Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-22

We rarely meet with the name Of Gen.
Cass in the papers. but he "still lives" at
the ripe age Of 81 years. He resides on
Jefferson street, Detroit, In handsome
modern-built dwelling, while his eldest son
occupies the old family homestead two
squares distant. Though afflicted with the
feebleness and forgetfulness naturally in
cident to his patriarchal age, he main
tains better health and amore active spirit
than could reasonably be supposed to be-
long to his time OF life. Some of the COM
mercial gentlemen waited on Gen. Cass,
while at Detroit, and correspondent thus
speaks of their visit: -'s
Gen. Cass and his sons are quite rich, the
former having settled at very early period
in Detroit, and when lands could be pur-
chased at a thousandth part Of their pres
ent valuation. They own quantities OF the
best improved real estate In the city, and
are in the enjoyment of incomes that are
princely In magnitude. 1r ;.tr
Being an accomplished connoisseur In
the fine arts, General Cass INDUCED his
tastes while he was Minister to France, and,
while making tour of Europe, to the
extent of providing himself with many
objects of rarity and value. One of those,
which he prizes very highly, is a half fln-
ished painting, by the famous West, of the
signing of the treaty of Paris which closed
the Revolutionary War and secured the in
dependence of the revolted American coll
onies. Five figures are outlined on the
canvass, being those Of Benjamin Franklin,
John Jay and, Henry Laurens, the Others
doubtless being the British Commissions.
The great painter was engaged at the same
time in executing certain art works for
George the Third. When the King heard
that West was about to perpetuate scene
so reproachingto to his own bad policy, he
got into passion and sent an order to the
artist to cease it, or be, dismissed the Royal
employment. West could do no more than
obey the Royal mandate, but the picture,
incomplete as it wasg survived the Kings
indignation, and finally came into possess
sion of its present distinguished owner.
Maj. Lewis Cass, the eldest son of the
General, who was Ministert to Rome during
the administration of Polk, Taylor and
Fillmore, has even more than his fathers
taste and fondness for collecting works of
art. His house here possesses superb gal
lery, to which the public are admitted at
certain seasons daily al IL O'clock. In his
collection are at least two objects that would
be acquisitions to the Dresden or Louvre
galleries, or to any in the world. One is an
antique marble, of life size, that was ex-
humed in excavating about Rome. The
other IS painting OF our savior sweating
under his crown of thorns, is from the hand
OF Guido. himself, and one of the five mas
ter-pieces which he disposed of in his will.
During the revolution in Italy, which was
set on, foot by, Charles Albert Garibaldi and
Mazzini, there were exciting tumults in
Rome incident to the occupation,of the city
by the Austrians and French. During one
of these, church, to which this treasure
belonged, was In danger Of being destroyed,
and was saved only by the interposftion Of
Minister Cass, who caused the American
flag to be hoisted over it. The monks of the
church, by way of testifyihg their graft
tude for the signal service rendered them,
afterwards presented him with-the paint
ing in question. On his arrival in New
York, he was offered $4,000 for the relic,
but, OF course, declined all overtures from
persons who were ambitious of purchasing