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of these form a square mass, round which is a broad paved street, and this again neatly surrounded with a series of respectable dwellings. Most of these persons are engaged in some manufacture, or useful employment; and whilst the men prosecute the spinning, weaving, and other branches of the cotton business, the women are usefully and laudibly executing tambour and fine needle work. The Moravians, I believe, are not a numerous class. Their chief settlement is at Fulneck, in Yorkshire, and there is a small one at Tytherton, in Wiltshire.

INCE-BLUNDEL, the seat of Henry Blundel, Esq. is situated in the parish of Sefton, within the Hundred of West Derby*, at the distance of nine miles north from Liverpool. This estate and manor appear to have been possessed by the Blundel family from a very remote period; and in the time of Henry the Third, a William Blundel was seated here. From him it descended to Robert Blundel, an eminent lawyer and bencher of Gray's-Inn, and it has continued to the present possessor in regular succession. The mansion, a large handsome building †, is richly stored with works of art, and contains a collection of ancient statuary, which may safely be pronounced of unrivelled merit and value in this country. Attached to this house is a new building, called the Pantheon, exactly resembling the edifice of that name in Rome, though one third less in size. erected on purpose to contain, and display the choicest specimens of the sculpture. The assemblage of statues, busts, bass-relieves, cinerary-urns, and other ancient marbles, is not only very nu

This was

merous,

*The author was prevented from inserting this account in its proper place, from the circumstance of a gentleman to whom the MS. was sent for correction, having detained it at Liverpool, till the sheet was obliged to be worked off in which the account ought to have been printed.

The annexed print represents the front of the mansion, with the Pantheon, &c.

merous, but many of them are esteemed the finest productions of those unrivalled Grecian artists whose works are rare, but whose praises have been often repeated in the writings of the historian, the critic, and the poet. In amassing this collection, Mr. Blundel has expended immense sums of money, and devoted a long and active life. Possessing a laudible zeal for the subject, and being much abroad, he had favourable opportunities of collecting and selecting many subjects, the real value of which was not known at the time, but which is now well understood, and therefore properly appreciated. Though it will be impossible to furnish the reader with any thing like a satisfactory account of the whole collection in the present work, yet he may form some idea of its extent by knowing that it consists of about one hundred statues, one hundred and fifty busts, one hundred and ten bass-relieves, ninety sarcophagi and cinerary-urns, forty ancient fragments, besides marble pillars, tables, and other antiquities; also about two hundred pictures*.

Of this immense collection, a few of the best in each class are here specified.

Among the most excellent of the STATUES, are those of Minerva and Diana, both of which now stand in the Entrance Hall. -These rank with the very finest works of the ancient artists, and are in good preservation.-The Minerva is remarkable for the graceful ease of the figure, and simple, yet dignified expression of character. The head, extremely fine, has never been broken off. It came from the Duke of Lanté's palace at Rome. It was found at Ostia. The Diana is admired for its sweet, yet firm and spirited attitude, curious dress, and rich buskins. The legs and feet of this statue are admirably executed, and claim particular attention. In this hall is a lovely figure, of modern sculpture, the work of the celebrated Canova, who is by birth a Venetian. This statue repre

sents

* A catalogue Raisonné of this collection, with numerous prints, is now printing by the worthy proprietor, who, by such a publication, will confer an essential favour on every lover of the arts; and will thereby set a laudable example to others who possess valuable collections.

sents Psyche, gently and gracefully bending over a butterfly, (an emblem of the human soul,) which rests on the open palm of one hand, while with the other she holds its wings. The statue of Jupiter Pacificus finely expresses the attributes belonging to the God of Peace. The countenance is majestic, and unites grandeur and sublimity with mildness and benevolence. It is executed in the same broad style of sculpture which is visible in some of the most valuable statues on the Continent, and the chisel marks are discernable all over it.-The Theseus, who was King of Athens, and one of the most celebrated heroes of antiquity, is a remarkably fine statue, nearly seven feet high. This statue was found in Adrian's villa, and was bought by Mr. Blundel from the Duke of Modena. Nothing can exceed the beauty and symmetry of this admirable figure; nor is it possible to describe, in language, the easy dignity, and careless grace of the attitude. It is altogether a perfect work, and cannot fail of particularly interesting every spectator.—The Esculapius, six feet eleven inches in height, is in fine preservation, and was for many years much noted in the villa Mattei.-The figure of the muse Urania is remarkable for its beautiful drapery, and elegant form.-The Juno veiled, and holding a poniegranate-The statue of a Roman Senator in his robes-The Bacchus, Apollo, Anchyrhoe, and several different fine statues of Minerva, Apollo, Venus, Mercury, Hygeia, Isis, &c. are entitled to particular attention, as do some rare and curious antique Egyptian-idols, among which is one in Basalte.-There are also two groups of statuary, placed in the conservatory, one of which is esteemed, by connoisseurs, to be the finest specimen of ancient sculpture extant. The artist who executed it was a Greek, and his name is inscribed in Grecian characters on the plinth.

