"the landscape and the cave are well made, but St. Jerome is not in the cave. "" I understand you, sir," replied Vernet, "I will alter it." He therefore took the painting, and made the shade darker, so that the saint seemed to set farther in. The gentleman took the painting; but it again appeared to him that the saint was not in the cave. Vernet then wiped out the figure, and gave it to the gentleman, who seemed perfectly satisfied. Whenever he saw strangers to whom he showed the picture, he said, "Here you see a picture by Vernet, with St. Jerome in the cave." 99 "But we cannot see the saint," replied the visitors. "Excuse me, gentlemen," answered the possessor, "he is there; for I have seen him standing at the entrance, and afterwards farther back; and am. therefore quite sure that he is in it."

HOLBEIN.

When Holbein determined to quit his native town, Basil, in order to enhance the value of his works, which were becoming too numerous there, he intimated that he would leave a specimen of the power of his abilities. He had still at his house a portrait of one of his patrons, which he had just finished. On the forehead he painted a fly, and sent the picture to the person for whom it was intended. The gentleman, struck with the beauty of the piece, went eagerly to brush off the fly, and found the deceit. The story soon spread, and made more impression than efforts of greater excellence. Orders were immediately given to prevent the city being deprived of so wonderful an artist; but Holbein had already gone.

A nobleman complaining to Henry VIII. of some rude treatment he had received from Holbein, the king, who knew the provocation, said, "You have not to do with Holbein, but with me; I tell you of seven peasants I can make as many lords; but of seven lords I could not make one Holbein."

CANOVA.

The celebrated Italian sculptor Canova, is a native of a village in the Venetian states, and therefore not a Roman, though born for Rome; for as he himself replied to Bonaparte, when pressed to fix his residence at Paris, "sans son atelier, sans ses amis, sans son beau ciel, sans sa Rome," his genius would become enfeebled. Very early in life, he discovered a perception of true beauty in sculpture, which was then whoily extinct in Italy; and without any other guide than his own conceptions, he designed and executed, while yet only twentyone, a beautiful group of Dædalus and Icarus, of which the cast is preserved in his studio. This work he brought to Rome, and presented himself with it at the door of the Venetian ambassador. The ambassador was at dinner, but after an awful interval of trembling expectation to the young and modest artist, an Abbé was sent out to pass sentence on it. Viewing it in every light, and examining it with

much care, during all which time Canova underwent the tortures of suspense, the Abbé exclaimed "C'est une cochonnerie."

This was a death blow to the hopes of Canova; and on leaving the Venetian palace he wept with grief. Fortunately, however, Sir W. Hamilton hearing of this piece of statuary, sent to request to see it. Charined yet more with the artist than the work, the generous Englishinan exerted himself in his behalf; and by liberal assistance, encouraged him to proceed. His next group of Theseus and Minotaur, was purchased by the very Venetian ambassador at whose house he had met with so cutting a rebuff. He was then employed to execute the monument of Pope Clement XIV., now in the church of the S. S. Apostoli; but it was not until after 1792, when be executed that more beautiful one at St. Peter's to the memory of Clement XIII., of which the waking and sleeping lions are among the finest efforts of art, that he was enabled to procure any assistance in performing the most laborious part of his works.

Canova is now rich and titled, but still the same simple unostentatious individual who presented himself with his first great attempt at the door of the Venetian ambassador. He cares not for personal luxuries. Not only the pension of 3000 Roman crowns granted him by the Pope, along with the title of Marquess, but a great part of the fortune acquired by his labors, is bestowed in acts of charity, and upon unfortunate artists. On occasion of a bad harvest, he maintained the poor of his native village one whole winter entirely at his own expense. The manner in which he confers a favor, reflects additional honor on his character. A poor, a proud, and a bad painter, was in danger of starving with his whole family, for no one would employ him. Canova knew this man would refuse a gift; and in respect to his feelings, he sacrificed his own taste. He requested him to paint a picture, leaving the subject and size to his own choice, and saying he had set apart four hundred scudi (not less than one hundred pounds) for the purpose, half of which he remitted at present, and the other half should be sent when the work was finished; adding, that the sooner he received it, he should be the better pleased.

RILEY.

