1803.) 
Dilettanti Theatricals or, @ Peep at the Green 
Room. Vide Pie Nic Orgies. Gillray inw, et 
feulpt. 
Were we to form our judgment from 
the Englifh Newfpapers, it would feem 
that the foolifis and frivolous orgies of the 
Pic Nic Society have, in this their day, 
made as much noife as did the mad and 
frantic orgies of Bacchus among the an- 
cients. Mr. Gillray, who (moze happily 
than any other man, except the inimitable 
Hogarth) feizes upon and delineates the 
pafling follies, has availed himfelf of the 
circumftance, and brought together a 
moft whimfical affemblage of whimfical 
characters. That they are a little, and 
but a little, heightencd, mutt be admitted ; 
but, to thofe who know the originals, the 
whole will be found fraught with infinite 
whim and humour; and, to thofe who do 
not, it is impoffible to convey an adequate 
idea of its various merits. 
Bat-Catching. Gillray inv. et feulpt. . 
Another ludicrous effufion of the fame 
whimfical and eccentric artift. The fol- 
lowing allufive quotation is infcribed un- 
derneath it :— 
** Bat-catching (fays Buffon) does not 
require much art, for, flymg always in 
the night, they are eafily attracted by a 
dark-lanthorn; and, being always hun- 
gry, may be eafily caught by a few cheefe- 
parings or candle-ends: they are fo rapa- 
cious, that if they once get into the gra- 
nary they never ceafe devouring while 
there is any thing left.--Vide Buffon’s 
Natural Hiftory ; article, Birds of Night.’’ 
The fcene is laid before the door of the 
Treafury, over which is written GRANA- 
RY ; under the arch of. the docr are two 
gentlemen now high in office, one of whom 
is in the act of throwing a cafting-net 
over three harpy-like figures, wiih bats’ 
wings and human faces, who are flying 
towards the rays darting froma dark lan- 
thorn, which the other gentleman holds in 
his left hand; while in his right, he holds 
his hat, the crown of which is flled with 
{craps of paper infcribed place, penjfion, 
pot, Ge. His hat is ornamented with 
the tri-coloured cockade, in allufion, we 
fuppofe, to his having made the peace 
with France. Between his knees isa very 
large bag, heaped with guineas, and in- 
{cribed frerling Briti/h corn; on which 
the trio of bats cait very eager eyes. 
Thefe bats bear fo ftrong a refemblance 
to three gentlemen in the oppottion, that 
their names need not be mentioned ; 
though that intended to reprefent Mr, She- 
Retrofpec? of the Fine Arts. 
traits of the foul. 
253 
ridan, at the fame time that it difplays 
traits that itis impoffible to miftake, is fo 
much overcharged as to become a carica- 
ture. On the whole this print, though 
very inferior to the Pic Nic Orgies, has a 
confiderable portion of whim and laugh 
in the compofition. 
Samuel Whitbread, efg. ob. Fune 11, 1796, 
@tat 76. Sir Fofhua Reynolds pinxt. S.W. 
Reynolds feulpt. 
It was the praife, and almoft the pecus 
liar praige of the late Prefident of the 
Royal Academy, that he did not merely 
give the map of the countenance, but 
the bias of the mind; not only the fea- 
tures of the face, but the charaéteriftic 
His portraits are, 
therefore, valuable to the man who ftu- 
cies phyfiognomy as a fcience, which may 
in a degree enable us to read ‘ the mind’s 
confiruction im the eye,’ as well asto thofe 
who knew and valued the original, from 
whom the portrait is delineated. The be- 
nevolence of the worthy and valuable 
man, from whom this was painted, was 
well known, and his face forms a good 
index to his mind. It is a mezzotinto 
print, and engraved in a very fuperior 
ftyle; the manner and character of Sir. 
Jofhua’s pencil are admirably transferred 
to the copper. . 
Mr. Ackerman, whofe patent colours, 
drawing-paper, pencils, &c. &c. we 
have formerly mentioned as well worthy 
the attention of thofe learning drawing, 
has juft publifhed a fecond volume, 
with fourteen inftru&tive leffons, for 
flower-painting, with Englifh and French 
letter-prefs, defigned and etched by F, 
Mikel. This is intended as a continuation 
of the fix progrefflive leflons previoufly 
publifhed, and will be found extremely 
ufeful to ladies who are endeavouring to 
‘improve in this fafcinating art ; as there 
are two prints of every flower; one of 
them the outline, and the other coloured 
from nature. 
Pallas and Ulyffes; and Ulyffes flaying the’ 
Suitors of Penclope. Pair of Prints. Hae 
milton del. F. F.Vand den Berghe fculpt. 
The drawings from which thefe plates 
are engraved we remember to have feen at 
the Royal Academy, when they were ex- 
hibited a few years ago. They are not 
calculated to excite much intereft, bu: may 
be called a pretty pair of prints, as they 
are well enough engraved in the chalk 
manner and in colours. 
Les 
