1818.] the Dangerous Effects of Imperfect Ventilation. which would be dreadful in proportion to the apparent security. These occurrences may be of such a nature that it would be almost impossible to guard against them. The thoughtless indiscretion of a single individual, may often render abortive every precaution that has been adopted by his companions and that there are among miners, as well as others, men who are unfit to be left under their own thoughtless guidance is too well known, and particularly where the lives of so many are at stake. What would avail the boasted security of the miner's Davy if one individual should think it unnecessary? However strange or inconsistent such conduct might appear, it is a fact, that more lives have been lost by such fool-hardy or madly adventurous conTo reason duct than any other cause. with such men is impossible, and to watch every motion of every miner is equally so. Besides, is it not enough that an industrious class of men should, from the nature of their occupation, be brought to a premature old age, without obliging them, in addition to their other sufferings, to labour in an atmosphere of noxious gas; and that because it has been discovered that it is possible to work in such an explosive compound, and there fore to save the expense of ventilation ? It appears possible to ventilate mines so as to render them safe, only it is an expensive process, and requires that the work should be conducted with much care and regularity; and that a more limited extent of ground should be wrought from one shaft. It has been asserted, that it is not practicable to ventilate mines so as to prevent an accumulation of fire-damp; but this assertion must be understood to apply only to the extensive works that are carried on at present from a single shaft. The present system of mining, followed in the Tyne and Wear collieries appears to be radically defective, as the old wastes and hollows must become filled with either fire-damp or water, and a large proportion of coal unavoidably left in the mine. The danger arising from these accumulations of water or fire-damp is well known, but might be in a great measure remedied by adopting a different method of working. The method I allude to has been in use time immemorial in Derbyshire, and has been lately introduced in Scotland. By this method the whole of the coal is obtained, and the cavity In the bands of the viewer, the overman, or a select set of men for the purpose of effecting a free ventilation, the safety-lamp is an invaluable instrument: it gives the means of examining and of removing any obstruction to the ventilation in safety, when no other means could be resorted to. Let it be used as the means of improving the ventilation, instead of being used as a substitute; for neglect of ventilation must ultimately be attended with such serious consequences as to call for the interference of the legislature. When we call to mind the shocking scenes which the explosion of a coal mine presents, it is scarcely possible to be too earnest in the recommendation of any thing that would be likely to prevent such accidents. Men who had, perhaps, not one short hour before risen from their wives and little-ones in peace and quiet to begin the labours of the day, and these, operations scarce begun, when one dread moment hurries them into eternity; at the same time rousing, with the voice of thunder, their sleeping families to witness the sad scene of desolation and horror, and in the wild agony of despair to seek for fathers, for husbands, for childrendear relations, that are either buried in the bowels of the earth, or ejected in tattered fragments from the dreadful pit! And if the present be dreadful, the future is scarcely less so to their unfortunate wives and helpless children, left without the means of existence, except from the dilatory hand of charity, or a scanty pittance from a parish. Let the comforts of a cheerful fire sometimes recall the recollection of these desolating scenes, and stimulate the Philosophical Mag. vol. 49, p. 60. S Biographical Anecdotes of the late John Carter, powers of genius to soften or remove the miseries of these industrious men. Already has Sir H. Davy contributed an important step towards this desirable object; but much yet remains to he DT. done. London. Jan. 3, 1818. YOUR account of the late JoHN CARTER is incorrect in some particulars, and not true in others: he certainly was not a Roman Catholic, if his own assertions repeatedly made to me when that imputation was the subject of conversation between us are to be credited; and he certainly was not an Irishman: he had a foolish and inveterate dislike to Ireland and every thing belonging to it; some of those with whom he was engaged in controversy knew this, and annoyed him by asserting that he was an Irishman who chose to deny his country. This greatly mortified him, for he certainly was born in his father's house in Piccadilly, and passed the early part of his life there; nor was he ever out of England, except once or twice that he went, professionally, into South Wales. In the Gentleman's Magazine for the present month are two memoirs of Carter, both of which are true: but, like the Eloges de l'Academie Francoise, they are merely panegyrical and confined to his public works; but while I subscribe to the truth of those accounts I shall add such particulars from my own knowledge as it may be useful to make known, and which, I believe, the writers of those accounts were not acquainted with. His education was very inferior, even to what, in the time that he was educated, might have been given to qualify him for those pursuits in which he subsequently engaged. He knew no language but his Own, and never could read or explain any inscription or epitaph that was not written in English. This threw him into a very unpleasant state of dependence in his subsequent pursuits, and was