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to be strung upon a line, stretched on each side of the beams of the deck, or in any situation where a circulation of air takes place. In this state, far from rotting, it not only remains fresh, but continues to grow. Dr Anderson has cultivated nopal to a great extent at the Public Garden at Madras, and has procured plantations to be made in various parts of the peninsula, as well as at St Helena.

The following account of the properties of nopal has been drawn up by Dr Anderson, and transmitted by him to an eminent physician in this city. Advantageous Properties of the Nopal as a sea store in long voyages.

1. That it is found to keep fresh in dry wholesome air, an indefinite length

of time.

;

2. That it is equally procurable every day of the year at all seasons whereas other vegetables are only procurable at a certain season, whether pompions, cucumbers, or onions, &c. 3. That although the potatoes and yams may be preserved a great length of time, yet at length they vegetate and grow, and are no longer palatable. Whereas every shoot that the Nopal puts forth is a valuable addition to the parent stock.

4 That in its raw state it is equal. ly palatable with any kind of green fruit, and in this way has been compared to apples.

5. That it is perfectly wholesome and nutritious-Twenty large Sechell Turtles have been fed solely with Nopal, for years together, without a single accident of death or sickness.

6. That in Soup the most fastidious palates have made no exception to it, and when previously cut into small pieces, have declared that they believed it to have been some delicate and tender kind of Bean or Pea.

7. That when boiled to a pulp, it gives broth or soup that kind of consistence, which in Scotland is called lithing and used thus, will prove

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When I commenced this task, it was addressed to you, whom I observe with much pleasure to take a lively interest in all things connected with the arts; but as my sole object in this undertaking was to do justice to the merits of the artists, and as I conceived that this end would in some degree be more speedily obtained by bringing the subjects discussed under the immediate notice of the inhabitants of this place, I sent the critique. to the Edinburgh Star Newspaper, where it was printed in Nos. 74, 75, and 76. This however I cannot consider as a permanent record; and as at some future period these "Remarks" may perhaps serve to point out the growth of this branch of art, I use the freedom of submitting them to you. One of those unhappy individuals, -Who in despite

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"Of nature, and their stars will write, has lately published a galimatias, in the shape of a half-crown pamphlet, "full of sound and fury signyifying nothing," which he has fancifully denominated "Strictures on the Remarks." Had the author confined the circulation of his work to this place, I should have suffered it to sink into its natural insignificance; but as we learn by the title page that he has had the hardihood to submit

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was accepted. We are fully aware of the difference of opinion entertained on subjects of this nature. One person may even perceive a deformity where another is sensible of beauty; but, "as there is in nature," says La Bruyere, "so there is in art, a point "of perfection. He who discovers "it, and is touched with it, has a good "taste; he who is not sensible of "it, but loves what is below or above "that point, understands neither art nor nature. Since, then, there is a good and bad taste, we may with reason dispute the difference. Our observations are arranged in the order of the catalogue.

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66 TIMON.

THE Second Public Exhibition of Paintings, &c. in Scotland by artists, closed on Saturday the 20th May; Iand as we conceive that it may be agreeable to many of our readers to see a short account of those specimens which were generally considered most meritorious, we shall take this method of offering a few remarks on them, in the hope that our observations may be useful, by giving additional publicity to the Institution, and that they likewise may have a tendency to promote a taste for the fine arts, the rapid progress of which, in this city, we are proud to remark. During the short period of six weeks that the exhibition rooms were open to the public, we are informed that nearly 500 guineas were collected; and that it is in the contemplation of the society to build apartments for the purpose of exhibiting their works in future. These we hope soon to see finished.

When we take into consideration the observation of a celebrated philosopher, that "a true judge of the fine arts, even during the most polished ages, was a rare character," we feel considerable diffidence in expressing our remarks. But being guided alone by a strong desire to extend a taste for this study, which has been said "to "arise from, or to be the source of, all that is amiable," we are hopeful that our feeble aid will be received, on the same principle that the widow's mite

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1.-Portrait of an old Scotch Jacobite. G. WATSON.-This picture is painted in a good, forcible style; and, having little of the rawness of modern productions of art, considerably resembles an old picture.

26.-Drawing of Miss de Visme, (J. HENNING).-In black chalk; beautifully drawn, and full of character.-We take this opportunity of paying our tribute of applause to the taste of this artist, in divesting his portraits of modern drapery; a prac tice which must render them equally characteristic under all changes of fashion and habit

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36.- View on the Water of Leith, near Coltbridge, P. SYME. The drawing here produced will certainly tend to raise the reputation of this artist for skill in landscape. It is drawn

with an agreeable pencil, and chastely coloured. We should have been pleased to have seen other specimens by the same hand in this style of subject.

