er, than any thing that can be found in those of any other engraver. Among his principal performances are the well known and admired plates of: -The Madre Dolorosa, from Vandyck; the Portrait of Vandyck, in the Character of Paris; the Surprise of the Soldiers on the Banks of the Arno, from Michel Angelo's celebrated Cartoon; a Series of Etchings from Designs by Blake, illustrative of Blair's Grave; Portrait of Mr. Blake, after Phillips, for the same Work; the Landing of the British Troops in Egypt, from De Loutherbourg; the Etchings of the Canterbury Pilgrimage, from Stothard's esteemed Picture. This print was only advanced to the etched state, but is a most striking example of his powers as a draftsman, every line being expressive of the object it aims to represent. Among other works which Mr. Schiavonetti had undertaken, was a portrait of the venerable president of the Royal Society (sir Joseph Banks), from a picture by Phillips; The Stag-hunt, in which Alexander III. king of Scotland, was rescued from the fury of a stag, by Colin Fitzgerald; painted by Mr. West. INTELLIGENCE. The second number of "the Fine Arts of the English School" is published, and shall be noticed in our next. That liberal and judicious patron of the fine arts, Mr. Thomas Hope, has -purchased Dawe's picture of Andromache imploring Ulysses to spare the Life of her Son, from the last exhibition, for 2001. THE ARTISTS' FUND. It will be right to inform our readers, that a joint stock and benevolent fund for the widows and orphans of artists who are members, has been established but that it has no connection with a pri vate exhibition in Pall-Mall, which is sai to be for the benefit of the Artist Fund." This praiseworthy institution erected for the purpose of soliciting an applying the bounty of a liberal an wealthy people, to the benevolent pur pose of preventing the last moments o a dying artist from being embittered b the reflection that he is leaving behin him a wife and children, without an provision whatever. To prevent the re currence of such, it was resolved at meeting of a few artists, to appoint committee to draw up resolutions for th formation of this fund. After severa meetings of this cominittee, a genera one was held on the 22d of March las at the Freemason's Tavern, and a subse sequent one a few days ago. The en lightened friend of the arts will be pleas ed to hear that it is now completely o ganized under the direction of the follow ing gentlemen as governors:- -A. W Devis, G. Hawkins, B. Marshall, W Mulready, J. Randall, J. Scott, P. Tu nerelli, W. Tallemach, C. Warren, A Davison, Esq. Treasurer, and J. Wi kinson, Secretary: of whom further par ticulars may be obtained. It is wit great pleasure the following liberal do nations are selected from the printe list which is circulated by the Society Alexander Davison, Esq. first dona tion, 20 guineas.-Abraham Goldmi Esq. 10 guineas.-The Earl of Breda bane, 10 guineas.—John Soane, Esq R. A. 50 guineas; and many others besides annual contributions for the sup port of the fund. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. to followed the example set them by th legislatures of Great Britain and the Un ted States of America; the flags of Spai and of Sweden (which, till within th last two years, had scarcely ever visite the African coast) have of late been ex tensively employed in covering and pro tecting a trade in slaves, in which, it however believed, the subjects of thos countries have little or no direct interest It has also been discovered, that, defiance of all the penalties imposed b Act of Parliament, vessels, under foreig flags, have been fitted out in the ports Liverpo Liverpool and Londou, for the purpose of carrying slaves from the coast of Africa to the Spanish and Portugueze settlements in America; and severat ad ventures of this description have actually been completed!!! The persons, however, who are the most deeply engaged in this nefarious traffic, appear to be citizens of the United States of America. These shelter themselves from the penal consequences of their criminal conduct, by means of a nominal sale both of ship and cargo at some Spanish or Swedish port-(the Havannah, for example, or the island of St. Bartholomew). They are thus put in a capacity to use the flags of these states; and so disguised, have carried on their slave-trading speculations, during the last year, to an enormous extent !!! The different communications received by the directors from the coast of Africa, concur in stating, that in the month of October last the coast was crowded with ressels, known to be American, trading for slaves under Spanish and Swedish, flags. The slaves thus procured, it is understood, were afterwards to be car ried for sale, either to South America, or to the Spanish West Indies. Some cargnes (there is reason to believe) were Janded at St. Bartholomew's, and smuggled thence into English islands !!! The extent to which this evil has unex in which this bounty has been claimed and received. The directors feel it incumbent on them to state, that, in prosecuting their inquiries into this case, they uniformly experienced, on the part of his Majesty's government, a prompt attention to their representations, and a cordial disposition to aid their efforts in preventing the infraction of the laws for the aboliton of, the slave trade. It is to be remembered, to the honour of the government of the United States of America, that it seized an early