esteemed so abroad. In a comparative view, we shall find the English actor copying the picture of nature; while the French actor, attracted by trifles, too often runs into the pursuits of art. The performers on the French stage pay the most implicit attention to every circumstance of the scene; and in general are so absorbed in their own characters, as to appear wholly unconscious of an audience. The duties of the actor, here, must be ex tremely arduous; since the Theatres being constantly open, the exertions of the performer are in a continual state of requisition. The penalties attached to any breach of pub lic engagement, are, unlike the following, severe indeed. A favourite actor, having at one time refused to perform, alledging that the weather was too hot,, was without further appeal, put into immediate confinement. [To be continued.] FAMILIAR LECTURES ON USEFUL SCIENCES. THE CULINARY SYSTEM. THIS is one of the most important branches of domestic economy, as it relates to the convenience and comfort of life; and, by general custom, it has mostly devolved upon females. We do not, however, wish to be understood that the art of cookery, in the lower and mere practical part, is a fit object of female study; but the knowledge of marketing, the taste and skill in the display and ornament of a table, and the general management of a family, which involves the practice of many virtues (economy in particular), all these are very proper objects for the attention of females of every condition. "A book of cookery, says an elegant writer on this subject, should as nearly as possible resemble a college dispensatory, where the quantities are correctly stated, in consequence of the bulk of the composition being previously determined upon; but in the culinary art, where the quantity contained in a dish cannot be ascertained, we are unavoidably left, in many cases, to depend on the taste and judgment of the cook, into whose hands we commit our own health, and that of our posterity." It is our purpose in this and the following es says, to take up the art of cookery as subsidiary to economy, and to the elegant, but unostentatious display of the table.-We shall not treat it as the science of epicurism and gluttony, or as one of the means of getting rid of the incumbrance of a large fortune; we shall investigate and recommend it as the source of much domes Numerous books have been written upon the subject of cookery, and the press is daily groaning with them. Most of these treatises have been deficient in design and order, and all have encouraged unbounded and shameful prodigality in the management of a kitchen, and the preparations of the respective dishes. They pretic comfort and credit, and as a branch of fami pare receipts for the fortunes of Princes and East India Directors, and write as if a whole estate was to be consumed in dinners. At the same time they have no regard to the health or constitution, but with a merciless and unsparing hand, scatters gouts, indigestions, fevers, surfeits, through their savory stews and ragouts. One would suppose that their favourite precept was "eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow you die;" since it must be confessed that those who should live after their plan would meet their fate in a very few years. But extravagance and general injuriousness to health are not the only objections against these culinary writers; they are no less obscure than prodigal in the directions they give, and the receipts they prepare. A penny-worth of this, and a pinch of that are indefinite expressions. No. I. Vol. I. liar knowledge necessary to every mistress of a house, and to every female whether high or low, in the ranks of society. In the precepts we give, it is not our purpose to study originality, but cheapness, accuracy, justness and elegance.-We shall not be above borrowing from those who have written upon this subject, provided we agree with them; for our object is to form a good, comprehensive, and intelligible digest, rather than to propose any new system of our own. We shall commence with some miscellaneous observations for the use of the mistress of a family, by which much will be saved, and the general appearance greatly improved. "The mistress of a family should always remember that the welfare and good management of the house depend on the eye of the superior, G wards. that nothing is too trifling for her notice, by must be charged.-Perhaps the irregularity of which waste may be avoided. payment may have much evil influence on the "If a lady has not been accustomed, whilst price of various articles, and contribute to the single, to think of family management (a cir-destruction of many families in gradation down. cumstance, however, which should not be neglected in education), let her note upon that account, fear that she cannot attain it; she may consult others that are more experienced, and acquaint herself with the necessary quantities of the several articles of family expenditure, in proportion to the number it consists of. "A minute account of the annual income, and the times of payment, should be taken in writing; likewise an estimate of the supposed amount of each article of expence; and those who are early accustomed to calculations on domestic subjects, will