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and said to him, that he hoped they should both, in future, fight hand in hand for the good cause: adding, as there was then some prospect of General Dumourier's being employed in the British service, that there was no person, if we were to have joint operations by sea and land, with whom he would sooner act. The General was so overpowered by this generosity and grandeur of soul in our hero, that he could only articulate" Great Nelson! brave Nelson! I am unable to speak. I cannot make any reply to your goodness!" His lordship, finding the circumstances of General Dumourier very humble, for a man of his merits, kindly sent him a weighty purse next day, by Mr. Oliver, to whom the General feelingly expressed the utmost thankfulness.

While Lord Nelson remained at Hamburgh, he received, one morning, a very extraordinary visit. An Englishman, of gentlemanly address, called on his lordship, and requested to speak with him in private. Sir William Hamilton, conceiving the stranger's appearance to be suspicious, particularly as he held one hand under his coat, advised his lordship not to withdraw. Our hero replied that, though he had never before differed with Sir William in opinion, he must decidedly do so now. He felt conscious, he said, that he had done no ill; and, therefore, dreaded none. He then, with firmness, bade the stranger follow him into another apartment; who soon gave his lordship to understand, that he was no less a personage, than the famous Major Semple, of swindling notoriety. With a considerable degree of feeling, he detailed his miserable situation: an outcast from society; in the deepest distress; avoided, and despised, by every body. Lord Nelson protested, that he had not expected the honour of such a visit; but, nevertheless, returning to Sir William and Lady Hamilton, and mentioning who it was, kindly asked- What shall we do for the poor devil?" They accordingly gave him, between them, a purse of twenty guineas: his lordship tenderly remarking, that he seemed a man of talents; who had, probably, from some first error of early life, unchecked by friendly advice or assistance, finally sunk into a state of, perhaps, irrecoverable ignominy.

Lord Nelson had, in August 1805, no intention of again going speedily to sea. All his stores had been brought up from the Victory; and he was, he said, resolved to enjoy a little leisure, with his family and friends,

in the delightful shades of Merton. The Honourable Captain Blackwood,' a few days afterward, brought intelligence that the combined fleets, reinforced by two more Spanish squadrons, and now amounting to thirtyfour sail of the line, had left Ferrol, and got safely into Cadiz. All this, however, was nothing to him; "Let the man trudge it, who has lost his budget!" gaily repeated his lordship. But, amid all his allegro of the tongue, to his friends at Merton Place, Lady Hamilton observed that his countenance, from that moment, wore occasional marks of the penseroso in his bosom. In this state of mind, he was pacing one of the walks of Merton garden, which he always called the quarter-deck, when Lady Hamilton told him, that she perceived he was low and uneasy. He smiled, and said "No! I am as happy as possible." Adding, that he saw himself surrounded by his family; that he found his health better since he had been at Merton; and, that he would not give a sixpence to call the king his uncle. Her Ladyship replied, that she did not believe what he said; and, that she would tell him what was the matter with him. That he was longing to get at these French and Spanish fleets; that he considered them as his own property, and would be miserable if any other man but himself did the business; that he must have them, as the price and reward of his long watching, and two years uncomfortable situation in the Mediterranean: and finished, by saying"Nelson, however we may lament your absence, and your so speedily leaving us, offer your services, immediately to go off Cadiz; they will be accepted, and you will gain a quiet heart by it. You will have a glorious victory; and then, you may come here, have your otium cum dignitate, and be happy." He looked at her ladyship, for some moments; and, with tears in his eyes, exclaimed-"Brave Emma! good Emma! if there were more Emmas, there would be no more Nelsons. You penetrated my thoughts. I wish all you say, but was afraid to trust even myself with reflecting on the subject. However, I will go to town." He went, accordingly, next morning, accompanied by her ladyship and his sisters. They left him at the Admiralty, on the way to Lady Hamilton's house in Clarges Street; and, soon after, received a note, informing them that the Victory: was telegraphed not to go into port, and begging they would prepare every thing for his departure. This is the

true history of that affecting affair. Her ladyship feels, most severely, that she was the cause of his going; but, as she loved his glory, she could not resist giving him such advice. It is, however, the general opinion of those who best knew his lordship, that he would, in all probability, have fretted himself to death had he not undertaken this expedition.

THE ARTS.

No. XVIII.

ANECDOTES AND ECCENTRICITIES OF PAINTERS.

MARCO ANTONIO FRANCIABIGIO. This master painted a grand picture for the cloister of the nunziata at Florence. On its being uncovered by the monks, before it had received the ultimate finish, the painter, in a fit of, shame or rage, gave it some blows with a hammer, nor ever after could be induced to terminate it.

