a few notes taken on the spot, the combined effort of amateur friend and
myself. The walk to the gallery, extending over a half-hour in time, was
taken up by my amateur friend aforesaid, with an endeavor to give me
some general ideas, more than initiative, with reference to art matters.
For instance, he said the public liked glitter and varnish in a picture,
but it does not follow on that account that the picture is good. He then
mentioned the "Mimminee-Pimminee" style, and the "Pre-Raffaelite" style,
and the Raree shows of art, and I had the whole subject so jumbled up
that my artistic ideas became quite confused. He made a quotation,
giving me to understand that it was not original; it ran as follows:
"Indifferent pictures, like dull people, must be absolutely moral." I am
not sufficiently informed to quite comprehend this selection from
another man, but as we were at the time about entering the galleries, I
remained quietly ignorant.

[Illustration]

The first picture that attracted our admiration was a "Sheep scene," by
Lambdin. Every particular hair on the old ram is well made out. The
frame on the picture is beautifully embossed, with a rich velvet border
of sea-green mandarin pattern.

The next picture worthy of notice is a "Street in Venice," by
Canal-etti--a singular specimen of this artist's first manner. The
figure at the crossing is rendered with great feeling. It is needless to
mention that the street is covered with water, which is beautifully
clear and transparent, showing the depth of mud and slime during the dry
season. The frame is ornamented with flowers in relief, and gilt in the
very best manner.