446 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[Dec. 8. 1855. 



civilised period of Grecian history turned, as 

 they are now slowly evolving at a time when the 

 civilisation of Europe may be considered as having 

 attained its acme, if it be not rather verging on 

 its decline. Sacred objects were the alleged mo- 

 tives in both cases. Tlie differences mainly con- 

 sist in the implements of warfare, and the powers 

 engaged ; otherwise, ancient history might be 

 read as modern, by merely inserting the modern 

 names. Take the following passage from the 

 speech of Demosthenes on the crown for an ex- 

 ample, and suppose Lord Palmerston in the place 

 of Demosthenes : 



" Look now at the circumstances of Alexander, whom 

 we have to contend with. In the first place he rules his 

 followers as an autocrat, the most important thing for 

 military operations. In the next place, they have arms 

 always in their hands : besides, he has plenty of money, 

 and does what he pleases — not giving notice to Parlia- 

 ment — not deliberating openly to the news-offices — not 

 brought to trial by a Committee on Sevastopol — not de- 

 fending himself against charges of misprision of treason 

 — not responsible to any one — but himself absolute mas- 

 ter, leader, and lord of all. I, who was matched against 

 him — for it is right to examine this — what had I under 

 mycontroul? Nothing. Public speech, for instance, the 

 only thing open to me — even to this you invited his hire- 

 lings as well as myself; and Avhenever they prevailed 

 over me (as often happened from some cause or other), 

 your resolutions were passed for the enemy's good. Still, 

 under these disadvantages, I got for your allies Turks, 

 Franks, Sardinians, Portuguese; from whom were col- 

 lected 45,000 mercenaries, and 2000 horse, besides the 

 national troops. Of money too I procured as large a 

 contribution as possible, on credit." 



Compare Dindorf edit., vol. i. p. 222., London, 

 1825 ; and Kennedy's Translation (Bohn's edit., 

 p. 88.). 



The Sevastopol of Philip was Olynthus. The 

 celebrated letter of Piiilip has its countarpart in 

 the mission of Menschikoff, and in the circular of 

 l^esselrode. 



Some persons may think that the reasoning of 

 the Russians was equally unassiiilable, as Mitford 

 and Leland consider that of Philip to have been. 

 Certainly the reported reply of Demosthenes is 

 but a ministerial evasion, and has its analogon in 

 the Viennese note. 



Mitford thinks that Philip was a goodruatured 

 easy person. It has been the policy of the Rus- 

 sian Czars to endeavour to impress others with a 

 like favourable opinion, and in many quarters 

 they have succeeded. Commerce and the corn 

 trade had a great influence on the ancient dispute, 

 as it probably may yet have on the present con- 

 flict. The Czar has gained credit for moderation 

 with neutral states — Austria, Prussia, Naples, 

 Greece, &c. — as Philip did with those of the old 

 time. But this credit, in both cases, may be re- 

 garded rather as the effect of fear. Such neutral 

 states are convertible into allies by the success of 

 either party. T. J. Bdckton. 



Lichfield. 

 No. 319.] 



TOENER THE PAINTEB : HIS EMINENCE PREDICTED. 



The late Thomas Greene, of Ipswich, author of 

 Extracts from the Diary of a Lover of Literature 

 (4to., Ipswich, 1810), was a devoted admirer of 

 the fine arts, and possessed a sound and cultivated 

 judgment. Of this the following excerpts from 

 his Diary, relating to the late J. M. W. Turner, 

 R.A., bear evidence, and will be read with in- 

 terest : 



" June 2, 1797. Visited the Eoyal Exhibition. Par- 

 ticularly struck with a sea view by Turner ; fishing 

 vessels coming in, with a heavy swell, in apprehension of 

 a tempest gathering in the distance, and casting, as it 

 advances, a night of shade, while a partino; glow is 

 spread with fine effect upon the shore. The whole com- 

 position bold in design, and masterly in execution. I am 

 entirelj' unacquainted witli the artist; but if he proceeds 

 as he has begun, he cannot fail to become the first in his 

 department." 



" June 3, 1799. Visited the Royal Exhibition, and was 

 again struck and delighted with Turner's landscapes; 

 particularly with fishermen in an evening, a calm before 

 a storm, which all nature attests is silently preparing, and 

 seems in death-like stillness to await; and Caernarvon 

 Castle, the sun setting in gorgeous splendour behind its 

 shadowy towers. The latter in water-colours, to which 

 he has given a depth and force of tone, which I had never 

 before conceived attainable with such untoward imple- 

 ments. Turner's views are not mere ordinary transcripts 

 of nature, he always throws some peculiar and striking 

 character into the scene he represents." 



These extracts, which read like passages from 

 Modern Painters, exhibit an appreciation of the 

 genius of a young and almost unknown artist 

 (Turner was then twenty-five), and a belief in its 

 continuous development, as remarkable as that 

 claimed by the late AVilliam Carey, that intelli- 

 gent and zealous advocate of the British School of 

 Art, who was the first to perceive in the youth- 

 ful genius of Chantrey the indications of future 

 eminence, and the source of national glory. 



By the way, would not this Diary, now become 

 scarce, replete as it is with able remarks and sa- 

 gacious criticism, bear republication in more com- 

 modious form ; together with the continuation, as 

 contributed through the son of Mr. Greene to the 

 Gentleman s Magazine for 1834, and succeeding 

 volumes ? William Bates. 



Birmingham. 



HENRY VIII.'S DIVORCE FROM ANNE OF CLEVES. 



The following commission, issued by Henry VIII. 

 before his divorce from Anne of Cleves, has never, 

 so far as I am aware, been printed. There is a 

 copy of it among the Cotton MSS., much injured 

 by the fire ; but the original is enrolled on Patent 

 Roll 32 Henry VTir., p. 7. m. (34.) in dorso. The 

 Privy Seal Bill on which it was framed is also in 

 the Rolls Chapel : 



" Pro Regp..'] Rex Archiepiscopis Cantuariensis et Ebo- 



