Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-10-06
SENATE CHAMBER,
14ug, 26M, 1852.
The Honorable,
WIN, r, KING.
President of the Senate.

Not being like
ly, owing to the near approach Of the end
Of the session, and the great amount of
business still to be transacted, to attain a
public opportunity Of presenting to the
Senate an engraved likeness of Washing
ton, made by Y, B. WEIGH, Esq, from
Stuart's celegrated original portrait now
in the Boston. AthenWum, beg leave in
the name of the publisher, Mr.. Uhilds, to
offer it through you to the acceptance of
the Senate. There is now in existence no
portrait of the Father of his Country,
which is regarded, either in artistic merit
or fidelity of likeness to tho original, as
the equal of that from which the present
engraving was made. Animated by pro-
fessional enthusiasm, and an ardent de-
sire of transmitting to postcrity faithful
likeness of the illustrious Chief, under
whose auspices the colonies were conduc-
ted through all the pcrils of the Revolu-
ton and War to independence and peace,
Stuart addressed himself to the accom-
plishment Of this grateful task with an as
siduity which was rewarded by complete
success and the portrait, which was the
result of it, is not only faithful in its exhi-
bition of the Onward form and features of
the original, but into it the artist has
brcathcd that expression of majesty, tenn
pered with humility and tirmness, blen-
ded with gentleness peculiar to the cOun-
tenance of Washington. The engraving,
which, through you, propose to present
to the Senate, is truthful copy of the
work OF tho painters pencil, the product
of younger art, but which, in this in
stance, has precerved, with surprising fl
deity, ali the characteristics of the origi-
nal. With all the advantage that color
gives the original painting is scarcely
more perfect than the engraving, in ex-
preston and distinctness, yet softncss OF
outline. TO give distinctness, and at the
same time sofLness to the outlines of the
object to be copied, has always been re-
garttea as one Of the cngraver's greatest
difficulties but over this difficulty Mr..
WEIGH has completely triumphcd, and has
succeeded through the perfection of his art
in presenting to his countrymen likeness
of their great benefactor, truthful in OK
preston, as well as in every line and lin
eament of that peculiar countcnance which
bore the impress Of something more Than
ordinary humanity. Among the ten
thousand faces with which you have been
familiar. and the images Of which abide
in your memory, is there one which re-
semples,it either in expression or contour?
venture to answer, none. In express
sion, in qualities Of mind, in the part
which lie played in the drama Of the world
lin all, Washington was original unique
without type or copy. There is some
thing in the countenance which the artist
has transmitted to us, that, apart from the
historic character of the illustrious origi-
nal would arrest attention. An equinimi-
ty, not TO be disturbed by envy or selfish
ambition, gravity unmixcd with affecta-
don, wisdom, beneyolenee, firmness and
majeslic'diSnity beams from every line of
it, 'These attributes, to which history
testities, one art has successfully commit
ted TO canvass, whilst another more fruit
full has transmitted to steel, to be multi
piled and spreRd abroad, until the world
shall be as familiar with the features as ii
is. with the actions OF him who has been
so largely its benefactor.
But while. we congratulate ourselves on
the triumph of beautiful art, through
the perfection Of which wo enjoy the plea
sufecof beholding the features of him who
isconsecrated in our hearts by the servi-
ces which. he has rendered to us and to
the world, that pleasure is greatly impair
ed by the knowledge that the artist to
whose genius we owe it has been the vic
thu, ofhis zeal BY his incessant app!ica-
tion, and his devotion TO the object he
had In view, lie has lost entirely the use
Of his right eye, and seriously impaired
the. sight of the left, He commenced tho
work of engraving in the Winter of 1e49.
and from that time until June of the pre-
sent year. he devoted himself wholly to
the. work which he has accomplished with
SO much credit to himself and the country.
.iEoGo3 ETe 20 !. 5s.F !. lto. . -.