The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-23

the painting is designed TO commemorate
For the better understanding Of the picture by
those who 20 TO view ii, and for the Information OF
distant readers, we insert the history Of the event
which forms the subject of the painting and the
PLANTATION and description given of il by the artist
All who have had opportunity of viewing the
picture bear unqualified testimony to its excellence
both in design and execution But all agree, also,
that acquaintance with the history Of the event
which it commentaries is necessary to just appre-
citation of its merit
The Picture Of The EmbdrcdtioR Of The Phi
gJ'ims from Delft Haren, in Holland, paint
ed by Robert ". Weir, in conformity 10 an
act Of Congress for filling The rdcdnf panels
! in The Rotundo Of he Capitol
The painting represents part of the congregation
of Mr. John Robinson, who, having been driven from
England by persecution, had resided in Holland for
eleven years and are now gathered upon the deck
Of the Speedwell at the moment Of embarcatioD for
| America.
| The historical text from which the painting is
composed may be found in Morton's New Eng land
Memorial, and is as follows;
The next day. the wind being fair, they went on
board, and their friends with them, where truly
doleiu was the sight OF that sad and mournu parting,
TO hear what signs, and sobs and prayers did sound
amongst them; what tears did gush from every eye
and pthy speeches pierced each others hearts, that
sundry OF the Dutch strangers that stood on the quay
spectators, could not refrain from tears yet com
Portable aud sweet ii TO see such lively and true
expressions of dear and unfeigned love But the tide
(Which stays for no MANI calling them away, that
were thus 10th to depart, their reverend pastor fall
| ing down on his knees, and they all with him. with
| watery cheeks, commended them With most fervent
prayers unto the Lord and his blessing and then
| with mutual embraces and many tears, they took
their leave one OF another, which proved 10 be the
| last leave to many OF them"
Those who represented n the painting are
| the Pastor, Mr. John Robinson, Gov. Carver his
wife and children, Elder w, Brewster his wife and
sick child, William Bradford and his wife, Samuel
Fuller and wife, " lillian White and his wife, Ed
ward Wnsow, wife, and two boys under their care,
Capt Miles Standish, and his wife Rose. Near the
mast are domestic and child, Capt. Reynolds and
sailor, with the cradle in which Peregrine White
was rocked on the wharf are some spectators.
The embarcaion took place at Delft Haven in
Holland, the 2Ist July, 1920, on board the Speed
well, small vessel of sixty TONS which proceeded
Southampton, and sailed from thence in company
with the MAY flower. The vessel proving leaky they
were obliged TO put into Dartmouth where after re.
pairing, they again started, but obliged to
put back into Plymouth. There they abandoned the
Specdwell as unseaworthy, and they were received
on board The Mafower.
About one. half the number who came out in the
Mayhower died the first year
The difficulties which the Speedwell encountered
were owing 10 the treachery of Captain Reynolds,
who was hired by the Dutch merchants either to
Illustrate the voyage carry them to place
mote from their own settlements. This deceit, aided
by storm, caused the subsequent settlement at Ply
mouth, the destination Of the colony having been
Hudson. river.
They landed at Plymouth on the 22d day of De-
cember, 1920 and here, being in number about twen
y, the rendezvous this evening but storm rising it
blows and rains hard all night-contnues so tempes-
uous for two days that they get on board and
have nothng TO shelter them.n
Their Pastor, Mr. Robinson, did not accompany
them but remained with the greater number OF his
flock in Holland, intending TO come yet ever unable
TO accomplish his desire. lie is here represented in
an attitude of prayer, at their final taking
Robinson is described 4" man of learned polished
and modest spirit pious and studious of the truth
largely accomplished with gifts and qualifications
suitable to a shepherd over his flock of Christ He
died at Leyden 1925, in the 5Oth year Of his age -
His widow and children came over to Plymouth
colony and his son Isaac lived to the age of ninety
who Is mentioned by Prince as 90 a venerable man."
Governor Carver is described a of great |
prudence, integrity, and frmness of mind. He had a
good estate in England, which he spent in the emf
grafton TO Holland and America. He taken sick
m the field while they engaged in Ia ir plant
ing, and died in the month of April, 1921. Many |
able pens have been employed IA porraying his |
character His ahectioDale WIFE, overcome BY the |
loss, survived him but six weeks One Of his grand
lived TO the age of one hundred and two years
and about the middle Of the last century, O175D |
that descendant with his son, grandson and great
grandson were all at the time at work in the |
same field, whilst infant Of the fifth generation
was in the house at Narshfed
William Brewsler's reputation high in the
Church, of which he was member, SO that they
chose him a ruling elder and confded in his wisdom
experience, and integrity TO assist in con luctine
their temporal well osiastical conce rms par.
ticularly their removal TO America. lie lived 10 the
age OF eighty four, and was emnenty useful to the
colony IN many WAYS.
William Bradford was the second Governor and
was " a sensible man, of strong mind sound judg-
ment aud good memory and much inclined 10
study and writing He wrote A History of pIy- |
mouth People aud Colony" and +" in his Office Of
magistrate he was prudent, temperate, land firm"
His wife was lost overheard the day after the vessel
came to anchor This unhappy accident occurred
"hIe her husband was absent upon expedition to
examine the coast.
Mr.. Samuel Fuller and his wife are represented in
the painting to be on the point Of taking leave of each
other, as she did not come over at this time
MIR. and Mrs. White seen kneeling in the paint
ing. Mr. White died the following February; Mrs
White wa. the mother Of Peregrine White The first
English child born in the colony few DAYS after
their arrival and before the landing Peregrine lived
TO be over eighty three. lie was vigorous and of
a comey aspect TO the last"
Mr.. and Mrs. Wnsow were r, Gently married. and
were persons Of fortune Mrs. Winsow died soon
after their arrival and in the following spring he
married Susanna the widow Of William and mother
OF Peegrne White, which was the first marriage So
lemnized in the colony May ~, 1921. Mr.. Wins
low was gentleman of great activity and resolu.
ton, AID one of the most eminenty useful men in the
colony, and was the third Governor
Captain Miles Standish and his wife Rose This
intrepid soldier, the hero Of New England az J I'm
Smith was Of Virginia" was deacended from the
younger branch of family Of distinction, and was
her apparent TO large estate, fraudulently detained
from him His natural qualifications led him TO the
profession Of arms After the landing at Plymouh
he was made their military commander and has lett
4 name TO New Enganderse anonymous with drawer,
and integrity. lie lived to an advanced age. Bel
KNAPP says, "hs coat Of mail known 10 have been