[Aug. 1, 
56 Month!]/ Retrospect cf the Fine Arts, ' 
from Ariosto, is distinguished by the 
beautiful simplicity of its melody ; and 
the very interesting effect produced 
from so very few notes . This cavatina is 
published in three different keys, the 
last of which may be useful to ladies 
who accompany a low-pitched voice 
with the pedal harp. The words are 
comprized in two couplers; and each 
may be repeated with rlF-orameuti, 
Sonata Concertante. Csmposed and dedicated 
to Mist Ricbardsy cf Bath, by William 
Slapp. bs. 
Though we would, by no means, be 
onderstood to say that this sonata is 
destitute of genius, we are obliged to 
deny its claims to any extraordinary 
commendation. Many ol the passages 
are excellent, separately considered, but 
do not blend kindly, or seem to arise out 
of each other; so that we have many 
beautiful parts without an attractive 
zchole. Mr. Slapp’s powers in compo¬ 
sition certainly come under the title 
of geniusj but it is a stiff genius; 
a talent that has not become supple by 
exercise, nor consistent by a thorough 
act^uaintance with the grand secrets of 
legitimate composition. 
Poor Bensung by Mr. Inchdon. Com¬ 
posed by J. Ma%%ingbi. li. 6d. 
“ Poor Ben” is a ballad of conside¬ 
rable interest. The tale is well told, 
both by the words and the music; and, 
if science has to boast but an in¬ 
considerable share in the production, 
genius and judgment make ample acone- 
uient> 
i^uack f ^ack ! ^ack a favourite Comic 
ioongy sur.g by Mr. Rees, jun. at Sadler's 
Wells Theatre, in the Melo Dramatic Spec¬ 
tacle cf the Red Reaver. Written by C. 
Dibdin, fun. and composed by W. Ruve» 
1j. 6d. 
The simpliciiing and trifling of this 
little air well corresponds with the fa¬ 
miliar and humourous subject o! the 
verses to which it is set, and aftords 
another sample of Mr. Reeve’s ac¬ 
quaintance with the free and familiar^ 
as connected with stage effect. 
The Cottage Maid ; a favourite Ballady ’ivrit- 
ten by C. Dibdiny jun. Composed by W, 
Reeve. Ir. %d. 
The introductory recitative to the 
melody of this little song is well judged, 
and the cast of the air is happily uni¬ 
ted to the subject of the words. 
“ The Maid voho dud for Love a favourite 
Ballady sung ’with universal applause by 
Mr. Incledony in bis nevj Entertainment, A 
Voyage to India. Composed by H. R. Bishop, 
Is. 
The little that we find in this song is 
good. It is a pleasing trifle, and fully 
effects the limited object of the w'riter 
and composer. 
DiUe Cblo sen Fidehy a Cavatinay cor Flauto, 
e Harpa, or Piano-forte, di Accompagnamenta 
di Pietrc Urbani. 1 r. 6d. 
This is a beautifully-imagined little 
air; and derives so much addition of 
effect from the excellent arrangement 
of the accompaniments as to exhibit 
as much judgment as genius. 
MONTHLY RETROSPECT of the FINE ARTS. 
The the of New Prints, Communications of Articles of Intelligence^ ^-c. art 
requested to be sent under cover to the Care of the Publisher. 
The Death of Lord Nelson, engraved by James 
Heathy Esq. A. R. A. from a Picture painted 
by Benjam.m West, Esq. P. R. A. Published by 
end for the Painter and Engraver. 
I T is a painful duty to speak unfavor¬ 
ably of the failure of eminent men; 
but the greater their eminence, the more 
imperious does that duty become, that 
their influence over men of narrower 
comprehensions may be more easily coun¬ 
teracted. From any other master than 
West this might he considered a good 
picture; but trom the painter of Regums, 
■Agrippina, Christ Healing the Sick, and 
the Death of Geiaeral Wolfe, such glar¬ 
ing anachronisms as are here displayed, 
cannot be excused, and hardly tolerated. 
Of the invention displayed in this pic¬ 
ture it is enough to say, that, were the 
manner of this great hero’s death a matter 
of doubtful recoril as to accuracy, the 
design might be called grand, and worthy 
of the sublimity of the subject; but the 
very maimer in which Mr. We.st has at¬ 
tempted to palliate his deviations from 
historical truth, in the catalogue of the 
exhibition in the Royal Academy, proves 
that he thought it necessary to explain 
the aberrations of his pencil by the oper¬ 
ations of the more feeble pen, and is of 
1 itself 
