sive and interesting collection of living animals that I have ever seen. It exceeds that in the Tower. But it is impossible for me, my dear brother, to give any thing like a complete description of the various collections and curiosities which every day brings to my notice. You would not have patience to read, nor have I time to write such long details. All that I can do is to connect with the history of my life in this country, general notices of the interesting things which I see, with descriptions of such particulars as strike me most forcibly. Even this will perhaps be tedious, but my apology must be, that my principal motive for writing this journal, was to comply with your wishes, and to gratify a few other friends, whose affectionate partiality will induce them to overlook the unavoidable egotism of a performance, in which the writer must constantly speak of himself, if he would be faithful to the truth. One may, it is true, like Cæsar, substi tute the third person for the first, but this is a mere parade of modesty, and, in any man less famous than Cæsar, would be justly considered as evincing the very thing which it would seek to hide.

Among the large animals at Pidcock's, are two royal tigers from Bengal; a lion and a lioness; two large and fierce panthers from South America, beautifully spotted like the leopard; a hunting leopard or tiger from the East-Indies, a small but beautiful animal which is used by the Asiatic princes in hunting; it is said that they carry them on the pommel of the saddle, from which they spring upon their prey, particularly the antelope. There were two hyenas, animals which no degree of kindness or familiarity with man can at all soften from their native ferocity; a nhyl-ghaw, a large animal resembling the elk in form, but having a

head like that of a horse, except that it is crowned with horns.

The elephant held the first rank in size. This ani mal was nearly nine feet high, and looks more like a huge rock than a living animal. It is wonderful with what ease he wields his lithe proboscis." It an

swers him all the purposes of a hand, and as Buffon remarks, he carries his nose in the same organ, and thus unites touch, smell, and the power of grasping, all in one member. Without it he certainly could not subsist. I threw a small key among the straw on the floor, when, by the direction of his keeper, he found it with his proboscis, and gave it to me. Being asked how many gentlemen there were in the room, he gave as many short breathings as corresponded to the number, and the same for the ladies; in the same manner he told the ages of two children that were present ;-he bolted and unbolted the doors, picked up my cane and gave it to me, took off the keeper's hat and put it on, thrust his proboscis into my waistcoat pocket, and took out a piece of money that was there, &c. Well might Mr. Pope call him "half reasoning elephant."

Among the smaller animals were several kangaroos; they have very short fore legs and very long hind ones, on which they stand erect, and one of them had been taught to box with his keeper, while in this attitude, and might have made a very tolerable pupil of Mendoza, with at least as much that was human about him.

There was a very great collection of monkeys and baboons; but with this burlesque on the human form, I am always disgusted, and feel disposed to say, as the king of England, under the title of king of the Brobdinags, is represented in a late caricature print; as saying of Bonaparte, under the character of Gulli

ver.

The king, with an opera glass at his eye, looks intently at the little invader, whom he holds up between his thumb and finger, while he petulantly exclaims, "I am of opinion that it is a most odious lit. tle animal !"

I must not omit to mention the little bull taken from the menagerie of Tippoo Saib, at Seringa patam. He is only 2 feet 7 inches high, and is kept in a garret, around which he runs like a cat.

No. XIV.-LONDON.

Mr. West....His sentiments on the progress of the fine arts.... Anecdote of the King and Mr. West.... An excursion into the country...Singular whim of a Dutchman.

MR. WEST.

May 31.-I dined to-day at the house of Mr. West. At his table I unexpectedly met the author of the Vision of Columbus.

Mr. West is a venerable old man of 70. His head is white as snow, but he exhibits no other marks of age. He has much ease, affability, and simplicity of manners, with a kindness of deportment which enables one to be immediately unembarrassed in his society. His house is adorned with a profusion of fine pictures, but I did not take the liberty of inquiring which were his. I endeavoured to draw him into conversation upon the subject of the fine arts, in one department of

which, that of historical painting, you know he has gained the first rank. He very obligingly yielded to my wishes, and gave me an interesting and instructive historical sketch of the rise and progress of the fine arts in England. With this subject he seemed to be perfectly acquainted. He dates their origin from the time of the third Edward, and he enumerated the painters, architects, and sculptors who had flourished in the different reigns. But, so little progress had these things made, even at the close of the reign of George II. when Mr. West came to England, that he declared the country was at that time almost destitute of the cultivators of the fine arts ;-more destitute in his opinion than America now is. But, he added, that England could now boast of more than 300 distinguished painters and sculptors. Along with this progress in the fine arts, he had traced a growing refinement and humanity in the manners of the people. Formerly, every young gen. tleman was obliged to learn boxing, to defend himself against the insults of the mob, which he was sure to receive in walking the streets; but now, there is uni versal decorum and civility in the manners of the lower ranks.

He inquired concerning the state of society in America, and particularly of the progress of the fine arts. He thought that they had already attained a great degree of attention, considering the age of the country, and seemed very much gratified with the introduction of the plaster casts of the celebrated statues of antiquity, into New-York. He said he would not relinquish the idea of revisiting his country, from which he had now been absent more than forty years, as he was prepared to be very much gratified in witnessing its improvement. He spoke very highly of young Mr.

Malbone of your town, and pronounced him to be, in his opinion, a first-rate miniature painter.

Mr. West, you know, has long held a high rank in the favour and patronage of the king. As this patronage began before the American war, it was natural to expect either that it would have been withdrawn when that crisis came on, or, that at least all sympathy with his countrymen must have been studiously concealed on the part of Mr. West.

But, much to the credit of

this gentleman and of his royal patron, no such disgraceful compliances were either conceded or required. I have heard an anecdote on this subject, which ought to be mentioned for the honour of both parties.

During the American war, Mr. West was employed at Windsor Castle, in painting an historical piece for his Majesty, who often attended in person to observe the progress of the work. The etiquette of the court is, it seems, that no man speaks loud in his Majesty's presence, unless first spoken to by him;-all other conversation is conducted in whispers. The King was in the painting room, one morning, as usual, and a number of the courtiers were present, among whom was a particular nobleman, who had long been envious of Mr. West's high standing with the king, and was using every artifice to wound his fame. It happened that a gazette extraordinary had, that morning, been sent down from London, giving an account of the battle of Cambden in South Carolina. This, the nobleman thought, would be a good opportunity to attack Mr. West in presence of the King. Accordingly, without paying any regard to the propriety of the occasion, he addressed Mr. West in a loud voice, and a short dialogue ensued, in nearly the following terms.