The painting, thus restored to credit and the light, was intended to be hung up, as a national memento of the naval victory to which it relates, in the council-room of St.-James's palace. As a companion to it, a picture was required, representing the Victory engaged in the Battle of Trafalgar. The first marine painter of the day undertook the task ; and, in due time the large area of canvass, which, to correspond with the other picture, became necessary for this, was covered with all the varied tints which Mr. Turner knows so well how to mingle and combine, to give effect to his pictures and excite the admiration of the beholder.

Unfortunately for the subject which this splendid picture is meant to represent, scarcely a line of truth, beyond perhaps the broadside view of the Victory's hull, is to be seen upon it. To say what time of the day, or what particular incident in the Victory's proceedings, is meant to be referred to, we do not pretend ; for the telegraphic message is going up, which was hoisted at about 11 h. 40 m. A.M., the mizen topmast is falling, which went about 1 P.M. a strong light is reflected upon the Victory's bow and sides from the burning Achille, which ship did not catch fire until 4 h. 30 m., nor explode until 5 h. 45 m. P.M., the fore topmast, or rather, if our memory is correct, the foremast, of the British three-decker is falling, which never fell at all, and the Redoubtable is sinking under the bows of the Victory although the French ship did not sink until the night of the 22d and then under the stern of the Swiftsure.

We are sorry to be obliged to add that, with all these glaring falsehoods and palpable inconsistencies upon it, the picture, stands, or until very lately did stand, in that room of the king's palace, for which it was originally designed. The principal reason urged for giving to this very costly and highly honoured performance so preposterous a character, is that an adherence to truth would have destroyed the pictorial effect. Here is a ship, shattered in her hull, and stripped of the best part of her sails, pushing into a cluster of enemy's ships without a grazed plank or a torn piece of canvass, to fire her first gun. Here is symbolized the first of naval heroes, with chivalric valour, devoting himself to his country's cause ; and yet, says an artist of high repute, " there is a lack of pictorial materials. " We hope some public-spirited individual, if not the state itself, will show whether this is really the case ; for it is almost a national disgrace that there should yet be wanted a picture which, in accuracy of representation, no less than in strength and brilliancy of execution, is calculated to illustrate, and to stand as a lasting memorial of one of the greatest sea-battles that ever has been, or that perhaps ever will be fought : a battle to the success of which England at this time owes, if not her political existence, her prosperity, happiness, and exalted station.

To any artist, who may consider it worth his while or within

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