opportunity of electing the abolition of this trade, as far as legislative enactments could cffect it. America, however, has few or no means of enforcing her own commercial edicts. In-despite of those edicts, therefore, her ships are now the great carriers of slaves, without any other defence against the penalues, to which as Americans they are liable, than is afforded by the flag, and sunulated clearances, of some foreign state. The directors will now proceed to notice what has been further done in the prosecution of the objects of the institution. The capture of Senegal, which was effected in the month of July last, by captain Columbine, of the navy, and major Maxwell, the commandant of Gorec, has considerably abridged the faci pectedly and suddenly proceeded, and lities enjoyed by the contraband slave its obvious influence on all the plans for traders on that part of the Slave Coast. promoting the civilization of Africa, have. It has also furnished an important inlet Juriuced the directors, since the last ge- both for commerce and civilization; the neral meeting, to turn a large share of river Senegal being navigable for several their attention to the best means of re-hundred miles, and some of its branches straining or removing it. Besides inak- approaching within a short distance of ing the necessary representations, from the Niger. time to time, to his Majesty's government, they have taken measures for communicating to the officers of the Royal Navy distinct information respect ing the provisions of the legislature on this point, and the manner in which those provisions have been eluded; as well as to point out the pecuniary advantages which would accrue to them from a vigorous enforcement of the AboJition laws. The inducement to vigilance on the part of the navy is considerable; the captors being entitled to the forfeit ure of both ship and cargo. And although all slaves found on board are liberated, yet there is a bounty allowed by government to the captors, amounting to 40/. for each man, 301. for each woman, and 10. for each child so liberated. Instances have already occurred Having received information that the plants of the mulberry-tree, which they had transmitted to Africa, had taken root, and were flourishing, not only at Sierra Leone, but at Goree and Senegal, the directors procured a considerable number of silk-worms' eggs, which were sent to those places, accompanied with particular directions respecting the proper mode of rearing and managing them. They have also transmitted to Africa a farther supply of some useful seeds: and likewise the inodel of a mill for cleaning rice from its husk; an operation which, through the defect of proper machinery, is performed at present in a very laborious, rude, and imperfect man ner. The directors apprehend, that the present inferiority of African rice is chiclly to be attributed to this defect: they they will therefore be obliged to any of the friends of the inststution who shall point out the best means of remedying It. The directors having applied to Dr. Roxburgh, of Calcutta, for his assistance in obtaining seeds and plants from India, have the satisfaction to state, that they have received the most liberal assurances of his best exertions in favour of the institution. He has already transmited to this country, with a view to their propagation in Alica, several valuable seeds, with the requisite instructions for their management. The directors are happy in this opportunity of cxpressing their high sense of the obliga tions conferred on the institution by Dr. Roxburgh. The directors have drawn the attention of their correspondents in Africa to a discovery (communicated to them by R. H. Marten, esq. and sakl to have been lately made in the West Indies) of the practicability of producing excellent rope from the fibres of the plantane tree. They have as yet received no report on this subject from Africa. Referring the meeting to what was communicated in the last annual report, on the subject of a species of hemp, manufactured from the leaves of a particular kind of palm which abounds in Sierra Leone and its neighbourhood, the directors have now to add, that one of their board, Mr. Alen, has lately subjected a small quantity of cord, manufactured from this substance, to experiments calculated to ascertam its strength, as compared with the same length and weight of common hempen cord. The result has been very satisfactory. In five trials, the hempen coid broke with the following weights, viz. in the 1st, with 44lbs. avoirdupois; in the second, with 41hs.; in the third, with 51lb.; in the fourth, with 41lbs.; and in the fifth, with 41.bs.: while African cord, of the same length and weight, required to break it, in the first trial, 54lbs.; in the second, 55lbs.; in the third, 52lbs.; in the fourth, 59 lbs.; and in the fifth, 47lbs. The average is as follows: hempen cord, 43lbs, 3 fifths; African cord, 53lbs. 2 fifths; being a difference in favour of the African cord, of 10 bs. in 43lbs. The directors noticed in their last report, "the disadvantages under which the trade of Africa laboured, in consequence of the high duties imposed on the different articles of its produce. A representation to this effect having be made to his Majesty's government, matter was taken into their conside tion, and a modification of some of th duties has been obtained. The dut on cotton wool, ginger, and coffee, produce of his Majesty's dominions Africa, are now the