The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-18

Yesterday paid visit to To this time honored
ment in the City Hail. and AZ il contains valuable gal
ery Of portraits of Of the distinguished
this country has produced together with many interest
ing relics Of BY gone days brief description will not be
without interest to our readers.
The Governors Is reached by the main stair
in the vee,bule of the City Hail. and extends the d.
tance OF tie entire front between the wings. It il
prised of three distinct apartments the central Of
which opens upon a broad portico and furnishes fine
view of the Park and the great horoughres laying each
side Of it. The furniture Of these three Is of
sive mahogany richly carved and of the fashion of the
last century. Indeed ii used by the first Common
Council which organized Immediately after the Revolu-
tionary II has nevertheless, undergone many re.
novatons from time to time and except the multiplicity
Of national emblcms carved upon its pieces would
y lie recognized yesge of almost forgotten epoch
Cne Of the most interesting objects here the writing
table of the immortal Washington upon which his entire
correspondence written during his terms as Pre-
sident Of the United states 1t is plain old fashioned
pecesQf workmanship, ornamened with brass han
dies and knobs but still comfortable and conve-
nen 10 write at that the cabnetmakers of the present
day might take pattern from II with profit and advan-
tage- : =.
The walls Of the three are covered with por-
traits of the various great who have figured either
in the history Of the republic of the city Passing
the west the first thing which the eye of
the vser is the large allegorca painting recently pre-
scntei 10 the Corporation by Monsieur Etex French
tiss This picture which is designed to represent the
Gores of the United states contains the portraits of
Washington Lafayette, Jefferson Franklin Red Jacket
Clay Webster, Calhoun, Fulton Marshall Cooper, Nor
gan Hamilton, Cass Greene, Gates, Irving, West Trum-
bull, Jackson, Van Buren,, Harrison, Tyler Fillmore,
Monroe Madison, Count Rochambcau the various Gov
ernors of The State Senators, &C. and among other
liabilities Of pns and present days likeness Of Mayor
Wood looking the shoulders of Senator Seward If
watching the of that dangerous demagogue. This
introduced by the artist before making the gift
commemorate the time and circumstance Of its presenta
tion to the city ALI the figures variousy grouped
and the foreground is Allied with children, occupied with
the implements and embems Of agriculture the mechanic
arts kc The Goddess Of Liberty occupies the centre of
the painting, holding hand national standard
ard in the other Of aures The picture is en-
closed by heavy gilt frame upon which is carved in
nedaons tue OF thirtytwo States In getting this
number Monsieur Etcx has probably had his eye
on Kansas. The artist engaged upon this
painting period Of more than twenty years, during
which most of his time was spent in collecting the sen
ofheads he has successfully grouped together The
room Is hardly large enough viewer contain It, and
In s present position made to conceal the full length
portraits Of Monroe, Taylor, and Governor Troup In
point OF size it is not unlike the picture of the Vicar
Wakefield.
The next objects OF attraction the kenesses OF Gov
Petrus Stuyvesant and Hendrck Hudson painted more
than two centuries ago. The former II will be recoected
the fourth Dutch Governor of the colony and arrived
here le47 He had previously been director of the
colony of Curacao, where becoming involved in disputes
with Portuguese settlement the Island Of St. Martin
he laid siege to the place, and lost his leg. He man
Of great force Of character and perhaps tho best suited
administer the affairs Of such remote colony New
York then Under him the city frst surveyed,
and the streets regulated and named. He died in 1671
and his remains now lay in st. Marks churchyard.
small full length portrait the celebrated Admiral
Monckton is also in this 1t is beautifully executed
and said TO be perfect representation Of that naval
magna,e.
The right hand wall is covered with the hhenesses Of
President Fillmore, Hamilton Fish and Governor Marcy
John Young occupies the space between the doors aud In
other parts of the the portraits Of Mayors Law
renee, Woodruff, Brady, Kngsland and Mckie Here is
also plaster cast of the celebrated bronze statue Of
jefferson which was presented many years ago Gen
Jackson by Captain Levy Of the navy together with
marble bust Of Henry Clay, and d bronze one Of the
Great Fxpounder."
Passing again into the central room we end the fol.
lowing full length portraits viz: Gov. Lewis Dewitt
Clinton, Washington, Lafayette, Governors Yates
Martin Van Burcn, VIM. H. seward, W. c. Bouck silas
Wright and Daniel d. Tompkins. Above these are the
likenesses Of Mayors Duane, varick Livingston Clinton
Willet Radcliffe, Golden, stephen Aleu- Vim. Pauldng,
Philip Hone, Walter Bovine Gideon Lee, Aaron Ciark
haac L. yarian, Robert II. Morris James Harper VIM
+. Havemeyer, and Jacob A. Wester,elt Of most Of
these there many anecdotes told. The most
eccentric Is said TO have been old Mayor wet who
cultivated with Industrious Wild cherry tree In
his yard, which he eied many yenrs before HIS death
and had manufactured into a coihn This he kcp. con
sanily in his bedchamber, and eventually buried
it, with his hat, wig and high heclcd shoes
The central has been reserved exclusively the
reception Of the cys guests since the completion the
Hall in 1919. The number Of great who have hal
lowed tby their presence from tha, to the present
may be imagined.
The east room, which CONNECTS with the central
by double catrance, L similar in all
respects to the west but has been appro
pria,ed for the reception Of the portraits our dis.
tngushed military and naval men II i, therefore,
called the 'Hero's Gallery" Here will be found the
full length pictures Of General. Brown McComb Swift
Scott and Comnodorcs Perry, Decatur and Bainbridg
together with half lengths Of Baron steuben General
winiams General Paez, President Bolivar Commodore
cfsuncey, d. T. Valentine and Chancellor Kent There
is painting Of the great Columbus and hand
by the celebrated Alexander smith Kossuth Thls We
believe completes the catalogue Of the Municipal Portrait
Gallery.
We must not omit 10 mention. however a glas. case
the left hand side you enter which contains the
torn tattercd and blood coors Of the New York
Volunteers. This alone is SUFFICIENT TO attract hos, Of
eager spectators The only remaining matter we have to
refer 10 now Il table containing the standard weights
and measures To those who in the habit Of being
ehcIcdby their butchers and grocers would advise
visit to the Governors Room where they can b. graft
fed with ocular proof Of the requirements Of the law
The place kept in cxcclen, order By Mr. James aylor
the keeper ofthe City Hail. TO whose gcntlemanly atten
ons and courteous conduct indebted for tho de-
tails of visit
Brooklyn City News.
ErrGiARus--The house OF Mrs Willlams No ~ Orange