the cause of much uneasiness to him in the course of his life; yet, he never had resolution enough to extricate himself from these inconveniences, by acquiring a competent knowledge of Latin at least, which it is reasonable to suppose that he might have done without much difficulty. He was not acquainted with the common rules of arithmetic, or those principles of mechanics or mathematics which were necessary to, and now are thought indispensable by, inferior persons of that business; and as he never was, during the last thirty-five years, regularly em [Feb. 1, ployed as an architect on his own account, it was difficult to see on what he founded his claim to the title of architect, which he signed to his writings in the Gentleman's Magazine, and which his opponents in that work commonly denied his right to; some of them in all probability knowing the real extent of his claim to it. I was told by himself, that in early life he had been occasionally employed by Dixon and Holland; and since his death I have information from a person who knew him, forty years ago, in the employment of Mr. Wyatt, superintending the workmen in the buildings upon which that gentleman was engaged. At that time Carter was reckoned an odd, close man, and supposed to have saved some money. There can be no doubt that this was the occupation by which he supported himself; and I know, from his own mouth, that all his leisure time was employed in examining and drawing Westminster Abbey and all its parts, under every point of view. For many years he cultivated the acquaintance of every person who was employed about that building; was intimate with all the inferior officers, and respectfully attentive to the superiors and dignitaries, who, seeing him continually about the place, investigated his talents, and finally, introduced him into the world of ar iquaries by whom he was afterwards employed and patronized. I learned from himself, that the first money he earned as a draughtsman, was by making drawings for booksellers: besides other things he made all the designs for the Builder's Magazine,of which work he told me the following anecdote: When it was determined to build a new Sessions House on Clerkenwell Green instead of the old Hicks's Hall, the persons in authority advertised for designs and promised to adopt that which should be approved of. Carter sent in a design which was rejected for reasons which were to him the cause of singular mortification. He had, in the Builder's Magazine, inserted a design for a Sessions House; this design was copied by some person from the magazine, offered to the county,accepted,and is the design for that building which is now standing on Clerkenwell Green. Those who possess the book mayascertain their identity bycomparison: the magazine was published before the house was built, so that there is compleat evidence that an artist of talents had his design for a building of consequence rejected in favour of a design that was, 1818.] Biographical Anecdotes of the late John Carter. likewise, his own, but which had been either artfully or luckily borrowed from an existing publication, without acknowledgment, by some person who thus obtained all the credit and emolument, while the real inventor never received more than two or three guineas for his design. As the evidence is compleat, and the fact incontrovertible, I have much pleasure in mentioning the Sessions House on Clerkenwell Green as a further proof of Carter's talents as an architect. As booksellers in those days were not accustomed to pay such sums for the works of artists as are now paid by their successors, I shall mention the circumstance which Carter told me first induced him to project his "Specimens of Ancient Sculpture, Architecture," &c. which was the first public step he made towards that eminence he afterwards acquired in his peculiar department. He was employed to make a drawing or drawings for a bookseller, for which be expected to receive five or six guineas: he carried it home, the man examined, approved, and laid it aside; but threw him down a single guinea and told him that was all he could give him for it. This treatment enraged poor Carter so much that he vowed he would never do any thing more for a bookseller, and get into some thing that would set him above the power of such people. He then projected his "Specimens of Ancient Sculpture, Painting," &c. and as it did not consist with his finances to employ engravers, he applied himself to etching, and acquired so inuch power as enabled him to execute that work. His talents as a draughtsman were quite equal to that part of the work, but he could not draw up the descriptions to his own satisfaction, and therefore solicited the assistance of gentlemen whose knowledge enabled them to perform the task in a way that greatly enhanced the value of the works. This placed him in situations that first converted some of his friends into enemies, and procured for him the character of a quarrelsome man; and as a knowledge of the facts may afford useful cautions to others, I shall mention some of them. In the choir of Westminster Abbey was, at that time, a whole length portrait of Richard II. which is believed to be authentic. Carter made a finished draw ing from this picture and engraved it to be inserted in his work. A gentleman agreed to purchase this drawing, and in consequence the plate was inscribed to -, esq. from the drawing in his NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 49. possession. Whether this honour satisfied the gentleman, or whether more money was asked for the drawing than he chose to give, I know not; but, after the plate was published, he refused to take the drawing, which remained in Carter's hands. Soon afterwards Harding, a printseller, undertook to publish a collection of the most authentic portraits that he could procure of Shakspeare's characters, or of persons mentioned