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quantities as Cheltenham water, that is about two or three bottles in a morning; but even a greater quantity may be taken without any possible injury; a few mornings experience being sufficient to ascertain the useful quantity, according to the constitution and habit of the drinker of this beverage, who has at least this advantage over the drinker of wine, that it will not give him a head-ache afterwards, if he even takes one or two additional bottles.

As to the use of those waters being of great efficacy in scrophulous and scorbutic complaints, we have stated the testimony of the late Dr Robert Wood, than whom there never was a man of more perfect knowledge of disease, attention, candour, and skill in his profession, or more perfectly free from the affectation and parade too much in fashion, in the present age of medical science.

It is one advantage of these waters, which accounts in some degree for the silence of medical men, that they require no preparative medicines in order to drink them, and no danger is incurred in the use of them.

We rather think, however, it would do honour to some of the numerous very able medical men at Perth, were they to pay particular attention to the very numerous cases of persons among the lower classes who resort hither; in order that the efficacy of these waters might be 1 better known.

There can be no doubt, however, that they are of great use in scrophulous and perpetic complaints, as well as in those of general debility, or any heat arising from irregular living, or sedentary employment. While the excellence of the situation in the neighbourhood of most beautiful rivers and walks,

render it calculated for a most agreeable summer residence. There are now also most excellent accommodations for the ladies and gentlemen who chuse to visit these waters. The principal house is 'Pitkeathly House, formerly the mansion-house belonging to the estate, but now fitted up in a most comfortable and very elegant manner, for the accommodation of boarders. The present landlord, Mr Menzies, has fitted up about thirty beds; and he is building an elegant ball-room, together with billiard and card-rooms. There is another house at the Wells, the former being about a quarter of a mile distant from them. The Well House contains nearly as many beds as Pitkeathly House, but is not so pleasantly situated.

In the vicinity of these wells within a few miles, you have not only the beautifully situated_city of Perth, but you have the Palace of Scone, Dupplin House, the seat of the Earl of Kinnoul; Invermay, the Seat of Colonel Belches; Moncrieff House, and the adjacent hills, denominated by Pennant the glory of Scotland.' Kinfaun's Castle, the seat of Earl Gray; Lyndock, the beautiful cottage of General Graham, with many other delightful scenes, all within an easy mor ning ride. At no great distance also are situated, Dunkeld, Drummond Castle, Ochtertyre, Duneira, and Loch Earn; also the celebrated Loch Catherine. We therfore think we cannot do a greater service to our readers, than to make known to them this agreeable and salutary means of health and pleasure.

Besides the excellent accommodation at the two houses above mentioned, there are several houses for the reception of visitors, at the Bridge of Earn, about a mile from the Wells, and also some farm

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houses who admit lodgers: So that although the company of late years has been very numerous, yet they are seldom obliged to go away for want of room. But in order not to be disappointed, we would advise them to write before hand to the landlord of Pitkeathly house, near Bridge of Earn, where there is also the advantage of having a regular Post office, and not only the mail passing every day, but two other coaches, and a third, three times a week.

Observations on the Fifth Exhibition of Paintings in Edinburgh.

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N Monday the 6th April, this exhibition was opened in York Place. We have observed, with great satisfaction, the continued and gradual improvement, which has manifested itself in the artists,, since the commencement of this institution. The attention attracted by it, ever since its first establishment, and the love of art which it seems to be exciting in this metropolis, cannot fail to be productive of the most beneficial effects, The number of similar institutions formed all over Great Britain, and the success they have met with, present a striking feature of improvement in the taste of the present age. There is, however, in this mode of exciting talent by competition, a disadvantage, which appears to us considerable. There is too evident an attention to the opinions of the great mass of visitors at an exhibition; or, in other words, too strong a desire to please the multitude. It is, doubtless, natural enough for an artist to wish to draw the attention of visitors as early as possible to his works, and, as the great proportion of the people, in all ages, have been attracted more by glitter than real merit, the

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artist conceives, that the surest way to secure attention, is the introduce tion of powerful effect, furious colours, and size of canvass; but the connoisseur knows that art lies deep, and is not to be perceived at a glance.

We wish to impress these truths strongly on the minds of artists, for such feelings as we now describe have unhappily been the means of introducing (since the commencement of the exhibitions at the Royal Academy) a style of colouring and effect more resembling a competition for fan painting, or studies for hearth rugs!

