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present himself until some interval had passed . He expected an easy sur render ; but according to his account , he met with an adversary as keen witted as himself . Again he returns to the frightful design of bolting again he receives expressions of penitence . The penitence is subsequentl withdrawn , and . he threatens a " . rash act . " .. A good part of the story is taken up with this kind of shilly-shally ; but we rememher we have only the gentleman ' s narrative . A change came over the scene when the lady determined to travel . She procured a courier and a lady-companion . Mr . Wichof took advice from lady friends , and pursued his object to Switzerland . He insinuated himself into the good graces of her no longer youthful companion , who discloses the fact of a secret attachment to him on the part of the younger lady ; and he tried the effect of a sudden appearance on the great St . Bernard . This
reminds us of the French novelist Eugene Sue , who will make a couple in ordinary life suddenly encounter each other at the North Pole , or meet each other on the sands of the Red S 8 a . Somehow , the gentleman and lady find themselves at Ouchy , a little village on the borders of Lake Lemann . At Geneva the gentleman thinks it politic to abate his ardour ; to grow taciturn and melancholy ; to make answers " in thorough bass ; " and by these means , if we may trust his report , he secures a promise that she will be his wife . Caprices bring remonstrances from Mr . Wichof . On one occasion , he tells us , ho staggered out of the room " like a man with a knife in his heart , " but really unable to retain his laughter till he gets into the street . To try one ' s luck , since one sees " nothing to prevent the scheme : " to watch the lady with a lynx eye ; to calculate her income as " sufficient for all the exigencies of a married life "—to affect indifference , or to look wretched " as long as
muscles could hold out , " are the arts through which the citizen of the model republic approaches the heart of the moneyed lady . The denoument approaches . The young lady starts for Italy ; the adventurer bribes her courier , and by a subterfuge , he obtains an interview at Genoa in an apartment of the Palace of the Russian Consul . A deed of violence is imputed to the lady at this interview , and the gentleman extorts a written promise to marry him , or to forfeit half of her income—a proceeding which he terms " an act of devotion" on his part . Next morning , through the consul at Genoa , Mr . Wichof is handed to the police , and the trial ensues . We have already Stated the result of the trial ; but the volume unquestionably raises a very curious and important question—how such a statement of the facts can set Mr . Wichof right with the British public , or prove that he is not exactly the person he has already been considered . ¦ . ¦ _ v
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BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . , 4 Manual of Elementary Geology : or , the Ancient Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants , as Illustrated by Geological Monuments . By Sir Charles Lyell , Sf . A ., &c ( Fifth Edition , greatly enlarged , and Illustrated with 750 . woodcuts . ) : John Murray . Brambles and Bay Leaves : Essays on the Homely and the Beautiful . By , Shirley Hibberd . Longman , Brown , Green , and Ldngmans . The Christ of History : an Argument founded in the Facts of his Life on Earth . By John Young , M . A . Longman , Brown , Green , and Longmans . A Few Months in America : containing Remarks on some of its Indtistrial and Commercial Interests . By James Robertson . Longman and Co . Commentaries on the Productive Forces of Russia . By M . L . De Tegoborski , Privy
Councillor and Member of the Council of the Russian Empire . Vol . I . Longman , Brown , Green , and Longmans . Essays on the Spirit of the Inductive Philosophy , the Unity of Worlds , and the Philosophy of Creation . By the Bev . Baden Powell , M . A . — —— — — - .. Longman ,. Brown , . Green , and Longmans . The Collected Works of Dugald Stewart , F . R . S . S . ( Vol . VI . ) * The Philosophy of the Active and Moral Powers of Man . ( Vol I . ) To which is Prefixed Part Second of the Outlines of Moral Philosophy , with many New and Important Additions Edited hy Sir William Hamilton , Bart . Thomas Constable and Co . A Short Historical Account of the Crimea , from the Earliest Ages and during the Rvssian Occupation , compiledfrom the best authorities . By W . Burckhardt Barker , M . R . A . S . Trubner and Co .
