1 in the shape of a public letter, recommending that the testimonial fund should be applied to the building of a national house for the new academy, and of which they stood so much in need. A good general impression was made by this advocate, and the proprietors of the money appeared, eventually, favourable to his view; when a certain public body stepped forward, and-within the last few months-applied to the Marquis of Conyngham to lay before his Majesty their printed proposition to expend the amount of the subscription fund "in erecting a gallery for the encouragement of the Fine Arts in Ireland-under the protection" ofthemselves, the memorialists. I will not keep you in suspense, or rather, I hasten to assent to your "foregone conclusion" upon the name of this certain body: it is--could it be any other? -it is the Royal Irish Institution! I deem there can be little question of the certain and speedy ruin of Irish art, if the application to which I have alluded meet with success. We know our men now. We know the qualification and sentiments of the Irish Institution, in its capacity as arbiter of the pretensions of the Fine Arts, and it would be idle to expect from their future legislation any thing different from their former practice. Supposing we had not our experience of the past, still should we be warranted to reject, on principle, their proferred "protection" of the infant academy. There never has been, and there never can be, any true sympathy between artists and connoisseurs, in any relative situation. Since the time that Michael Angelo sported his dust in the eyes of the sagacious cardinal, down to the present day, all we have heard and seen illustrates this position. There is little real fellow-feeling this moment between the Council at Somerset-house and the managing Committee of the British Institution. And here a natural question presents itself. If at the formation of our Royal Academy, the last-named body had also been in existence, and if the academicians had been handed over, at the moment of their very election, to the surveillance of a quorum of -allowing every thing-elegant and accomplished connoisseurs, would the character of the British school of painting now stand as high as it really does stand? Could the English academy have carved out for itself the independent station which it now occupies? In reason and in nature, no. The patrons and protegés must have eternally gone wrong together. They have not one idea in common on the subject of patronage; not one concord in their whole separate theories; how then should they have harmonized in practice? The fact is, painters and connoisseurs mutually distrust each other. They interchange compliments and flatteries, no doubt, but they mean nothing by this lip-homage; and the moral discordance continues ever the same. that the project of an amicable, not to say advantageous connexion, between an academy of art and a committee of gentlemen, appears, altogether, Utopian and impracticable. You might as well set a bevy of critics, that is, of reviewers, to superintend the quarterly or monthly lucubrations of a college of authors. Reasonably speaking, why should such a system be at all supposed feasible? Painting is an art that requires long practice, even from a man of genius, for reputable success. It is as difficult to paint a good head as it is to write a book, or to pass an examination for a fellowship, or to note a brief, or to take up an artery. And if the author must be allowed to go on without So caring for the critic,-if a board of fellows are not superintended by another board of amateur scholars,-if lawyers do not permit the suggestions of every Saddletree who may condescend to offer them, and if the College of Surgeons have emerged from the reign of old women, why should we-how can we, with taste, propriety, or judgment, expect, that a Council of R. A's shall patiently or profitably submit to be "protected" by a junta of private gentlemen? But, from the wisdom and caution which must ultimately adjust this question, I have the strongest hopes in behalf of the young academy. If, unfortunately, those hopes should be disappointed, I cannot avoid thinking that the artists of Ireland will be placed in a worse situation 'than they ever yet experienced worse than they held without a charter, without an academy, without the additional rank conferred by these changes, at first apparently in their favour. Before, they could' scarcely have been worse off than they were; in fact, they had nothing to lose; the government of the Dublin Society left them bare of individual pretension, and collective form or social place they did not possess. Now, however, that his Majesty's gracious patronage has given them a name and called them into national existence, degradation would become visible in their public character, and they would fall from a height of some importance. If such is to be the case, better for them that they had never gained that height! better for them to have remained with nothing to compromise, than to be thus elevated into objects of officious interest, and to be invested with attractions which should only induce their own professional prostitution! With the assistance of the subscription fund, honourably conveyed to themselves, as was at first proposed, the Irish Academy would have every means for legitimate exertion and creditable success; but to participate it through the caution, condescension, or charity, of a connoisseur quorum, would be to