The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-01

The Book Of Prayer is closed for not until
after that time was there an established form for
the baptism Of those of ripper years in the service
of the Church of England She bears upon her
foreh ad the record Of her vow-she renounces
the idols OF her natIon-has confessed the faith
OF Christ, and is baptized. The Indian child
clings closer 10 his mother, as the snowy mantle
of swan-skin, tipped with gay plumage that
may be still among the thickets and along
the shores about jamestown, falling from her
shoulders, discovers TO her own the costume of
her adopted people, and an unguarded move
ment OF momentary excitement among the sa-
avage spectators is repeated through the congre-
CATION, as hands fall instinctively on Matchbox
and sword-hllt II is the moment Of the picture
another, and she is received into the fold oil
Christ, as pure and beautiful a spirit as ever
knelt at has Holy Sacrament.
In the execution Of the picture, the artist has
been governed by the best authorities as TO facts
and details, and has made all the research with
IN his power in England as well as our own
country, for information with regard TO the sub
Ject, and In some points he may have sacrificed
the picturesque for the sake Of historical truth,
TO which he has endeavored TO adhere.
To those only familiar with the churches Of
our own time and country, the interior OF that
represented in the picture may appear strange.
~
about the time OF that of Jamestown, with such
variations as the means and facilities of the Co
lonlsts would most likely occasion, and the des-
crption OF an actual resident Of Jamestown at
that period (William Stratchy) suggested. The
pine columns, almost as they come from the TO
rest, the freshness OF the material throughout,
and the attempt OF style connected with their
associations in their native land in the construc-
ton of their chapel, are peculiarites that natu-
rally suggest themselves and authentic resources
have supplied the rest +" The greene Velvet
Chaire with Velvet Cushion of the Governor,
with Cloathe spread on Table before him,
on which he kneeleth''-"the Font hewen hol-
low like Canoa"-the pulpit, with its cloth
embroidered with the Arms Of Virginia, and
initials of King James-the hour-glass, etc, etc.
the martial character Of Sir Thomas Dale,
and the regulation of the Colony that obliged
the Colonists to wear their arms even to church
the courtly etiquette that existed, even at
jamestown, at that early day, when the Govern
or went forth g attended with his Counsailers,
Captanes and other Officers and goard of Hol-
derdlers TO the number of fftie in his Lordships
liverie," with his Standard Bearer and Page
the younger sons and cousins of nobility at home
that might be there seen, with the sturdy hus-
bandman, the vine dresser, the mechanic, and
more energetic adventurer and soldier-the ordi-
nance that deprived the Indian of his weapons
before he entered the palisades that surrounded
the town-the naked limbs and costume of the
savages-are matters of history which the artist
has only followed with the best of his ability,
and he only regrets il was not more worthy of
the grandeur and beauty of the subject Of the
picture as well as Of its origin and destination.
Articles, Laws and Orders Divine Poitique and
Martial, for the Colonie of Virginia, &c. &c