Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-15
From Our Washington Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, July IL, 1868.


this month il has seemed to concentrate the
malignant rays of its influence upon this de-
voted city with Gerceness and intensity that
threatens to consume everything less combus-
tblc than slate bricks and hag-stones. The
furnace heat keeps the mercury boiling up
among the niaeticS, and mclts the very mar
row in ones bones.
The winds have died, or shut themselves up
in their caves and not breath comes to fan
the dripping brow Of the painting sufferer
The dew falls not at evening and the clouds
return not after the rain The day brings
no comfort and the nights no repose. CAS-
the hart panteth after the water brook, 80
pantcth your correspondent after the green
hillsides, the clear waters, and the cool broeles
of the Green Mountains His soul thirsteth
for plunge into the cool, crystal waters of
their mountain lakes. But the duties dayolv-
ing upon him here are imperative and inexor-
able, and for time longer he must illustrate
the sublime virtue Of cndurdnce Have pa
thence with him, then, if he avoids for a time
the hot field Of politics, and asks you to visit
with him a noble monument Of art.
Bachelors great painting Of " TUE DEATu
bhp VI LlNtoLN uaH hHtH vi NNulUlti"" "'i'
for the last ten days, and has drawn constant
and admirng crowds of distinguished officials
and intelligent visitors and citizens.
The limits of this letter will not allow me
to give @ detailed description of, or a satisac-
tory comment upon the artistic excellence Of
this most interesting picture. The magic
brush of the artist has wildly portrayed upon
the canvas all the sad incidents OF that mem-
orablc scene, with the full force and fidelity
of nature.
The dull fame Of a candle casts q soft and
mellow light full upon the palid face Of the
dying martyr, lighting up the faces OF those
nearest the bed with a Rembrandt Ike effect,
and bringing into CHASTITY prominence the
blood stains upon the pillow. Mrs Lincoln
kncels at the bedside with her face buried m
the clothes, while over her bends the pitying
face OF Mrs. Senator Dixon. In the right
foreground, calm and lmpassivc sits President
johnson; behind him, tall and erect stands
Z. VI. Gen. Dcunison, with his eyes cast med
itatiycly upon the floor Secretary McCul-
loch turns away from the bed and meets the
venerable form Of Secretary Welles. Robert
I. Lincoln stands at the head of the bed, and
behind him stands Secretary Stanton-the
very likeness of himseli--with pencil and pa
per in hand, giving orders to General Augur
military commander of the district. \ little
in the background is seen the massive forehead
Of Senator Sumner. who is gazing iaiently up
on the face Of Lincoln. Grouped around the
room, with anxious faces turned toward the
bed, are Speaker Collax, Attorney General
Speed, Secretary Usher General iialleck,
Surgeon General Barnes. Rev Dr. Gurlcy.
Gov. Oglcsby, and a score of other distinguish
ed persons
The first thing that strikes the visitor is
the perfect ease and uaturlncss of the picture.
Although there are forfg-serea lul length
figures represented. they are so skillully posed
and grouped by the designer. that all appear.
ance Of confusion or crowdiuc is avoided. The
colors of the carpet. the figure of the wall pa
per. and the prints hung against the walls of
the room, are copied in their mnute.t detail
The form and features of every individual are
maryels of portrait painting No pains. time
or expense has been shared 10 ensure porf,,.
ton in the likenesses. Each person represent.
ed was first pbofograDhed i'm the position de.
sired under the direction of Col. Baehelder
and the artist. Alonzo Chappel-the fanou.
historical painter-then visited each indiyid.
ual and painted the portraits from life II
has thus required nearly three wear. To- com.
nle,e tbc ra;nt;,,,,
4 large steel enorayipo i. To he made of
the picture By the celebrated New York ar.
fist. II. b. Hall. Jr. assisted by five other
artists-each employed upon his own speciali.
-ty--which will require nearly two wear, more
time to complete. 1t will thus be entirely
an American roduction-de,icned. uaipted
and engraved by American artists. The
price of the engrayings has been fixed at one
hundred dollars for artists proofs, sixty dol.
lars for India proofs, thirty-fyo dollars for
plain proofs, and fifteen dollars for prints.
In looking over the subscription book | no.
ticed the names Of Gen. Grant, Speaker Col
fax, Hon. Il. VI. Stanton, Sccretarys McCu-
loch, Schofeld Randall, Welles. Gems. Han.