acquire so accurate a knowledge of what their establishment requires as will give them the happy medium between prodigality and parsimony, without acquiring the character of meanness. "It is very necessary that a woman should know the price and quality of all articles in common use, and the best times and places of purchasing them. "A false notion of economy leads many to purchase as bargains what is not wanted, and sometimes never used. Were this error avoided, more money would remain for other purposes. "Some things are better for keeping, and, being in constant consumption, should be laid in accordingly; such as paper, soap, and candles. Of these inore hereafter. "A proper quantity of household goods should always be ready, and more bought in, before the others are consumed, to prevent inconvenience, especially in the country. "Ready money should be paid for all such things as come not into weekly bills; and the best places for purchasing be industriously inquired out. In teas, particularly, a large dis-be compared with these when brought home" count is allowed in London, and other cities; and those who thus pay are usually best served. A bill of parcels and receipts should be required, even if the money be paid at the time of purchase; and to avoid mistakes, let the goods "Meats, sugars, &c. &c. should be weighed when brought in, and compared with the charges. The butcher should be ordered to send the weight with the meat, and the cook to file these checks to be examined when the weekly bill "Under the idea of buying cheap, people usually go to new shops; but it is safest to go to tradesmen of established credit, and acknow-shall be delivered. ledged fair dealers, who do not dispose of their goods by underselling. "To make people wait for their money injures them greatly, besides that a higher price "Thus regularly conducted, the exact state of money affairs will be known with ease; for it is delay of payment which occasions confusion." (To be continued.) BOTANY. Directions for forming a Collection of dried Plants, or Hortus Siccus. THAT Science which teaches us to distinguish one plant from another, and leads us to the knowledge of its properties, is called Botany. To the credit of the age, this science which had been so long neglected in this country, is cultivated with considerable success, and some knowledge of Botany, and the management of the Flower-Garden, is thought necessary to complete the education of a fashionable female. In this and the following Essay, it is not our intention to go into the more abstruse, parts of the science, but to give some precepts easily retained, and highly useful to the lovers of Botany. To teach this science properly, we must make the student acquainted with every particular part of a plant, and its use. This we shall accordingly do in a future Essay; but we must first premise a few necessary hints and general observations. Our fair readers, therefore will receive this as their first lesson in Botany. The first object of a student is to acquire an accurate knowledge of every plant as it falls in her way, whether straying in the fields, or walking in the green-house. She must possess what may be called a Botanical eye, that she may be able to examine with readiness the stems, the leaves in all their varieties, the mode of inflorence, and all the other conspicuous parts of a plant, so as to distinguish it with accuracy from those which resemble it. In this way she learns to know plants by their external appearance or habit. With this knowledge, however, she must not be contented, but endeavour to attain an intimate acquaintance with the parts of the flower of the fruit; so as to be able to form distinct characters from these particulars; and till she has attained this acquaintance, her knowledge cannot be said to rest on scientific principles. To derive the proper advantages from such knowledge, she must endeavour to imprint the form of the plants upon her memory.-But, as from the immense number of plants, this is almost impossible, and often at particular seasons of the year, plants, which we wish to compare together, are not to be found, we must endeavour to assist ourselves, by a collection of dried plants, usually called, a Hortus Siccus, or Herbarium. The rules to be observed in forming such a collection, are the following: RULES FOR FORMING A HORTUS SICCUS. 1. The plant is to be laid between folds of blossom paper, the parts of it properly spread out, and the paper often changed, that the plant may not shrivel or become black.-This is to be done in a place moderately warm, where the sun enters freely, and the current of air is not interrupted. 2. In drying the plant, care must be had, that we give the parts no direction which is unnatural to them; for instance, we must not give to a flower which naturally hangs down, an erect position; flower-stalks that are attached to one side, must not be turned to both; a bent or procumbent stem, must be preserved in that state, &c. 3. The plants must be gathered at that particular season, when they possess all the characters by which they are distinguished from others. If t difference be found in the root, in the radical leaves, or in the fruit; those parts, as being essential to a right discrimination of it, must not be wanting. 