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But our sage writer holds correctness of drawing to be a very subordinate matter, and maintains that "the proprietors are prepared to prove that the style of execution which they have adopted has been a matter of choice, and not enforced upon them by any defect in the machine." Well, let me notice the print published with the Athenæum. Assuredly the Company of Gentlemen did not advise with the first painters, sculptors, and engravers, regarding the finishing of this print. It does not exhibit the true effect of light and shade in any possible predicament. In some places the light comes from below, in others from above; while the light on the face of the figure, in the centre of the piece, kneeling, is like a transparency lighted from behind. By comparing the prints with the original casts, particularly in respect to the treatment of the front faces, it will be found that they are as unlike to those in the casts as a squeezed orange is to one that is plump and full.

When I saw the first specimen of this French work at Mr. Moon's shop, having the cast in my pocket, I compared them, and was not a little indignant to find my name obliterated in the engraving. I have the same impression still, because I found my private mark very distinct on the print; this I do consider dishonest. But, after all, what was this compared to the wholesale appropriation of my works for the profit of this "Company of French Gentlemen" (gentlemen, indeed!)-to the ruin of the legitimate sale of my work, and the blasting of my reputation as an artist

"Who steals my purse steals trash, But he who filches me of my good name, Robs me indeed

This "Company of Gentlemen" published my works without my leave, and, after abusing, sell them to my injury.

On the first appearance of the Tresor Numismatique, I was struck with the inaccuracy of the work on comparing it with my casts; and being fully aware of the difficulty of making a correct copy, I did expect at least geometric accuracy from a machine, which I am now told was under the direction of the first French painters, sculptors, and engravers. I attributed the discrepancies which 1 observed to the imperfections of the casts which had been used by M. Collas, and to the cupidity of the Company, not wishing to go to the expense of casts from my original moulds; under this impression, and thinking that this work might injure the sale of my own, I wrote to M. Lachevardiere, stating that it was not so much on account of the sale of my casts as the suppression of my name, that I felt aggrieved. He wrote me a very civil letter. I had threatened to apply to the Chancellor for an injunction against the

sale in this country of that part of the Tresor Numismatique which contained my work from the Parthenon and Phygaleian marbles. He gravely replied, that the matter concerning which I had written was an affair with the publishers in London; but he very politely proposed to send me thirteen copies (one on China paper), and that they should be delivered free of expense. Liberal compensation, certainly! As it was, the packet cost me 17s.

Having spoken before the Committee of the House of Commons on the British Museum of the unjustifiable omission of my name in the letter press of the Tresor Numismatique, Mr. Nolte contradicted my statement; but I maintained the fact, because I had in my possession the edition of 1834, in which it is not. A few days after the examination, Mr. Nolte called upon me, and begged to see my copy of the Tresor, which he opened, and said that he would show my name in it. Disappointed at finding that I had been correct in my evidence, he then said, "I have brought a copy with your name in it. Now, I ask, will you do me justice." I answered, "With all my heart, if you can show where I have been unjust." He then resumed:-" Here is a sketch of a letter which I wish you to copy, to sign, and direct to Mr. Estcourt, Chairman of the Committee on the Museum." I read it hastily, and finding the gist of it to be that I had now seen a copy of the Tresor with my name in it, I copied the letter without hesitation, signed, and directed it to Mr. Estcourt, and delivered it to Mr. Nolte.

I now look upon this as a trick by a party who would impudently thrust his imperfect efforts on the British public as the perfection of this class of art. This letter, I am informed, is now shown about with the edition of 1834, with the intention of impugning the veracity of my evidence in the Committee. But my statement regarded the edition of 1834, being the only one I had seen, which is still in my possession. The shame of having done me injustice, seemed at last to have struck the Paris Company, for the later edition contains my name, of which Mr. Nolte gave me a copy as a decoy to get the letter to Mr. Estcourt. By this unworthy manœuvre was the letter obtained, which is now shown about with the last edition to convey the impression that I had deceived the Committee. Is not this dirty work?

It is thus I am noticed in the latter edition:"Long-temps on a cru que ces tables n'offraient entre elles aucune cohesion necesaire, et qu'il serait impossible de retabler la composition originales, en justifiant le rapprochment des diverses parties. C'est sous l'influence de cette idee, propagée par les editeurs de marbres, M. Wagner et M.

Combe, l'un des conservateurs du Music Britannique, que M. Henning a exécuté la raduction d'apres laquelle nos planches ont été gravées."

