Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-02-12
From the New York Express.
Life Of Ethan Alien.

HIRAM POWERS, a native of Woodstock VT one of
the most gifted sculpors now living, and whose statues
OF Ere and the Greek Stare have cxtortcd cncomum
from the most instidous atlantic critics has fire.
quently avowed desire to execute statue OF ETHAN
ALLEN, with the view OF having placed in the Capt.
tol OF his native state Although the person and
character OF that remarkable man, were somewhat
peculiar, yet niche in the State House at Monpe-
lier could not he more appropriately occupied than
with statue OF such hero and patriot finished, prG-
seetum df ungarm, by the most celebrated sculptor in
the world
Until recently, the Vermon,esr have betrayed little
disposition to cmbellish the Capitol of the State
with works OF art commemorative OF the heroic deeds
and virtues OF some OF their distinguished men
AT this present writing but two works OF adorn the
Capitol marble bust of the late Judge Elijah
PANE, by Brown, an American, presented 20 the State
by Ex-Governor Charles Paine, OF Mortified, Vt Il
gentleman of rare taste, great public spirit and gene
rosy, and the other faithful iul-ength likeness OF
the Hon. Charles X Williams, of Rutland late Chief
Justice of the Suprcme Court of the State Of VT by
b +. Mason, an artist OF great promise This paint
ing now adorn, the senate chamber and presented
TO the State by the Rutland County Bar. This is a
small but excellent beginning and ! trust that the
time is not very remote when the soul OF Hiram Pow
ers will be gladdcned with order from the State of
Ncn )nt to execute in his best style statue of Gen
Ethan Allen. IN WINCH he can emhojv, III living and
never dying form his lea OF the person and character
Of that brave s1ler. rm patriot and eccentric writer
That there has bccn statue erected To the memo
~ OF Ethan Allen, is not, perhaps, astonishing as
the fact that his biography remains unpublished
That there has been vet no complete history of the
Life and Services OF Gen Allen may well challenge
the surprise OF every person who has read of the mid
night soc and the natutina capture of the fortress
OF Ticonderoga. His adventures while in the hands
OF TIL British at Prudnnis Castle, and at Halifax and
Newly ork city subsequently to his unsuccessful effort
IN concert with Colonel Brown, to reduce Montreal.
might be made rs INT resting any modern romance
Aud tho secret history oi the controversy between u
Y and the New ilami SIRE Grants, in which he bore
conspicuous part, although partially treated OF bv the
late Col stone, il his Lite Of Brunt. and by Rev
I,dock Thompson. in his History OF Vermont and
alluded to by the Hon. Daniel Chapman, in his Life
OF Nathaniel Chapman, has never yet been fully wit
ten by any author detailed account of the various
battles in which he was engaged can only be had By
referring to works OF ponderous weight. His literary
character, too, IN my opinion IS not properly nppre-
Grated by the world because his pamphlets and Ora
Gle OF Reason, are ont OF print. These publications
show the gallant soldier be daring in his pre- ten
sons to knowledge, and bold and peremptory in his
ass rtions In proof of this latter remark need not
adduce any other testimony than the title page OF what
is commonly called Aliens Bible transcribe this
title page from copy which Allen himself owned and
preserved, as he says in plain and distinct hand wri
ting on the fly leaf For the Authors own use, cor
rection and Improvement 1t reads thus: Reason
the only oracle OF man, or a compendwous system OF
Natural Religion. Alternately adorned with conu-
tations of doctrines incompatible to it Deduced from
the most exalted ndeas which able to form of
the divine and human characters and from the uni
verse in general. By Ethan Allen, Esq Bennington,
State of Vermont Printed by llaswell & Russell
NJ, DEC. LXXXlV' ! copy this, because, if am
informed Alright 1t was the first formal publication
was issued in the United States There anecdotes
which show that there are reasons to believe
that some OF his religious OPINIONS lat all events sun
dry tantastica Pythagorcan notions entertained
from aiitctatlon OF sngularty than from con-
vction.
Some curiosity about these matters, am confident,
is generally ieit by all readers OF American History.
The reading world Judges that the life and opinions OF
such man Ethan Allen ought to be free from the
obscurity which generally envelopes the earlier srug
giles OF men contendng in advance OF their age, tor
I Il NJ .tM ina
lier, VT, author OF novel, The Green Mountain
Boys and an anonymous writer of the Kings Men
and several other writers TOO numerous 10 mention,
have made Gen. Allen the subject oi imaginative de-
hneation Indeed we have a sutct of legendary lore,
and than halt century has elapsed since his
sudden death at Colchester, it is time that Legend
should cease and Authentic History begin.
Many years ago, one OF Ethan Aliens grandsons the
Hon Henry Hitchcock, late OF Mobile Alabama, col
lected together many materials OF the Generals public
and private history with view of writing his bogrl-
ply. This fact learn from one OF his warm personal
friends, then and now resident OF liighgate, Yer
mont who visited MIR. Hitchcock a, Mobile several
years prior to his death. Before Mr. II could execute
the noble plan he had matured, he was cut Off by the
Arch enemy in the meridian oi his life leaving others
to complete that which Providence denied to him aud
for the loss of which work the world already benins
bitterly to mourn. Had the Hon Mr. Hitchcock l,,rt
10 perfect his designs, history of Ethan Allcs III,
and adventures would have been published and an ac.
count OF the trials which surrounded him been written
Besides, should have then had fair recognition o
the genius which mastered his trials and the tenpta
tons to which he exposed and wh.ch he so paislo
tically withstood.
There are many persons related to Ethan Allen b,
blood or marriage who, IN justice to his memory oug
to esteem it their most bounden duty that Ia
Biography he speedily and accurately written. | say
speedily because the materials ior writing his private
personal history may soon be iucvocnby lost. Fo
my part, plead guilty OF feeling as every Vermonte
ought TO feel with respect TO this mater and hay
dot.d all garb of molesty and ventured ppther yo
with this desnltory communication hoping thai poss
bly, il might win the attention of those who have til
power OF contributing greatly toward doing justice
the memory of a fearless soldier aud a tried patrio
Trusting that you and may live to read tn" full AN
correct Biography and to a statue OF one in who's
history the American world will always entertain
deep and abiding interest,
| remain yours. G.. f. II.
ST. Adams, VI.