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Leader (1850-1860), 26th May 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 20

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      Papers Of Lord Metcalfe. Selections From...

      arms produced a general feeling of discouragement in the native soldiery , and destroyed their faith in our invincibility . Still more recently , the Afghan and Sikh campaigns seriously impaired our prestige , and inspirec the masses with a wild hope that our downfal was at hand . The only real hold upon the fidelity of the sepoys is the regularity of their pay—assisted , nodoubtj by the mutual jealousies of Hindoo and Mussulman , and a consciousness of the superiority of the British troops . It is therefore highly necessary that an imposing European force should be maintained in the the vast surfacebir Charl

      country , but not too widely scattered over , es repeatedly insists upon this point , and the vast extension of territory since his time greatly enforces the argument . For it must be borne in mind that the British Empire in India is broken up into detached portions , and that independent states , of very doubtful good-will , are mixed up with the central portions of our dominions . A powerful and efficient army is Sir Charleses grand specific for the maintenance of our power ; and he strongly advocates the expediency of increasing the number of European officers with native regiments- The expense is admitted to be great , but the

      necessity is a paramount consideration . ^ With . respect to the comparative advantages of Queen ' s or Company s government , Sir Charles Metcalfe expresses himself in favour of the former , provided that it do not degenerate into " government by a parliamentary majority , " for in that case " our tenure of the country would not be worth ten years' purchase . " The Europeans settled in India would naturally prefer the former , because to the latter they " attach the notion of monopoly and exclusion , and consider themselves comparatively discountenanced and unfavoured . " The invidious distinction between Queen ' s and Company ' s courts of justice would thus also be removed , and the complete amalgamation of the two military services would follow as a necessary consequence . The idea of a Russian invasion is treated almost contemptuously , unless that power had first succeeded in becoming master of all Central Asia . And even then we could bring overwhelming masses to guard the passes through Indus

      the mountains of Afighanistan , and to line the banks of the . Uur real danger is from within , though even that might be greatly reduced by the gradual annexation and absorption of the independent states , whose very existence is a standing monument of the incapacity and irresolution of the magnates of the India House . Until one only colour be spread over the map of Hindostan , our dominion will continue unstable and precarious . But time and space would fail us were we to attempt to notice all the different points connected with the civil and military government of India , which are treated of in these " selections . " Much less can we pretend to pass in review the many interesting documents illustrative of Lord Metcalfe ' s administrative policy in Jamaica and Canada . Too much praise in

      cannot be given to Mr . Kaye for the judgment he has displayed selecting the pearls of great price from among so much that was truly valuable . There is not a single letter , or minute , —not even the protest against Sir GeorgeJBarlow ' s " fundamental principles , " though written at the early age of twenty-one—that is not impressed with a strong , healthy virility , with sterling good sense , and with the straightforward honesty of a true English g entleman . There may lack the indications of an original or a brilliant genius , but there is abundant proof of practical ability of no ordinary cha-~ of the most scrupulous recti

      racter , of the most persevering industry , and - tude . It is impossible to rise from the perusal of Sir Charles ' s Indian papers without a deep feeling of regret that the absurd and interested prejudices of the Home Government should have deprived that country of a ruler who thoroughly understood its wants and requirements . But ministerial patronage , and all-powerful precedent , demanded that a Governor-General should be sent out from Europe , whose chief and only recommendation should be an entire ignorance of the peculiar duties he was suddenly called upon to discharge . As it was in the beginning , so is it now—but shall it ever be ?

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      The Royal Academy Exhibition. It Is Unfo...

      THE ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION . It is unfortunate for the Academy , considering the badness of the exhibition ¦ which the members have got up this year , that Mr . Ward has not helped them with one of his admirably dramatic pictures from English or French history . Engaged , we believe , on works of importance which require extra time and consideration for their production , he only sends to the present exhibition a small full-length portrait of " General Hearsay , in the dress of the Irregular Native Cavalry , E . I . C . S !"—a picturesque man in a picturesque uniform ; and a most refreshingly-original picture to turn to , after looking at the yards on yards of conventional portrait-painting which encumber the walls of the Academy exhibition-room . Mr . Webster has two pictures of boya and girla— " The Race , " and " Spring , "—painted in his usual manner , works of decided merit as nleasant sketches of character , but marred by this artist ' s inveterate defects of

