MR. THOM'S SCULPTURES OF TAM AND THE SOUTER,
THE LANDLORD AND LANDLADY.
WHEN we first saw these figures, they had not received their last stroke from the chisel of the ingenious sculptor ; and our complaint of the hardness of the marking in the faces has, in a great measure, been set aside by subsequent finishing. We do not, however, see any other improvement on any of the figures to alter the opinion which we then expressed of their merits. The hands are still deficient in modelling and musculation, and are not correct even as far as they are made out. Neither do we see any improve.. ment in the expression of the Souter, or the character of Tans. The landlady is decidedly good in air and attitude, and is a per. feet piece of vraisemblance, as far as she may be considered to repre- sent one of a class ; and looking at the figures in this view, they all possess striking merit. As the works of a mere mason, also, they are highly curious and interesting, and evince a bold fancy and considerable skill, with great force and fidelity in the imitation of the originals. It would be idle to say that the statues want refinement and science ; their great merit would consist in natural character and fidelity to the poet's conception, and we have before pointed out their merits and de. merits in this respect.
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