British Mines considered as a means of Investment ; with Particulars of the Princi pal Dividend and Progressive Mines in England and Wales . ( Second Edition , Corrected and Revised . ) ByJ . H . Murchison , F . G . S . Mann , Nephews . Hardwicke ' s Shilling Peerage for 1855 . Robert Hardwicke . Sir Jasper Carew , his Life and Experiences . ( Parlour Library . ') Thomas Hodgson . Chambers ^ Journal of Popular Literature , Science , and Arts . ( Part 15 . ) W . and JR . Chambers . Mensuration made Easy : or , the Decimal System for the Million , with its Application to the Daily Employments of the Artisan and Mechanic . By Charles Hoare . „ . ¦ Eifingham Wilson . Astro-Theology ; or the Religion of Astronomy : Four Lectures , in Reference to the
Controversy on the " Plurality of Worlds , " as lately Sustained between Sir David Brewster and an Essayist . By Edward Higginson . E . T . Whitfield . On the Loans Raised by Mr . Pitt during the First French War , 1793-1801 ; with some Statements in Defence of ihe Methods of Funding Employed . By William Newmarch . Eifingham Wilson . The " Warnings of the War : " a Letter to the Right lion . Lord Palmerston , Prime Minister . By " A British Commoner . " Thomas Bosworth . Parliamentary Government : or Responsible Ministries for the Australian Colonies . By II . S . Chapman . Pratt and Son . Mahometanisin in its Relation to Prophecy : or an Inquiry into the Prophecies concerning Anti- Christ , with some Reference to their Bearing on the Events of the Present Day . By Ambrose Lislo Phillips , Esq ., of Grace-Dieu Manor , Leicestershire .
Charles Dolman Poems . By Bessie Raynor Parkes . ( Second Edition ) . John Chapman . Stories in Verse . By Leigh Hunt . ( Nowfirst collected , with Illustration *) . George Routledge and Co . The Story qf the Legion of Honour . By W . Blanchard Jorrold . , . * George Iloutledgo and Co . Notes on Nurses ; Practical Suggestions addressed to English Ladies . II : Baillierc . On the Menial , Moral , and Social Progress exhibited in the Present ( half-expired ) Century : a Lecfure , delivered at the Keiulal Scientific and Literary Society . By Cornelius Nicholson , F . G . S . . Sampaon Low and Son . The Seven-mite Cabinet : or the Doleful Stoiij of the Russian War . By Nemo . John F . Shaw . Living for Appearances : a Tale . By the Brothers Mayhow . James Blackwood .
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THE BRITISH ARTISTS . If the picture-show this year in Suffolk-street were really a specimen of the best that English Painters can accomplish , we should feel despondent indeed on the subject of British Art ; and more than doubtful whether British Artists , as a body , had not made a great mistake in their choice of a vocation . It is not sp much the general mediocrity of the pictures , as the general carelessness of the artists which has struck us this year in Suffolk-street . We entered the Exhibition prepared beforehand for finding few good subjects , and little genuine originality of treatment ; but we avere not prepared for the evidences of daring carelessness and lazy quackery which the majority of the British Artists' pictures present this year . With hardly more than a dozen honourable exceptions , no
exhibitor seems to have worked with even ordinary earnestness and care , Smudging , dabbing , and splashing , appear to be the processes which represent the executive part of the art of pain ting at the Suffolk-street Exhibition . As for any proofs of study , patience , and honest reference to Nature ( witli the very few exceptions already cited ) , we searched for them in vain . On entering the " Great Room , " we began by sympathising heartily with Mr . John Edgar Williams , who has been obliged to paint Mr . Sheriff Crosley discontentedly surveying the public in footman's costume , and , what is still worse , to exhibit the picture . From this very lamentable portrait we turned to Mr H . J . Pidding ' s " News from the Seat of War . " The " News" is read by a
squinting old man to a drivelliug old man ; and is incidentally listened to by an animal with a monkey ' s face and a dog's body , and by a hungry-looking girl , who ' expresses sympathy with affairs in the Crimea by holding her hand to her bosom . Further on is an unassuming landscape by " Margaret Witcomb , ' which though too vividly green in effect , shows traces of careful study , and intelligent observation of nature . Mr . Clint ' s "Evening at Ilfraeomb" possesses neither of these qualities . It is one audacious smear of garish colours—sky , sea , and rocks are all equally false , equally unlike nature . No terms of condemnation can be too strong for the unartistic carelessness of this picture , and of another near it , by Mr . Zeitter , affecting to represent Hungarians in a Snow Storm . Mr Zeittjer ' s execution resembles particularly careless scene-painting on a small scale He and Mr . Woolmer ( in " The Sound in the Shell" ) , in different
