532 . Improved Dictionary of the English Language. 
mismatics, history, archzology, literature, 
and the fine arts, perhaps, in the worid. 
Should Europe fortunately be blessed 
with a peace between the present con- 
tending powers, we, perliaps, may toge- 
ther compare the Napoleon with: ihe 
‘British Museum. J can only enjoy this 
pleasure in imagination. 
These exquisite antiquities are deposited 
in the new suite of rooms, or gallery, 
built for the purpose, from designs, by 
Mr. Sanders, the architect, who has 
proved himself by this building, as well as 
other honourable testimonies of his skill 
to be no mean proficient in bis art. 
This gallery is divided into thirteen apart- 
ments, the first of which you enter imme- 
diately from the west wing of the origi- 
nal building. Ic is a handsome well- 
proportioned room, appropriated to the 
terra-cottas and relievos, which are insert- 
ed in the stucco of the walls. The second 
room is circular, and lighted from above, 
containing Greek and Roman scuiptures, 
admirably arranged for effect of light 
and shade; the walls are beautifully stuc- 
coed, and painted in fresco, as are all 
the rooms of this elegant gallery, The 
effect in this cireular room, (which looks 
like the vestibule of the palace of the 
goddess of Art) from which you look 
downwards on the principal rooms of 
the antiquities and sculptures, is uncom- 
monly striking; a beautiful figure ofa 
discobolus finishes the perspective, the 
light and. shade of which, thrown from 
asuperior window, are truly magical. 
Vhe wooden pedestals on which some 
ofsthe busts are placed are fine speci- 
mens of the skill of the painter in imitat- 
ing antique marbles ; they really deceived 
me, The third, fourth, and sixth rooms 
contain other specimens of Greek and 
Roman sculptures. The filth is entirely 
appropriated to Romansepulchral antiqui- 
ties so very curious, and so well adapted 
in their several catacombs and niches, and 
having a real Roman tessellated pave- 
ment, discovered in digging the foundation 
f the new buildings at the Bank of Eng- 
land, and presented by that opulent body ; 
that were architecture rather more 
grave, you might fancy yourself in a Ro- 
man family mausoleum, The seventh is 
also appropriated to Roman antiqui- 
ties; the eighth and ninth to the Egyp- 
tian antiquities before-mentioned-; the 
tenth to Greek and Roman sculp- 
tured marbles; the eleventh to coins and 
medals ; the twell/th, an elegant and spa- 
‘cious room, up stairs, to Sir William Ha- 
milton’s vases, Penates, or houschold 
{Jan. 1, 
gods, vessels, utensils, &c, and the thir- 
teenth to the valuable and extensive col- 
lection of prints and drawings ; the most 
important part of which was bequeathed 
by the spontaneous and splendid muni- 
ficence of the Rev. Clayton Mordaunt 
Cracherode, M. A. agentleman equally 
eminent for knowledge, taste, and ur- 
banity. The contents of this room, and 
the coins and medals, can be seen only 
by a few persons at a time, by particular 
‘permission, which I shail shortly obtain, 
and shall not farl communicating to you 
an account of them. . 
I purpose, introducing you through 
these rooms, beginning at the first, con~ 
taining the terra-cottas . aud relievos, 
which I shall reserve for my next letter, 
refreshing my memory and my notes ip 
the interval by another visit to this pa- 
lace of antique art, and taking leave to 
preface my observations with a few de 
sultory thoughts on the subject of alto, 
mezzo, and basso relievos. [am shortly 
going to Oxtord, and intend bringing 
home notes of the no less celebrated and 
beautiful collection of antiques buried 
there, and called the Arundel marbles. 
My paper scarcely leaves me room to say 
that I am, Your's, &c. M. 
a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
fs Bytence lately observed proposals 
from different quarters for publish- 
ing an improved Dictionary of the Eng- 
lish language, I feel myself induced to 
offer my sentiments on this subject, which 
I request the favour of communicating 
through the medium of your highly es- 
teemed miscellany. 
Tt must be acknowledged by all, that a 
work of this nature is in a peculiar man-~ 
ner a national concern; thatit ought to be 
at once the repository and standard for 
the literature of «people; that it derives 
its whole importance from the extent and 
degree of confidence, which it en- 
joys from the public; and that it ought 
not to be undertaken on light or frivolous 
grounds. Instead, therefore, of multi- 
plying the rash attempts of individuals to 
effect what surpasses the power of any 
one man; and thus crowding on the 
world several ponderons works of the same 
kind, no one of which is compleat, I 
cannot help thinking that if those who 
have directed their attention to plnlolo- 
gical pursuits,would unite themselves into 
a society similar to the French academy, 
the labours and opinions of many may be 
. * 30 
