1796.] 
ners, particularly, in which they have 
been so universally followed, they have 
largely contributed to barbarize all Eu-- 
rope; to mangle and distort the human 
form divine, into every execrably dis- 
gusting shape; and to load every ‘part 
with Zech ridiculous, and oppres- 
sive ofnaments, equally incompatible 
with grandeur, beauty, and simplicity. 
The Flemish and Dutch schools 
were not void of simplicity, though des- 
titute of the grandeur of the Italian; 
and the subordinate and ornamental 
branches of the art, chiefly cultivated 
by them, were certainly carried to an 
admirable and unexampled perfe€tion ; 
but, in the French school, no one ,cha- 
raéteristic excellence can be founds; no- 
thing that is not better done elsewhere : 
ever inclined to caricatura, their gran- 
deur is bombast ; their grace, affectation ; 
and their expression, grimace. Nor have 
those few individuals, to whom this cen- 
sure may not be applicable, any great 
title to praise, as they only escaped it, 
in general, by falling into the opposite 
defeéts, tameness, coldness, littleness, 
and insipidity. The works of Poussin, 
are certainly, in many instances, an ex- 
ception to both these cases; but, from his 
attachment to, and long residence in 
Rome, he may more’ properly be consi- 
dered as an Italian painter, among 
whom, however, he can only be ranked 
in the second class. 
Further than by referring it to the 
great principle of change, pervading and 
eternally operating throughout all na- 
ture, it is certainly very difficult to as- 
certain the causes of the frequent Dege- 
neracy of national taste. However this 
degeneracy may be deplored, and what- 
ever flattering ideas may be formed of the 
_perfectibility of the human-mind, yet 
ages must be expe€ted to pass away, be- 
fore any successful method of preventing 
it can be discovered. Happily for Eng- 
land, its task seems, at present, to be 
somewhat easier; that of assisting and 
conducting taste, already advancing, to 
maturity. To this very desirable end, as 
well as that of inspiring and maintaining 
a spirit of -enterprize and emulation 
among the artists of Britain, the annual 
exhibitions of this metropolis have alrea- 
dy greatly contributed, and much more 
May rationally be expected. Neverthe- 
less, it is also to be feared, from the mul- 
‘uphiity, and want of scleétion, of the 
works exhibited, and the confused and 
cursory view generally taken of them, 
where the attention is‘inevitably aktraét- 
Chronology of Herodotus and Ctefias. 
_empire, is so stri 
109 
ed by the most shewy and glaring, that, 
the more superficial and ornamental 
branches of the art, addressed to the eye 
only, will, in consequence, be cultivat- 
ed; to the great detriment, if not total 
destruction, of the grandeur, simplicity, 
and modesty, essential to the highest style 
of painting. es 
Loudoun, March 10, N. EB, 

For the Monthly Magazixe. 
An ATTEMPT TOWARDS RECON- 
CILING THE ASSYRIAN CHRONO- 
LOGY OF CTESIAS, WITH THAT 
OF HERODOTUS. cere os 
4 eto between the number 
of years we find in Herodotus, and 
those reported-to have been stated by 
Ctesias; whose books are now lost, res- 
pedting the ce nibh of the Assyrian 
ing, that one cannot 
be surprized, chronologers should have 
differed.” But whilst some took part with 
the former, and others with the latter, 
partics were formed; systems were 
built ; each party strove to draw in the 
authority of Scripture, to support his 
favourite scheme. In the mean time, I 
do not find that any one attempted to re- 
concile the two, ancient historians. Yet 
it may be’ presumed, the sources from 
which they derived their information, 
were not essentially different. The one 
lived in a country famous for learning, 
and conversed for several years with the 
fiterati of that country. The other re- 
sided, for seventeen years, in the capital, 
and even at the court of a prince, in 
whose dominions Assyria was situated, 
and had access to the public records. 
This idea made a strong impression or 
my mind, and determined me to attempt 
a conciliation. 
I will not, for the present, entangle 
myself in the so much debated question, 
of the credibility of Creszas ; a point, 
however, upon which I am. far from 
agreeing with those who run him down. 
An, author, whose credit, in his Perszca, 
was never impeached by the ancients, 
who read his book, merits some atten- 
tion. I will confine myself to an inquiry 
into such causes, as may probably have 
produced a seeming diversity, where 
there is, in fact, a very near consent. 
The mere historian of ancient trans- 
actions hath nothing to do, but to sele¢t, 
among the matera!s that come to his 
hands, that which is worth relating; to 
lay it faithfully before posterity, and to 
add, without accumulation or ostenta- 
ilom, 