A continuance of these annual exhibitions, we believe, now depends entirely on the artists, and can only be secured by their cultivating the utmost cordiality and liberality a mongst themselves. The greatest difficulty, in arriving at this point, arises, we suspect, from the laws of the society, regarding the placing or hanging of the pictures, for, by them, we understand that seven gentlemen of the society (themselves exhibitors) have each a voice in the arrangement. Now, under these circumstances, we suspect it is not in human nature, that one artist should give the preference to the works of another, following the same department of art, however superior in merit. Indeed, we are astonished how the gentlemen of this society fell into such a mistake; for the differences in the Royal Academy, where only three members are appointed to regulate this business, have been evident to every artist in the least accquainted with the state of art in England. It is the decided and manifest partiality resulting from such powers, not the error of judgment, which displeases the exhibitors. But this evil, we fear, will not be corrected, till gentlensen can be found fit and willing to undertake the task, and who are

in no way interested, except in their love of the art.

We have been thus particular, on this point, in consequence of the reported secession of a member of the society, as amiable for his private virtues, as he is exalted in his public character, and whose loss, we have no doubt, will be as deeply felt as it will be hurtful to the institution.

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No. 1. Testa per l'Incisore-A. SKIRVING. That the Society should publicly advertise, "No copies admitted," and that the very first number in their catalogue should be a copy, argues perhaps as little for the discernment of the receivers of the pictures, as it does for the judgment of any artist who would condescend to exhibit such a work as a specimen of his abilities.

When we see other masters, on this occasion, summoning into action all the powers they are capable of, whilst this gentleman coolly transmits a sketch of a head in Scotch chalk, or a line describing a profile on a board, however masterly; it indicates nothing, in our opinion, but a presumptuous confidence in his own talents, together with a want of deference for the opinion of the public, which is equally disgusting, as it is reprehensible.

This head ("Berry Intagliatore," as it is written on the drawing) is la boriously chalked; but the eyes are out of drawing, and there is a ge ́neral twist in the face, which, how ever, may be very correct to nature; but, not having the original by De la Cour before us, we know not how much of the merit belongs to the copyist. This drawing, we observe, is offered for sale; but, as if the artist was ashamed of plainly telling us so, he drags forth a scrap of Italian to aid him in the task, and writes underneath," Per vendere."

No. 34. "Morceau pour les Critiques," (or Mary Ballingall, as it

is kindly done into English, and marked by Mr S. for the benefit of the visitors), is a head, in red chalk, of as homespun an object as we ever recollect to have seen; and nothing, in our apprehension, could possibly make such a thing acceptable, save the exquisite finishing of a cabinet picture. When we reflect on the great powers of this eminent master, and call to our recollection the many charming pictures which have come from his easel, we blush for his appearance in this exhibition. Before leaving Mr Skirving, we feel disposed to offer him a little parting advice. Let him curb, as much as possible, his vanity, for it is the sin which most easily besets him; and, when he appears again before the public, let him produce specimens of art more worthy of himself.

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A man's friends will always feel disposed to overlook his foibles, in proportion to his amiable qualities; and to these Mr Skirving has large claims. But the case is totally dif ferent with the public; and, if he will take the trouble of standing be side his pictures any forenoon, and listen to the remarks of the visitors on them, he will there learn, that the man is a more grateful Morcean pour les Critiques, than any of his works.

No. 2. Portrait of a young Lady W. DOUGLAS.-This is a very interesting little picture, and one of the best of Mr Douglas's drawings in the exhibition; the attitude is extremely easy and natural; the extremities are well drawn, and the back ground very well adapted to the subject. The black gauze dress has a very pretty effect, although rather out of place on account of the lady's youth, and we think the red shawl or drapery she is sitting on, rather introduced for effect than according to strict costume; but these are licences claimed by artists. There are a number of

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other drawings in the same style, some of them prettily coloured, and all of them neatly put out of hand; but there is one general defect, and that is, the want of an appropriate effect of light and shadow; they are too much inlaid, as it were, on their grounds, and all parts of the figures seem equally illuminated, which produces a hard and cold appearance. The landscape backgrounds are very well introduced, and neatly pencilled, which certainly adds much to the value of the portraits.

No. 3. and 4. Peasant Boy and Girl W. J. THOMSON.-These are two pretty little fancy pictures, sweetly coloured, and possessing great nature. No. 5. 7. and 28. Portraits. Mr Thomson is an artist, we think, treading as yet in that middle path of art which always commands our respect, but seldom soars so high as to excite our admiration, and he undoubtedly bears away the palm in his own department this year. In No. 113. Love and Solitude, he has attempted, with considerable success, a historical minature, a style of art seldom even aimed at in this country. There is perhaps too great a monotony in his colouring, which he could easily get quit of by a minute attention to nature. We take more interest in the progress of this artist, as he seems to have ideas above those of a mere face-painter, and his miniatures have, many of them, a lightness and airiness, well adapted to such pictures..

