propriate to the subject; a welldisposed collection of groups; and above all, that bustle which ought to characterise this sort of subjects, are found within the frame of this excellent picture. This is the worst of sports, torvi spectacula martis; but as the painting, representing these cruel scenes, exbibits, in general, horses painted with great passions, exertions and fire, they cannot be passed over without a glance from the admirers of that noble animal, who sports in the field with his rider, and participates his courage in the dangerous accidents of war.

No. 55. View of Laga di Bolsena-by JEAN BOTH. This beautiful landscape presents an extensive distance tastefully diversified. The fore ground is enriched by a singular and luxuriant display of trees, plants, and herbages, most correctly drawn, and so curiously painted, that the air seems to circulate freely between the branches and the leaves. The judicious introduction of an interesting groupe of nine figures, representing horsemen and foot soldiers escorting prisoners, and spiritedly touched by Andrew Botb, adds considerable interest to the scene: it had been purchased from the Clifford family, of Amsterdam, and at the sale of Sir Lawrence Dundas, in May, 1794, was bought for four hundred and eighty guineas.

No. 69. Cattle at a fountain— by BERGHEM. No diamond, or any other precious stone can boast of greater brilliancy and transparence than this small gem from the easel of that most pleasing translator of rustic beauties. Pales and Pan seem to have inspired Berghem and ground, with a smile of approbation, the glowing richness of his pallet. We regret that

this small jewel is placed rather too far from the focus of a common eye, since the peculiar beauties which it exhibits cannot be so ea sily enjoyed as if it were nearer the sight of the visitor.

No. 70. An allegory of peace and war-by RUBENS. It would take too much room in our columns, were we to give something like a description of this bold and truly sublime composition of the Flemish painter. We will only call the attention of the spectator to the fascinating and sportful attitude of the Panther on the foreground.

No. 79. A Village Feast-by D. TENIERS. In the inclosure of a country ale-house are seen upwards of forty-five figures, conversing, dancing, regaling, in familiar, ea sy, and interesting groupes; on the foreground are judiciously disposed kitchen and farming utensils. On the second plan is a groupe of twenty-five figures, engaged in similar sports. When we consider the animated and varied expression in the faces and attitude of the villagers; the silver brilliancy and force of colouring, and the spirited freedom of the pencil observable in every part of this composition, we cannot wonder at its having fetched the sum of eight hundred and forty guineas at the sale of Sir Lawrence Dundas's pictures mentioned above.

No. 83. An interior, with figures smoaking-ADR. VAN OSTADE. Every age of man sports in its way. The bahe sports with its coral-the boy sports with bis school-fellows the lad sports with his dogs and horses-the middle age mechanic sports at the ale house and here Ostade gives us this subject in his best manner.

No. 85. The village ball-by THE

SAME:

SAME. Deserves the admiration of the connoisseur, and the close study of the artist.

No. 97. A village fete-by TENIERS. This picture is one of those which Teniers painted con amore: every figure, the spot, all was known to him and his conTemporaries.

No. 123. Marshal Turenne on horseback by REMBRANDT. The character of the man portrayed, the talents of the painter, the bold manner in which the whole is brought upon the canvas, render this picture a real object of admiration.

No. 130. The Temptation of St. Anthony-by TENIERS. Here the sportful fancy of the artist displays itself with great success. This suhject was a favourite one with him,

and never did he seem to have sat at the easel with more pleasure, but when be indulged himself in embodying the most grotesque conceptions of his lively mind. It is wonderful that his fruitful imagination should have furnished his pencil so often with those whimsical figures, and that without repeating himself in the composition, he should have been able to eke out so many pictures on the same fantastic theme. The next number "The incantation," evinces greater warmth of genius, and the transparency of the pigments has defied the lapse of nearly two centuries, without sustaining the least injury.

a

We beg to observe, that in the above notices, we did not mean to select particularly the best sporting subjects in the exhibition; but that we walked the rooms with great delight, and made our obser. vations without any regard to priority in degrees of merit. So many of them speak for themselves, that we did not think the help of

a Cicerone necessary to explain their real worth.

