The Catholic religion
predominates, but the number of Jews and Socinians is great. There are
more than 2,000,000 Jews dispersed through Poland, independent of
those resident as merchants in the principal towns. Socinius resided
many years at Cracow, and married the daughter of a Polish nobleman.
According to a distinguished Polish historian, M. Chodzko, the
population of the different provinces of Ancient Poland amounted, in
1824, to about 19,000,000 of inhabitants.
W.G.C.
* * * * *
FINE ARTS.
* * * * *
MR. HAYDON'S PICTURE OF NAPOLEON MUSING AT ST. HELENA.
This picture has, we understand, been painted for Sir Robert Peel,
whose taste and munificence in patronizing the fine arts cannot be too
highly praised. It is throughout a masterly performance, and one of
which the English school of art has just cause to be proud. We intend
to let Mr. Haydon describe it in his own vivid style:--
"Napoleon was peculiarly alive to poetical association as produced by
scenery or sound; village bells with their echoing ding, dong, dang,
now bursting full on the ear, now dying in the wind, affected him as
they affect every body alive to natural impressions, and in the eve of
all his great battles, you find him stealing away in the dead of the
night, between the two hosts, and indulging in every species of
poetical reverie.
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