John Riley, one of the best native painters that has flourished in England, was too diffident of his own talents, and easily disgusted with his own work. A small portion of the vanity of Kneller, would have made Riley's fortune. Charles the Second sat to him, but almost discouraged the bashful artist from pursuing a profession for which he was so well calculated. Looking at the picture, the King exclaimed, "Is this like me? then, od's fish, I am an ugly fellow." This discouraged Riley so much, that he could not bear the picture, though he sold it for a large price. He afterwards painted the portraits of King James II. and of William and Mary

W. VANDEVELDE.

William Vandevelde the younger, is distinguished as the most eminent painter of sea pieces. Having finished a painting for Charles II. of the junction of the English and French fleets at the Nore, when that monarch went to view them, two commissioners of the Admiralty agreed to beg the picture of the king, then to cut it in two, and each to take a part. The painter, in whose presence they concluded this wise treaty, took away the picture, and concealed it until the king's death, when he offered it to Bullfinch, the printseller, for eighty pounds. Bullfinch took time to consider, and returning to make the purchase, found the picture already sold for one hundred and thirty guineas.

SIR GODFREY KNELLER.

Sir Godfrey Kneller lessened his own reputation, by making it subservient to his fortune: he united the highest vanity with the most consummate negligence of his character. He had the singular honor of painting the portraits of ten sovereigns, and amassed a fortune of £2000 a year, although he lived magnificently, and lost £20,000 in the South Sea scheme. He is said to have given as a reason for preferring portraitpainting, that "Painters of history make the dead live, and do not begin to live themselves till they are dead. I paint the living, and they make me live."

THE FLORENTINE BRUTUS.

At Florence there is an unfinished statue, by Michael Angelo, which it is erroneously supposed was intended for Marcus Brutus. It is a portrait of one of the Medici who assassinated his uncle, and was called the Florentine Brutus; but proving afterwards the oppressor, and not the liberator, of his country, M. Angelo laid aside the unfinished statue in disgust, and could never be prevailed on to complete..

DAVID.

It is related of the French painter, David, that he attended the execution of his friends, Danton and Camille Desmoulins, as .. spectacle connected with his improvement in the art of painting; and that at the time of the massacre of the prisoners at La Force, in September, 1792, he was composedly making sketches from the dying and the dead. Reboul asked him what he was doing? He coolly replied, "I am catching the last convulsions of nature in these scoundrels."

TRIAL OF CONJUGAL AFFECTION.

Cransbeck, a Flemish painter, entertaining come doubts as to the affection of his wife, who was a modest and agreeable woman, and being anxious to ascertain if she really loved him, he one day stripped his breast naked, and painted the appearance of a mortal wonnd on his skin;

his lips and cheeks he painted of a livid color, and on his palette near him he placed his knife, painted on the blade with a blood-like color. When everything was prepared, he shrieked out, as if he had been that instant killed, and lay still. His wife ran in, saw him in that terrifying con dition, and showed so many tokens of unaffected natural passion, and real grief, that he rose up convinced of her affection, dissuaded her from grieving, and freely told her his motive for the whole contrivance, which he would not have violated truth, by describing as a very despicable trick.

OLD MIERIS.

Old Francis Mieris used to value his time at a ducat an hour; and for one picture of a lady fainting, he was paid at that ratio the large sum of fifteen hundred florins. The Grand Duke of Tuscany is said to have offered 3000 for it; but was refused. One of the most beautiful of the works of Francis Mieris in this country, where they are not very common, is in the possession of Mr. P. H. Hope, and is known by the name of "The Shrimp Man."

HARMLESS JOKE.

In the year 1745, one Launcelot Burton was appointed naval officer at Dover. Hogarth had seen this gentleman by accident, and on a piece of paper, previously impressed by a plain copper plate, he drew his portrait with a pen in imitation of a coarse etching. Mr. Burton as rep resented as riding on a lean Canterbury hack, with a bottle sticking out of his pocket, and underneath was an inscription, intimating that he was going down to take possession of his place. The sketch was enclosed to him in a letter; and some of his friends who were in the secret, protested that the drawing was a print which they had seen exposed for sale in the print shops in London. This put him in a violent passion, and he wrote an abusive letter to Hogarth, whose name was subscribed to the work. But after poor Burton's tormentors had kept him in suspense throughout three uneasy weeks, they proved to him that it was no engraving, but merely a sketch with pen and ink. He then became so perfectly reconciled to his resemblance, that he showed it with exultation to Admiral Vernon and the rest of his friends.

FEEDING VANITY.

Sir Godfrey Kneller was a man easily tickled by flattery. He was very covetous, but then he was very vain, and a great epicure. Old Tonson, the bookseller, got many pictures from him by playing one of these passions against the other. He used to tell Kneller, that he was the greatest master that ever lived; and frequently sent him a haunch of venison and a dozen of claret. Kneller once said to Vandergucht, "How this old Jacob loves me! he is a very good man; you see, my friend, how he loves me, for he sends me good things; the venison was fat."