46.-A frame, containing fifteen medallion portraits, in enamel. J. HENNING. These medallions are executed in a pure style; some of them possessing the beauties of the antique; and are certainly equal, if not superior, to any thing of the kind we have

seen..

47.-Portrait of a Gentleman.W. SKIRVING.-We do not think the style of this portrait in all respects fit for public exhibition. It is a sketch on mahogany, in white chalk, but manifests astonishing pow. ers of drawing, in giving so much character to a mere outline,

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55.-Miniature, full length, of the Hon. Miss Duncan. W. DOUGLAS. -This gentleman's drawings are a good deal in the style of Westall's. He, in general, finishes well; sometimes indeed he is rather heavy in the marking of the features, but displays a good deal of fancy in the back grounds.

57.-Liangollen Vale, engraving from D. Thomson's drawing, No. 40. ROBERT SCOTT.-This print, which is engraved in stroke, is intended as a frontispiece to Mr George Thomson's collection of Welsh songs. In our opinion, it may be rated in the first cla ss of any similar production on this side of the Tweed, reflecting equal credit on the painter and the engraver. It resembles, a good deal, the effect of Woollett's admired prints of Phaeton, and The Evening of the Empire.

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effect in a group of flowers, a circumstance which we would recommend to the notice of the artist.

62.-View on the Road from Callander to the Trossacks. J. STEVENSON.-Among the few specimens we have in the exhibition of water-colour drawing, the productions of this artist deserve a high place.

77.-Miniature of a Gentleman. J. STEELE, of Liverpool.-Of this specimen, we may freely declare that it excels all the others in the same style here produced. It is drawn with great spirit, possesses a peculiarly happy combination of colours, and is highly finished.

91.-Playing at Draughts.-A. FRASER.-This picture is an interior, and much in the style of Ostade. The interest excited by the game is happily expressed in the countenances of the spectators, and parties engaged, tho' we cannot help wishing, that the artist had communicated a little stronger feeling of exultation to the winner. The figure of an old man on the left, leaning over the chair of one of the players, is extremely graceful, and finely drawn ; but we object to the length of nose given to the young man, and to the brilliant green of the plant growing round the window. With these trifling exceptions, this picture may be considered highly creditable to this young artist.

99.-Upright Landscape, with Fi gures. D. THOMSON.-It is the business of the landscape-painter to select the leading marks, and transient effects, that are here and there to be found in nature, and to produce them in his several pictures; and according as they are impressed with character, 59.--Flower Piece, P. SYME.--The they display the genius of the artist. works of this artist, in this department We consider this picture as peculiarly of the art, are drawn with great truth, illustrative of our remark. The suband possess much brilliancy of colour- ject may be denominated, a gleam of ing, added to a correct knowledge of sunshine after a shower. The trees the botanical character of the plants. are admirably grouped; the style is The occasional introduction of a bro- classical; and differs totally from any ken stem or decayed leaf, has a happy thing we have seen painted in this

place

place-has great breadth-the colouring mellow and harmonious, and the chiaro-scuro finely understood.the group of figures, which we consider the best means of giving to the piece a decisive character, is tastefully introduced, and appears to have been more carefully studied than we usually discover in modern landscapes.

101.-Portrait of Himself. G. WATSON. This picture demands unqualified praise. The effect of light is quite original; and, possessing great nature, it may be pronounced a forcible picture, without any violent opposition of colour, or of light and sha

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104.-Portrait of the Right Hon. William Coulter, Lord Provost, full length. G. WATSON.-This portrait is an excellent likeness of our present Chief Magistrate; but we do not think that, in other respects, it deserves to be ranked among the other productions of Mr Watson's pencil; and occurs to us to have been rather hastily executed. We consider the attitude as extremely unfortunate. The want of grace produced by the stiffness and shortness of the robe, is peculiarly striking. Neither can we compliment the style of the ermine. The red of the robe, and the curtain behind in particular is raw; this last ought to have been more kept down

Originality constitutes the true merit of painters. But it is not the originality of any single circumstance or accident in a picture; it is originality in the conduct and use of all the branches, and of the peculiar beauties which enter into a composition; the making them all subservient to a certain idea, and their tendency to produce one general effect. VAN DYCK used occasionally to paint conversation pieces; introducing in one picture, the same figure in several attitudes.In treating his subject, Mr Watson might have availed himself of this idea. Suppose a figure on the left, habited

This

in a black velvet suit, with dress sword, and chapeau-a-bras; on the right, another, in full uniform as Colonel of the First Regiment of Royal Edinburgh Volunteers; in conversation with a third, in the middle, habited perhaps like Mr Watson's picture. would have been something newand, in our opinion, of excellent effect, if well managed. It would also have given greater opportunity for the introduction of the parapharnalia of office, which to one, or both parties, appears to have been an object of desire; but, in our opinion, the too ostentatious display of which may be considered as rather constituting a deformity in this picture.