same as those pa able on the like articles when import from the West Indies; and on pa oil, the duty has been reduced fr about 12s. 3d. to 4s. per hundre weight. On one article, Guinea grain or Malaguetta pepper, the duty been doubled; not with a view of creasing the revenue, but of operati as a probibition of the use of it, as it supposed to have been extensively e ployed in the brewing of malt liquo The directo s, however, have great re son to doubt the existence of the del terious qualities abscribed to this drug as they find it to be universally esteeme in Africa one of the most w wholesome spices, and generally used by the native to season their food. The directors have not as yet engage in any direct attempt to explore the co tinent of Africa, principally because n proper means have offered themselves t their notice. It has, however, bee communicated to them, that it is th intention of the African Association & send, at an early opportunity, one o more persons from this country, charge with the important object of farther dis covery. The directors have signified their readiness to concur in any eligible measure of this description. Before the directors quit this subject they think it right to advert to a com munication which has been made to them by lieut.-col. Maxwell, the com mandant of Senegal, respecting the ce lebrated traveller Mungo Pak, in a let, ter dated on the 28th of January last, which contains the following passage: "Iavail myself of an opportunity by way of Guernsey, to cominunicate to you the intelligence of the arrival in this colony of the black man named Isaacs, who was the guide who conducted Mr. Mungo Park to Sansanding, and whose schoolmaster, who resides there, furnished Mr. Park with a guide to take him to Kassina. This person appears convinced that Mr. Mungo Park is not dead: he says, if it was the case, he certainly should have heard of it: not having heard of him, he supposed he had returned to England. "To ascertain the certainty of the fate fate of our intrepid countryman, I have engaged Isaacs to go in search of him, and have furnished him with a present for Mansong, the king of Banbarra, and also with means to defray his travelling expences; and have promised him a thousand dollars if he finds Mr. Park. He has instructions to proceed without delay to Sego; to present to Mansong the present he has for him; and to beg of him to aid him in his researches. If he cannot procure any certain intelligence of him at Sego, he is to continue his ourney to Sansanding, to find out the guide who conducted Mr. Park to Kassina. If there he cannot gain satisfactory information, he is to endeavour to proceed to Tomibuctoo and Kassina. "Isaacs has promised to make every exertion to fulfil the object of his mission, and to use his utmost ability to gain correct information of the celebrated traveller." It has been already mentioned, that commissioners have been appointed by government to inquire into the state of the African coast, with a view to the adoption of such measures as may most effectually promote the civilization and improvement of Africa. Their mission was delayed, in consequence of the loss of the Solebay frigate, which was to have attended them on the survey: and it was only in January last that another frigate was dispatched to supply the place of the Solebay. It may be presumed that they have by this time entered on their important labours, as the frigate had reached Goree about the 1st of February. The information which has been received from Africa, since the last meeting of the institution, has been less abundant than usual; but the directors will now state such particulars of it as are likely to prove most interesting to the sub-cribers. Their first extract will be from a letter of lord Caledon, the governor of the Cape of Good Hope, dated the 29th of May, 1809. His lordship, who is a life governor of the institution, and warmly interested in its success, writes as follows: "From the vague reports of the colonists, as well as from other causes sufficiently obvious, I conceived it would be highly desirable, if a person were found qualified and willing, to explore the colonial boundary in the north-east direction; and as a medical gentleman of the MONTHLY MAG. No. 202; name of Cowan, proposed himself to me for this purpose, I gave him my sanction, and what assistance I considered necessary, for enabling him to execute the design. He left the Cape in September 1808, and, crossing the Orange River, found himself on the 24th of December, in lat. 24°. 30'. long. 289. He was at this period resting on the bank of a river called the Moloffo, and had the intention of proceeding on the following day in a course more northerly; but his ultimate object is to gain Mosambique, or one of the Portuguese settlements on the eastern coast. "Dr. Cowan describes the country to the northward of Leetakoo as being for the most part fertile; and observes, that all the rivers he has hitherto passed rua to the west. The reception he met with was invariably hospitable; and in scarcely any instance did the natives appear to mark a suspicion. As he advanced, he found an increased degree of civilization; and represents the wealthy people of one tribe of Barolloos as being possessed of servants, as well as slaves. The othalmia was prevalent among these people. "From all that I have been able to collect, from a worthy missionary of the name of Anderson, I am sanguine in believing that