"POT-LUCK" AT ROME. CICERO and Pompey meeting the Roman General Lucullus, one day, told him they intended doing themselves the pleasure to go and sup with him that night; but on one condition only, which was, that he should have nothing extraordinary on their account. Lucullus said, that he would be most happy to receive such distinguished guests on their own terms, provided they would at least allow him to despatch a messenger before them, to inform his servants in which apartment they should prepare the banquet. To this reasonable condition no objection was made, and Lucullus accordingly sent word home that he would sup that evening with some friends in the Apollo. When the party arrived and sat down to table, what was the surprise of the two chance guests, to see an entertainment served up to them, which could not have cost less than fifty thousand crowns!

The secret of this splendid hospitality has been thus explained. Lucullus had a number of sup per rooms, distinguished by different names, and to each of which a supper in a particular style was appropriated, and always kept in a certain state of readiness. When he sent word to his servants that he would sup in the Apollo, it was a sign to them to prepare the most sumptuous entertainment his mansion could yield.

INTEMPERANCE.

Anachonis, the philosopher, being asked by what means a man might best guard against the vice of drunkenness? answered, "By bearing constantly in his view the loathsome, indecent behavior of such as are intoxicated." Upon this principle was founded the custom of the Lacedemonians, of exposing their drunken slaves to their children, who by that means conceived an early aversion to a vice which makes men appear so monstrous and irrational.

PYTHIUS, THE LYDIAN.

When Xerxes was at Celene, a city of Phrygia, Pythius, a Lydian, who had his residence in that city, and, next to the king, was the most opulent prince of those times, entertained him and his whole army with incredible magnificence, and made him an offer of all his wealth towards defraying the expenses of his expedition. Xerxes, surprised and charmed at so generous an offer, had the curiosity to inquire to what sum his riches amounted. Pythius replied, that having the design of offering them to his service, he had taken an exact account of them, and that the silver he had by him amounted to two thousand talents, (about £255,000 sterling) and the gold to four millions of daries, wanting seven thousand (about £1,700,000 sterling). All this money

he offered him, saying, that his revenue was suf ficient for the support of his household. Xerxes made him very hearty acknowledgments, but declined his munificent offer.

PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE.

The Emperor Alexander left his capital in the autumn of 1820, on a journey into the interior of his empire. Nothing remarkable occurred till he came to the government of Twer, about five hundred weists (four hundred miles) from Petersburgh. He halted for a night at the town, and took up his abode at a house prepared for him, as is usual in such cases, by the commandant of the place. He had scarcely descended from his carriage and seated himself, when a respectable inhabitant of the place gained admittance, and, after apologizing for his intrusion, solicited the emperor to remove to his house, where he would have better accommodation. The enperor thanked him for the kindness of his offer, but declined accepting it. This affectionate subject could not be induced to take a denial, and succeeded after much solicitation. With reluctance the emperor consented, and followed the merchant to his house, though quite contrary to his usual custom of avoiding giving trouble to private individuals. After an hour had elapsed, there arrived at the same town a lady of rank, accompanied by her two daughters, and attended by several servants. As there was appearance of rain, they determined to stop the night there: and on enquiring for lodgings, were conducted to the apartments which the emperor had so recently quitted. They felt proud to put up at a place which their beloved monarch had just occupied. The rain, which had threatened, soon fell in torrents, and the storm was accompanied with dreadful thunder; and while, probably, they were all congratulating themselves on their escape from the pitiless stown, the lightning struck the house, and it fell immediately; and, awful to relate! the lady, her daughters, and several domestics, perished in the ruins!! Surely the Lord was with the emperor in this wonderful escape!! Had he remained two hours longer in the habitation in which he appeared to be fixed for the night, his numerous and affectionate subjects would have been mourning his loss, instead of, as now, rejoicing that he is mercifully still preserved the beloved sovereign of a loyal people. The feelings of the worthy merchant may be better conceived than described, when he thus saw himself the instrument whom God had honored to preserve the life of his monarch.

MARINERS IN DISTRESS.