[We accidentally omitted in our last to take notice of one of the best performances of Mr. A. CoopER, exhibited at the Royal Academy, namely, Cuthullin's car, from Ossian." We intended to observe that those who have seen, as well as the visitors who may still see this excellent picture, will fully coincide with us in the opinion, that it shews how rapidly this selftaught and ingenious artist is advancing on the road to perfection in the line of painting which he has chosen. He appears to have bestowed upon this composition a particular care, and a very great share of that vigour which his mind is known to possess.] June 17, 1815.

IF you think the following extract from a Statistical Account of Selkirkshire, lately published, may amuse any of your readers, its insertion will oblige

A SPORTSMAN. Grosvenor-square, June 2.

"There is, perhaps, no country in Scotland better calculated to engage the sportsman's attention than this, whether he delights in the manly and healthful exercise of sporting, or prefers the no less agreeable amusement of angling. In both of these, he will here find ample opportunity of gratifying his taste. The wild and beautiful scenery which characterises this district, forms the most secure and admirable retreats for the preservation of game, and particularly congenial to the shy and retired natures of their feathered inhabitants. The mode of guarding the moors from the depredations of poachers, (who, by the bye, are now hardly known) is extremely effectual. The shepherds, the only tenants of these solitary tracts, receive a trifling sum yearly, (seldom more than one guinea) to drive off all intruders, and they are never known to betray their trust. The hills abound with grouse, blackcock, moor-partridges, plover, &c. &c.; and the low grounds and cultivated fields with every species of game commonly found in similar situations. Pheasants have been introduced a short time since, and become every year more plentiful; the almost impenetrable natural copse which covers many of the hills, being admirably adapt VGL. XLVI.-No. 273.

ed for harbouring them. Lakes are very numerous among the hills, and swarm with fish of every variety, such as pike, trout, perch, eels, &c, but which, on account of the chrystal-like clearness of the water, renders it frequently difficult for the angler to be successful, unless in cloudy weather. Among these lakes, there is none which abounds with greater variety of fish, than that of Haining, on which the beautiful seat of J. Pringle, Esq. is situated, and which is well worthy a visit of the traveller. It is situated near the town of Selkirk, in the midst of that classic ground, rendered so interesting by the productions of the immortal Scott."

THE WILTSHIRE MOONRAKERS.

A Cause tried in the Court of Common Pleas, Westminster, June 5.

Welch v. Pearce.

THIS was an action brought by

an Artist, to recover 10l. 10s. for a picture and frame. The defendant keeps a public house in Bishopsgate-street, frequented by Wiltshire men. On one occasion they requested him to hang up a picture in his parlour that would remind them of their country: the defendant consented, and the subject was to be the Moon Rakers, a story peculiar to Wilts. It is jocosely related, that a customhouse officer once observed a party of Wiltshire men raking a pond for a cheese, which was only the reflection of the moon in the water. This subject was proposed to the plaintiff, who was ordered to make a sketch, and send it in with the price. The sketch was made, and 0

the

the price for a picture, four feet by three, was to be five guineas. His design was highly approved, but at a general meeting of the Wiltshire folks, the painter was instructed to add three things, viz. an owl, a haystack, and a smuggler, with two kegs of brandy on his shoulders. The picture was finished according to the order and sent home. The defendant was satisfied, and it was hung up in his parlour in a frame, for which the plaintiff was to be paid an additional five guineas, making his price for the whole 10l. 10s. A subject operating as a libel upon the county of Wilts, could not suit every taste, and some one of the Wiltshire men, rather displeased at the libel, or reflection, on the smuggling carried on in his county, very clandestinely and resolutely ran a poker through the smuggler's body. The picture with a large hole in it was then sent back to the plaintiff, and in order to get rid of it altogether, the defendant alleged that it had not been painted according to contract, inasmuch as it was painted on paper put upon canvas, and not upon canvas itself.

Mr. Justice Gibbs." Brother Best, do they really smuggle so much through the county of Wilts ?"

