WREN'S DEATH.

This illustrious artist died in 1723, and was buried in the vault of St. Paul's Cathedral, the most enduring monument of his genius, under the south aisle of the choir. Inscribed upon his tomb are four words "that comprehend," says Walpole, "his merit and his fame," sublimely and eloquently expressed: "Si monumentum quæris, circumspice""If thou inquirest for a monument, look around thee !"

WREN AND CHARLES II.

Wren's small stature, and his intimacy with Charles II., are humorously shown in an anecdote preserved by Seward. The king, on walking through his newly erected palace at Newmarket, said, "These rooms are too low." Wren went up to the king and replied, " An please your majesty, I think them high enough." Whereupon Charles, stooping down to Sir Christopher's stature, answered with a smile, "On second thoughts, I think so too."

THOMAS BANKS, THE ENGLISH SCULPTOR. Among the friends of this gifted man, were Flax. man, Fuseli, and the talented John Horne Tooke. His friendship with the last nearly proved mischievous to Banks, and perhaps would certainly have been so, had it not been for the uprightness of his character. During those perilous days, when "rev

olution" and "mad equality" were causing such commotions, suspicion fell upon the politician, who was subjected to an official examination and a trial, Banks being also implicated in the charge, although his offence consisted at most in listening to the other's declamations. "I remember," says his daughter Lavinia, "when Tooke, and Hardy, and others were arrested on the charge of high treason, that an officer waited on my father with an order from the Secretary of the State to go to his office. I chanced to be in the next room, and the door being partly open, I heard all that passed. My father only requested to be allowed to go into his study, and give directions to his workmen; this was complied with, and he then accompanied the messenger. I said nothing to my mother of what I had heard, since father had been silent for fear of exciting unnecessary apprehensions; but I sat with much trouble at heart for several hours, when to my inexpressible joy I heard his well known knock at the door, and ran to greet his return-a return rendered doubly happy, since his own simple and manly explanation had acquitted him of all suspicion of treasonable designs, or of a thought injurious to his country." The intercourse between Banks and his daughter Lavinia was of the most delightful character. His chief pleasure for many years was in her instruction; he superintended her education in all things, and more particularly in drawing; she sat beside him whilst he modeled, accompanied him

in his walks, and in the evenings cheered him with music, of which he was passionately fond. A most touching instance of filial and paternal love!

THE GENIUS OF BANKS

As Banks never received anything like the encouragement which he deserved, the character of his genius must be sought more in the works that he sketched, than those that he executed in marble. Among his sketches, the poetical abounded, and these were founded chiefly on Homer. Several splendid sketches are his Andromache lamenting with her handmaidens over the body of Hector, the Venus rising from the Sea, shedding back her tresses as she ascends, and a Venus bearing Eneas wounded from the Battle. "In his classical sketches," says Cunningham, "the man fully comes out: we see that he had surrendered his whole soul to those happier days of sculpture when the human frame was unshackled and free, and the dresses as well as deeds of men were heroic; that the bearing of gods was familiar to his dreams; and that it was not his fault if he aspired in vain to be the classic sculptor of his age and nation." His monument to the only daughter of Sir Brooke Boothby, now in Ashbourne church, Derbyshire, represents the child when six years old, lying asleep on her couch in all her innocence and beauty. "Simplicity and elcgance," says Dr. Mavor, " appear in the workman

ship, tenderness and innocence in the image." The sculptor's daughter Lavinia says, "He was a minute observer of nature, and often have I seen him stop in his walk to remark an attitude, or some group of figures, and unconsciously trace the outline in air with his finger as if drawing paper had been before him. He would in the same way remark folds of drapery, and note them in his mind, or sketch them on paper, to be used when occasion called."

BANKS' KINDNESS TO YOUNG SCULPTORS.

His daughter Lavinia often marvelled at his pa tience in pointing out the imperfections or beauties of drawings and models submitted by young artists to his inspection. Even when little hope of future excellence appeared, he was careful not to wound the feelings of a race whose sensitiveness he too well knew. He would say, "This and better will do,— but this and worse will never do," and ended by recommending industry and perseverance. One morn. ing a youth of about thirteen years of age, came to the door of Banks with drawings in his hand. Owing to some misgiving of mind, the knock which he intended should be modest and unassuming, was loud and astounding, and the servant who opened the door was in no pleasant mood with what he imagined to be forwardness in one so young. Banks, happening to overhear the chiding of the servant, went out and said with much gentleness, "What do you want

with me, young man ?" "I want, sir," said the boy, "that you should get me to draw at the academy." "That,” replied the sculptor, "is not in my power, for no one is admitted there but by ballot, and I am only one of those persons on whose pleasure it depends. But you have got a drawing there—let me look at it." He examined it for a moment, and said, "Time enough for the academy yet, my little man! go home and mind your schooling,-try and make a better drawing of the Apollo, and in a month come again and let me see it." The boy went home, drew with three-fold diligence, and on that day month appeared again at the door of Banks with a new draw. ing in his hand. The sculptor liked this drawing bet ter than he did the other, gave him a week to im. prove it, encouraged him much, and showed him the various works of art in his own study. He went away and returned in a week, when the Apollo was visibly improved-he conceived a kindness for the boy, and said if he were spared he would distinguish himself. The prediction has been fulfilled,-the academician Mulready has attained wide distinc tion.

THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER OF

BANKS.

In person, Banks was tall, with looks silent and dig. nified, and an earnestness of carriage that well became him; he spoke seldom; he had a winning sweetness in his way of address, and a persuasive