1800. | iL 
7s) 
THEATRICAL RETROSPECT ror JUNE, 1800, 

N Monday the 16th of June, a new 
grand coimmemorative oratorio, enti- 
titled Britannia, as originally compofed 
by Mr. Bufby in aid of the fund for the - 
Naval Pillar, was performed at Covent 
Garden Thicctre for the benefit of the 
Royal Humane Society. To the lovers of 
oratorial compotition, fuch mufic as that 
of Britannia mutt ever afford the higheft 
gratification. The chorufles affume all 
the fublimity of Handel’s greate(t produc- 
tions, and tne airs pofleis a {weetnels as 
captivating as they are original. It ap- 
pears to be the effort of this great modern 
coipoler to revive among us a tafle for the 

eee BAER 
excellencies of the fine old fchool. He has 
evidently formed his ftyle from the noble& 
fpecimens in the art, and moft profitably 
contemplated the beauties of Purcel, 
Arne, and the great German mafter. 
Madame Mara, Mafter Elliot, Mifs Hol- 
land, Milfs Jackfon, and the other prin- 
cipal performers, fung moft charmingly the 
feveral airs alletted to them, and Mr. 
Cramer led the band with his ufwal point 
and fpimit. A‘fong, aduet, and a chorus, 
were univerlally encored, and the whole 
performance was received with the moft 
rapturous applaufe. | 
TA 

MONTHLY RETROSPECT. OF THE FINE ARTS. 
(The Lown of all new Prints and Communications of Ariicles of Intelligence are requefted.} 
men ee 
Four Prints reprefenting Englifh, Scotch, Irifh, 
and Welfh Peafants. Engraved by Anthony 
Cardon, from Drawings by R. Wefall, R.A. 
\' publifoed by R. Smith, King-fireet, Covent= 
Garden. 
OLDSMIT Hand fome other writers, 
have expreffed an apprehenfion, that 
from che increafed and increafing luxury of 
- the times, that hardy and ufeful race, our 
Briti/b peafaniry, were likely to become ex- 
ting&t. We hope, devoutly hope, their fears 
will never be realized; but if they fhould, 
thefe prints will preferve the forms of a 
clafs, that were “‘At once their country’s 
bulwark and iis pride.” 
The defigns reminded us of fome ftanzas 
that were written, but, we believe, not 
publithed, to the memory of the late Mr. 
Gainfborough,where,after defcribing many 
other fcenes that he deltghted to contem- 
plate, it concludes with the following lines: 
_ 66 While far beneath luxuriant paftures lie, 
And the clear lake refle&ts the azure fky ; 
The fky’s foft tinge, the light, the deepening 
fhade, 
The cottage, hedge-row elm, and peaceful 
glade 5 
The hoary ruftic on his ftaff reclin’d, 
The weeping-wiliow waving with the wind; 
The pannier’d afs that bears on either fide 
The auburn offspring of the rural bride ; 
The blighted trunk, low bending to the 
ground, 
The creeping ivy fondly clinging round ; 
The blofiom’d chefnut withits fragrant bloom, 
And the pale poplar glittering trough the 
gloom.” é&«, 
i 
ENGLISH PEASANTS. 
In this delineation we have a very come- 
ly woman, with a beautiful fleeping-infant 
in her arms, feated upon an afs, which, 
having an empty pannier on each fide, may 
be fuppofed returning from marker, A 
hale robuft young man, holding the hand 
of afine boy, walks hy the fide of it. The 
eafy and happy air of all the party are ex- 
tremely engaging. An attending dog, 
having difturbed a bird, is well imagined; 
indeed the whole defign is eafy, airy, na~ 
tural, and picturefque. The engraver has 
done his part, and given a clear and cha- 
racteriftic idea of the manner of the matter, ’ 
and thus produced avery pleafing print. , 
SCOTCH PEASANTS. 
The piper in his plaid is a good figure, 
though we think the legs too large for the 
hands. The man ftanding up, has not 
the face of a Scot, neither has the girl the 
air or manner of the country: for the ha-- 
bits of life, which from her firuation 
the muft probably be engaged in, fhe is too 
feminine; her ancle is too neatly turned 
for a laborious Scotch girl. The fheepy 
fhepherd’s dog, and thifles, on the fore- 
ground, and the ruins of-an old caftle in 
the diftance, are appropriate, and happily 
introduced. 
IRISH PEASANTS. 
We have here a village-prieft, marked 
with much apoftolic and genuine benevo- 
lence, admonifhing his little flock, which 
confifts of three very engaging wornen and 
two children. ‘Che women appear to be 
. very 
