The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-02

mel Of great depth The water always muddy, trees
and timber were continually floating dosn the stream
The arrival of the awakened curiosity and fear
multitude Of people from the westsrn bank OF the
river paint and ssyy decorated with great pumss OF
white feathers the warriors standing in with
and arrows their hands, the chiefains sitting under
awnings as magnificent their artlsss manufacturers
could weave rowing down the stream in feet OF
two hundred seeming TO the adrnrBg Spaniards
like fair army Of sslleys.' They brought gifts OF
fsh, and kavss made Of the persimmou At hrst they
showed desire otter resistance bat soon becoming
of their relative weakness they ceased to defy
enemy they could not overcome and suffered injniy
without atem ptipg open retaliation The entire quota
ton from Mr. Bancroft Is given because the painting OF
Nj Powell Is in strict keeping with the spirit OF his
account.
o. the banks of the Mississippi large tree ellsd
and formed into perfect cross" IL erected whilst
the ar $. upg the CENSOR and the priests chanted the
htsny, which responded TO by the soldiers. (l4)
Let pause one moment to with what fidelity the
artist followed these variations Of history The Ind
from the western bank Of the river met Ne Soto
the shore represented in the picture They gayly
decoraed-so in the picture they i've in boats-so in
the picture; they presented gift-so in the picture
cross was raised amid the solem nifty of religious
in the picture it was near An Indian vii
how should the artist represent De soto and
his followers? Could he have been in portrayng
them in condition to use the language Of these critics
of careworn broken down Spaniards, without clothing
bearing their burthen of ivy leaves and skins Of wild ami
mails an almost deenceess remnant OF .hivering rene
gasss, grouped together for their mutual protection
Would they express the idea intended to be conveyed by
the above quotations from history? such really their
condition why did not the Indians attack ths9 In the
language Of Mr. Bancroft they at first sshowed desire
to offer but soon became icon scious OF their
relative weakness" II these critics be corre:t De
Sotos expedition must have here for his adverse
lies were most countless the leaves of the forest
through which be had passed.
l. not reasonable suppose that they overawed
by The martial OF this yet gallant army, soma of
whom still rode Their horses themseyes cased
Il armor; and surrounded by paooply OF Horses
argue busses and cannon, implements that struck
terror 10 the wondering The portrayal Of the
figures On the canvass is in strict keeping III history
Soto rides his iuperb Arab steed and suit Of
amor of The time. Be ii followed by troop Of cavalry
Eccesastica soldiers and Indians are truthfuy repre-
ence TO which an Incident Is mentioned in Irvings Con-
cues, Of Florida few days before The discovery Of
the Mississippi after he recent fra of Chio.z skir
nish cccare bst-eep the spanai ds and the Iudiaus
" AS the Governor was spurrng onward struck
him his cssque with such force that it rebouuded
pixies length in the air and De confessed afterwards
that it made his eyes fash fire." (l5)
The army, upon reaching the Mississippi, must have
been provided with carpenters tools used
in that day for ind that in the twenty nine da ~
they remained at Council u that they built four large
progues capable Of obtaining seventy eighty and
five six horses each for the purpose Of conveying them
across the river. 16)
Ii there get remains lingering doubt concerning the
exiftence clohng have but instance tho burial
81 De Soto After they had crossed The Mis- ssipp aud PEN
straec far into the depths Of he wilderness beyond
70 The head waters OF the Tshata, two hundred miles
beyond its western bank eoslaving thu odsns and com
peirg Them 10 serve po ters az and upon ths slight
sst committing the sevees cruees upon their
esoLs they at length becsme discouraged and returned
In shout year alter they Ersl Dsh0ld 'rne Father OF
Waters" they again reached its bank. heartensd,
his stubborn prize broken, wasted away under a con-
tinued melancholy De Sto died The priests chanted
over his body the frst requems that heard
the waters OF the Mississippi To conceal his death his
booy was wrapped in mantle, ard in the stiffness of
ght was silently sunk in the middle OF the
The Idsooverer Of the Mississippi slept beneath its
waters Qs)
1t is NOT necessary to reply to ipsnuatons in relation
70 the ar atony Of tho figures in the panrg-thsy
eon tne esnsss those Who are fked IN tbs science Of
anatomy have pronounced them wonderful in accuracy
ct al who yet doubt examine for Themselves. When
ef led critics attempt 10 patrouiss the sT' 70 com
nassrate wis. him for the unfortunate position 10 &C.
