88 
grin—a bitter smile in the midst of agony— 
a contortion of the muscles of the mouth, 
that shews like a smile—a sort of grin of 
vexation. For this plant Captain Smyth 
made frequent inquiries—every body was 
familiar with the expression, and every body 
pretended to know the plant ; but no speci- 
men could he obtain. Some spoke of it as 
a parasitic growing among aquatic plants, 
called djurra at Terranova, and lohone at 
Tempio. Others affirmed that it in par- 
ticular adhered to water-cresses; and a 
farmer was very earnest with the sailors to 
throw away some very fine ones! The 
ranunculus sceleratus abounds—so acrid, as 
to give the mouth of the taster a twist, and 
of course a colour to the tradition. But 
Captain Smyth inclines to class it with other 
worn-out wonders of the island—such as the 
fountain that blinded robbers and perjurers, 
and sharpened the eyes of the good, and the 
ladies that had double pupils to theirs.— 
The feudal system, though represented as 
in full vigour, is not exactly so; for the 
vassal is free-born, and may change his lord 
and residence at will. While on the estate, 
he is subject to services of a degrading cast ; 
and an annual tribute is exacted, in money 
or goods, on all above eighteen years— 
besides demands for prisons, indemnities for 
robberies and fires, and exemptions from the 
debt of labour, &c.—if some of these are 
not rather to be called government taxes. 
Assassinations are shockingly numerous— 
quite enough to keep down any surplus 
population. 
So little has the island been permanently 
Monthly Review of Literature. 
[Juny, 
occupied by foreigners, since the Romans, 
that more of the Latin language remains 
than in any other of the southern dialects. 
A specimen is given, which would have 
been equally intelligible to a Roman as it is 
to a Sard. 
Deus, qui cum potentia incomprehensibili 
Nos creas, et conservas cum amore, 
Nos sustentas cum gratia indefectibili, 
Nos refrenas cum peena, et cum dolore- 
Cum fide nos illustras infallibili, 
Et nos visitas cum dulce terrore, 
Cum gloria premias bonos ineffabili, 
Punis malos cum poena interminabili. 
The words mostly end with a, w, or i, and 
are pluralized by adding s. The c is some- 
thing between the s and z, instead of the 
che of the Italians; and the ca resembles 
the Italian ci, or English ch, as in coewu— 
coach. The labials 6 and v are mutually 
substituted. Joseph Scaliger’s pun will be 
remembered, when speaking of the Sards, 
who are not remarkably abstemious—Felices 
populi, quibus didere est vivere. The fine 
arts, as we quaintly term them, are utterly 
unknown among them—they have neither 
painter, sculptor, nor engraver; and for a 
theatre, nothing but a barn or two. Even 
as artizans, they shew little skill or dexterity, 
except in gun-locks. They make no watches, 
or clocks, or any cutlery, but of the coarsest 
description. When sawyers work in unison, 
one stands upon the timber, as with us, but 
below there are two, and both sit. We must 
stop somewhere—let it be here. 
a a EE ES 
FINE ARTS’ EXHIBITIONS. 
Exhibition of Portraits of the most Il- 
lustrious Personages of British History, at 
Messrs. Harding and Lepard’s, Pall Mall, 
East. — The purpose of this exhibition, 
which has been opened gratuitously, and 
very numerously and fashionably attended, 
is that of displaying, at a single view, the 
entire collection of drawings prepared for 
the superb and national work, so well known 
by the name of “ Lodge’s Portraits and 
Memoirs of the most Illustrious Personages 
of the History of Great Britain.”” These 
drawings, or rather paintings, in water co- 
lours, have been executed by some of the 
most distinguished living artists, from the 
original and contemporary portraits pre- 
served in the several galleries and mansions 
(often of the descendants of the illustrious 
originals) which are scattered over the entire 
island; and while, by the accuracy and 
richness of their performanee, they present 
to the lover of art a uniform series of sub- 
jects, belonging to the portrait painting of 
the country during a period of three centu- 
Tier, and longer; they also present to the 
lover of English history and biography, a 
series of historical and biographical illus- 
trations as invaluable as it is rare. That 
the portrait painting of historical personages 
is the best species of historical painting, 
must be a truth which hardly admits of a 
question ; and which, least of all, will be 
controverted by any of those whe have en- 
joyed the opportunity of surveying the col- 
lection now referred to. 
The memoirs which have accompanied 
the engravings of these portraits, are from 
the pen of Mr. Lodge, and have obtained 
the general estimation of readers to a degree 
which renders further encomium needless. 
The beauty of style, and gentlemanly spi- 
rit, for which they are remarkable, are ac- 
companied by the happiest arrangemcnt of 
the narrative ; by coneision and perspicuity, 
and by the fruits of the most diligent re- 
search. 
The original folio edition (of which the 
cost was nearly two hundred guineas), and 
an imperial octavo edition, published in 
numbers, at intervals of two months, are 
now about to be followed by an edition in 
imperial oetavo, in monthly numbers ; and 
in each publication an equal beauty of me- 
chanical execution is preserved. The series 
2 also to be brought down to the present 
ate, : 
