Washington sentinel., 1853-10-08

oruer Vi oohgress, being intended To I'LL the
vacant panne inthe rotunda Of the capitol at
Washington, is now on exhibition at New
York. The Herald gives the following descrip-
ton ofit
Mr.. Powell has selected the moment when
De Soto and his cavaliers from the hill got the
first full view of the broad expanse of the
Father Of waters and if he has not made the
most of his canvass that could be crowded into
it without discord, we are much mistaken Be
ginning in the centre, the mail-clad hero of the
picture, upon fiery white horse, is strikingly
conspicuous. Behind him are his subordinate
chieftains on horseback, splendidly capari-
soned, according TO the Spanish warlike fash
ions of that day. In the midst of them, upon
a patient donkey in regal harness, is a White
friar The eyes of all this party, with a gen
eral expression of intense satisfaction are fixed
upon the river, the frar having his hands and
eyes uplifted in devout thanksgiving. Behind
this group, to the left, follow the mailed and
helmeted warriors Of the expedition, their
bristling spears and battle-axes, in heightened
array, stretching back till lost in the misty
woods; thus leaving upon the Imagination
vivid impression of a powerful force still be.
hind, though invisible to the eye.
To the right, upon plateau, ON the imme-
diate river bank, is a cluster of four Indian
tents iantastically frescoed with barbaric de-
vices. BY the side of these tents stands
group of Indian warriors, in the most striking
war costumes of their tribe. An old chief is
reaching forward the pipe Of peace to the won
derful invaders of his lands with an air and
bearing OF profound humility Another is
looking on with fixed amazement at the terri
bic intruders, while younger warrior is reso-
lutely gazing at De Soto with determined ste
lidity. In front of these warriors are two
Indian damsels, nearly naked, and finished 10
the highest perfection of Indian beauty, recln-
ing upon the ground, with some baskets of
corn, ducks, and other peaceoferings lying
before them, to the acceptance of which they
are vanly endeavoring to gain De Soto, for his
eyes are fixed upon the Mississippi.
In the immediate foreground to the right a
group of weather-beaten and wounded soldiers
are gathered. Some of them are placing a
cannon in battery for the protection of the
camp. One of these has a white handkerchief
tied over an ugly cut in his forehead. Another
old campaigner is sitting down, bandaging his
damaged leg, while another, dusky and rusty
with hard usage, is holding his helmet before
his eyes, while looking out upon the great river
their outlet to the sea and to home. Next to
this group in the foreground, is pile of small
arms of the style of that time, some of the ex-
act patterns of which may now be seen in the
Crystal Palace, sent over from the Tower of
London by Queen Victoria These arms are
resting upon the camp chest which is almost
as strongly banded with iron as one Of our sal
amander safes. To the right of this is group
of the ministers of the Catholic faith, planting
an immense cross, formed of two parts of /.
tree with the bark on, with a small figure of
the crucifed Savior nailed upon it. The holy
brothers are lifting the cross into the hole
which has been dug to receive it. One of
them has his two forefngers upon il, while
reading from an antique book the service of
the occasion. The veteran who has dug the
hole Is resting upon the ground, with his shovel
by his side. Thus, extending along the fore.
ground OF the picture, we have the whole story
of the Spanish conquests in America Illus
trated, in the cannon and the cross, the cross
always being planted and consecrated, as the
first duty of a Spanish encampment, while the
cannon and the arquebus as unfailingly brought
up the rear. r M
In the background, to the right we see the
ample Mississippi, with the dim unmeasured
country beyond it. Towards the opposite bank
some green islands are visible, while far up, on
this side, we detect another village OF the red
men, its inhabitants apparently unconscious of
the proximity of the dreadful invaders Of their
The composition of this picture, the group
ing, the drawing Of the figures, and the cos
tunes, &c., the coloring, the lights and the
shades, to our Judgment, are charmingly har-
monious and true. We doubt not, from the
three or four years of study and labor of the
artist, that everything, including the royal ban
ner, and one or two Moorish warriors in this
picture, is historically true, and true to nature.
To crown all, the tout ensemble is full of life.
spirit, chivalry, poetry, and beauty. There is
nothing awkward, or heavy, or strained about
it; everything in it is easy, though intensely
graphic and spirited. Z,
In reducing his figures below the colossal
size of those Of the other pictures in the rotun-
do, Mr. Powell has gained an immense advan.
tage IN space; and when we consider that the,
pietures to stand only four feet from the ground,
he loses nothing in its individual effects.
The gallery of the rotunda will now be com
plete. Its paintings, all of uniform size will
consist Of
!. The Declaration of Independence.
2. The Capitulation at Saratoga.
3. The Capitulation at Yorktown.
A. Washington resignng his Commission Mt
Annapolis, all by Trumbul.
5. The Baptism Of Pocahontas. by Cbanman
6. The Embarkation Of Pilgrims at Delft
Haven, by Weir,
Z. The Landing of Columbus. by Vanderlvn.
8. De Soto's Discovery of the Mississippi, by
POWELL - {
SAcRiLIG1ous DisTURBAYCF.-We have lust
heard OF vlllainous transaction perpetrated
IN this city which satisfies us that there is as
many bad young men, in our city as there
was years ago. Mr.. -, the pastor of one of
our African churches, is celebrated for the fery
and sulphurous quality of his pulpit eloquence.
Three rowdyish young gentlemen had some
times crept into the gallery of the sanctuary
where Mr.. --- ofliciates for the very naughty
purpose of amusing themselves with the devo-
tional exercises of the colored minister and his
congregation Observing that the jealous
preacher dealt very much in pyrotechnic Illus