Among the BUSTS, the most conspicuous, in point of merit, both as acknowledged portraits and good specimens of sculpture, are those of Adrian, Septimius Severus, Salvius Otho, Cicero, Claudius Albinus, Cato, Claudius Drusus, Augustus Cæsar, Julius Cæsar, Didia Clara, Marciana, Julia, and a Colossal bust of Vespasian, a true portrait, which stands on a pillar of Cippoline

In

Cippoline marble. The busts of Jupiter Serapis, Bacchus, and several others, are wonderfully fine, and genuine antiques. Here also are two casts in bronze, from the heads of the celebrated Centaurs at Rome, and three or four curious tragic masks, three feet in height, valuable not only on account of the excellence of their sculpture, but from their rarity, as there are few, if any, real antique ones of that size in England. In mentioning the valuable collection of fragments of ancient sculpture, there are none more worthy of observation than the curious and highly finished Hand, which stands on a porphyry pillar in the Entrance Hall, and which displays much truth and nature. Also an Hand, undoubtedly belonging to the famed statue of the philosopher Zeno, in the Capstotinum at Rome. It admirably expresses the character of an old man's hand.-An antique foot on a pedestal of Pavonezza, is a fine piece of sculpture.--Also a leg and thigh, uncommonly well executed.-A fragment of some Colossal figure, which, in proportion to this knee, must have been twenty-five feet in height, the sculpture of the most excellent kind. the collection of BASS-RELIEVES, a lion's head, an Etruscan sacrifice, a Tabula Votiva, Terminus, Bacchanalian Scene, Chariot Races, an elegant figure of Victory carrying a wreath to adorn a Temple, Nerides, a Sepulchral Monument, and a Jupiter Pacificus, command particular attention, and are all of admirable workmanship. But the numerous Sarcophagi, and CineraryUrns, are valuable and rare specimens, especially one of the Sarcophagi seven feet long, and four feet high, at each end of which are lions devouring their prey, executed in a masterly style.The collection of Marble-Tables, between thirty and forty in number, is peculiarly choice and valuable. These are of SicilianJasper, Verd-Antique, Pecorella, Oriental-Alabaster, Lava-Dove, Brocatella, Bianco-Nero, Specimen Tables, and fine Mosaic, both ancient and modern. Also several Columns and Pillars of the Verd-Antique, Cipollini, Brescia, Red Granite, Porta Santa Rubia, Pavonezza, Porphyry, Grey-Granite, and other Marbles-and a variety of Alabaster and Etruscan Vases, and curious An

tique Bronzes.-The pictures are not so select as they might be; but there are several fine paintings, in which number, the Fall and Redemption of Man, an early picture, by RAPHAEL, stands conspicuous. The Marriage Feast, a large picture, by PAUL VERONESE. Bacchus and Ariadne, a large painting, by SEBASTIAN RICCA. Four fine Landscapes, by WILSON. TWO curious Portraits, by Gerrard Douw. The Alchymist, by D. Teniers, with many others, too numerous to detail, deserve the attention of the connoisseur and artist.

JOHN WEEVER, a native of this county, was born in the year 1576, but at what place is not mentioned by any Biographer. Partial to ecclesiastical antiquities and sepulchral memorials, he travelled over different parts of England, and even visited the Continent to examine churches, and transcribe the flattering inscriptions on old tombs, &c. At length he published that part of his collection which related to the dioceses of Canterbury, Rochester, London, Norwich, and part of Lincoln. This made a small volume folio, 1641; and in 1767, the work, with some additions, was published in quarto *, entitled, "Ancient Funeral Monuments of Great Britain, and the Islands adjacent,” "with a Discourse on Funeral Monuments," &c. Wharton, (Angli. Sac. Vol. I. p. 668.) charges him with gross mistakes in the numerical letters and figures. Weever died in London in the year 1632, and was buried in the old church of St. James's, Clerkenwell, where the following epitaph, written by himself, was inscribed to his memory:

"Lancashire gave me birth-Cambridge education,

Middlesex gave me death-and this church my humation:
And Christ to me hath given,

A place, with him in Heaven."

* This was edited by the Rev. John Tooke, author of Travels in Russia, &c. who solicited the communication of additional epitaphs, but did not obtain many.-Gough's British Topography, Vol. I. p. 121.

END OF LANCASHIRE.

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