      feeble and timid execution . Mr . G . Richmond has deserted water-colour portniit-painting—in which he was without a rival—and has taken to oil , in which , to our thinking , he succeeds but badly . He exhibits a " whole length" of " The late Sir Robert Ingliu ; " and a " half length" of "The Bishop of New Zealand . " Our deep attachment to the Establishment makes us protest against seeing a bishop painted—as Mr . Richmond has painted Doctor Sklwyn—with his eyes and face bathed in cold perspiration . Mr . Horsley , in his " Scene from Don Quixote , " has advanced as much in healthy choice of subject and in the art of composition , as Mr . Cojpe haa retrograded in both those qualities Mrs . Ward ' s bright little picture of " The Morning Lesson , " is the most successful piece of painting which that lady has yet produced . It is in treatment merit true to nature in effectMr

      bright and transparent , and oriously . . Phillip ' s " Collecting the Offering in a Scotch Kirk , " wo omitted to mention last week in the terms of approval which it deserves . In treatment it is rather hard and meagre : but in study of character , it possesses some rare and genuine merits . With this work our present remembrances of the good figure-pictures come to an end . As for the bad , is it after all worth while to take up time and space in condemning failures which condemn themselves ? What usoful purpose could it serve , for example , to point out the faults of that monstroiiB picture from Exodus ( No . fi 40 , " The Prayer for Victory" )—in which the Patriarch Mosice , with arrowy fireworks blazing out of his brains , is hold up in a very slippery utato ogainet an impossible lump of stone by two officious minor patriarchs , who would bo doing excellent service to art if they would only let Mosus Blip

      out of the picture altogether . Is there any use in criticising such an absurdity as this , or other absurdities not much better?—None whatever . Let us get on to the Landscapes . Looking at the landscape painters in general , it is impossible not to be struck by the want of ambition , and of any high conception of the real scope of their art which their works exhibit . The majority of the artists seem to go on year after year content with manufacturing studies of foliage and puddles , which require nothing but careful plodding and mechanical practice , and whi ch sugg est as little as possible to the mind * of the spectator . If we want to look at pictures which really grapple with difficulties , and which aim at representing the more striking , vast , or exceptional aspects of Nature , we must look , with hardly more than one or two exceptions , to the elder of our landscape-painters , not to the

      younger , who have still reputations to make . Mr . Lear's " Temple of Bassse " deserves to be first signalised as a worthy effort in the right direction by an artist who is making his way to a high place in his profession . In this instance , at least , the landscape subject chosen is a grand one , and the treatment sho ws high purpose and real power . Mr . Zahneb ' s " Landscape near Rome" ( No . 299 ) , and Mr . T . Danby's " Poet's Hour , " both also show real poetical feeling , and a fine appreciation ^ f Nature in her noblest moods . Mr . Anthon y is unfortunately not equal to himself this year . His picture of " Stratford" is weak in effect , and the left hand side of the sky , though well in intention , is most unfortunate in execution . However , Mr . Anthony has real feeling for the grand in nature , and , in his happier moments , great vigour and originality of execution . We hope to see him vindicate himself next year .

      The pictures just referred to really comprise the only landscapes by the rising men which we can remember as worthy of criticism . We must refer to the elders of the profession , if we want to mention a few more genuinely-fine works . Mr . Danby has one magnificent picture this year , " The Lake of Wallenstadt . " The evening sky is exquisitely aerial and beautiful in its dim , solemn lustre ; the still , deep water is marvellously true and fine in colour and execution ; and the whole effect of the picture , from whatever distance it may be viewed , is grand and imaginative , without the smallest sacrifice of fidelity to nature . Mr . Danby has a second work ( No . 287 ) , which we do not like so well . Mr . Creswick , besides the charming landscape ( No . 440 ) to which we alluded in our opening article , has an admirable picture of " Morning at the Mouth of a and

      River , " in which he has caught the still , grey atmosphere deep pervading calmness which precede sunrise with rare felicity . Mr . Roberts ' s fine view of " Rome , " with the crimson of the sinking sun just touching the distant housetops , is one of the best of his works—the painter has conquered immense difficulties with his usual mastery and success . Mr . Stanfield ' s brilliant and elaborate picture of " St . Sebastian during the Siege in 1813 , " being most discreditably hung in the worst light that could be selected for it , we must content ourselves with warning our readers not to blame the picture , but the place the picture occupies , if they feel a little disappointed with Mr . Stanfield this year . He has produced a really fine work : and the Hanging Committee have treated it in a manner which—considering Mr . Stanfield ' s deservedly high position in his art—is simply audacious .

