MR. MEIGH'S PICTURE-GALLERY.

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Of those of the English school we may mention the following:-A small Portrait of Edmund Burke, by Sir Joshua Reynolds-A Portrait of Lavater, by Fielding--A Landscape, by Gainsborough ("the Broken Egg,") and another, by the same- "Robinson Crusoe," by A. Frazer—A splendid Picture of King Lear and his Daughters, by Hilton-A genuine Landseer-"The Smugglers," by Morland, (one of his finest efforts)-The "White Monk," by Wilson-A noble specimen of West's genius ("Poetus and Arria"), and "the Judgment of Hercules" by D. Mc. Clise, to which a peculiar interest attaches, as having obtained the gold medal of the Royal Academy.

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Two interesting paintings have been just added to the collection, viz.: the original Portrait of Prince Albert, painted at the Palace of Gotha, by George Potter, A. R. A.; and the original half-length Portrait of Queen Victoria in her Robes and Jewels of State, painted by Sully.

There is, yet, one of Wright of Derby, the subject and history of which entitle it to more than ordinary notice in our pages. It is a moderate-sized painting, (the "Maid of Corinth," the Potter's Daughter, mentioned by Pliny, as having given the first idea to the sculptor of a bold imitation of the human form,*) executed for the late Josiah Wedgwood, Esq., and which having been put into the hands of a London picture-dealer, to be framed or cleaned, was seized with the rest of his stock by the sheriff, under an execution, and sold or removed, unknown to its real owner. At length it has found its way back to the immediate neighbourhood of the spot it was intended to adorn, and will be a lasting monument of the fine classical conception of the artist and his employer. The figures of the youth and maiden are models of Grecian beauty. The youth is sitting on a couch, in a slumber, with his spear by his side, and his dog at his feet. The maiden is anxiously pencilling his profile on the wall, upon which it is reflected by a lamp concealed by a curtain, but which throws a soft yellow light over the apartment. In the back-ground is a potter's oven, glowing with intense heat. There is something so characteristic in this beautiful painting, and so suitable to its present situation, that we, looking at it with the fondness of local association, and not with the eyes of connoisseurs, cannot but consider it as one of the most valuable of the collection, and its possessor as being particularly fortunate in its acquisition.

The following translation, from Pliny, of this curious passage, is submitted to our readers:

ON THE PLASTIC ART.-" The art of modelling likenesses from clay was first introduced at Corinth, by Dibutades, a potter of Sicyon, through the instrumentality of his daughter, who, being enamoured of a young man intending to go abroad, drew an outline of his face upon the wall by lamplight, which her father converted into a likeness by a covering of clay, and then put among his other wares; and, when hardened by the fire, brought forth to view. It is said, this very type was preserved in the Temple of the Nymphs until Corinth was ravaged by Mummius.”—PLINY, Lib. 35, Cap. XII.

Of Mr. Meigh's valuable library we can merely find room to observe, that it contains at least 4,000 volumes of the most select works on Theology, History, Biography, Poetry, and Miscellaneous Literature, besides a large and curious collection of drawings and engravings.

We may observe, that Mr. Meigh has greatly improved and embellished the neighbourhood of his residence, by purchasing and planting the site of a large pot-work (formerly W. Shirley's), by widening the approach into Shelton from Newcastle, and by many local alterations.

The elegant modern mansion of Mr. John Ridgway, at Caldon Place, requires no notice in our pages to direct public attention to its striking character. The opposite mansion of Mr. Bishop, solicitor, called Shelton Hall, erected about the year 1782, by the brothers Charles and Ephraim Chatterley, eminent and opulent manufaturers, is little inferior in external beauty, and more advantageously seated for air and prospect.

Most of the houses we have mentioned have tasteful gardens and pleasure-grounds attached, and may be ranked as elegant town-houses or suburban villas, calculated to afford to their owners every degree of domestic enjoyment and accommodation.

We have endeavoured to be impartial in our preceding notices; and venture to hope some, at least, of the gentlemen whose seats we have so cursorily described, will kindly contribute engraved views of them, for the embellishment of this part of our work, and thus supply the accuracy of representation which no verbal description can possibly convey.

Of professional persons in Hanley and Shelton the number is subject to constant increase or fluctuation; but, at the period of our writing, there are, of attorneys and solicitors, five or six; and, of surgeons and apothecaries, eight or nine.

Hanley and Shelton.—(Continued.)

TRUNK.

PUBLIC WHARFS.-JUNCTION OF THE CALDON-CANAL WITH THE GRANDESTIMATE OF TRAFFIC. TABLE OF FREIGHT. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE INFIRMARY.-POTTERY RACES.-MECHANICS' INSTITUTION SAVINGS' BANK.-HANLEY AND SHELTON NATIONAL SCHOOLS. -THE BRITISH SCHOOL. BETHESDA CHAPEL, SCHOOLS, AND LIBRARY. -THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION. THEIR OTHER CHAPELS AND SCHOOLS.-WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPELS AND SCHOOLS.-INDEPENMETHODISTS.-TABLE OF CHURCHES, SCHOOLS.-INFLUENCE OF THE DISSENTING BODIES

CHAPTER XVIII.

DENTS.-BAPTISTS.-PRIMITIVE

CHAPELS, AND

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

WHAT still remains to be said of these united townships relates to their commercial affairs, public institutions, religious societies, schools, and other matters of a more general nature, which every important town or district considers entitled to particular notice in a local history.

The various public wharfs, at which the raw materials are landed, and from which the manufactured goods are principally forwarded, are situate on the Grand Trunk Canal, near Etruria, (which are called Etruria Wharfs,) and near the lower extremity of Shelton, (which are called Shelton wharfs.) They have spacious warehouses, sheds, and accommodations, and are held by various carryingcompanies. A railway, for horse-draught only, extends from Etruria Wharfs to near the middle of Hanley, about two-thirds of a mile.

The principal Wharfs here are occupied by the following carriers or firms:-HUGH HENSHALL & Co. (the Company's