meanly exist on the mited wages of their own servility and dishonour. N. M. SONNET FROM PETRARCH. "Son animali al mondo di si fiera." SOME animals there are, whose stronger sight Some like the moth enamour'd of the light Too weak to bear the lustre of that eye In sheltering cave till twilight's shadowy gloom, I with unsteady wing, but steady will, FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION. THIS splendid work is an additional illustration of the long established claims of this country to preeminence in the improvement of maritime science, the discovery of new sources of human intercourse, and the advancement of those branches of natural history which are at once curious and useful. The arduous enterprize of exploring by land the northern coast of America, by the shores of Hudson's Bay, from the mouth of the Copper-Mine river to the eastward, with the view of facilitating the discovery of a North-West passage, was entrusted by his Majesty's government to Captain Franklin, who embarked on the 23d of May, 1819, on board the ship Prince of Wales, at Gravesend. The instructions given to Captain Franklin were judicious, full, and clear. He was informed, that the main object of the expedition was that of determining the latitudes and longitudes of the northern coast of North America, and the trending of the coast from the mouth of the Copper-Mine river to the Eastern extremity of that continent: that it was left to him to determine, according to circumstances, whether it might be most advisable to proceed, at once, directly to the northward till he arrived at the sea-coast, and then explore westerly towards the Copper-Mine river; or advance, in the first instance, by the usual route, to the mouth of the Copper-Mine river, and from thence easterly, till he should reach the eastern extremity of that continent; that, as another principal object of the Expedition was to amend the very defective geography of the northern part of North America, he was to be very careful to ascertain correctly the latitude and longitude of every remarkable spot upon his route, and of all the bays, harbours, rivers, headlands, &c. that might occur along the northern shore of the Continent;-that, in proceeding along the coast, he should erect conspicuous marks at places where ships might enter, or to which a boat could be sent; and deposit information as to the nature of the coast for the use of Lieutenant Parry ;-that in the journal of his route, he should register the temperature of the air, at least three times in every twenty-four hours, together with the state of the wind and weather, and any other meteorological phenomenon ;—that he should not neglect any opportunity of observing and noting down the dip and variation of the magnetic needle, and the intensity of the magnetic force:-and that he should take particular notice, of any, and what kind or degree of influence the aurora borealis might appear to exert on the magnetic needle, and whether that phenomenon was attended with noise, &c. &c. The Lords of the Admiralty, anxious to promote the principal objects in view, selected, with peculiar care, three gentlemen, in every respect, qualified to cooperate with Captain Franklin. They were Doctor John Richardson, a surgeon in the royal navy, and Mr. George Back and Mr. Robert Hood, two admiralty midshipmen, who were joined with him in the Expedition. Doctor Richardson united, with his professional attainments, considerable knowledge as a naturalist, and Messrs. Back and Hood were not only capable of assisting in all Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819, 20, 21, and 22. By John Franklin, Captain R. N. F. R. S. and Commander of the Expedition. 4to. the requisite observations, but of making correct drawings of the land, the natives, and the various objects of natural history. The wisdom of government had also anticipated the advantages which might result from the expedition both to commerce and to science; for it appears that Captain Franklin was instructed to visit the spot on the CopperMine river, from whence native copper had been brought down by the Indians to the Hudson's Bay establishment, for the purpose of enabling Doctor Richardson to make such observations as might be useful for the improvement of trade or the study of mineralogy. After touching at Stromness, where Captain Franklin engaged four bowmen and steersmen to assist in the expedition, the Prince of Wales sailed on the 16th of June, and arrived at York Factory, Hudson's Bay, the 30th of August. Here, in consequence of the united opinions of the Governor and gentlemen belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, and the partners of the North-west Company, who were then under detention at the factory, Captain Franklin determined to proceed through the interior by the route of Cumberland House and the chain of posts to the Great Slave Lake. The route directly to the northward was, in fact, rendered impracticable by the impossibility of procuring guides and hunters along the coast, as well as by that of obtaining a vessel capable of conveying him as far north as Wager Bay. The Esquimaux inhabitants had also left Churchill a month previous to his arrival, and no interpreter could be procured from that quarter, before their return in the following spring. Captain Franklin passed but ten days at York Factory, all of which were busily employed in preparations for commencing the journey. The Governor supplied one of his largest boats, which