult, and to give you an opportunity of retracting it. You accused me of thwarting you, because I favored the rich as against the poor. That is a most unjust accusation - and I now give you an opportunity o? apoogising, and of:, making reparation? for the insult 5 and it you do not do so, I shall take very serious feotice of it» Mr. Symtbies was understood to say that he had no intention to say anything disrespectful to the Court, in the heat of themomenthenodoubfcdid saysomething about the rich and the poor'; Judge: It amounted to the accusation which I have stated. "What you say of me outside this Court I shall treat with silent co*k%e*ftpt||lOf what you say in this Court, I am bound to take notice. Mr Smythies was understood to say that he was very sorry if he said anything which bore the interpretation stated by his Honor; for he had very great respect for his Honors position and character. He certainly did not wish or intend to say anything such as was attributed to him > and whatever he did say, dropped from him in the heat of the moment, and without any intention of its being disrespectful. The Judge : I suppose that that is intended as sn apology; and I accept it as such."