Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-06-17
Correspondence Of the Free Press.
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

| Dear Free Press
| The National Academy Of Design is an associa-
ton of out ono hundred and thirty American
artists, the principal object of which, far as the
public arc informed, appears to be the col
lection annually of largo number Of paintings,
by American artists throughout tho country, not
confined to members Of the academy and the cx-
hibition of the same for n period in this city.
These exhibitions display the largest collections,
entirely Of specimens Of American art, that are ever
gathered, and afford the best opportunity, availa-
BILE to the public at largo, of judging of the con.
dtion of art in this country tho the average merit
of the paintings thus exhibited does not correspond
exactly to the average of American Art; for
while there can hardly be anything poorer than
| the poorest specimens which arc allowed a place
on tho walls of the Academy's galleries, the high
est productions of the American pencil and chiscl,
are not wont to be present in these exhibitions
Tho Thirty fourth Exhibition of the Academy is
now open. 1t consists of eight hundred and seuen
Paintings and Drawings, with several Busts and
Medallions, by teo hundred and fly Artists. The
cursory examination which I was enabled to make
in visit of three hours, did not leave with Inc a
very favorable impression of the Exhibition as a
whole. 1 cannot compare it with previous exhibit
tions, and was, probably, expecting too much. At
any rate was disappointed. There are many
| pleasant Paintings, but really great ones that
saw or recognized rs SUCH while great proper
ton of the Exhibition consists of ordinary and
unintcrcsting portraits, or efforts which seem to
inlicate that the authors have mistaken their call
ing, or are quite in it,
Among the things which were specially inter
csting to me- were several views from Mansfield
Mountain. "rhc Haymakcrs," a scene In Under
| hill with the mountain in the background,
by Jerome Thompson "Thc belated party on
Mansfield Mountain" by the same artist; Camp
on Mansfield Mountain, by s r. Clifford, and the
Western view from the Mountain top by the same;
Lake Champaign" beautiful little cabinet pic
turc, by E. W. Nichols, formerly Of Burlington
and known to many Of the readers Of the Free
Press Entrance to Llewellyn Park" New Jer-
sey; and October" also by Mr.. Nichols View
on Lake Champlain," by Jesse Talbot; "View on
the Battenkill," by c. L. Hcyde, of Burlington,
which many Burlingtonians have seen, and which
1 thought, deserved better place in the gallery
than the one it occupies; and a crayon Likeness of
Bishop Hopkins by Samuel Lawrence. All of
these were among the better class of works exi ib-
tied, though they had an interest for me. indie
pendently of their merits
Mr. Bancroft's discourse on the life and charac.
ter Of Jonathan Edwards delivered before the His.
torical Society of this city ON the evening of the
5th, was a noteworthy affair not only from the in.
tcrest and value of the paper of the evening, Blu,
from the indications which it afforded of the thee.
logical views OF tho distinguished Historian. Mr.
Bancroft has been called a Unitarian. About a
year ago, however, some sentences of hi. in pub
lie discourse, were understood by many as a vir.
tual annou ncement Of his conversion to 'ortho.
doxy' His discourse on Edwards must have
strengthened that impression. 1t was an appre.
ciative and profound analysis and exposition Of
President Edwards character and religion. views
such as would be possible to no man to whom tho.e
view. were rcpulsive and absurd, as for instance
to the Professor Of the Atlantic. No one, iudc.
ing from the discourse alone, could have suspecte
that the author was not firm believer in the es
sential points Of the Theology of Edwards, and hi:
Now England associates.
Mr.. Bancroft was followed by a Mr.. Folsom
who having risen to second motion of thanks I,
MT. bancroft, took the occasion, with strange
disregard ofdecency and propriety, to intimat,
that the religious character of the paper Just read
rendered it entirely inappropriate to tho place
and time, and that Mr. Bancroft was insincere in
his expressed admiration of Edwards and mpli ed
acceptance of his creed. As for Mr.. Edwards. he
said all knew that the people of NORTHAMPTON,
over whom he was settled, found they could not
stand him or his doctrines, and sen, him AWAY
Here his remarks were interrupted by Mr.. Ban.
croft who, springing to his feet, said, But they
discovered their error, would have repaired il
they could, and repented it in sackcloth and
ashes, ever after"
The loud and long applause which followed
this reply, from the largo audience that filed the
Hall to overlooking, showed that they werc heart.
lily in sympathy with Mr.. Bancroft; and it was
continued till Mr.. Folsom took the hint and
dropped into his seat. His modification and the
color Of his countcnancc, which he apparently
| would have been glad TO hide, were heightened bv
| the succeeding remarks Of member Of the society
Mr.. Z. c. Benedict, who briefly indicated the
proprlety OF the selection Of the subjest and the
| ability and truthtulness with which it had been
treated and of Mr.. Bradish, the President of the
society, who said that Mr.. Bancroft had been re-
quested by the Managers of the Society to read a
paper on this very subject. Tho discontinue of
Mr.. Folsom was completed by another remark of
Mr.. Bancroft's, which has not found its way into
print, and which, as it was made during the con.
fusion of the adjournment of the meeting, was ONLY
heard by the few who stood near him, of whom hap
pened to be one. "Why sir" said he to Mr.. F. 1--WE
have all heard oftho play of Hamlet with the part of
Hamlet left out. You, it seems, would have His.
tory, with the parts of God and Religion left out"
The discourse will, as understand, form the
substance of the article on Edwards, in Apple,ons
New Encyclopaedia.
While on literary topics let me give place to a
bit of city journalism. More "bulso are not often
found within two lines than may be discovered in
the following sentence;
"lF The composer of Weber's posthumous wri.
tngs will soon appear under the editor.hip of his
son."
The above has appeared, sic, in several New !
York papers. Which of them deserves the credit of
such remarkable specimen of taurine condensa.
tion is more than | can say.
Yours G.