No. 10. Frame, containing eleven Miniature Portraits-A. GALLOWAY.-These are very excellent specimens of Mr Galloway's style of painting, which consists chiefly in high finishing.

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No. 116. Engraving of the Blind Fiddler, after Wilkie, We are happy that the artist, by sending this meritorious performance for public inspection, has put it in our

power, at the same time that we judge of the abilities of the engraver, to form also some idea of the powers of the painter, whose talents we have before never had an opportunity of appreciating in any way, except by the eulogiums upon him handed to us from the south.

The composition of the picture shows the unrivalled excellence of this artist in telling his story, the first merit in a work of this sort, and without which the most exquisite finishing is labour in vain. We wish some of the artists in this city, following the same path, to attend particularly to this; every circumstance in the Fiddler has its meaning, even to the wheel which is dragged in the boy's cart, at the same time that none of these objects are intruded upon the eye by any boyish affectations, but concealed or brought forward as necessity requires, and to suit the general effect of the picture.

If the painter has done so completely his part of the work, the engraver has equally succeeded in his department; indeed, the print seems a complete transcript of the picture.

The engraving of the Fiddler is peculiarly excellent, as also the two children listening to his music. The heads and hands are beautifully marked, and show the engraver to have all the feeling of a painter, which is surely necessary to at tain excellence. The still life, and back-ground in particular, is equal to any piece of engraving extant. A work in this style, executed entirely in Britain, forms a new era in art, and we mention it with no little exultation, when we consider, that Scotland has had the honour of producing both the artists engaged in it. We are afraid, however, from the situation of the print in the room, it may escape that minute attention it so justly deserves. (To be continued.)

Trial

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.

Trial of Hugh McDonald, Hugh McIntosh and Neil Sutherland, for Robbery and Murder, on the Morning of New Year's day.

N Friday the 20th March, came

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ciary, the trial of Hugh McDonald, Hugh M-Intosh, Neil Sutherland, George Napier, and John Grotto, and also James Johnston, mason, charged with the following crimes, on the night of the 31st of December last, or morning of the 1st of January 1812, viz.

1. The murder of Dugald Campbell, police watchman, at the head of the Stamp Office Close.

2.-Knocking down and robbing Ensign Humphry Cochrane, of the Renfrew militia, on the High Street, of a silver watch, a watchchain of gold, two seals set in gold, a metal watch key, two guínea and two one-pound notes, five shillings in silver, a neck handkerchief, and a silk pocket handkerchief.

3.-Knocking down and robbing Mr Roger Hog Lawrie, a writer's clerk, on the North Bridge, of a seal set in gold, part of a watchchain of gold, a gold watch-key, and five shillings in silver.

4.-Knocking down and robbing Gustavus Richard Alexander Brown, Esq. on the North Bridge, of four pounds sterling in notes, ten shillings in silver, a pen-knife, and a round hat.

5.-Knocking down and robbing Mr Francis James Hughes, near the Tron Church, of a gold repeating watch, a gold watch-chain, four seals set in gold, a gold watchkey, and a round hat.

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6.-Assaulting and robbing Mr Nicol Allan, Manager of the Hercules Insurance Company, near the Tron Church, of a yellow meApril 1812.

tal hunting watch, a gold watchchain, two seals set in gold, a gold watch-key, and fourteen shillings in silver.

7-Knocking down and robbing Mr Duncan Fergusson, writer, near Barclay's Tavern, Adam's watch-chain, a round hat, und Square, of a gold seal, a gold nine shillings in silver.

David Scott Kinloch M'Laurin, on 8.-Assaulting and robbing Mr the South Bridge, of two gold watch-cases, a pocket-handkerchief, a round hat, and six shillings

in silver.

9.-Knocking down and robbing Mr John Buchan Brodie, writer, on the North Bridge, of a watch with a shagreen case, a watch-ribbon, four seals set in gold, a gold watch-key, a blue Morocco leather purse, containing a Bank of Scotland one-pound note, a seven-shilling gold piece, eight shillings in silver, and a round hat.

10.-Assaulting and robbing Mr Duncan MLauchlan, student of medicine, on the South Bridge, of a round hat, a pocket-handkerchief, and a pair of gloves.

11.-Knocking down and robbing Mr. Peter Bruce, student of medicine, on the South Bridge, of a green silk purse, five shillings and sixpence in silver, a gold ring, and a round hat.

After enumerating these different articles of robbery, the indictment states:

"And all the said acts of rob"bery, or one or other of them, "were committed by all and each, "or by one or other of you, in "furtherance of previous agree"ment or plan; to which plan or "agreement, you were, all and "each, or one or other of you, "parties."

The articles in the indictment marked Nos. 4, 8, and 11, were not gone into.

James

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