CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ALLSTON'S GENIUS.

LECTURE II.

THE LESSER PICTURES.

LECTURE III.

THE LARGER PICTURES.-BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ALLSTON'S

GENIUS.

In the Lectures which I propose to read upon Mr. Allston and his works, upon his works, rather than upon him, (upon him, only incidentally,) it will be my object to present some account of them; in order to increase and extend, if it may be, what I cannot but regard as just impressions of their value and importance, to artists, to all lovers of art, and to the cultivated portion of society at large.

But, really, it seems idle to think of reading Lectures upon such a subject, so far off and dead, while our public is all alive with Liberty, Intervention, Hungary and Russia, French Revolution, and a thousand other topics no less engrossing; it seems much as if one were to propose a course upon the

virtues and duties of moderate exercise, while one's city was burning down. I can look for but a few hearers under such circumstances, and a few will satisfy my wishes.

I shall go, somewhat minutely, into criticisms of these works. Some may think this not very well judged, as but few, it may be thought, can be supposed to have seen them, and but few, therefore, are able to form any opinion on what may be offered. But I believe that the having seen them, or not, would make but little difference in an easy understanding or enjoyment of the subject, to any who would enjoy such a subject at all. It were better, no doubt, on the whole, were the memory familiar with the works to be named; but it can, by no means, be necessary. Hardly more so than it would be, in the reading of literary criticism, that all the books criticised should first have been read, which would be better, but not essential to the receiving a great deal of pleasure and instruction. Suppose some La Harpe, Sismondi, Tiraboschi, were to offer a course of