4. Plants must not be gathered in moist weather, because at that time they generally turn black in drying; and when it so happens, they must be left to dry for some time in the air. for some minutes, and then dried in blossom paper, in the usual way; but the paper must be often changed. The flowers must not be allowed to get wet, and they must be pressed softly. 6. Succulent, and at the same time, tender plants, such as the Iris, must be dried between folds of writing paper; but this paper must not be opened till the whole plant is thoroughly dry. 7. The Lechens are dried in the common way. 8. But the Musci must be carefully plucked asunder, and thrown into a vessel of water, and then laid between two leaves of moistened writing paper, which may be put in an old book, with a considerable weight upon it. 9. A press is likewise used for thistles and other strong leaved plants. 10. The Fungi are not easily preserved; but the smaller kind may be dried; and a few of the larger may be prepared by plunging them into boiling water. When a collection of dried plants is thus made (the first step to the knowledge of Botany) they are to be laid each in a sheet of white paper, and arranged according to some system, and kept in a close cabinet, that they may not be eaten by insects. In the drawers of such cabinets may be placed small bits of sponge, dipped in oil of rosemary, by which these depredators may be kept off. Some Botanists, and Linnæus himself, advise the glueing or pasting of the plants to paper; but many inconveniencies attend this practice; for in this case we can only see one side of the leaf or the flower, and when it is small we can. not see it all.-For a botanist, it is much more convenient to keep the plants loose, because it is often necessary to unfold the flowers, and observe their forms, and we can occasionally substitute a better specimen for an indifferent one, which is not so easily done when the plant is pasted.If the student, however, wishes to fit his plants, slips of paper may be used, laid over the stem, and pasted on both sides; or they may be fixed with a thread. In our next we shall describe the outer surface or exterior qualities of plants, by which they may be easily known, and the students guided 5. Succulent plants are dried either with a warm stone or hot iron; or, which is better, they are dipt in boiling water, and kept there in their collection. [To be continued] G2 HERALDRY. SIR, Observing that you have devoted a portion of your Magazine to a familiar elucidation of the Science of Heraldry, I offer myself to undertake this department. My claim, as an Instructor of your Readers, is that of nearly thirty years passed in the study of Heraldry, which is likewise my profession. So much has been already written about the origin of Armorial Ensigns, without coming to any positive decision upon the subject, that it seems as it would be wasting time either to renew the question, or repeat the assertions or arguments of others. The modern use, too, is so different from antiquity, that a description of the one would scarcely be in the slightest degree applicable to the other. The modern use, how- ever, apparent, and it will therefore be perhaps more easy, and very probably more agreeable, to exemplify the ancient by the modern, than the modern by the ancient. I propose, therefore, to take, for the present, the practice as we find it; to speak of that practice as we think it deserves, and occasionally, of course, to compare the manners of our contemporaries with those of our ancestors. In doing this we shall endeavour to avoid all interference with the Professors of the Science of Heraldry, while, at the same time, we shall claim the privilege of offering our sentiments candidly and fairly; ever ready to accept and acknowledge su perior information or to bow to correction. The first rudiments of any science are generally dry and barren of entertainment; in Heraldry this is particularly the case, for though its prac. tice is the object of daily and hourly observation and interest, its origin and laws are so connected with the remotest antiquity, that it is difficult to relish or comprehend the one, without a reference to and taste for the other. To obviate this, I propose to divide my future papers on the subject into two parts:-1st. A Summary Detail on the Laws and Regulations of Heraldry and Blazon, as now practised; and 2dly, Of such Heraldic Anecdotes, of ancient or modern Dates, as may appear to offer amusement or interest to my readers, and serve as a kind of comment on the first. FINE ARTS. M. DE WICAR's Account of the Education, Talents, Works, &c. of the late celebrated Painter, SIR, M. Harriet. success; but the rapidity of his progress was con"I received your letter, in which you re-spicuous, as soon as he entered the Academy of quested some details of the late M. Harriet, an artist of the most distinguished talents. "What I shall venture to say of him, must be brief, as I was only acquainted with him during the two years that I studied with him at M. David's Academy. You must therefore consider my narrative rather as my observations of his studies, than a continued history of the different epochs of the life and works of that distinguished Painter, having been deprived