1843. are four medallions, representing the four evangelists; and in the space between, the three Christian graces, Faith, Hope, and Charity; and to these are added Justice, the peculiar glory of who is to be a ruler. The two Protestant doctrines are represented, Baptism and the Lord's Supper; each are a great picture as regards the style and beauty of the invention. Our limits only permit us further to add, that the inner circle of the shield represents some event of the Saviour's life; and the last religious design is the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, and their commission to preach the Word. By this we are conducted from past to present times; and the rest of the compositions regard the baptism of the young prince, and circumstances connected with it. The religious part of the picture is worthy to form a grand altar-piece in fresco, with no alteration but as regards size.-Art Union, March, 1843.

There is not the least doubt that, when the abovementioned Shield of Faith is finished, it will be an achievement of great merit; the celebrated artists, Stuler and Cornelius, employed in the execution is a passport for originality in composition and execution. Prussia, however, must not assume to herself the first invention of a shield called "The Shield of Faith." I invented one in 1830, for the particulars of which, and for the design, I refer the reader to pages 401 and 402.

Copy of the Petition that was forwarded to His Celestial Majesty.

"The humble Petition of Sir Edward Thomason, of Birmingham, in England, a Knight of Great Britain; a Knight Chevalier of the Order of Francis 1st, of Naples; of Isabel the Catholic, of Spain; of the Red Eagle, of

Prussia; of the Sun and Lion, of Persia; of the Lion, of 1843. the Netherlands; of Leopold 1st, of Belgium; of the Religious Order of St. Constantine, of the Sicilies; of the Order of Christi, of Portugal; and of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus; to His Most Gracious Imperial and Celestial Majesty, the Emperor of China, &c., &c., &c.

"Sheweth, That your Petitioner has, for forty years, done all in his power to improve the Arts, Sciences, and Manufactures of Europe, and he has at his Establishment numerous Works of Art, of your Petitioner's invention, the admiration of every person visiting his manufactories; and your Petitioner has, after many years' labour and expense, completed a series of sixty very large Medals, illustrative of the Holy Scriptures, from the creation of Adam; the allegorical subjects are embodied from the ancient pictures of Rubens, Raphael, Lionardi de Vinci, Guido, Domenichino, Michael Angelo, and others, a series of which your Petitioner has had the honour to present to his Sovereign, at a full Court, assembled at the Levee, in the presence of the Princes and Peers of the Realm.

"And your Petitioner knowing, with the whole world, your Imperial and Celestial Majesty's great taste, love, admiration, and encouragement in every invention which appertains to the improvements in Science and the Arts, humbly hopes that your Imperial and Celestial Majesty will be graciously pleased, and will deign to accept the series of the sixty large Medals herewith placed in fine morocco and ornamented gilt folio volumes, the allegorical subjects of which, your Petitioner begs permission to set forth in the subjoined leaf in their chronological order.

VOL. II. BB

1843.

"Your Petitioner humbly hopes that Almighty Providence may preserve your Imperial and Celestial Majesty to enjoy a long and happy reign, for which your Petitioner will for ever pray.

"EDWARD THOMASON, Knight."

Copy of correspondence respecting Sir E. Thomason's present to the Emperor :

"I beg to enclose to you a note from his Excellency Sir Henry Pottinger, together with a letter from Mr. Morrison, by which you will see that the High Commissioner Keying declines to send Sir E. Thomason's books to the Emperor, it being contrary to the etiquette of the Court of China to do so. I have, therefore, returned the books to your house here, and, perhaps, you will inform Sir Edward Thomason of the fate of his present.

"To Alexander Matheson, Esq., Macao."

"You will see, from the accompanying note from Mr. Morrison to my address, that the Imperial Commissioner has declined to forward Sir E. Thomason's medals to the Emperor; and if Keying will not do so, I suspect there is no other man in China who will. Under these circumstances, I send you back the box and papers,

in order that they may, if you think proper, be made 1843.

over to Messrs. Matheson and Co., to be returned to

Sir E. Thomason.

"Believe me to be,

"Yours, very truly,

(Signed) HENRY POTTINGER."

"My dear Sir Henry,

ance.

"Sir Edward Thomason's lists of his medals were given to the High Commissioner, Hwang and Hien Tajins, with an explanation of Sir Edward's wish to lay them before his Imperial Majesty for acceptThey seemed pleased with the feelings which they were sure actuated the presentee, and took the lists home with them to show to the High Commissioner; but when they returned, a day or two afterwards, they said, in the name of the High Commissioner, that, while duly appreciating the motive, the etiquette of the Chinese Court would not permit the gift to be forwarded to his Imperial Majesty.

"Yours, my dear Sir Henry,

"To H. E. Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., &c."

"Larwick Castle, by Doune, N.B.,
14th Nov., 1843.

Mr Matheron

presents his compliments to Sir Edward Thomason, and has the honour to acknowledge his letter, with an enclo

1843. sure for Col. Malcolm, which he has forwarded to the care of his agents, Messrs. Forbes, Forbes, and Co., King William Street, City, London.

"Mr. Matheson takes this opportunity of handing Sir Edward the enclosures lately received from his nephew, in China, and which he would have sent earlier, were it not that, in the absence of his business papers, he was not able to recollect the correct address.”

"Sir,

"37, Eaton Place, 23d Nov.

"I have to apologize to you for not having answered your letter, but I received it when I was overwhelmed with business, and it was mislaid till to-day.

"I am sorry that I can give you no information as to the reception of your present for the Emperor of China, as I was unable to take it with me, which fact I told your agent, who called on me when I was last in England. I, however, heard that it had arrived in China before I left that country. From what I know of the customs of the Celestial Empire, I much doubt if the Mandarins will forward it to the Emperor.