Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-22
rs1suIsdrox conaFsroNpExcH.
LETTER 40. xxi1
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isrtion Of Paintings. &c, &c
WAsatSeFoS, January 18th 1859.
Ma. EptrnR = The bright and beautiful weather
oflasi week IS beng succeeded 81 Iistle brshieF,
b, nst qatss % pleassn, spell. CT he snow zen
all day yesterday 40 quietly conpcsedIy and noise-
lessiy as Though were BALI afraid 10 intrude itself
upon Us, saier our past sufferings from vet and
siushs who does net love % see The snow gently
falling srurs The skies. Notwithstanding the visions
OF many q eisagreeabie walk il invariably sug-
CESS How beautifully perfectare The tinycrys-
ials! what strange and fantastic shapes they
snne, when By the aid OF a glass We can miuutely
examine them! Wegaze afihe perfect, angular
formations, as they appear IN endless variety Of
form and shape and wondegbywhasproeessth they were
ccnseTted ffom the misty sapOur Of The Clouds into
such marvellous manifestations ofthe Creators
handiwork This winter bids fairio earn itself
reputation among its fellows Of this century for
sno1, and will doubtless hereafter be referred 10 BY
the Oldest inhabitant" as almost without paral.
lei in that respect,
The subjsc. ofreform ia the Navy on the score Of
corporal punishment, is general topic of discus
sion here particularly among officers Of that branch
ofthe public service. The subject was introduced
In ihes Senate BY En-. Com. Stockton, who made
quite lengthy speech, Oh what iscalled the NOR
al suasion" side Of the question. Senator Badger
Of n. c., perfectly demolished the arguments the
Commodore labored so hard TO establish Mr..
Mallory Of Florida also spoke al length against the
positions assumed BY theSenator from New Jersey
1t is said since the law for abolishing the cats
has been in force that thgre is not single vesselin
commission whose men are in proper state Of
discipline. Every one who gives the subieetproper
reflection will see the manifest proprety Of substi-
tuling some other grade Of punishment if the other
is done away with, Jack is singular Being, take
him as yon will and care should be had in making
laws for his government that in avoiding one ex-
IRENE we do moi run into another
Miss Caiharine Hays, or as she is termed BY the
MUSICAL world, the +" Irish Swan, made her debut
before Washington audience at Carusis Saloon,
on last Saturday night All the tickets were sold
before sunset But hall on such an occasion as
this is like an omnibus, never full and though
you are crowded and jammed within an inch Of
your life, you are saluted with the coolest sang
froid Imaginable with more room yet gentle-
men, The fair singer sustained her high reputa-
tion. Her audience were highly grati6ed. Many
think her superior TO the Swedish Nightingale
She win sing again tonight when The crowds who
were unable 10 procure seals at the concert on Sat
urday night will have an opportunity ofhearns
her gushing melodies.
Professor Rogers has concluded his course oil
Lectures at the Smithsonian Institute on the subject
/ OF the g Phases ofthe Atmosphere" As usual, the
/ large well arranged Hall vas crowded with the
very BEST audiences that the Metropolis can boast
OF 10 pobt of literary character and respec,abiiiy
II Il a great credit to Washington, that ever SINCE
The opening exercises Of THIS institution, its halls
have been crowded with the most respectful and al
/ ,entive listeners.
Ihaye iast seem a Petition which has been set on
foct by few Passed Midshipmen for presentation
to Congress, in behalf of that highly meritorious
grade Of officers in our Navy. They wish 70 be es-
tablished as grade of second l4ieutenants. AS i
is a Midshipman who may have seen twelve OF
fourteen years service and honorably passed the
ordeal Of examination may, by the caprice ot su-
perior officer be engaged in the same duty with a
little MILDLY who has never been of soundings be-
tore. They ask for small additional compensa.
] ton 10 be entitled 10 mess in the Wardroom, and
be employed as Lientenants in the smaller vessels
Nj store snips &C. The Petition is signed by two hun
dred and fifty officers Of the Navy II is though
that Congress will favour the prayer of the reti-
TONERS.
A few days ago had the pleasure Of wishing Tic
gallery orPanings, &c, belonging to the wealthy
and generous Banker w. w. CorcoraE of this city
These paintings numbering about fifty have been
admirably arranged in separate apartment OF Mr.
C's mansion, expressly built for the purpose. A.
mons the most prominent is :" Mercys Dream" a
copy Of the original by Huntingdon himself. Il
represents Mercyi the character of beautiful fe-
male. asleep in reclining position meath wide
Spreading tree, while an Angel Of Lights in The ac
of descending with crown to encircle her brow
in ihs distant east the dawpipg day is most beauti.
fully portrayed the clouds ofnight seeming TO van
ISL rapidly away The celebrated Statue Of The
Greek Slave BIZ Powers is the chief attraction oil
the place. Ii is now the property Of this liberal
patron OF the fine arts. ltwouh give me pleasure
10 describe other works Of art in this collection did
not the decreasing lines Of the sheet warn me 10
close Should any Of your readers visit Washing.
ton they canno! spend an hour more pleasantly and
probably shan one devoted to these pictures.
Yours, junior.