journals of the Royal Society for October 1, 1662, record that Dr. Wren presented some cuts done by himself in a new way, whereby he could almost as soon do a subject on a plate of brass or copper as another could draw it with a crayon on paper. On this subject the editor of Parentalla speaks with decision, that "he was the first inventor of the art of graving in Mezzotinto; which was afterwards prosecuted and improved by his Royal Highness Prince Rubert, in a manner somewhat different, upon the suggestion, as it is said, of the learned John Evelyn, Esq." Of Engraving in Aquatinta.-Aquatinta is a method of producing prints very much resembling drawings in Indian ink. The principle of the process consists in corroding the copper with aquafortis in such a manner that an impression from it has the appearance of a tint laid on the paper. This is effected by covering the copper with a powder, or some substance which takes a granulated form, so as to prevent the aquafortis from acting where the particles adhere, and by this means cause it to corrode the copper partially, and in the interstices only. When these particles are extremely minute and near to each other, the impression from the plate appears to the naked eye exactly like a wash of Indian ink; but when they are larger, the granulation is more distinct, and as this may be varied at pleasure, it is capable of being adapted with success to a variety of purposes and subjects. The art of engraving on wood is not only of very ancient date, but is a legitimate, beautiful, and artistlike mode of operation, for the production, of prints, particularly for books. The first engravers on wood whose names have reached our times are William Pluydenwurff and Michael Wolgemuth, who engraved the cuts of the Nuremburg Chronicle which was published in folio in 1493, which are marked with all the stiffness and inaccuracy which characterize the works of the German artists of that time. Engraving on wood is a very artist-like mode of execution, and requires considerable graphic abilities to execute it well. Hence many painters of excellence have practised it with success. Among the best engravers on wood, we must particularly mention Pierre Scaffer or Schoifer, whose coloured figures in his celebrated Psalter (folio 1457) prove that this mode of engraving, the invention of which is commonly attributed to Hugo Da Cabri, had its rise in Germany. ALBERT DURER also practised the art of wood engraving with great success, which began now to assume a higher character; and, as far as regards the executive part, he brought it to a perfection which has hardily been equalled by any succeeding artist. Bewick of Newcastle, Harvey his pupil, the Thompsons (brothers), Branston, and other artists, have carried this art to the highest perfection. Engraving on Steel is performed in nearly a similar way to engraving on copper. For etching on steel the plate or block is bedded on glazier's putty, and etched with a needle through a ground of Brunswick black in the common way. Messrs. Perkins and Heathhave carried the art of engraving on plates of softened steel, afterwards hardened by a scientific process, to a great degree of perfection. Engraving on stone is a recent invention now in great vogue. It is cheap and, when well performed, produces impressions of great beauty in imitation of chalk, Mezzotinto, pen and ink, and even of etching. Engraving or etching on glass is performed by laying on a ground consisting of a thin coat of bees wax, and drawing the design therein with an etching needle. It is then to be covered with sulphuric acid, sprinkled over with powdered fluor spar or fluoric acid. It must be taken off after four or five hours, and cleansed with oil of turpentine. ETCHING is a mode of engraving on copper and other metals or substances by drawing with a needle inserted in a handle, called an etching needle, on and through a thin ground, which being corroded or bitten by aquafortis, forms the lines upon the plate. Lithography. A little reflection will suffice to show that this invention, of only a few years' date, is calculated to be in many ways of the highest possible utility. The facility with which, through its medium, any thing whatever in the shape of writing or pictorial display can be multiplied is truly astonishing. By means of it the painter, the sculptor, the architect, are enabled to hand down to posterity as many fac similes of their original sketches as they please. The collector or antiquarian is enabled to multiply his originals, and the amateur the fruits of his leisure hours. The portrait painter can gratify his patron by supplying him with as many copies as he wishes to have of a successful likeness. Men in office may obtain copies of the most important despatches or documents, without a moment's delay, and without the necessity of confiding in the fidelity of secretaries and clerks; whilst the merchant and the man of business, to whom time is often of the most vital importance, can, with similar promptitude, preserve what copies they may require, of their tables, or accounts. My Son-in-law, the late F. Calvert, Esq. executed a greater variety of Subjects in this branch of the art, than perhaps any other person in Europe. It is gratifying to me to state, that at my request, my Son has enabled me, by his execution of the four Lithographic Heads, which accompany this Retrospect-to present this earliest specimens of his ability in that art; my second GRANDSON has also engraved the five fac simile Wood Cuts of the ancient Printers. Drawing, or Etching upon Zinc called Zincography. This is the very latest invention, or improvement in the fine Arts.The process and progress is similar to the drawing on, and printing from Stone. It was invented by Messrs. Chapman & Co. of London, who have obtained a patent for this branch of art, and have extensive Mills at Dartford, in Kent, for preparing the Zinc Plates, which possess a great advantage over Stone, from being light and portable; I have some Impressions from this mode of Printing, executed by my ELDEST GRANDSON, from the original drawings, which are very beautiful. ART. II.-THE WAR OF THE FEUILLETONS. 1. Les Contemporains, Alexre Dumas, Emile de Girardin, Eugène Sue, George Sand, Jules Janin, fc. par Eugène Mirecourt; 24mo. Paris. 1856-7. 2. Fabrique de Biographies Maison E. de Mirecourt et Cie; par un ex Associé Pierre Mazerolle; 24mo. Paris. 