["It was long thought that those marbles had no indication of any necessary connexion; and, that it would be impossible to restore the original composition, so as to justify the union of the various parts. It was under the influence of this idea, propagated by the first editors of the marbles, Mr. Wagner, and Mr. Combe, one of the conservators of British Museum, that Mr. Henning has executed the reductions from which our plates have been engraven."]

It is, surely, a most strange thing first to assert that a certain thing is impossible to be done, and then that it was under this idea that I had done the reduction from which the plates had been engraven!!! It was, indeed, impossible that I could be influenced by the ideas of the gentlemen mentioned, as I knew nothing of their ideas on the subject of connecting the scattered fragments of the Phygaleian frieze. I took it as it stood in the Museum, and numbered it accordingly. My most serious labour was making the drawings, and restoring the panathenic procession of the Parthenon; and it had no connexion with the ideas of any man, but was induced by serious reflection on Greek art, which, even in desolated fragments, commands the admiration of mankind. While engaged upon my drawings at Burlington-house, surrounded with isolated fragments of the renowned sculpture of Greece, often has it come from the fervid impression of my excited mind, "Could each mutilated piece tell its tale, what posing questions for the antiquary?" I had not seated myself long among the old stones, when, hastily glancing over them in a kind of stupor caused by the frightful confusion around me, I said, "Minerva herself might be puzzled to put these in order." I remembered that I had seen, early in 1811, among Lord Elgin's collection of drawings, Sketches of the Frieze, by Jean Carré, a French artist, done between the years 1674 and 1678, some years previous to the destruction of the Parthenon by the Venetians. I examined those sketches with care, after having done the west frieze, and I found them perfect, as I thought, for the arrangement of the east frieze, which contains the twelve Dii Majores of antiquity and attendant ministers, to which the whole procession is directed-that of the south side, as if going to the right, with eight bullocks in front at the south-east angle of the temple

that of the north, as if going to the left, with four bullocks, a ram, and a hog, at the north-east angle of the temple. Without the sketches of Jean Carré, my arrangement of the procession could not have been done.

The curious and intelligent may form some idea of the difficulties I had to encounter in so complicated a case, by examining the frngments themselves, and J. Carré's imperfect sketches; but it is impossible for auy person to form any adequate idea of the toil of body and mind, which I endured in the completion of that work. But, alas! it never entered into my calculations, that the work would attain such importance as to tempt the cupidity of a Company of French Gentlemen, who, to give eclat to their work, pretend to be directed by some of the first artists of France.

Another atrocious piracy of this "Company of Gentlemen" is the seizure of a work (the "Canterbury Pilgrimage,") by my late son, Samuel, who fell in the pestilence of 1832. It is said that from 1500 to 2000 copies have already been imported into Britain, and sold at 7s. 6d. His widow, with two helpless orphans, has been insulted by the offer of a few copies-bits of paper that might cost the Company a shilling a piece.

I now call upon the artists of every land, from the eastern extreme of the old to the westernmost boundary of the new world, to consider whether the institutions of civilised life ought not to protect universally such works from spoliation ?

I will only add, that having got sufficient evidence in specimens of the superior geometrical accuracy of Mr. Bate's machine, I have determined to have my works from the Parthenon and Phygaleian marbles, done in a superior style by his machine, as well as the Cartoons, and the Transfiguration by Raphael; which shall be immediately announced, with terms, by public advertisement.

I am, dear Sir, yours, truly,
JOHN HENNING.
17, Lower Belgrave-place, Pimlico,
Dec. 15, 1836.

MR.

THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED BY GREEN'S BALLOON IN ITS GREAT CONTINENTAL EXCURSION.

Sir, Your correspondent, O. N., who in your December No. apologises to Kinclaven for being wrong in latitudes, &c. goes on to say, that my friend Mr. Williams's solution of the distance that Mr. Green's balloon travelled "is perfectly false;" and concludes by hoping that his discovery will be an atonement for his (O. N.'s) former error,

With every respect and good feeling towards O. N., I think (with my friend, the actuary) that his error was not in the method, but an omission of part. f the

calculation; and I contend, that O. N. is again a little out of his latitude, in making use of so strong an assertion, and that it can scarcely be considered (which he wishes it to be) an atonement for his former error.

I beg to hand you Mr. Williams, the actuary's, amended solution, which Į think O. N. will find correct-and to whom I feel obliged, for pointing out the mistake in the former instance, but not in his method of doing so,

I am yours very faithfully,
RICHARD EVANS.