in, or connected with, Shakspeare's plays. The inscription upon Carter's plate led him to ask Mr. permission to engrave the head of Richard II. from the drawing in his possession. The permission was graciously granted; but he was told it would answer the same purpose, and save the trouble of bringing the drawing to town, if he made his drawing from the book, which was lent him for that purpose. Carter, seeing his plate so unceremoniously copied, sued Harding for the piracy: this led to an explanation from which it evidently appeared that Harding was not to blame, because the gentleman, when applied to, did not choose to acknowledge that he had not a right to grant what was asked of him; and when the fact was discovered very dictatorially required that, because he had chosen to do this, and in consequence of occasionally purchasing some of Carter's works, called himself his patron, he should abandon his suit. This he refused; Harding made the best compromise that he could, and Carter lost his patron, who, to save his own credit, told the story as much to the artist's disadvantage as he could make it appear. A needy author collected some scraps of information upon a particular subject from various books, and by the help of wide printing, large paper, and, without leave, copying one of Carter's most curious plates, constructed a book which be chose to sell for a guinea, although the original matter it contained would not have produced the odd shilling. Our artist, knowing that the author was not worth powder, sued the bookseller, who, having no defence, suffered judgment to go by default, and was compelled to pay such damages as compensated for the injury sustained. These and some other circumstances of less notoriety, induced persons who found they could not make free with his property with impunity, to misrepresent his motives and his actions, when his only object was to enjoy, unmolested, that which his industry had acquired. Of the trouble and expense it cost him 10 Biographical Anecdotes of the late John Carter. to execute this work, none but his confidential acquaintance can judge: I shall mention one fact among others that I know, and which will convey some idea of them. He learned that the Corporation of Lynn-Regis, in Norfolk, possessed a valuable cup that was given to them by King John, at the same time that he granted their charter: conceiving that this would be a desirable article for his work, he procured some introductions and went down to make a drawing from it. The Corporation at that time could not comprehend the motives which should induce a stranger to go so far only to take a picture, as they called it; they probably suspected that he intended to steal, or otherwise injure their palladium, and abruptly refused the permission required. After repeated applications, however, they consented, but on condition that he should be confined to a room in company with a person chosen by themselves, but paid by him, whose business was to see that no improper liberties were taken with the valuable cup; and under these circumstances he actually made that drawing from which he engraved the plate that is in the "Specimens of Sculp ture," &c. He expended considerable sums on other occasions to obtain materials for this work, the value of which was greatly increased by the written contributions of his antiquarian friends: but as these (except what he received from one person) were gratuitous, it was necessary to wait their leisure before he could receive them. This and other circumstances not necessary to mention, induced him to terminate that work when two volumes were compleat, and begin the "Specimens of Ancient Architecture," which is entirely his own. [Feb. 1, without credulity upon subjects of which he had no knowledge, when they happened to fall in with his own prejudices: of this I shall relate one whimsical example. A friend gave me an odd-looking brass coin, which he said he found in walking round the remains of Old Sarum. I know nothing of coins, and handed it over to Carter, who knew no more than myself, but was struck with the fact of its being found at Old Sarum; he therefore supposed it to be an antique of great cu riosity, and drew up an account of it, with the name of the finder, and all circumstances, to be laid in form before the Society of Antiquaries. In consequence of dissentions among them he was not at that time on speaking terms with Brand, the secretary,but cheerfully stifled his own resentment for the sake of introducing this important discovery. Brand, the moment he saw it, reproved Carter in most indignant terms for his impudence, as he called it, in attempting to hoax the Society with a tale that a paltry Chinese coin was a Saxon antique. In fact, it turned out to be a Chinese coin of the lowest denomination, cast in brass, with a square hole in the middle, through which that people pass a string to tie numbers of them together. After I had ascertained this fact, I began to make an apology to my friend; but that was not necessary, as all his resentment was le velled at Brand, who, he said, ought to have laid the coin before the Society, though it was Chinese; because, he remarked, that in the time of Alfred the Great some British merchants made voyages to India, and the finding of this Chinese coin at Old Sarum proved, that even in those days there was commercial intercourse between Britain and China! The same pertinacity pervaded all his actions; particularly where his professional pursuits were concerned. Those who remember the stage when Garrick and Smith performed Macbeth, and Barry Othello, dressed in the laced scarlet uniforms of the generals of that day, may justly estimate the extent of the improvements that have been made in every de By this time his reputation for correctly drawing those objects to which he directed his attention was firmly esta blished by investigating those objects