In case it would be of any use to M. A., Mr. Cole, the late lessee of the Theatre Royal, Dublin, is now reader of plays (I think) to Mr. Kean at the Princesses Theatre; at all events he is connected with that establishment.
L. M. N.
Dublin.
Perspective (Vol. ix., pp. 300. 378.).—I shall be glad of a reference to any work on Perspective which treats satisfactorily of that part of the subject on which I made my Note. I think if Mr. Ferrey will draw a lofty building on either side of a landscape, he will not be satisfied with its appearance, if he makes that side of it which is in the plane of the picture perfectly rectangular. I often meet with instances in which it is so drawn, and they produce the effect on me of a note out of time. Mr. Stilwell's observation is only partially correct. There is one position of the eye, at a fixed distance from the picture, at which all the lines subtend equal angles at the eye with the corresponding lines of the original landscape. But a picture is not to be looked at from one point, and that at, probably, an inconvenient proximity to the eye. I have before me a print (in the Ill. Lond. News) of the interior of St. Paul's, of which the dome gives about as good an idea of proportion to the building, as the north part of Mercator's projection of the World. The whole building is depressed and top-heavy, simply because the perspective of lines in the plane of the picture is rectangular throughout. I have another interior (of Winchester Cathedral, by Owen Carter), which, being drawn on the same plan, gives the idea of a squat tunnel, unless looked at from one point of view, about eight inches from the picture. I feel that drawing these interiors so as not to offend the eye by either the excess or deficiency of perspective, is a great difficulty. But I think something may be done in the way of "humouring" the perspective, and approximating in our drawing to that which we know we see. The camera has thrown light upon the subject. We ought not to despise altogether the hints it gives us by its perhaps exaggerated perspective, in the case of parallel lines in the plane of the picture. I hope I may at least be able to draw out some more remarks upon a subject which I cannot help thinking, with Mr. Ingleby, is in an unsatisfactory and defective state.
G. T. Hoare.
Tandridge.
"Go to Bath" (Vol. ix., p. 421.).—I have little doubt but that this phrase is connected with the fact of Bath's being proverbially the resort of beggars; and what more natural, to one acquainted with this fact, than to bid an importunate applicant betake himself thither to join his fellows? See also Fuller's Worthies (co. Somerset).
I transcribe the passage for the benefit of those who have not the book at hand:
"Beggars of Bath.—Many in that place; some natives there, others repairing thither from all parts of the land; the poor for alms, the pained for ease. Whither should fowl flock in a hard frost, but to the barn-door? Here, all the two seasons, being the general confluence of gentry. Indeed laws are daily made to restrain beggars, and daily broken by the connivance of those who make them; it being impossible when the hungry belly barks, and bowels sound, to keep the tongue silent. And although oil of whip be the proper plaister for the cramp of laziness, yet some pity is due to impotent persons. In a word, seeing there is the Lazar's-bath in this city, I doubt not but many a good Lazarus, the true object of charity, may beg therein."
J. Eastwood, M.A.