8, Castle-street, Swansea,
Jan. 13, 1837.

To Mr. Richard Evans, Castle-street. Dear Sir,-A few days ago, while indisposed, the Mechanics' Magazine, of 3d Dec. last, was shown me, in which was a solution you had in a friendly manner caused to be inserted as my production; and I am truly concerned that my atten

tion to your little query did not better deserve your opinion of my knowledge of figures.

I recollect that when your question was brought me, I had no idea it was for any other purpose than momentary curiosity; and my thoughts, also, were then altogether engaged in making up several large accounts, so that in my haste and absence of mind I omitted a material number, which would have rendered the whole correct. I never thought of the thing since until shown me in the Magazine.

I subjoin the question, and the solution corrected. Perhaps the Editor will faYour you with the insertion at his convenience, merely as an apology for the late error; and to show, that the error was not owing to the method, but owing to the omission of the calculator.

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Question.-How far asunder are two places on the globe, one of which is 5′ W. and 51° 31' N.; the other, 7° 52′ E. and 50° 16' N.?

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The natural cosine of half the sum of the given latitudes is 6307887.

Then (6307887 x 477)+75/9615751 310-09 Geographical, or 359-18 English miles.

Note. The above is a common little problem; may be found in most treatises of practical trigonometry; and generally the first in mid latitude, or Mercator. Of several methods, I chose the above for simplicity and dispatch, it requiring only one reference to a table.-J. W.

A VOICE FROM THE SHOP-BOARD.

Sir, In No. 694, of the Mechanics' Magazine, (which I have not till recently met with,) a correspondent describes an invention, which he considers would be a great improvement on the tailor's shopboard. Being one of the fraternity on whose behalf he has so benevolently exercised his genius, although proverbially but a fraction of human nature, I thought I should not be exceeding the characteristic pretensions of my calling, if I ventured to exercise the small portion of

capacity assigned me of that nature, in examining and judging of the utility and merits of the invention. In doing this, although I would give the author due credit for his good intentions towards even the very fragments of his species, I cannot but regret he has employed so much of his time and talent to a purpose which shows him to be little acquainted with the real desiderata of the trade so contemptuously stigmatised. There are thousands of journeymen tailors in Lon

don, now destitute of employment, who would have esteemed your correspondent as a great benefactor, if, instead of inventing for them a new mode of setting to work, he had found them work to do in their own accustomed fashion: and any of these, if consulted, will inform him that there are far worse evils to be borne by them than the supposed injuries and inconveniences resulting from a cross-lecged posture. The invention of your correspondent is not only formed on very erroneous notions of the trade, but is altogether inapplicable. The injurious consequences he ascribes to the present mode arise from a different source, where they exist, and are incidental to all sedentary employments, where want of fresh air and exercise are to be complained of. That tailors are much subject to pulmonary and other complaints, in crowded places, is not owing to the manner of sitting, but to the length of time they have to sit together, in a room, the temperature of which (if in London) is much higher than the external air. Tó be confined in such a place the whole of twelve hours, with only one interval of an hour, which is at dinner time, must certainly be, in some respects, injurious to health; but not, I believe, so much as your correspondent imagines. In the country these evils are not so much the subject of. complaint; and even in the cases referred to, the adage "what can't be cured must be endured," will still have its use, for what advantage your correspondents remedy holds out.

The mode of sitting, so loug in use amongst tailors, is, according to a provision of nuture, without violence to the laws of physiology; nor can any plan be devised by which they could perform their work with greater facility and convenience. It does not tend to distort the bodily frame, but rather to rectify distortion: for instances have been known of crooked-legged boys having become straight by their being apprenticed to the trade. In fact, the principles of anatomy, as exemplified in the ball and socket articulation of the thigh and hip bones, are favourable to the posture alluded to; and, unless at the commencement of a lad's apprenticeship, there is no ill effect or inconvenience felt from it. But the method recommended by your correspondent, if it could be brought into practice for the sake of trial, would not only prove incon