1857. 3. Biographie de Jacquot dit de Mirecourt; par Théophile Deschamps. Paris. 1857. Among those privileges of young days which we would gladly seize on again, the most desirable would be to feel once more the awe and veneration with which we once regarded every one who had written a book. Messrs Dilworth, Fenning, Walker, and other grave signiors, enthroned on easy chairs in the frontispieces of spelling books and dictionaries, and calmly dictating to files of docile urchins, were well enough in their way, and worthy of due respect; but still what a height above their full-bottomed wigs and collarless coats, sat enthroned the authors of Sandford and Merton, the Vicar of Wakefield, Puss in Boots, and the Battle of Aughrim! At twenty years of age we cheerfully sacrificed a good dinner to the pleasure of getting a glimpse of the Great Unknown during his visit to Dublin; and looked on it as an event to be ever after deplored, that the bodily presence of the authoress of Ennui once embalmed the air of the apartment in which we were employed at our drudgery, without our being at the time sensible of our privilege. At that era of literary faith and hope, though we had heard of poets in Grub-street garrets holding deferential language to milk-women on the subject of scores left unpaid, we gave very little faith to the report; and looked on the author of Marmion sitting in ease and dignity beside a castle wall, with gallant Lufra by his side, and his pencil ready to fasten a poetical idea on the page of his note-book, as the true type of authorhood. Great was our admiration of a portrait of the authoress of Thaddeus of Warsaw, and hearty our approval of the taste of the painter settling her on a ruin in a dark night with bare neck and countenance lighted up by the pale moon; while regardless of cold and solitude she calmly gazed abroad on the night landscape and the gloomy heaven, with sublime and romantic ideas sweeping across the magic mirror of her imagination. Small thanks we gave to a common-place friend in our company who suggested the propriety and comfort of the lady's resuming bonnet and shawl, walking home, putting her feet in a pan of warm water and taking a glass of hot wine negus. If at this advanced period of our lives and experience we look on favorite writers as mere men and women, we can honestly lay hand on breast, and declare that the fault rests not with us. If Mrs. Siddons will beg for black muddy porter, though in tones of tragic depth; if one man of genius allows himself to be so bemused in beer, whiskeypunch, and tobacco, that some one must see him in safety home when he dines abroad; if another delights every reader where the English tongue is known with a tale of true love, loyalty, heroic daring, and liberal feelings, and afterwards calumniates in a furious newspaper, the religion, political faith, and honesty of nine-tenths of his fellow subjects. and all for sake of filthy lucre; finally if a third casts such a production on the world as no Christian father would allow to be read by wife, son, or daughter, will not the idols which we raised to those false divinities in our mind's sanctuary, fall of themselves and be hopelessly shivered in pieces! The light in which the young and the unworldly portion of the reading world look upon their unknown literary guides and instructors, is similar, with a difference, to that in which a judge on the bench arrayed in all the grandeurs of horse-hair and ermine, is regarded by a simple-minded occupant of the gallery, while with unruffled visage, calm passionless tone, and dignified gesture, he settles the law between the angry and smarting advocates, himself occupying that exalted seat, beyond and above the atmosphere in which irritation or personal animosity is known. But let this lofty personage enter on a wordy war with one of the incensed wranglers, and, forgetful of his official greatness, utter such words and with such gestures as a fishwoman or car-driver, familiar with books and learned in the law, would use on the occasion, would not the un sophisticated listener depart in wretched state of mind, heartily despising study, knowledge; official grandeur, and the undignified individuals in whose possession he finds themes kisan 5k 5 3 10 47 og hude B 9.So to every man who thinks he can inform or improve his fellows, and writes a book, we say, "let not the example just propounded, depart from your mind: if assailed by some snarling cur, let your demeanor to him be that of the sedate judge to the irritated selfish pleader whose figures of speech were acquired at the fish-auction in Pill-lane. If misunderstood or even found in error by a rational and civil spoken censor, let logic be the substance of your answer, and courtesy its form. And so shall we settle your -bust beside those of the great minds of all ages, the results of whose genius, judgment and labour remain for our pleasure and improvement; while we dwell as little on their defects, littlenesses, and faults, as if in their instances such infirmities were altogether unknown." ♫But if one, eminent by his literary and official rank, takes to exercise the romancer's privilege on the sober pages of bhistory, and raises to the rank of a demigod, a very ordinary specimen of humanity; if he wilfully misrepresents the motives and actions of those with whose political or religious principles he does not sympathise; if after being shewn re-peated proofs of the falsehood of his statements, he coolly and arrogantly repeats the seven-times convicted lie, surely the punishment of the traitor to the love of his native land will not be too severe for the traitor to truth, and the wilful calumniator of the dead. He, Living shall forfeit fair renown; And doubly dying, shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung, As the reading and hard to be pleased portion of the c.community expect to find a combination of virtues and good qualities, in those who cater for their entertainment, which they by no means insist on as necessary in their own individual cases, it is worth enquiring, whether consistently with the ordinary rise and progress of the literary career, Etheir expectations seem in a fair way to be ever fulfilled. No writer diving or dead was ever educated solely with a erview toothes profession. The republic consists of deserters |