vfw Jitempt to classify Certain luminoiis Vhcenpmena. 259 



nent sculptors and painters in this metropolis) have pub- 

 licly and unequivocally declared, that, in the view of pro- 

 fessional men, this collection must be far more valuable 

 than any other collection in existence." 



Two suggestions have iTiet with much approbation, iii 

 a view to the improvement to be obtained to sculpture 

 from these marbles and casts — "The first,- that casts of 

 all such as were ornaments on the temples should be placed 

 in an elevation, and in a situation, similar to that whicli 

 they actually had occupied ; that the originals should be 

 disposed in a view to the more easy inspection and study 

 of them ; and that particular subjects should occasionally 

 be selected, and prcn)iums given for the restoration of them. 

 This restoration to be executed on casts, but by no means 

 on the originals ; and in the museum itself, where the cha- 

 racterof the sculpture might be the more readily studied. 



"Secondly: From trials which lord Elgin was induced to 

 make at the request of professional gentlemen, a strong im- 

 pression has been created, that the science of sculpture, and 

 the taste and judgement by which it is to be carried forward 

 and appreciated, cannot so effectually be promoted as by 

 athletic exercises practised in the presence of similar works; 

 the distinguishing merit of which is an able, scientific, in- 

 genious, but exact imitation of nature. By no other way 

 could the variety of attitude, the articulation of the muscles^ 

 the description of the passions; in short, every thing a sculp- 

 tor has to represent, be so accurately or so beneficially un- 

 derstood and represented. 



*' Under similar advantages, and with an enlightened and 

 encouraging protection bestowed on genius and the arts, it 

 may not be too sanguine to indulge a hope, that, prodigal 

 as nature is in the perfections of the human figure in this 

 country, animating as are the instances of patriotism, heroic 

 actions, and private virtues, deserving commemoration, 

 sculpture may soon be raised in EngUnd to rival tlie ablest 

 productions of the best times of Greece." 



XLVir. j^nAtteinpt to classijycci-tain luminous Phcenomena 

 observed abuuL the Sun and Mooji. By Thomas Fokst£R> 

 Ksq. 



To Mr. Tilloch^ 



Sir, X SHALL have frequent occasion, in meteorological 

 observations intended to be communicated through the me- 

 dium of the Philosophical Magazine, to mention certain 

 K 2 luminous 



