Washington sentinel., 1854-05-03
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
Authors and Artists at FLORENCE.
A letter from Florence, published in the Ne,
arL 11lt.e,.fisea. hos the following


Among the English authors living here
are Mrs. Someryille, the Brownings, Charles
Lever; Mr.. Kirkup, the antiquarian Mr.. Ten.
nyson, brother of the poet laureate, and who
has himself volume of poems now in press /;
and Mrs. Trolope, who made her debut in
authorship through her ibelous work on Amer
lea. Since then her prolific brain has pro-
duced eighty-nine volumes of $3.50 tales, prov
ing that "weeds grow apace." Not unproduc-
lively, however, for her, since she has reaped
thereirom an abundant pecuniary harvest and
now occupies beautiful villa, built by herself
and her son, who is also successful story
teller. Mrs. Trollope has one of the largest
and choicest Of the private libraries in the city.
The library-room is an expensive gothic hall,
the furniture being all after the antique and
decorated with statuary and paintings. In
this hall she holds her Saturday morning re-
ceptions; and, strange to say, she affects Amer
leans so much as to hunt them up, and load
them with hospitalities. She is an affable,
pleasant old lady, OF about 20, and was pro-
badly more disgusted with her pecuniary mis-
adventures in the United States than with the
people she ridiculed in her spleen.
"Mrs. Somerville is now about seventy-tllree
Years old, in an excellent state of preservation,
and is altogether remarkable woman. She
rises early, devotes her time till noon to scien-
tific study and writing, and at other times oc-
cupies herself much with sketching from ma.
ture, painting in oil, and embroidery; thus
showing that the pursuit of mathematics is not
incompatible with love for the fine arts No
living woman ever received more fiattering
compliments from her own government, and
from great men of all nations, than Mrs. Som
eryille Her bust stands in the British Academy
by the side Of Sir Isaac Newton's, and Baron
TT IL 1l~1 AZ, f<.e.
men, She is perfectly simple and unostenta-
tious in her manners, and never refers to her
own labors, which, notwithstanding the exten-
sive circulation of her works, have yielded her
small pecuniary benefit. But she has pen
sion from the British crown and lives with her
husband, retired surgeon OF the navy, and
their two daughters going much into society
being welcomed everywhere and admired for
her quiet manners and agreeable conversation.
Mr.. Lever lives generously in palace; gives
dinners sparkling with his wits and wines
loves horses like a true Irish Englishman; rides
on the casine with his rosy-cheeked daughters
on either side Of him, and is literally good fel-
low his conversation being as full Of humor as
his Irish tales.
Mr.. Tennyson lives retired, though in easy
and elegant circumstances, occupying fine
villa, filled with choice books and paintings
old place; never go into society, but receive
their friends quietly in the evening. Mrs. Bis
physically as trail as her mind and verse are
strong, with such gentle, unpretending man
ners, and st,ila pleasant expression Of face,
that no one, to look at her, would believe that
such force and passion could come out of such
an apparently delicate unperturbed nature.
Mr. Browning is alive with good nature and hui
NOR; full of practical knowledge, and as plain
and smooth in talk as he is obscure and rough
in his writings; in short, as is the case with
Mrs. b., the very opposite of the book-Brown-
ing. Mr.. Read, one of our American artists,
now in Florence, has painted lately cabinet por-
traits of both, and they are truthful hkenesses.
They belong to gentleman in Philadelphia, and
will give all who see them their Just notions Of
the originals.
"Mr Read is now engaged upon several we'll
conceived compositions, which will do him
credit Mr.. Edwin White of New York, who
has been some years studying in France and
Germany, is now here, painting successfully.
He has conceived q series of pictures on Ameri-
can subiects-mostl scenes from the history of
the Puritans-two Of which are already done.
His chief work, however, as yet, is picture OF
Columbus taking the sacrament previous to
EN- barking on his expedition in search of the
New World 1t is an effective painting, full of
harmony. The dim, religious light" of the
sanctuary, the benignant countenance of the
officiating priest, and the appearance OF the
great adventurer, humbly knecling, whose face
is solemn with the perilous intent, yet beaming
with earnest faith, produces in the behoider
feeling in unison with the occasion, and one
se,,ms almost to hear the organ-t tone timed to
his own emotions while he gazes."
IT, A ofor Ghrary IN T,nfp vaffa plana
NAV be designated as free, public institution,
superior in size and scope to any, if not all
other libraries in the city. 1t was founded by
John Jacob Astor, of this city, who, by his will
dated August 3d. 1889, bequeathed 100000
to establish and maintain it. This sum was
payable in four annual instalments, dating from
his death. 4 The following gentlemen are trus-
tees of the institution Washington Irving, VIM.
B. Astor, Dan'l Lord, Jos. G.. Cogswell, Sam'lB B.
Ruggles, Charles Astor Bristed, the mayor e1-
o6fcio, John A. Dix, Rev. Thos. House Taylor,
ID. D., Mr.. Jas. Carson Brevoort, and DIR. A.V.
Williams. In compliance with the direction in
Mr.. Astor's will, an act of incorporation was
granted by the legislature January 18th, 1919.
To give an idea OF the extent of the library
building, the running length of the shelves is
between 10000 and $4,000 feet, the number Of
volumes already purchased and placed thereon
c,uded a large and very valuable donation of
nearly 5000 volumes, made by Mr.. Cogswell,
embracing the whole department OF bibliogra,
ply, and including the ytry many rare ana
costly works. The sum of f2,o,o s'ernng was
presented by Mr.. VIM. b. Astor, to be nphea IN
purchasing books for special technology a
department, to embrace every branch of practi
cal industry and the mechanic arts. The build
ing is plain structure, of brick, raised upon \,
lower story frustic asher brown stone. The
style of architecture is the Byzantine, and the
front is rendered imposing by the deeply re-
cessed arched doors and windows, the rich
brown stone mouldings and mullions, and still
more by the boldly projecting cornice, corbels
and entablature-all beautifully wrought in the
same materials. The internal arrangement is
a very convenient one, and very economical of
space. A series of seven alcoves open in front
and rear, leaving corridors two and half feet
in width along the walls, by which a communi-
cation is established between the different parts
of the library. The part of the library whichis
divided inro alcoves is separated from the open
area in the centre by q light iron railing. This