A vessel bound to Greenock was, in a severe gale, blown among the western isles, and was so

long detained there, as to be entirely run out of provisions. In this dilemma, it became necessary for some of the crew to go ashore for a supply; but as there were only English sailors on board, none of them would go from fear of being plundered,|| an occurrence which too often happens when ships run ashore in distress in some places on the coast of England and Wales. They therefore cast lots among the whole of the people on board, both passengers and sailors; and one of the lots fell on a man of fortune, who had been in the West Indies. He accordingly, along with some others, took the boat, and ventured to land, proceeded to a small cottage, where he found a poor woman, who, for want of chairs, was sitting on the side of a bed spinning at her wheel. He immediately informed her of the situation of the ship's crew, when, instead of showing any reluctance, she with the greatest alacrity offered them some potatoes, and what else was in the house, for their relief. She had a pot of potatoes boiling on the fire, which she put upon a plate, and preserted to the gentleman, who partook of them with the greatest relish. They observed abundance of game on the island, and went immediate. ly to the proprietor, requesting permission to shoot for the supply of the crew. The gentleman in question received them with the greatest kindness and hospitality, gave them liberty to kill as much game as they chose, and sent an invitation to all the passengers to dine with him. received a very sumptuous entertainment; and the gentleman from the West Indies found, in the course of conversation, that their landlord was proprietor of some estates there, with which he was well acquainted. Thus, in place of the barbarity and plunder which they had been afraid of, they met with the most polite attention, and left Jura with the liveliest impression of gratitude, for the generosity and kindness with which they had been treated.

DUCHESS OF FERRARA.

They

Renata, daughter of Louis XII. and of Anne of Bretagne, after her conversion to the Protestant faith, and her retirement to the Castle of Montargis, was distinguished by her bounty and goodness. She displayed her kindness more particularly towards her countrymen; every Frenchman, who in travelling through Ferrara was exposed to want or sickness, experienced her benevolence and liberality. After the return of the Duke of Guise from Italy, she saved, as the army passed through Ferrara, more than ten thousand of the French froin perishing by want and hardships. Her steward representing to her the enormous sums which her bounty thus expended, "What," replied she, "would you have me do? These are my countrymen, who would have been my subjects but for the vile Salic law." During the civil wars in France, she retired into her City and Castle of Montargis, where she received and supported numbers of distressed persons, who had been driven from their homes and

estates.

"I myself," says Brantome, "during the se

cond period of these troubles, when the forces o Gascoigne, consisting of eight thousand men, headed by Mess. de Ferrides, and De Mousales, were marching towards the king and passing by Montargis, stopped, as in duty bound, to pay my respects to her. I myself saw, in her castle, above three hundred protestants, who had fled thither from all parts of the country. An old steward, whom I had known at Ferrara and in France, protested to me that she fed daily more than three hundred people who had taken refuge with her."

A SEASONABLE HINT.

Dean Cowper of Durham, who was very economical of his wine, descanting one day on the extraordinary performance of a man who was blind, he remarked, that the poor fellow could see no more than "that bottle." "I do not wonder at it at al!, sir,” replied Mr. Drake, a minor canon," for we have seen no more than that bottle,' all the afternoon."

BENEFICENT PRELATE.

Henry Wardlaw, Archbishop of St. Andrews, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, was a prelate of such unbounded liberality, that the masters of his household, apprehensive that his revenues might be exhausted by the expense of entertaining the great numbers who resorted to his palace, solicited him to make out a list of persons to whom the hospitality of his board might be confined. "Well," said the worthy archbishop to his secretary, "take a pen and begin. First put down Fife and Angus," two large counties, containing several hundred thousands of people. His servants hearing this, retired abashed; "for," says Spottswood, "they said he would have no man refused that came to his house."

BRITISH CONSUL.

In the year 1800, the United States' ship, the Oswego, was shipwrecked on the coast of South Barbary. The crew suffered much during their bondage among the Arabs, until they reached! Mogadore, where they assured their task-masters they would be ransomed. The master, Mr. Judah Paddock, who has given to the public an interesting narrative of their sufferings, thus relates the hospitable reception he met with from the English consul at Mogadore. He says,

"When our emotions had a little subsided, I asked for the consul; and one of them, after telling me that he was asleep, ran to his room door, calling out, Mr. Gwin, an English captain is here from the Arab coast, and the Arabs with him.' I heard the consul make some answer, and in a minute his door opened, and he presented himself to me with nothing on but his shirt and breeches. Never can I forget the cordial reception he gave me. My good friend,' said he, how happy I am to see you; wait a little till I dress myself.” He then returned, leaving me with the sailors. The venerable old gentleman, Consul Gwin, soon came to us dressed, and in a most friendly man