Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-22
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

on saturday afternoon last, at the Smithsonian
Institution. On motion of DIR. II Stone, tenn.
porary organization was effected by calling
Lambdin, of Philadelphia, to the chair, and an
pointing T B. Thorpe, of New York, secretary.
Or. Stone, being called to the floor to state the
object Of the convention, addressed the meeting
as follows:
- IL is the duty Of national authorities To brino
into exercise every latent force, whether material
or intellectual, that is possessed, and that may
aid In the accomplishment of the ends of Tavern
ment. IL is the duty of every good citizen too
to hold himself In re adiness, and even to volun-
tanly Profer that which he may have to contrib
ute towards Strengthening, developing and real
iZing the principles and purposes of the govern
ment IL IL the duty and aim Of both the people
and government-in any and every country-to
free and harmonious cooperation, and to pro-
mote every tendency thereto. Whatever may be
the specinc duties OF individuals or institutions,
there cannot be thereby achieved results at all
adequate to their relations with the common
wealth of which they form part.
'If there is any class of citizens Of this nation
W hose efforts should be, more than any other
made in harmony with the best spirit and pur-
pose Of the national lfe ii is the one whose duty
and privilege II is 10 embody, in the various
forms OF art all that is therein worthy to DE illus
tra.ed and preserved.
Every other interest has been promoted by
conventional advantages. Moved by patriotic
impulses, representatives of every other element
OF the moral progress, have iona ICED their or
CARNATIONS, and brought them into relations
with the Legislative and executive agents Of the
body polite, securing thereby manifold advant-
ages.
Art comes forth at last to participate in the
festival of the nations triumPh-to crown with
immortal wreaths the brows of her victors In
wal and in peace She could not permit her vo-
taries to come alone, but would provide for Just
distribution Of these patriotic privileges
the Inauguration of this conventional union
which we shall hope will I've crowned with sue
cess and be annually repeated.
We have had the heroic age Of the nation,
hrnh at
a3d power, and brought fo'th for orr reverence
and limitation the noble representatives Of every
patriotic virtue. The age of peace with it's at
teHdant achievements, has succeeded, and we
have now entered upon the third and proudest
age Of national life, the age Of commemoration
we congratulate our country,nen on it, early in
augUration.
1--we " citizen of whatever vocation or profes-
sion, has his duties To perform, aud th- rein every
other class than our own is prepared 10 perform
them in the best manner, by combination of Of.
fort In Ike manner would we enter ON our
iabors, which are to commemorate the past illus
trate The present, and illuminate the track to a
glorious future.
asking, most earnestly. the blessings of the
GiveT of all Good. and the guidance Of tina,
hand which is ncedful for the attainment Of eve
nv good, let us now come into the order OF
The names Of the following delegates were
then read
Washington City-John Cranch, John NJ STAN
lev, Peter Banmgers, w. ID. Washington, w .
III Rhinehart, ] GoldSbornugh BruT, 4. Ort,l
New York City-W. Heinp, r. SChlegel, Jas
Walker, L II. PeaIe, Seth Eastman. il But
Ter. Nj. h. Brady, John Crdnch. III Brown.
Rushle
Richmond, Va-w. D. Myers
Cananddigua, \. N.-ChaS. C. Green
Newburg, y. E.-Brownlee Brown
Boston Henry r. Darby Thos Ball
lowd-John Wood.
Ingraham Unversity-Philip Staunton, A. NJ
Artists Fund Society, Philadelphia-John Sar-
tain, w. III Furness, jr, C.. Schnessle, Geo w
COnarrOe, Russell Smith.
Pennsylvania Acadsmy-R Rembrandt peale
ThOs Sally. J. r I.ambdin
On motion, DIR IL Stone, G.. w. Conarroe
ana w Helne, were appointed committee to
the convention, and after few minutes absence
they submitted the following list, which was
unanimously approved:
PresideDt-Rembrandt Peale.
Vice Presidents-J r Lambdn Jno Cranch
and III X Brown
TIeasurer-J. NJ. Stanley
Secretary-W ID Washington
On motion of w. II Rhinehart. a committee
consisting of III. X. Brown, John SaItaIn w
ii Rhinehart, DR.. ii. Stone and Peter BxtImrcrs
was appointed to prepare business for the con-
No other business Of interest was transacted
and The meeting adjourned until O'Clock p. m
EVENING SESSION.
In the evening, pursuant to public notice. the
convention again assembled in the lecture room
If the Institute to listen to a lecture by the ven
cradle Rembrandt Peale, Esq, of Phladelp hia
on - W Washing ton and his Portraits The pub
attendance
MIR. Peale was introduced by DR.. IL. Stone,
and commenced his discourse with the remarks
that the celebrated traveller, Chateaubrand. had
bu; transient interview with Gen. washington
ana regretted his want of opportunity to form his
acquaintance He subsequently said: "HappiIy
had him TO look at me for a moment and that
look can never forget. / have constantly felt
ITS warm ard benign influence ever since -
mere Is usually something in the look of a great
man, MI Peale1 continued, which excites in us
feeling of awe and veneration. But the look of
ashin9ton caused deeper feeling than this
we felt drawn iowa d> him with an impulse of
ERECTION, and wish TO become better acauaini-
Ell All the mOLumen's and columns that can be
reared To bis memory would be inca pable of con-
Feylng 10 us an adequate idea of him, had the
appearance OF his features been lost if those
FEATURES had possessed no striking peculiarly;
Tut Tar more so when we know that his counten-
dnce was most remarkable one.
MT. L. spoke of the effect which the portrait of
great man sometimes produces on the mind of
me observer, and recalled the remark Of Henry
Clay, that il il was in his power, he would not
Only have every room in the public buildings in
his CITY decorated with portrait of Washington
but would have copy of II in every house i'm the
country In this connection, he also made ailu-
sion To the anxiety of the English, after the fame
OF Shakespeare was established, TO obtain an au-
thentlc picture OF him. They were, however.
unsuccessful In finding a likeness the accuracy of
winch was indisPniahle. As the British Were
thus eager about Shakspeare's portrait, only be-
cause he had establi shed the literary fame OF his
native country, how much more should Ameri
cans want an accurate picture Of Washington
who established and preserved their very nation
ITSELF
The lecturer next described the personal ap-
p-aranee Of the Father of his Coun;ry'' His
height was six feet and one inch and hs was firmly
nnlh, with well developed muscles, and slight
~ tended 20 corpulency. His head was not of
unusual siz-, and his FEATURES were prominent
Ine eyes were blue, and rather sunkrn, and had
peculiar expression. His mouth was small
ahd complexion norid. Although not loo u nc ious
he was sociable, and when induginy in laugh
Yer the peculiar wrinkles at the corners Of the
eye, called ''crow's-fOot,' plainly noticea-
PIE lie had lost his teeth In early life, and when
MI knew bin, wore false teeth. After com
Pleting this personal description the lecturer
next related his boyish impressions respecting
tul> SItdt man. IL WAS reIHar kdble cOinCi drncr
tnat his own birthday fit on the same day of
me wear with that Of W lshinst and to this he
attributed share Of his saIly enthusiastic re-