1799.1 
ceftors differed from thofe which we now 
inhabit. ; 
Langton Hall is underftood to have been 
‘built inan early part of the laft century ; a 
former dwelling-houfe of this family hav- 
ing been burnt down in the reign of Edw. 
VI. Early in the year 1764,Dr. Johnfon vi- 
fited this place, and being told what had 
been the fate of the former manfion, ex- 
preffed a wifh that the'foil within the moat 
which furrounds the fituation of the former 
houfe, fhould be dug up for the purpofe of 
exactly tracing its foundations ; by which 
might be judged what were the dimenfions 
of the dwelling-houfe of a private gentle- 
man, in times as remote as were probabl 
thofe when that ftruéture had been ereéted. 
He did not repeat his vifit at the time this 
-fearch was to have been made ; nor indeed 
would a fingle admeafurement of one {cite, 
afford much certainty on which to build a 
calculation ;—-but were the inquiry ex- 
tended to a number of ancient, buildings, 
the comparative refult would be ufeful,— 
at leaft it would be curious. 
Dr. Hunter’s Tranflation of Lavater’s 
Effays on Phyfiognomy is now complet- 
ed ; and, inthis new and hitherto little tra- 
velled walk, may be confidered as a valua- 
ble and highly interefting addition to the 
arts, and as affording much matter for cu- 
rious and novel {peculation to the inquifi- 
tive and philofophic mind, and many ufe- 
ful hints to artifts of every denomination. 
The proprietors have publifhed a pro- 
f{peétus, in which they give a lift of the 
plates, comprifing portraits, with phyfio- 
gnomicalanalyfes of the moft illuftriouscha- 
racters in Europe, of the laft and prefent 
century. Among them the Britifh cha- 
racters make a diftinguifhed figure ; and, 
in this edition, are given in their full fpirit. 
Mr. Lavater has availed himfelf not only 
of the works of the great mafters of modern 
times, but has fuccefsfully recurred to 
the moft valuable Grecian and Roman 
antiques ; and he reafons on the human fi- 
gure, not only as it is prefented individu- 
ally in portraits; but as difplayed in the in- 
terefting and animated groupes of hiftori- 
cal painting. His plan comprehends, not 
the human face only, nor even the human 
{pecies, but takes in the whole extent of 
animated nature—birds, beafts, fifhes, in- 
feéts,—-and he applies general principles to 
all the external appearances of animated 
life, in every part of the animal frame ; 
in order to prove that the Lord of Nature 
has eftablifhed an unvarying corre{pon- 
dence between the outward form and the 
fpirit whereby it is aétyated. 
This Englifh edition is enriched with 
many highly finifhed and improved dupli- 
Retrofpec? of the Progrefs of the fine Arts. 
993 
cates, befides the exatt fac fimile of the 
original, and with a few portraits of dif- 
tinguifhed charaéters not introduced by 
Mr. Lavater. Mr. Fufeli has retouched, 
corrected and improved many of his own 
pieces, which had been too haftily copied 
by the foreign artWt; and Mr. Holloway 
has availed himfelf of original pictures and 
drawings to which the author could not 
have accefs, to affift him in either fuperin- 
tending or executing the engravings. The 
editor has on the whole endeavoured to 
give a faithful tranfcript, both of the fenfe 
of Lavater, and of the defigns produced in 
illuftration of it, and enhanced the value 
of this edition by every addition and im- 
provement, confiftent with the plan of the 
work, which Britifh genius, art and induf- 
try could fupply. 
- The proprietors in their profpectus far - 
ther inform the public, that, after fulfilling 
their engagements to their numerous fub- 
{cribers, they remain poffeffed of fome very 
fine copies of the work. ‘Thefe, when 
properly arranged, make five fimilarized 
royal quarto volumes ; the fecond and 
third of the French original being divided 
into two each, with a feparate title-page to 
the fecond part. 
_ The five volumes completely arranged, 
and put into boards, price 271. or elegant- 
ly, half bound with Morocco backs and 
corners, 3ol. 
In this great work, the author profeffes 
to give a feries of fragments ; and if they 
are thus confidered, though there is much 
that is vifionary, it muft be acknowledged 
there is alfo much that is valuable. 
He does not promife to give entire the 
immienfe alphabet neceflary to decypher the 
original language of nature, written on 
the face of man, and on the whole of his 
exterior ; but flatters himfelf that he has 
been fo happy as to trace a few of the cha- 
racters of that divine alphabet, and that 
they will be fo legible, that a found eye 
will readily diftinguifh them wherever they 
occur. 
Mr. Jukes has lately publifhed the fol- 
lowing prints in aquatinta; they do great 
credit to the artift and the branch of arts 
which he profeffes. 
Four Views in North Wales, from Pictures by 
T. Walmeiley. 
tft. Pont Newid near Bala. 
ad. Pont Yr Eden, over the river Mowddrdep 
34. Dolyminyllinon the river Mowddrdep. 
4th. Nant Mill—After La Port. 
Thefe views are in the ftyle and manner 
of the highly favoured River Dee Views, 
but on a larger fcale. The three firft are 
after the fame draftsman. 
5 Le Price 