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(To be continued.)

SCOTTISH REVIEW.

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I.General Review of the Agriculture of the County of Berwick; with Observations on the Means of its Improvement. Drawn up for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement; and brought down to the end of 1808. With several plates. By Robert Kerr, F. R. and A. S. S. E.. Farmer at Ayton, in Berwickshire.Svo. 504 pages. Appendix 72 pages. 12s.

THIS Report forms part of a great

series, which is intended to comprehend all the counties of Scotland and England, and which, if properly completed, will form an immense mass of agricultural information. Mr Kerr, having been selected by the Board for the purpose of drawing it up, may be fairly presumed to be possessed of the requisite qualifications.

Berwickshire is almost entirely an agricultural county; it has scarcely any manufactures, and little foreign trade. Composed of a rich plain, almost entirely surrounded by mountains,

it carries on to a great extent, both the arable system, and the system of pasture. The farms are large, seldom renting at less than a thousand a-year; and the farmers, being men of good education, and extensive capital, have introduced a liberal and improved system, much superior to what is practised in most parts of England, and many parts of Scotland. This may be called Tweedside Husbandry; which, though extending to several of the neighbouring counties, has its centre and principal seat in Berwickshire.— The agriculture of this county there fore is, in every view, an object peculiarly interesting.

Mr Kerr begins with a view of the geographical state and circumstances of the county. Berwickshire is bounded on the east by the German ocean. From Berwick to St Abb's Head, (Mr K. we know not why, calls it St Ebbes,) the coast stretches N. N. W. It then takes a W. N. W. direction. The whole extent of it is rocky and precipitous, denying all approach to ships, except at the bays of Coldingham and Eyemouth. On the north, it is separated from the Lothians by the range of mountains called Lammermoor, which in proceeding from west to east, declines from about 1500 to 1000 feet of perpendicular height. It terminates in three precipitous promontories, at Fastcastle, Ernscleugh, and St Abb's Head. On the east, it is separated from Roxburghshire and Mid Lothian by the Leeder Water and a variety of other boundaries. The Tweed skirts almost the whole of its southern frontier, separating it from Roxburghshire, Northumberland, and a detached portion of Durham.

In regard to the extent of the county, Mr K. places his chief reliance on the map and survey executed by Mr Blackadder. This gentleman states the extreme length at 314 miles, extreme breadth 191, mean length 264, mean breadth 17, and the number of

acres 285,440. It is remarkable however, that on an attentive examination of his own map, Mr K. finds the results to be different, and considerably larger. The extreme length is then 34 miles, breadth 21; mean length 28, breadth 17; number of acres 304,640. Mr K. entertains such a reverence for Mr Blackadder, that he has no doubt some satisfactory reason might be assigned for this discrepancy.

As the matter stands however, it is difficult to ascertain whether the map or the statement is most to be trusted to. The number of square miles, according to the map, is 476.

Berwickshire, in an agricultural view, may be divided into two districts; the plain, which is called the Merse, or March; and the hilly country, which includes the districts of Lauderdale and Lammermoor. The Merse is calculated by Mr Blackadder to contain 100,226 acres ; besides which there are upwards of 7000 in the lowlands of Lauderdale, and small districts attached to the towns of Berwick and Cockburnspath, which raise the whole plain, or arable lands, to 114,386 acres. The hilly district is more extensive; it is calculated to contain 175,734 acres. Berwickshire is also divided into parishes; but upon this subject, and its ecclesiastical constitutions, Mr Kerr appears to us ta have enlarged more than was neces sary in a work appropriated exclusively to agriculture.

The plain of Berwickshire is peculiarly dry, being bordered, on one side, by the Lammermoor, and on the other by the Cheviot hills, which powerfully attract the moisture from it. The hilly district, on the other hand, is wet, though, Mr K. says, not more so than any other of equal elevation.

In the plan laid down by the Board of Agriculture, a wish had been expressed to receive a report of the different qualities of soil in the county, and the extent occupied by each. Mr

K.

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