Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-10
From the Old Colony Memorial
THE GALLERY OF PAINTINGS.

Perchace in sleep--for in itselfa thought
A slumhering thought, is capable OF yeais-
And circles long life into one hour
7, was immediately after dinner, in one OF
those warm DAYS of Which we have had pien'
ty this season, ,ha, stepped into the ONCE
II a nerson ever feels lassitude and dlslncii-
nation IN engage in any serious business, II IS
st :, oh time; DerhaDs a, the time oil which
sn,ak WAS none the better Tor engaging my
Lord Coke" from the circumstance OF my nav
ing at.eudcd dancing party the evening DE-
fore I'm order 20 remove the sensation vi grow
sineSs tina, begun to steal over me, had re-
course to the papers; but the eiec,ioh OF N'r
Gorham, the trial Of Tardy the Pirate, and
Carter Be,erly's letter, alike failed 10 engage
m, attention | tried the other pHge-'he Gal
Iery Of pain, inps- the Corona,ion Of Napoleon
Panorama merely regretted mat was
OBLIGED "a take up with newspaper az coun, OF
those things instead of witnessing them with
nv own eyes. Owing TO the Festivities oil the
nrrcrdinar g, ering or some other cause, was
no Ionper able 10 resist the inroads OF Nor
pheus, so dropping my paper and leaning
back in huge arm chair, hch was pro9ahiy
built WREN oak timber was no rtrlty, crop
ned 10 sleep. lulled by the descending OF the
nattprinp rain which those ia 'mers who had
h.y ont, probably have not vet forgotten. My
dreams were at first Of a confused nature, ana
was now tran ported to the hall and company CT
the ~, c. edirg evening, and anon to the "dwel'
Tnchouse," of some ncighbnring Justice. But
by degrres''a change came over he spnl OF my
dream, AID scene was presented I" my mlhd
idea. found myself standing heh'nd large
pointing, the work doubtless "t master, as
the Ggares appeared to be full oi life and &C
ti,i.y, and at different times to be performing
4. - f,trO ct, nrv
surprise me, but rather regarded il as proof
of the paim,ers skill-remembering before 10
t.r4a.- aabt- arsurU Be ruhFJ uP7n me,
and almos, expected to the figures leave
the r frames TO step oat and greet me.
Upon examining this painting, the hrst OBJ
iect hat struck my eve, WIS the ghty ocean,
The waters Of which appeared to be IN quite as
much connection as was consistent with the
safety Of any one attempting It's navlga'lon-
Upon the foreground appeared large boat
which, Notwithstanding the violence OF the
waves, renderir G its management rather trou>
blesome and dific"lt, still it did not appear
10 bt in much real danger II had the Ameri-
can flag flying, with the inscription "Ado'in'S-
tr0tio1 - At the helm sat one with calm steady
aud urruffied counrenance, whom at once
knew 10 BE- the Presiden, of the United States.
1t was plain that the painter designed to rrpre-
~
Stride in the whil wind and direct the storm"
for he had given him firm, unrufilrd, and coli
lectsd expression, Notwithstanding the violence
OF the trmpest-Yet his situation was one
which wise man would hardly envy. In
fl, nj OF his boat rose a dark, singular shaped
cloud, rendered At times more visible by flashes
of lightni, q, which found his enemies desig-
mated as d lighthouse Of the sky Close un.
der his lee ianc il seemed at times as ii the
skill OF the helmsman was hardly Sufficient to
keen his boat clear OF it) lay the wreck Of
West-India trading vessel. On the one side,
4 portly blg>belied man, with one hand III his
breech"s pos ket, was rndeavoring to upsrt him
witt handspikc, or which was Inscribed "a
tuvneoai, unrorihy the SuRpor: Of a Fsderaiist,
while on he other he was assaied by taiter-
ed ragamufiu Ola sansculote, who was giv-
ing hun sly dab with bludgeon, on which
| spied "Gag act and Sedition iaw." In fine,
the painter had represented him surrounded
with so many difficulties, that at times one
could hardly help expecting an exempl,Eca'ion
of the truth Of the old line. Incidit in Scy-
lamr,ui vult ritare Charbdem." Yet the tX-
preston of his countenanCe was such as TO
show that il a wreck took place, 1t would be
owing to no fault Of ihe helmsman.
Near Ihc helmsman sat one, who, II was APP |
parent from his situation, was one 10 whom The |
helmsman was entitled 10 look for council and
assistance. Him the painter had drawn as rub
bling his eyes which were somewhat weak on
account Of the anxious nights which he mad
desoled TO the study Of the rules Of the Senate
Notwithstanding the violence Of The storm, he
did not appear 10 be disposed to render any as
sisjance. On the contrary he appeared TO be
pIacing himself in the way of those who were
disposed to lend helping hand, and once or
twice thought observed him misplacing
BIZ Of rigging, or slyly chucking an oar over
board. I had no difficulty in recognizing him as
the Vice President.
On the bows of the boat the painter bad pla-
ed one who appeared 10 be carefully clearing
.wsy obstacles, and diligently doing his dnty.
lie was dressed in the toga of thf Roman ora
ors, and appeared like one to whom might be
ppiied the words of Virgil:
=. He regit dict. animas ct pectora muicet.