A. "O yes, my Lord, certainly they do."

Mr. Serjeant Vaughan, for the 'publican said, his client's object was to have a picture that could be scrubbed and washed clean, because the smoke in his parlour rendered that ceremony necessary at least once in twelve months. The plaintiff had received orders to paint it on canvas, but had thought fit to do it on paper, which would stand no washing. Commenting on the picture itself, which

was exhibited in Court, to the great amusement of all present : he declared the owl was a correct likeness of one of the plaintiff's witnesses, who had given his evidence in rather a nocturnal sleepy style: he said he should have thought a full moon sufficient indication of night without an owl, but looking a little closer at the picture, he found the moon might be taken for a batter pudding, and therefore the owl was required by way of glossary. It appeared under all the circumstances, that the plaintiff had received no orders to paint on canvas, and the Jury gave a verdict for Ten Guineas.

The cause afforded much mirth in Court.

For the Sporting Magazine.

THE BEE-HUNTER. An Extract from "Letters of an Ameri can Farmer."

AFTER I have done sowing, by

way of recreation I prepare for a week's jaunt in the woods, not to hunt either the deer or the bears, as iny neighbours do, but to catch the more harmless bees. I cannot boast that this chase is so noble or so famous among men, but I find it less fatiguing, and full as profitable; and the last consideration is the only one that moves me. I take with me my dog, as a companion, for he is useless as to this game; my gun, for no man you know ought to enter the woods without one; my blanket, some provisions, some wax, vermilion, honey, and a small pocket compass. With these implements I proceed to such woods as are at a considerable distance from any settlements. I carefully examine whether they

abound

abound with large trees; if so, I nake a small fire on some flat stones, in a convenient place. On the fire I put some wax; close by this fire, on another stone, I drop honey in distinct drops, which I surround with small quantities of vermilion, laid on the stone; and then I retire carefully to watch whether any bees appear. If there are any in that neighbourhood, I rest assured that the smell of the burnt wax will unavoidably attract them. They will soon find out the honey, for they are fond of preying on that which is not their own; and in their approach they necessarily tinge themselves with some particles of vermilion, which will long adhere to their bodies. I next fix my compass, to find out their course, which they keep invariably strait, when they are returning home loaded. By the assistance of my watch, I observe how long those are returning which are marked with vermilion. Thus possessed of the course, and, in some measure, of the distance, which I can easily guess at, I follow the first, and seldom fail of coming to that tree where those republics are lodged; I then mark it; and thus with patience, I have found out sometimes eleven swarms in a sea. son! and it is inconceivable what a quantity of honey these trees will sometimes afford. It entirely depends on the size of the hollow, as the bees never rest, nor swarm, till it is all replenished; for, like men, it is only the want of room that induces them to quit the maternal hive. Next, I proceed to some of the nearest settlements, where I procure proper assistance to cut down the trees, get all my prey secured, and then return home

with my prize. The first bees I

ever procured, were thus found in

the woods by mere accident, for at this time I had no kind of skill in this method of tracing them. The body of the tree being perfectly sound, they had lodged themselves in the hollow of one of its principal limbs, which I carefully sawed off, and with a good deal of labour and industry, brought it home, where I fixed it up in the same position, in which I found it growing.

This was in April, 1 had five swarms that year, and they have ever since been very prosperous. This business generally takes up a week of my time every fall, and to me it is a week of solitary ease and relaxation.

The seed is by that time committed to the ground. There is nothing very material to be done at home, and this additional quantity of honey enables me to be more generous to my home bees, and my wife to make a due quantity of mead. The reason, Sir, that you found mine better than others, is, that she puts two gallons of brandy in each barrel, which ripens it, and takes off that sweet luscious taste, which it retains a long time. If we find any where in the woods, no matter on whose land, what is called a beetree, we must mark it. In the fall of the year, when we propose to cut it down, our duty is to inform the proprietor of the land, who is entitled to half the contents. If this is not complied with, we are exposed to an action of trespass, as well as he who should go and cut down a bee-tree which he had neither found out nor marked.