540 State of Public Affairs, 
Mr. Charles Grignion of Kentifh town 
has been Jong difiinguifhed as an admira- 
ble engraver of the Old School (in line) 
before the tafte of the artifts and the age 
was vitiated by dingy doited fhedows. 
in Warburton’s 1ft edition of Pope’s 
works, publifbed in the year 1752, are 
many fine {pecimens of his engraving; and 
dome preducticns we have lately had from 
his burin, thew undiminifhed powers. Mr. 
Charles Grignion, the painter, his ne- 
phew, was not fo well known in this coun- 
try; for he went at an early period of his 
life to Italy, where he has refided about 
tweaty-three years ; and died very lately 
at Leghorn, of the dreadful fever which 
in December, 1804. fJan. 1, 
refembles the plague, at about fifty years 
of age. ; . : 
He was a pupil of that admired artift 
Cipriani, and. confidered as a very good 
draughtiman by Sir Jofhua Reynolds. | 
During his refidence abroad, he collected 
many fine pictures, feveral of which, in 
contequence of the French revolution have 
been configned to the hammer in this coun- 
try. Among thole which remain in the 
poffeffion of his brother, Mr. Grignion, of 
Roffel-fireet, Covent-garden, are five 
lately configned to this country, and con= 
fidered as chef d’ceuvres, painted by Gaf- 
par Pouilin. 
STATE or PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
In December, 1504. 
TUE BRITISH EMPIRE. 
FY HE materials for the hiftory of the 
public events of this montn are very 
fcanty. We {peak this ftrictly and liter- 
ally of the faéts we have to relate; for, as 
to conjecture and political fpeculation, 
there is even a novelty in {ome of the cir- 
cumftances that offer themfelves to the con- 
fideration of the feeling obferver. At 
home, this, that is ufuallya period.of ac- 
tivity in public concerns, from the open- 
ing of the Seffion of Parliament, has the 
appearance of being tame and wnfipid; yet, 
itis far from being fo. We think ita 
good general rule, fer a publication of 
this kind, which dwells for a confiderable 
length of time with many of its readers 
without further explanation of circum- 
ftances involved in any obfcurity, to ab- 
ftain from the touching upon reports which 
relate to delicate and interefting {ubjects. 
“There may, however, be at leaft ex- 
cufes for a departure from that rule ; and 
we feel very much difpofed to believe that 
is the cafe now. We allude to the ru- 
mour of a diffenfion in the Royal family, 
yefpecting the guardianfhip cf the Princefs 
Charlotte of Wales. We do not hefitate 
to fay, that the right of guardianhhip is 
with her illuftrions father; but the main 
queftion here is, the charaéter of the claim 
that is fuppofed to come from another 
quarter. It is the habit in this country, 
and wifely fo, to confider great political 
meafures as thofe of Minifers, that they 
may be difcuffed with the degree of free- 
dom that diftinguifhes the conft:itution of 
this nation, and the decency that fhould 
govern every fociety. It is not poffible, 
(we think it not) to be indifferent on the 
I 
queflion thus thruft upon the public.. The 
queftion, in truth, is not fo much on the 
right of guardianfhip, as the fitnefs of the 
ilu&rious father to be the guardian. The 
delicacy of this fubject is palpable; but 
who has expoied the delicate fubje&t to the 
world ? We would not now do more than 
glance at it; but we would be underftood 
to fay, we fhould regard with exquifite 
jealoufy and appreheniion any interference, 
in the education of the Princess, of thofe 
who at prefent furround the throne, 
Intelligence has arrived of the manner 
in which the Syanifh nation (for we fpeak 
not merely of the court) received the news 
of cur mode of reafoning in the feizure of 
the Spanith fhips. It is dificult to exprets 
the furprife and indignation excited in 
Spain by the news; and the Spanith 
nation would be difappointed, if the court 
could preferve the appearance of peace af- 
ter that tranfaction. It docs not precifely 
appear where Mr. Frere, the Engiifh am- 
baflador ta the Court of Spain, at prelent 
is ; but it is probable, he is on his return 
to London, and that a rupture with that 
court will foon be anncunced by our go- 
vernment. An embargo was, on the 19th 
of this month, laid on all Spanith veflels, 
in the feveral ports of the United Kingdom. 
The moft recent accounts from Gibral- 
ter vary confiderably refpecting the prefent 
_ftate of the garrifon and the inhabitants. 
Some of thefe defcribe the fever as ftill 
proceeding with its deadly ravages; but 
we are inclined to hope they are exroneous. 
It certainly would be fome relief to the 
. public, however great the calamity at 
Gibraltar might be, if the government - 
here publifhed official accounts, from time. 
to 
‘ 