of his company since the year 1796, the time in which I left Paris, till the moment of his arrival at Rome. M. David, the first painter to the Emperor of the French, and most assuredly, with the single reservation of the English West, one of the first artists in Europe of the present age. After having obtained all the Academy prizes, our young artist disputed the principal laurel for the year 1794. The subject was, The Funeral of Junius Brutus. Harriet was then only 17 or 18 years of age; he produced, however, a painting full of force, sentiment, expression, and dignity, a promise of what might one day be expected of him. "The Judges, composed of the most cele"His first studies were constantly crowned with brated artists and literary men, adjudged him the palm, after a most learned and scientific public conceptions of the nature of his subject. He traced out no study, he made no preliminary discussion, of which I was witness. It was on the sketches like many great masters. naked canvass that he composed, it was here alone that he traced and painted from nature, every object that was to form the composition of that great work. If that bold, and almost unex "This triumph was highly important to young Harriet, as many competitors disputed with him the honour, who appeared to possess a more consuminate talent in some details of the art, and who have enjoyed in France a well-merited reputation among the painters of the first emi-ampled method in the annals of painting has nence. "After so brilliant a success, obtained with such honours, what might not have been expected from the exalted talents that our young artist evinced? If the circumstances of the French Revolution had not constantly opposed the departure of the State Pen ioners to Rome, Harriet might have adorned that city since the year 1795; but he continued to study with the greatest success at the Academy of our illustrious master, and his progress was so astonishing, that David himself was proud of the productions of an artist who seemed to have understood the great maxims which have assigned to him almost the first place in modern painting. "What shall I say of his arrival at Rome? he came there with the project of executing one of the most brilliant and difficult subjects of Roman history: Horatius Cocles defending the Sublician Bridge against the whole Army of Porsenna, a painting of about 20 feet long, by 26 wide. "Persuaded, like his master, that it was at Rome alone where such subjects should be executed, he brought with him some exquisite colours, made at Paris, and commenced the painting of the dimensions, in a manner which astonished the boldest and most enterprising artist. Scarcely had he marked out the first figure, and the first groups on the vast canvass, than he resolved completely to change his sketch: Rome had already exalted his ideas, and given him new SIR, difficulties which are not alwayss timely discovered, it has indubitably the inestimable advantage of giving that vivacity, energy, soul, and even movement, and particularly that original truth, which is necessarily diminished when copies are made from things already copied.— This is the true character which has exalted the name of M. Harriet, in what he has left us of his painting; the same energy, the same design, the same sentiment of expression, of colouring, and of touch, which distinguishes the works of the celebrated David, and to the extent, that the beholder might be induced to believe, that the production is entirely from the pencil of that illustrious master. "Death has lately torn this valuable artist from the praises and fond hopes of the nation. His loss is universally regretted at Rome, particularly among the artists, and the amateurs of the art: his personal qualities corresponded with his great talents. "I have neither solicitude nor talent for the profession of writing, it is solely to satisfy your desires, to render homage to truth, and to pay a tribute to the illustrious master who adorns the French nation, and to his exalted student who is no more, that has induced me to send you the above sketch. "I entreat you to accept my highest consideration, and am, Sir, Yours, &c. WICAR." SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE JAMES BARRY, R. A. As I perceeice that it falls within the plan of your Miscellany to consider the Fine Arts as holding no inconsiderable rank in the amusement and instruction of polished society, I avail myself of this opportunity to give you some account of the late James Barry, a Painter of the English School, and who, with all his eccentricities, must ever be regarded by men of taste and genius, as inferior to one Artist only of the present day; I mean the late President of the Royal Academy; and in pronouncing him second only to him, I conceive, Sir, that I cannot soar much higher in my encomiums. THE fine arts were deprived of this distinguished Painter on Saturday, Feb. 22. He died at the house of a friend, Mr. Bonami, in Titchfieldstreet. His death was occasioned by an apoplectic fit. Mr. Barry was born in the year 1788-9. His parents were settled at Cork, in Ireland. They intended to have educated him as a Priest for the Roman Catholic Church; but he discovered in very early youth an aversion to this plan of life, |