'upssS their ,iusions become twadcl-.
tie observation, 'that it Il tie belief OF the writer"
that Mr. Powell had right to UNDERTAKE work OF
much importance" and we do not think it be
hown that he possessed single qualification for the
work Than gratntous. Pers Qualities Ia crit
Cen geIeIay osusy %eaauess "a arganent me writer
is the best judge as 10 his extent of comprehension
hever helsss, II is well known TACT in natural history
that where is deficient in intellect another
rot supply it. 10 proportion II is difficult for weak
mines TO prehend general prime PIES il is Ia exact
proportion they deicient in the proper appreca ion
Of truth.
Hence the era,uous obsa-vatou that 1T is generally
admit ed that ar Powell has been unfortunate in the
lection Of his sutjec snd the u1waerantabis as.unp
he Western he chose he subj in comp;
to the Vest" Pad gam may De parinei b
mis- enistion len in writer's the public
not 20 easily forgiven.
The facts are he.s: ar Powell was born in hi, city
Alter scourn Of some years = tina Vest he urued
and became pupil Of the lac H-ny iomsn liz
ed and his family have resided here tirc 1910 he
SIDES tere still so much Tor his locus quo III en-
an, Is matter o. 10 importance hr. Pcwell feels
honest pids in beisg called "a Western arst" for hs
receifed his FIRST cement from paJpa OF Gin
cI att; Their patron .ge was the c.a.
81 his adoption VI art &sa protection H recs;v-i he
comLissor however on h's ntr 5sc merl Artist
When he returned rsm italy, having stuaed under the
several Of his artistic positions among which
Salvador aosa among the 5rganis," aai Columbus be
fore the Council of Salamanca"
nurirg his absence Mr.. Inman, with whom Congress-
bao con!aclt6 raint picture for the last remaining
vacant panel Of toe fotunda ced The subject ced
as "Bccnrs Emigration to the Wsst;' il had
been commenced. Soon after Nc Powell went TO Wash
ington and exhibited his painting Of Columbus before
tie Council in the library o. the Capitol The leading
ourLsls OF the capital spoke il the highest of
praise Washington irving after having carefully
ned it. wrote letter to the library COMMITTEES of on
gtess in which he speaks OF the work in terms OF
qualified communication There were over sixty compsti
tors for the commission. hr Powell tho youngest
OF them all; yet, with his picture exhibition,
Sc pl,ased were TIE mensers Of Congress, that he
received the unanimous ssn;.ion of the Senate
was made to alter TIE amsndn the civil and
diplomatic appropriation Il in the House by strAiog
out the name Of Mr. Powell and inserting that of sIr
Dess, Of St. Louis The lame Of NJ Beard of ohio,
sus 2esed as slso the OF Nessrs Eossiter
ard others. Bat ar Powell received the |
comm sion by almost nannous vote. Sketches Of
different Iii, nal designs submitted by the artist
he joint committee Of Congress, and 11auy subjects |
we're suggested from which they to select for
he painting. Among there sere-The I'm gca.ion of
Darrell Boone the Treaty Of Greenyls, the Battle Vim
,ennes the Treaty OF George Rodgers Clark with
isrs the Battle OF New Orleans and De SIT Discovering
lie Mississippi.
The committee, eomrosel Of Mr Pie-ce of Maryland,
JsfeTeon Davis and John Y. Mason of the Senate aud
Jehn Quincy Adams, Mr. Preston Of Virginia. and C. But.
er King, On the part Of the House unanimously selected
he subject Of lie Soto That drawing s stll p-eserved
IL - comparison K sil b. seen With whai fidelity
he artist hss executed his commission. No m atsrial
alterations have been made in the design. We have
shown that the picture is historically correct not Win
shnGg the efforts that have been made to it
saro 70 s execution, hat it has rehe:te honor