ways , shirk' every technical difficulty of Art , and substitute mechanical systems of blotching and smearing , which it is impossible to describe , but which it is nothing less than exasperating to look at . ^ Passing by the eternal " Contadina , from the Campagna of Rome , " and her inevitable little boy with the grinning face and the sugar-loaf hat , as depicted for us , on this occasion , by Mr . Bdckneb , we pause at "Mr : Wilson ' s " Fishing Boats off Fecamp . " This picture is an imitation of StAnfield } - still it is a creditable and careful imitation , aod that is much better than such sham originally as is displayed by Mr . Zeitter or Mr Clint . Mr . < xosliNG , too , in his " Park Scene , " has really worked , and has produced a very fair picture . Mr . Montaigne ' s " Good Samaritan , " instead of binding up the prostrate victim's wounds , catches him b y the arm and pomtfe ferociouslv ^ straieht up to the sky , with an expression of face as if he were saying : out of the clouds sir ? I ask what the deuce
" Youliave iust tumbled , I suppose , May you mean by tumbling down here ? " Using the same form of interrogatory , we mav ask Mr Buckner what he means by making the Duchess of Hamilton at least eisht feet high . Estimated by the regular test of so many heads to a body her Grace , in this portrait , is , seriously and positively , a Giantess ^ Mr . Madot ' s" Sketch at Jullien's , " though coarse in feeling , looks as if it had been reallv suggested by nature * and shows a reality in the treatment winch , small as the StureZr makes it quite a . remarkable work at Suffolk-street . Mr . Pyne ' s « EvS at Cnelsea , " and Mr . BoodIngWs « Summer Morning , " belong to that eracefully-conventional class of landscapes which we look at one moment and forget the next . Mr . Clatbr ' s ' Latest Intelligence" is another war-picture , not containing such hideous figures as Mr . Piddino's , but in respect of absolute imbecility , the most notable figure-picture in the Exhibition . There is a woman , in the right-hand corner of the compositionstraddling ( apparently ) on a tub ,
, squaring her elbows , and rubbing her knuckles against the heel of a stocking , instead of mending it , who is , in a weakly-grotesque way , the most amusing personage we ever remember to have seen on canvas . Mr . Pennant s Road over a Heath " brings us back again to something like Art . It is rather inky and hard in effect ; but is very carefully painted , and worthy of appearing «> . ** " « pictorial society than that of Mr . Hutu-stone ' s « Columbus , ' which hangsnc-far from it . As a work of Art , this picture runs Mr . Cxater rather hard . Columbus looks sea-sick and dirty , and his mutinous crew arc all making faces at him . Mr Noblb represents an entertainment at the Countess de Lamballes . At this party the catalogue informs us , " a theatre was fitted up , with a grove of trees , Fn Sich aShepherd was to appear driving a flock of sheep . When he , d jo » were thrown open to astonish the party , the sheep , by some accident , leaped over the fence amongst the company , and the rams , seeing themselves reflected ?« * l « ™ £ ; nr- ,, WO . s . dashed their heads through them , to the great dismay of
, the ladies " This is a most admirable subject for painting . We can igniw congratulate Mr . Noble on his choice of it , but not on his treatment . What a SS lksu , or Mr . Ward would have painted from this historicaUncodote ! Amone the good landscapes not yet noticed in the " Great Room , we nmy menSVr . Gosling * ( No * 174 ); Mr . W . West ' s "N <™«* ^ 3 £ MrlE . Lear ' s " Devonshire Glen "—this last work being renuukably simpie , true , and powerful in treatment . . n p .,,., TITT ' a In the " South-East Koon > , " wo have only to particularise Mr . C ¦ £ *•' «« 8 two " Views of Corfo Castle . " This artist has yet to learn how to con , b nooffcg with finish ; but ho is cureful and conscientious ; he works earnestly ana « orKs hard ; and his two small pictures , whatever may bo ^ their defectb , dolmn « ja as a painter who evidently respects his art . As for the mass ot Plctu £ " \ Z \ Z other small rooms , it would bo a wearisome « £ «^ J *{^ hly S tion them in detail . They are , for the most part , eirt }« « " * J ^^ fof tho originals , or such thoroughly audacious mutations of * J « f »' Sy- > " * « English Mhool-of Ettv , Collins . Laitobkick , Danbv ^ ccnvlly is useless to criticise tho . n , and hopeless to think , of looking « J ™ , ourilra 1 f . era in the artists' lives . With a word of praiso for a clover ^{ o' -cjhoJ ing , by Miss MuimAV , called « Jcalousy , " -wh , ch veryJJ ^ !^ £ , . most of tho flguro-picturos by gentlemen in . the Exh bition ~ J < - | Lft , *„ iritisIl street , thinking it fortunate for our national conip ucency that Artists" do not entirely represent Puintlngm England .
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380 THE LEAPEB . __ [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), April 21, 1855, page 380, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2087/page/20/
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