Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-29
srUARrs PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.

| To the Editors Of the National Infelligencer:
GENTLEMEN In the account Of s.Mr. PrAsoprs parting
dinner to the American Exhibes In London copied from
the London Morning Post in your paper Of the alst Instant
which, in with Of your subscriber
have read with great qualification, il the following phrase
"At the upper end of the room, and Immediately behind
the eha was placed fine ulength portrait Of the QuEHs
by Sir George Hsyte supported on one lido BY ssuars
celebrated fusize portrait Of and the other
by Patterns portrait Of Prince ALsxar The three being sp-
poPaey dsped and canoped By the blended Gags Of Great
Britain and the United Staes and surmountsd BY wreath
of laurel"
Believing that short account of this portrait of i'm
mortal countyman may be interesting to the American pub
lie, few Of the most interesting facts competed with
its history, al which may be relied on strictly authentic
The picture in question painted here Il the instance
the late Mrs. William Bingham, Of this city, and presented
her to the Marquis Of Lansdowne whose uniform friend
ship to the American cause and admiration Of Con- Washing
ton matters History. Washingtons autograph letter.
addressed Mr. sruAHr, Chesnut street," preparatory to
the commencement Of his s,ngs, before me- and il
in these words
"SR am under promise to Mrs BIxsHAn 10 sit for YOU
tomorrow ut nine o'clock snd Wishing to know If be
venient you that should do 20 and whether il shall b
your house, as she talked Of the State House) send
this note TO you to ask information
am, sir, your obedient servant
$50. WAsHrxsros.
s'Aonday Epening, april IL, 1896"
The picture painted by STUART under these circu-
stances transmitted to the Marquis Of Lansdowne aid some
years Afterwards sold at public sale with the Of his per-
sonal effects. 1t purchased by worthy counuyman
the late SAMUEL WLLIAxs, Esq, who held in London
that period position corresponding in importance with the
occupied by Mr. PEAsoDr. The price he paid for
it t,oo thousand gcGs and the writer Of this brief
ce has often gszed with delight in the drawing Of
the fnemanaon Of Mr.. Williams in Finsbu Square, which
appropriately adorned. In 1922 it was still there
Subsequently, however, series Of commercial disasters
caused the failure in business Of that esmabe gentleman
and his assgnees finding willing give adequate
price for this great work art determined to dispose Of tby
lottery, estimating its value in money the sum which Mr.
Williams had paid for it, Accordingly, they fixed the num-
Der Of tickets at forty, and their price fifty guneaa each.
By Of those singular chances which would belle
the proverbia blindness Of fortune, the picture drawn
another of counymen, who believed have been
the only American who had purchased ticket, the late JoHs
D. LEwrs Esq (bro.her of the present Collector Of Ph
depha then established in business st. Petersbugh, in
whose family it still remains.
This portrait Of the FArHER CouHTar, now be-
historical and which is doubtless destined transmit
his features to the latest pose derives great additional in
erest from the that the only in existence painted
by Stuart from life, except the head largo
owned by the Boston Atheneum. l..
PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER 80, 1851.
p. s. Since the foregoing written have learned that
the portrait Of WAsHIHeroS alluded in the account Of the
Peabody dinner probably not the original By Stuart,
but admirable copy Of made for FRAHcIs P. CoRBIN,
Esq, Of vginis who was present on the occasion That
copy the work OF the eminent American artist HKALY
whose magnificent picture Of Mr. WEBsrER delivering, in
the Senate Chamber bis reply to Mr. HArHE in $780,
exhibition at the Academy of the Fine Arts In this city.
Be the fact, however, in regard to the Washington por-
trait Of Mr. Peabodys dinner il may the above statement
respecting the original loses mono Of its interest