Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-10-18
For tho Intelllgenoer. -:
and Mr.. Bordly.

The public will see that Mr.. BIS explanation
does not quite warrant the positive and unquali-
fed statement of 'H,' and leaves ample room, l
think, to save thu reputation of Mr.. Ring, who by
his eentlemunly bearing left favorable impression
ON the minds ofour citizens. And it is due him,
now that the imputation is thus publicly made'
aud Mr.. B. does not seem to be in possession Of
the information requisite to set the matter clear
between the fact of his having copied them' and
Mr. Ring protesting to show the originals, that
state tile result of my investigation of the docu-
ments in Mr.. Rings possession, which will put
IN the form of an argument on the side oil Mr.
Rings innocence and correctness.
1. He showed no signs of reluctance, but of
high qualification, at my proposal of examination
for the purpose stated in my former communca-
ton.
q He Immediately put in my charge two very
interesting and bulky volumes. onewas his reg
lister of names in autograph. of persons who had
visited his galeryin the several places of exhibl
ton.
3. This register bore all those unquestionnble
marks ofgenuineneSs which the eye sees but the
pen cannot describe. 1t was duly dated and
headed with the names of places. 1t showed that
through this country, it had the re.entry of the
romes Of persons who had visited it then and re-
cently-all in accordance with the we'll known
fact that the originals were so exhibited and made
great scandal because of their representing the
nude human figure, the public exhibition of which,
then greatly outraged the purtanic taste of the
times.
4. The other was ponderous scrap-kook, con-
tanning clipped advertisements notices, and crit-
cisms from all the leading journals then in this
country and Great Britain. These were all da-
ted and entitled in a manner that could not be
forged without great expense.
5. This scrap-book contained items, not as Mr..
B. is mpressed-lamentng the fact that Dubufe's
paintings were destroyed by the fire. which con-
sumed the Academy of Arts in Barclay street, but
''rejocing that these were saved by the daring
intrepidity OF the person having them in charge,
who rushed in at the peril of his life and cut them
from their frames with pocket knife"
6. The scrap-book showed also that since
that escape they had been carried back TO Lon.
don, were there recognized as the originals By
Mr.. Brett, their proprietor, by the London gentr!
and artists who were so in love with them, and me
an unexamplel, enthusiastic and lucrative recep
ton for near ten years all over Great Brltain afte
which it was thought best to exhibit them secont
time in America.
Now, if this is not The true state of the case, j
is, we all ceadily perceive, most adroit and ras
cally imposition, and of very deep and expensive
kind; for it involves the necessity OF printing til
titles, and articles which purport to be clipPet
from newspapers; and then the deception of Mr.
Ring, who certainly would not have allowed nj
access to such a mass of fraud, with the Specia
purpose of publishing the result TO the world.
1t would also implic4te Mr.. Burdly himself, a
being accessory 10 the fraud. makes Ounce o
the American public, and every way turns out {
most unaccountable affair, if they be not the orig
inals. Then Mr.. B. tells us that his were exhibit
ed only as copies, and, he does not seem to think
very generally at that
do not write against Mr.. B., but for Mr.. Ring
see very readily how Mr.. b. may be in an homes
error Having taken from memory what he calls
'eopy,' and knowing that it had been exhibited il
the South, and being made under the impression
that the original was destroyed, he might SuPpos
that those exhibited by Mr.. Ring, in our city, wer
his copy.
await further evidence. shall make inquir
through the New York press, and shOuL! Mr.. B
prove to be the artist that copy such pictures
shall be glad to award him the proper praise, an
insert the fact in history that will be TO be rorit
ten Oper. Yours, truly,
GEORGE W. WEBSTER.