WILLIAM KAY, Kay's reputation was so well established at Antwerp, that the Duke of Alva sat to him. for his portrait; but whilst he worked on the picture, the judge-criminal and other officers waited on the Duke to receive his determinate orders, in regard to the Counts Egmont and Hoorn. The Duke, with a terrible austerity of countenance, ordered their immediate execution, and Kay, who understood the language in which they conversed, and also loved the nobility of his country, was so violently affected by the piercing look and peremptory command of Alva, that he went home, fell sick, and died, through the terror impressed upon his mind by the transaction. Some authors (and Sandrart in particular), to render that incident more surprising, or perhaps with, strict adherence to truth, assert, that he died on the same day those noblemen were executed; others affirm that he was struck with such terror only by looking at the enraged and fiery visage of the Duke, that he died immediately.

JOHN VAN KUICK. This artist having indiscreetly given some slight offence to the Jesuits at Dort, they persecuted him with a most unremitting severity, accusing him of heresy, and prevailed so far as to have him: imprisoned. He was kept in irons for a long time, although John Van Bondewinze, the chief justice, took all

possible pains to procure his enlargement; and Kuick, out of gratitude, painted a picture for that magistrate, representing the Judgment of Solomon, in which he de signed the portrait of his benefactor, for the head of the principal figure, as a particular compliment.

That picture having been finished during the confinement of the painter, it gave new offence to that unforgiving tribe, the Jesuits, who daily contrived means to increase the miseries of his imprisonment, and never ceased their persecution of him till they extorted a final sentence from the judge, condemning him to death. That sentence the Jesuits and Monks took care to have immediately executed; and they caused him to be burned alive, to the inexpressible concern of all protestants, who dreaded the tyranny and persecuting spirit of the church of Rome, and to the universal regret of all the lovers of the art of painting.

JOHN DE MABUSE. This painter is censured by all writers for his immoderate love of drinking; and it is confidently said, that having received, by order of the Marquis of Veren, a piece of brocade for a dress to appear in before the Emperor Charles V. he sold it at a tavern, and painted a paper suit so exceedingly like it, that the Emperor could not be convinced of the deception, till he felt the paper, and examined every part with his own hands.

THE MODERN ATHENIANS.

THE Athenians have perhaps to this day more vivacity, more genius, and a politer address, than any other people in the Turkish dominions. Oppressed as they are at present, they all oppose with great courage and wonderful sagacity, every addition to their burden, which an avaricious or cruel governor may attempt to lay upon them. During our stay, they by their intrigues, drove away three of their governors, for extortion and mal-administration; two of whom were imprisoned, and reduced to the greatest distress. They want not for artful speakers. and busy politicians, so far as relates to the affairs of their own city; and it is remarkable enough, that the coffeehouse, which this species of men frequent, stands within the precincts of the ancient Poikil. Some of their priests have the reputation of being learned men, and excellent preachers; and the most admired of them in our time, was

the abbot of St. Cyrianée, a convent on Mount Hymettus; he is a man of great reading, and delivers himself with becoming gesture, and a pleasing fluency of elocution. Here are two or three persons who practise painting; but whatever genius we may be tempted to allow thein, they have indeed very little science; they seem never to have heard of anatomy, or of the effect of light and shade; though they still retain some imperfect notions of perspective and of proportion. The Athenians are great lovers of music, and generally play on an instrument, which they call a lyra, though it is not made like an ancient lyre, but rather like a guitar, or mandola. This they accompany with the voice, and very frequently with extempore verses, which they have a ready faculty at composing.

There is great sprightliness and expression in the countenance of both sexes, and their persons are well proportioned. The men have a due mixture of strength and agility, without the least appearance of heaviness. The women have a peculiar elegance of form and of manner; they excel in embroidery and all kind of needle-work. The air of Attica is extremely healthy.

The articles of commerce which this country produces are chiefly corn, oil, honey, wax, rosin, some silk, cheese, and a sort of acorns, called velanede by the Italians and the French, but written Baλavions by the Greeks: these acorns are used by the dyers and leather-dressers. The principal manufactures are soap and leather. Of these commodities, the honey, soap, cheese and leather, and part of the oil, are sent to Constantinople; the others are chiefly bought by the French, of which nation they reckon that seven or eight ships are freighted here every year.

The Turkish governor of Athens is called Vaiwode. He is either changed or renewed in his office every year the beginning of March. The Athenians say, he brings the cranes with him, for these birds likewise make their first appearance here about that time; they breed, and when the young ones receive sufficient strength, which is some time in August, they all fly away together, and are seen no more till the March following.

Besides the Vaiwode, there is a Cadie, or chief man of the law. His business is to administer justice, terminate the disputes which arise between man and man, and to punish offenders. There is also a Mudeertese Effendi, who presides over the religious affairs of the Mohammedans here; and those who are designed to officiate in the

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