The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-11

| The STATUE OF CALHous--Through the
kindness OF Mr. Johnson, i was yesterday invi-
| ted, with number of his friends to visit the
statue of Calhoun on board his yacht, the Twi-
| light" had felt deep interest in the recovery
OF the statue, aud was much delighted in being
privileged with sight of it.
We found it on deck, in a reclining position,
surrounded by part of the original frame, and
such other support and boxing as was thought
necessary for its safe transportation The box
aid the position of the statue, rendered the view
limited and unfvorabie, the light coming directly
| III the face of the figure; yet in spite of these
serious drawbacks, the first sight filled my mind
and heart with flood of mingled thoughts and
emotions. felt myself in the presence of two
of Americas noblest sons, Calhoun and Powers
The statesman was before me, pointing with one
hand to the scroll held in the other, on which
was inscribed the short but thrilling sentence
"The Constitution but the hand which sup
ported the scroll was gone, troken-buried !
yet the CONSTITUTION" was unnj affording
a striking and beautiful omen Gas was remarked
at the time) of the final triumph of our glorious
Union over the designs Of iactonsts and fanatics.
We may as nation have to contend with storms,
trials, and even conspiracy, yet through them all
the ship of State shall ride in safety, and the
"Constitution" shall still remain sacred and I'M
injured, though the hands and arms that once
were raised for its support and defence, are
stricken down and paralyZed by death. n
1t is impossible to speak critically Mt present
OF the merits OF this piece of art the circum.
stances under which it was seen were such as to
conceal the chief beauties of the work The
likeness, however, is extremely powerful, and the
eyes are full of soul and meaning; the head very
slightly inclined inward to the chest, gives it a
| most wonderful degree of character and energy
-sef-possession and heroic dignity stamped
npon the features, and should judge, that seen
erect, the position and attitude of the whole
figure must be extremely fine. The feet, how
ever, are not treated in manner to add to the
general beauty, being, in my estimation, rather
clumsy in contrast with other parts-more sharp
ness Of line would have added much to the eff
feet; they are not naked, but we are presented
with the ordinary boot, and that not Of the best
form but this is, after all, II mere trifle iii the
scale, where there is so much that is above crti-
cism The drapery is treated as Powers alone
could treat it, the lines are we'll disposed and
truly graceful.
Mr.. Powers must feel himself highly flaltered
when he hears OF the recovery of the statue, and
of the untiring and protracted efforts made for
its restoration. The difficulties encountered by
those engaged in this laudable undertaking can
not be conceived by any one unacquainted with
the locality Of the wreck; and the care to be
exercised in handling such a delicate piece of
work-dclicate notwithstanding its enormous
weight and size. -, ..... !. ...-..-.....
The arm which supported the SCROLL | should
think, might be replaced with much nicely, by
sending a cast of the broken part to the artist
Were it erected, however, as it now is, the in
terest excited by it would be much greater
Though perhaps not so pleasing) than if re-
stored standing, as it would lasting witness
of the hardships it had encountered--a priceless
treasure plucked from Oceans jaws. 49,.
Yours, truly, w.