venient and tiresome to the limbs, but would not enable the workman to execute his work with any degree of skill, neatness, or expedition, particularly as to the pressing part of it. By the crosslegged situation, he can use his iron with proper effect, because it is a mechanical operation, (do you laugh, reader?) which requires not only the weight of the machine, (spare your risibility,) but a considerable degree of manual force, which could not be adequately exercised by the cushion plan: as it is well known that the more the arms are extended, the less they are within the line of direction for effectual movement; the law of gravitation retarding or aiding in proportion. With regard to the sewing process, the plan suggested is still more objectionable. By the present mode the work can be managed and acted upon (save the mark!) to the greatest advantage, and without straining exertion, because it is placed on the knees, immediately under the eyes, and within the esaiest exercise of the hands. But supposing, for the sake of argument, the invention could be used by one or two individuals, how could it be applied in shops in which twenty, thirty, or forty men (if I may be allowed to use the term) are employed? The space required, as far as I can understand the description of your correspondent, for one man, would occupy the room of several, as now used; and on that account the invention would require enlarged dimensions in whatever shop it might be adopted, In fact, it appears to me impossible to bring it into use where more than one person would have occasion to sit, even supposing it calculated to answer the purpose for which the invention intended it.

Before I quit. the subject I cannot help remarking, as not a little curious, that while one man attempts to remedy, by invention, imaginary evils for the poor tailors, another, by the same expedient, is making his fortune by bringing real ones upon them. An article of dress, called a Mackintosh, (after the name of the inventor,) more like a smock-frock than a coat, and which gives the wearer more the appearance of a smuggler, or Smithfield drover, than that of a gentle man, bids fair to supplant the wellshaped top garment with which nature, in many cases, has been improved by the unfortunate wights, of whom thou

sands must now be sufferers in consequence. The innovation, however, it is rumoured, is found to be objectionable on several grounds; and it is hoped that a desire to return to the wear of the respectable looking upper-benjamin, for the sake of giving due advantage to the human shape, will again soon bemanifested. ONE OF THE INJURED.

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH INDIA.

Sir, The attention given by you to the subject of steam communication with India, is deserving the gratitude of those interested in this measure, and particularly the mercantile classes of society. The merits of this case are now so fully known as to require no comment. The benefits to be derived from such a measure are attested by India, and are daily becoming more important in the eyes of all classes in this country. It may not, however, be generally known that an association has been formed, and considerable subscriptions entered into in London for carrying into effect this desirable object. *** No objection has yet been urged to the plan-the means of carrying it into effect are ready. It is, therefore, matter of some surprise, as well as of reasonable complaint, that the necessary sanction of Government is still withheld. We know, indeed, that a body of men who rule the destinies of millions of our fellow subjects have hitherto affected to treat lightly this important measure; and we know, too, that in excuse it has been alleged that our exports to India have already attained their maximum, and that, consequently, they would not be increased by regular communication, and the means it would give of extending commerce and obtaining information as to the wants and resources of those countries. In reply to such arguments, I would ask, what has been the result of opening the trade with India? and I would take the article of cotton, in respect to which, before that experiment was tried, it was maintained, because cotton was the growth of India, it would be manufactured cheaper than it could be exported from this country. Let us see the result. The amount of cottonstuff exported to the Company's territories in 1814, the year free trade was opened, was no more than 109,000l., the

same articles exported in 1822 had reached upwards of one million sterling in value, and in 1832 this amount was increased to nearly two millions of our money. If such result has here produced capital and enterprise, being admitted in a partial way to the East, what may we not expect when every island and continent between British Malta and British Australia, becomes the seat of commerce, and has its resources known to the people of England? No less than this comprehensive plan is proposed by the merchants of this country. The Euphrates project is abandoned, and this is a resolution of a Committee of the House of Commons in favour of the communication to India and the East by the accessible route of the Red Sea. Let us hope, therefore, that official etiquette or mischievous monopoly will no longer be permitted to stand in the way of so useful an undertaking.

I have the honour to be,
A FRIEND TO STEAM NAVIGATION
AND TO INDIA.

[We have taken the liberty to omit from the preceding letter the resolutions of the East India and China Association, which have been already duly noticed in the Mechanics' Magazine (p. 304). The project alluded to by our correspondent appears to be that of the "East India Navigation Company," which must be generally known, at least to our readers, since it was referred to in the review of Captain Grindlay's pamphlet (p. 377). It was there remarked, that it was to be lamented the estimates of the Company should be in appearance so much at variance with those of the Madras Committee. The difference is in reality very trifling. The Madras Committee calculated that the whole expense to be encountered in the completion of the steamline, by extending it from Egypt, where it at present stops, to India, would be 22,000l. per annum :-the Company are willing to undertake the establishment of steam conveyance the whole way from England to India on an annual sum of 65,000l. being guaranteed to them; but this sum would also include their remuneration for performing the packet service between Falmouth and Alexandria, which now costs Government 40,000l. a year, so that the additional expense in the case would be only 25,0007.]

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