was, however, too small to contain the provisions, stores, and ammunition, of which the expedition stood in need. The party commenced their voyage into the interior of America on the 9th of September, and the difficulties they experienced in the very outset, formed a melancholy presage of the fatigues and hardships for which they were reserved. The current was too rapid to admit of the use of oars to advantage, and the crew were compelled to drag the boat by a line to which they were harnessed. The operation was extremely laborious in these rivers, in consequence of the declivity of the banks, the roughness and wetness of the roads, and the trees, which impeded the passage in a great variety of directions. It was, however, constantly practised, so numerous were the rapids, rocks, and shoals they had to pass during their journey to Cumberland House, which occupied forty-four days. The travelling distance between York Factory and Cumberland House was about six hundred and ninety miles, and the position of the latter was, according to their observations, latitude 53° 56′ 40′′ N., longitude 102. 16. 41. W., by the chronometers; variation 17. 17. 29. E., dip of the needle, 83. 12. 50. Of the establishments maintained here by the Hudson's Bay and the North-west Company, Captain Franklin gives the following account: "The houses of the two Companies, at this post, are situated close to each other, at the upper extremity of a narrow island, which separates Pine Island Lake from the Saskatchawan river, and are about two miles and three quarters distant from the latter, in a northern direction. They are log-houses, built without much attention to comfort, surrounded by lofty stockades, and flanked with wooden bastions. The difficulty of conveying glass into the interior has precluded the use of that material in the construction of the windows, and its place is poorly supplied by parchment, imperfectly made by the native women from the skin of the rein-deer. Should this post, however, continue to be the residence of Governor Williams, it will be much improved in a few years, as he is devoting his attention to that point. The land around Cumberland House is low, but the soil, from having a considerable intermixture of limestone, is good, and capable of producing abundance of corn, and vegetables of every description. Many kinds of pot-herbs have already been brought to some perfection, and the potatoes bid fair to equal those of England. The spontaneous productions of nature would afford ample nourishment for all the European animals. Horses feed extremely well even during the winter, and so would oxen, if provided with hay, which may be easily done. Pigs also improve, but require to be kept warm in the winter. Hence it appears, that the residents might, with common attention, render themselves far less dependant on the Indians for support, and be relieved from the great anxiety which they too often suffer when the hunters are unsuccessful. The neighbourhood of the houses has been much cleared of wood, from the great demand for fuel; there is, therefore, little to admire in the surrounding scenery, especially in its winter garb; few animated objects occur to enliven the scene; an occasional fox, marten, rabbit, or wolf, and a few birds, contribute the only variety. The birds which remained, were ravens, magpies, partridges, cross-bills, and woodpeckers. In this universal stillness, the residents at a post feel little disposed to wander abroad, except when called forth by their occupations; and as ours were of a kind best performed in a warm room, we imperceptibly acquired a sedentary habit. In going out, however, we never suffered the slightest inconvenience from the change of temperature, though the thermometer, in the open air, stood occasionally thirty degrees below zero." During their residence at Cumberland House, which continued until the 18th of January, 1820, they had the most favourable opportunities of forming a correct estimate of the character, manners, usages, and opinions of the Crees, the Indians who inhabit the district belonging to that post. They are, indeed, thinly scattered, over an immense surface of country. The whole district extending about one hundred and fifty miles from East to West along the banks of the Saskatchawan, and about as far from North to South, and comprehending on a rough calculation, upwards of twenty thousand square miles, was then inhabited by only one hundred and twenty Indian hunters. Of these a few have several wives, but the majority have only one, and as some are unmarried, the number of married women may be considered as slightly exceeding that of the hunters. The women marry very young, have a custom of suckling their children for several years, and are besides constantly exposed to fatigue and often to famine; hence they are not prolific, bearing, upon an average, not more than four children, of whom two may attain the age of puberty. Upon these data, the amount of each family may be stated at five, and the whole population in the district at five hundred. The third chapter of the work, written by Doctor Richardson, and appropriated to this subject, contains a variety of interesting particulars. It appears, that the Crees are a vain, fickle, improvident and indolent race, not very strict in their adherence to truth, but at the same time observant of the rights of property, susceptible of the kinder affections, capable of friendship, very hospitable, tolerably kind to their women, |