The Arkansas advocate., 1831-02-16
EsEsUf4TORY.
PUBLIC CHARACTERS.

We have lately had an opportunity of look ing over small volume, published in this city, entitled sGallery of American Portraits, by GEORGE WATTERsToN.p The work embraces the characters ef number Of the most eminent of ouT public men, most of whom are still living. and cannot but be m acceptable offering to the Public. The author of it has had very favora- ble opportunities for studying and deliniating public characters, and this work shows how he has improved them. Desirous to recommend this work to popular favor, we extract from t one of the portraits, n which we recognize a faithful likeness of one of our most eminent statesmen, now no more.-Nm. Intel.
 From Watterstons Cutlery Of Portraits
 RUFUS 1<ING.*
 Mir. King is now about sixty years of age, a bove the middle size, and somewhat inclined to corpulency. His countenance, when serious and thoughtful, possesses a great deal of austen ity and rigor; but at other moments 1t Is mark ed with placidty and beneyolence. Among his friends, he is facetious and easy; but when with strangers, reserved and distant-apparentl in- disposed to conversation and inclined to tacltur- nfty; but when called out, his colloquial powers are of no ordinary character, and his conyersa- ton becomes peculiarly instructive, faenating, and humorous. Mir. King has read and reflect ed much; and though long in public life, his at tentlon has not been exclusively devoted to the political sciences, for his information on other subjects is equally matured and extensive His resources are numerous and multiplied, and can easily be called into operation. In his parlia- mentary addresses he always displays deep and intimate knowledge of the subject under discus son, and never fails to edify and instruct. if he sometimes ceases to delight. He has read his 1ory to become a statesman, and not for the mere gratlflcation 1t affords. He applies the exper- efee of ages, which the historical muse exhib- It's, to the general purposes of government, and fhus reduces to practice tine mass Of knowledge With which his mind is fraught and embellished As a legislator, he is peahaps inferior to no man Tn thls country. The faculty of close and aceu- rate observation, by which he is distinguished. has enabled himto treasure up every fact of po- lltical importance that has occurred since the or ganlzaton of the American Governments: and the citizen, as we'll as the stranger is often sur- prised at the mlnuteness of his historical details the facility with which they are recalled; and She correctness and accuracy with which they are applied. With the various subjects mme- aiately connected with politics, he has made him. self we'll acquainted ;and such is the strength of nis memory, and the extent of his information, that the accuracy of his statements is never dis puted. Mir. King, however,is is somewhat of an enthusiast, and his feelings sometimes propel him 10 do that which his judgment cannot sanction. an disposed to think, from a rapid survey of ms political and parliamentary career, that the sury Of party has sometimes betrayed him into ene expression of sentiments, and the support and defence of measures, that were in their character not alway aecordanl with his feelings; 
 Written in lsle.