224 
base very entire, smooth, glossy, bullate,* 
venose on the under side, of a firm texture, 
on footstalks; the footstalks very short, 
_yound onthe underside, gibbous or bunching 
out on the upper side, flattish, and slightly 
channelled 
‘The common names Bohea and Green Tea. 
There is but one species of this plant. The 
difference of bohea and green tea, depending 
upon the nature of the soil, the culture and 
manner of drying the leaves, and the time of 
gathering them. 
SE 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
THE ENQUIRER.— No. XXVII. 
what is the PRESENT STATE of PUBLIC 
KNOWLEDGE, dnd PUBLIC DISPOSITION, 
in regard to the FINE ARTS? 
Tu quid ego, et mecum poprlus quid sentiat, audi. 
[ i AVING stated, in the former part of 
this question, the benevolentatten- 
tion of the British Insticution to thestate 
of the public mind with regard to painters, 
it was next proposed to enquire into the 
methods and merits of that institution, 
with respect to the *ssential advancement 
of the fine arts in England. 
For this purpose it will, first, be neces- 
sary to distinguish the beneficent and li- 
beral zeal of the promoters and directors 
of that establishment, from the plans 
which have been formed for the purposes 
they desiredto accomplish; and, again, to 
distinguish those plans, originally formed 
in consequence of their wishes and de- 
signs, from the subsequent execution of 
them, as far, atleast, agit has hitherto ta- 
ken place. | 
Concerning the original design of the 
institution, it will be at once sufficient to 
ask, for what but noble purposes could a 
combination be formed of the most opu- 
Jev.t, elevated, and illastrious characters 
in the kingdom? with what but the most li- 
beral views could they direct their atten- 
tion to arts, with whichthey had scarcely 
any other acquaintance, than from the 
criesand complainings of their professors? 
what but the most genuine ‘benevolence 
sould incline them to assume the trouble- 
some office of agents, forthe artists, with | 
the public, and to become the almost gra- 
tuitous publishers of their works? and,what 
but the most highly disinterested motives 
could draw from their superfluous wealth, 
(so long assigned to differepighannels) the 
prices of pictures, which, €xclusively of 
» ee ae nena si P 
* When the upper surface of the leaf fises 
in several places in reundish swellings, hol- 
lew underncath, ; 
The Enquirer.—No. XXV II. 
[May 1, 
intrinsic merit, derived their principal 
recommendation from having formed 2 
part of the good work which they patro- 
nized? The patriotic intentions, therefore, 
of the original institutors are beyond all 
question: they cannot be doubted for .an 
instant. 
With regard to the plans of the institu- 
tion, somewhat more of uncertainty ap- 
pears on the surtace. It was not, fora 
time, so clearly ascertained, whether 
these were laid with a view to excite the 
enthusiasm of genius, and elevate the 
pretensions of a great nation in the arts, 
or whether they took for their object the 
more numerous and ordinary branches of 
art, and were designed principally to ad- 
vance the useful improvement of our fur- 
niture and pottery. 
This ambiguity arose chiefly from the 
prospectuses of the institution, which, at 
different times, publickly announced both 
the designs above-mentioned; but as, in 
the progress of thescheme the former has 
been regularly professed to be predomi- 
nant, it is with reference to that point of 
view only, that it can be proper to pro- 
ceed in an enquiry into the effects likely 
to result from the undertaking: ner would 
it be fit even for this to take place without 
premising a wish on the part of the engui- 
rer, to be fully understood as not in the 
slightest degree undervaluing the laudable 
efforts of the British Institution, bat as 
cordially and earnestly desiring its ascent 
to the highest accomplishment of its pur- 
poses, ; 
The mode, or rather, to speak with 
more fairness, the degree in which the 
extensive desires of the directors and sub- 
scribers have been actually carried into 
execution, with the advantages hitherto 
offered to the exhibitors and students, 
have been already shewn, in the former 
part of this enquiry, to consist of the sale 
of pictures, rewards for imitation.of the 
works of great masters, and opportunities 
of copying those works. 
Of these three points; the-last-men- 
tioned is, in its general design, traly-laud- 
able: a collection of pictures by the great- 
est masters of the art heing a necessary 
part of the foundation ofa school of painte 
ing. Butthe late restrictionslaid en the 
students, whereby they ave forbidden to 
copy more than parts of the pictures pla- 
ced before them for their study, are, it 
must be confessed, nearly incomprehen-~ 
sible. Do not the worthy patrons of the 
institujion know that composition is an 
elementary part.of painting, and. that it 
includes the whole arrangement of sepieee 
tures 