sometimes in conjunction with, and sometimes in opposition to, persons eminent for their skill in British antiquities, he acquired much knowledge in other department of the dresses and decorations partments, as well as those to which he first directed his attention. He now formed opinions of his own upon these subjects which in general were correct; but when he was mistaken it was very seldom that he could be brought to acknowledge his mistake; and having contracted a liking for all subjects of antiquity that were connected with the people whose buildings he admired, he was not that are now used in theatrical representations, and for the greater part of which we are indebted to the exertions of Mr. Kemble. When that gentleman was engaged upon those subjects he consulted Carter, who readily gave the information that was asked of him; and if it had been possible to comply with his suggestions, he would have willingly dedicated his whole time gratuitously to 1818.] Biographical Anecdotes of the late John Carter. render the representations of all our old plays what he called perfect in point of scenery and dresses: his notion was, that every play, particularly those of Shakespeare, should have scenes exactly representing all the places, and dresses in every particular adapted to each of the characters, which should be kept sacred to the play and character intended, and not to make shift, as he called it, by shuffling dresses and scenes backward and forward from one play to another, and thus never truly representing any. However desirable such a scheme, if executed, might be in some respect, it is easy to perceive that, in practice, it would be impossible, without abandoning all just ideas of economy which should pervade all theatrical as well as all other transactions. Mr. Kemble received what information was communicated,and made that use of it which he thought proper. Raymond, the late manager of Drury Lane, consulted him upon the same subjects, and with the same success. The merit for which Carter deserves to be remembered, is the scrupulous accuracy with which he represented those objects that he saw; here he was always to be depended upon, but beyond this point he was to be followed with caution: his knowledge of what he had not seen was obtained from books, through the information of others, and in combining information thus received with his own observations he sometimes drew conclusions which were by no means warranted by the facts. His bigotry to his own opinions rendered him impatient of contradiction, and sometimes prompted him to persevere in errors which others have detected; still this is no impeachment of his integrity, which was free from any wilful blemish. As a companion he was blameless, pleasing, and had nothing that those who associated with him could have reason to be afraid of. His other peculiarities were such as should only be made known to be avoided. When we first became acquainted I saw that there were peculiarities which I chose to investigate; from older acquaintances I learned that there were circumstances in his doinestic arrangements which, if known, would subject him to much ridicule: of this he was conscious, and studied to conceal them. If he suspected that any of his acquaintance perceived them he became shy; but if they discovered and mentioned them, particularly by way of banter, he immediately renounced all connection with them. As I know no reason why one 11 should expose any failings which one's acquaintance wish to conceal, he never suspected that I was acquainted with his interior peculiarities, and by this means I preserved an uninterrupted intimacy with him for more than thirty years. If at any period during that time my opinion had been asked as to his circumstances, I should have said that the quantity of labour and time he employed upon his work must prevent it from being a very profitable employment, and that he was living under all sorts of privations in hopes of saving something that might contribute to his support when he was no longer able to work, or when those patrons who had employed him should be removed, and his employment in consequence diminish; which it evidently did for some years past; but in forming such an opinion I was evidently mistaken. He continually represented himself as a solitary being, existing in life without any natural connections from whom he could expect any assistance when age and imbecility came upon him; and even in his last illness he had no person with him but a common servant and some old acquaintances upon whom he had no natural claim, but who chose to see that his servant did her duty, and that he had every assistance which he chose should be given to him. Such being the fact, it was with astonishment that, since his death, I have learned that he has a sister living who is nearly of his own age, and a brother who has several children. That near relations should quarrel and keep separate from each other is an occurrence too common to be surprising; but in all probability that was not the case here. I remember his niece living with him in the capacity of a servant about two years she was evidently superior to that station, and there was a mystery in the business I could not penetrate: she disappeared; and when I asked why he parted with a person who seemed so proper to be in his family his answer was evasive; he could not make her conform to all his peculiarities and therefore put her away in hopes he might find one that would-a sort of proof that there was no dissention between them more than what arose from his oddities, which surmounted the patience of relations who had the additional strong and natural motive of hoping to succeed to property to stimulate them to conform to his wishes. At no time of his life were his friends admitted to take a meal at his house except by invitation, and then every thing was provided for the occasion. This for |