Dr. Cowan will succeed in reaching Mosambique, where I have already paved the way for procuring him a favourable reception." "I regret very much," his lordship adds, "that I omitted to make myself acquainted with those points upon which the Institution might wish for particular information; but as it is not improbable that other adventurers may arise, I shall be obliged to you to procure for me the directions, if sach there are, which the Institution furnishes to those in its em ployment." His lordship's request has been complied with; and he has been furnished with copies of the queries drawn up for the purpose of guiding the inquiries of African travellers. In a letter, dated March the 6th, 1809, the governor of Sierra Leone informs the directors, that "Measures have been taken for exciting the attention of the Coast to the cotton seed sent out by the Institution, and a portion of it will be propagated in this colony at the proper season. "An experiment has been made of И the 1 the mangrove bark in the colony, in consequence of the information received from the Institution, in the hands of one of the Nova Scotians. He reports, that he never saw bark like it [meaning, so good] in America. "Oxen have been employed in the service of government with great success, and may probably be applied in many ways which have not hitherto been thought of." "The plants which arrived from the Institution, are, with the exception of a very few, in the most flourishing condition. The only plants which it appears of considerable importance to replace, are the two tea-trees, neither of which have succeeded. The mulberry-trees have succeeded without exception. "In the situation where the plants sent last from England are placed, we have a small crop of red and white clover, and another of wheat, which appears to promise well. "It has occured to me," adds the governor, "that Sierra Leone would be a very advantageous temporary residence for any person intending to dedicate himself to the advancement of the knowledge of Africa, both on account of the salubrity of the climate, and the acquaintance to be gained with the manners and customs of the country. There are, perhaps, few things that would be more beneficial to this colony than the introduction of a scientific man, who could describe the animal and vegetable productions of this part of the globe with accuracy. There can be no doubt that there is in this country a mass of unknown treasures, which want only scientific examination to be discovered." The directors have also received a letter, containing much important information respecting a district of the Gold Coast, from Mr. Meredith-the same gentleman who has furnished an article in the Appendix to their last Report. Mr. Meredith states, that the beneficial effects which might be expected to follow the abolition of the slave trade by Great Britain, have been greatly impeded by the continuance of it, though on a re-, duced scale, by other nations. Accusations, predatory wars, &c. are not so frequent as formerly; but kidnapping, he adds, is still practised. That the inhabitants are more industrious, and that they have more confidence in their personal safety, he thinks is clearly observable. In short, the effects which have flowed from even a partial abolition of the slave trade, seem to him to pr that a total abolition would be atten with many more beneficial consequen for though the export of slaves f Africa be now comparatively trifling, it keeps alive on the Coast many of mal-practices which would other cease. The total abolition, he obser is therefore necessary. With the exception of the letters ready referred to, the directors have little information from Africa, excep what relates to the painful subject the slave trade, to which they have ready adverted; and they are under siderable apprehensions lest much what they attempted to do for Af should be counteracted by the influe of that pernicious traffic. In the m time, enough at least has been done prove the practicability of success, case fair scope should be afforded their efforts, by the removal of this gra barrier to all improvement and to happiness. In particular, the direc have continued to receive the most sa factory proofs that Africans are as ceptible of intellectual and moral ture as the natives of any other quar of the globe: but they feel persuad that the members of this Institution quire no fresh facts or illustrations convince them of this truth. The directors are unwilling to omit, their report, the relation of an inter ing circumstance which occurred a months ago at Liverpool. p Some time in the month of Septemn last, Mr. Roscoe was informed that n black men were confined in the borou gaol of Liverpool for debt; and ou f ther inquiry he learned that they had be arrested by the master of a Portugu vessel from the Brazils, then in the for the purpose, as was supposed, keeping them in safe custody until his s should be ready for sea. As it appea clearly that in such a case no debt co exist, Mr. Roscoe engaged two frie to put in bail for the defendants; before an order was obtained for th discharge, the master and his age being aware of these proceedings, s rounded the gaol with a great number Portuguese seamen and other perso armed, for the purpose of seizing prisoners; and the attorney for the m ter sent an order to the gaoler to charge them. The black men, however, were prised of their danger; their fellowsoners declared they should not be tal |