      As for the Miniature Room , we have no space ( and even if we had , no heart ) to go into any particulars in relation to the hundreds of small portraits which it contains . Sir William Ross is still first , and Mr . Thorbcrn still second , while the miniatures of Mr . H . Gray and Mr . Wells occupy prominent places in the third rank . Favourite drawings and portraits our readers will discover for themselves . We have a parting word of advice to give them when they go down into the Sculpture Room . Whatever else they may overlook , let them by no means miss Mr . Durham ' s " Sleeping Child , " Mr . Macdowell ' s " Bust of Lord Beaumont" ( why has Mr . Macdowell no statue this year ?) , and Baron Marochetti ' s beautiful female head , No . 1480 . With these last " words to the wise , " we take our leave of an exhibition which is , upon the whole , the worst we remember to have seen since the building in Trafalgar-square was first opened to the public .

      The Amateur Musical Society. The Last Co...

      THE AMATEUR MUSICAL SOCIETY . The last concert for the season took place at the Hanover-square Rooms on Monday evening , and was the best of the series both for the selection and the performance of the music . The room was crowded , and among the audience there was an unusual gathering of critics and connoisseurs , attracted , we believe , by the fame of a fair pianiste , who created some sensatio at a former concert . On the present occasion this young lady , whose name—as it has appeared in other journals—we may be permitted to mention , Miss Poland , exhibited a very high and pardonable ambition . In Hummell ' s long , and as we think not very interesting , Scptuor , she played from memory , and with a quiet mastery , a self-possession , a finished delicacy , a precision , which may well have excited the surprise ariti admiration of the audience ; especially of those who were able to estimate the difficulty of the piece , even played wi th music . In the case of an amateur performance , there is often the greatest difficulty in obtaining sufficient study of the concerted music ; the performers are so apt to sible

      come too late , or to have engagements elsewhere , that it is almost impos to obtain diligent and attentive rehearsal . The consequence is , that at the last moment unsteadiness and uncertainty are likely to prevail . The Scptuor , however , went uncommonly well last Monday : each movement was listened to with evident delight , and warmly applauded , and not a little charm was imparted to the performance by the modest grace of the pianiste , a grace beyond the reach of art . Miss Poland must have studied very earnestly and very devotedly to have been able to accomplish a feat which few but Liszt we believe would have attempted , and the success justified the ingenuous audacity of the attempt . In the second part of the concert , a four-part song , " The Sun of the Morning , " composed by the pianiste of the Scptuor , beautifully sung by Messrs . Foster , W . Millais , Cooper , and Taylor , revealed an intimate acquaintance with the science of musical writing , as well as a refinement of feeling , a natural aptitude and a maturity of accomplishment not often met with out ot the profession . The part song was heartily encored . Altogether , it was a most agreeable concert .

      The Operas. Madame Grisi Reappeared On M...

      THE OPERAS . Madame Grisi reappeared on Monday evening in La Favorita . Her reception was gratifying , but not enthusiastic . In the last act , however , she took tlio house by storm , and made us all forgive the disappointment of hearing her again . Her last last appearances are to bo ten only , after which she will positively retiro to her Tuscan villa , which is so pleasantly alluded to in the bills . Jjon Giovanni is announced for next week . " Why , " says the critic of the Times , is the part of Don Ottuvio taken from Signor Tamhkrlik ? and why is Mademoiselle Nky , iuHtead of Madame Giusi , to bo the Donna Anna r" Echo answers , Why ? and we Hay , Why , indeed ? JVorma was produced at Drury-lank last evening , with a now Pollto ,, a . new Norma , and a new Oroveao . The house was densely crowded . Wo shall Have something to say of tho performance next week .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 26, 1855, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26051855/page/20/