1825.] , 
myself no enemy to metaphors, provided 
they be consistently sustained—that 
they present a complete and congruous 
picture to the mind’s eye: but the 
lion’s head, with a woman’s, breast and 
fish’s tail, is rather too hieroglyphic for 
my non-Egyptian taste. But that. were 
nothing to the unpicturable incongruity 
of this quotation. First, the nations of 
Europeare personified, properly enough, 
as so many aggregate human beings in 
rapid march: nor will I be so hyper- 
critical as particularly to object against 
their advancing in, not ¢o, or towards, the 
knowledge of their interests : especially, 
when I afterwards find, that this know- 
ledge they are to advance in, is a “ chan- 
nel.” But, will any of your ingenious cor- 
respondents be kind enough to inform 
me, what they understand by the sfoli- 
dity of despotisms, imposing cobweb fet- 
ters, not upon this marching regiment of 
nations, but upon a vast channel ? 
“that vast channel of intelligence and 
communication!” — And what isthat vast 
channel in which the nations are thus 
marching? —why, the liberty ofthe press! 
Alas! poor liberty of the press! what 
will become of thee ? Thy enemies, not 
only attempt to impose, but in reality 
do impose, fetters upon thee, somewhat 
heavier and stronger we fear than cob- 
webs :—not but that there are cobwebs 
enough, perhaps, in some of the damp 
and fetid dungeonsin which some of thy 
champions at this time are groaning :— 
But, now come the confederated band of 
friends and advocates from every nation 
of the civilized world, and turn poor 
liberty and her press together, types, 
compositors, pressmen, and all, into a 
mighty stream—a vast channel, ix which 
the congregated nations. march, and 
upon which stolidity attempts to impose 
cobweb fetters ! ! 
Let us hope, Mr. Editor, that Mr. 
Fuseli,* whose name appears as one of 
the associates of this wonderful con- 
federation of all the talents of all the 
nations, will edify us at the next Exhi- 
bition, with a stroke or two of his imagi- 
native pencil, and call into pictured life 
an adequate representation of this des- 
potic Mr. Stolidity, imposing “ cobweb 
fetters’’ upon a“ yast channel:” for my 
dull imagination can make nothing of it, 
As for this same Stolidity, which is to 
attempt such marvellous things, as the 
* This was written, as will be apparent 
from’ the date below, some months before 
can of that highly imaginative author. 
—Epit. ; 
Fine Aris :—The Exhibition, Royal Academy. 
527 
word was quite out of the sphere of-our 
acquaintance, I suspected, at first, that 
it was an error of the press; but, on 
looking into the Dictionary, I found 
that there was such a word once, which, 
when it was English (which from merited 
disuse, it has long ceased to be*) it 
meant stupidity ; and perhaps, Mr. Edi- 
tor, you may agree with me in the 
opinion, that there may be no impro- 
priety in giving it back again to this 
Joint-Stock Company of Mind, for 
Britain, France, Italy, Germany, &c., 
as a reward for their attempt to impose 
upomus the unnecessary revival. I re- 
main, &c. AnTI-STOLIDITUS., 
20th Feb. 1825. 
* Johnson has the word, without any 
notice of its being obsolete, and quotes 
3entley as his authority. But we believe 
our correspondent is right in trusting to 
Walker, who pronounces it to be “out of 
use.” The signature, however, should 
have been Anti-Stolidus, not © Stoliditus : 
unless, indeed, the barbarism was inten- 
tionally adopted for the purpose of cari- 
cature.—Exciv. 
FINE ARTS:— 
THE EXHIBITION, ROYAL ACADEMY. 
(Continued from No, 410, p. 434.] 
WE admitted, in our former Number, the 
general merit of the present exhibition. 
This is a feeling with which, at every repeti- 
tion of our visit, we are more and more im- 
pressed: for although there are still some 
pictures which ought not to haye been ad- 
mitted into a national academy, the nuin- 
ber is comparatively small, andthe general 
standard of comparative excellence is much 
higher than heretofore. For portraits in. 
general, we have little taste, unless when 
they bring before us objects of our particular 
regard and veneration; or when they woo 
our attention in the forms of beauty. Of 
this description, however, there are some 
others besides those already mentioned, 
that ought to haye been particularized,— 
as No. 9, Mrs. Morrison, by Pickersgill ; 
(53), Mrs. W. Turner, by Phillips; (63 and 
104); Lady Palmer and Child, and Mrs. H. 
Holden, by Shee; (and 92 and 111). Lady 
Jodrell and Child, and a Lady, &e., by. 
Sir W. Beechey. ty 
With respect to this last-named artist— 
in forms of female grace and loveliness, we 
confess ourselves rather disposed to give 
him the preference oyer the president him- 
self, 
