The Portland daily press., 1868-04-23

The Portrait OF L2nc0El-Deputy SecretGrD of
State aud State Librorian-C Confirmation at
ST. Marks Sprague Co.
AUGUSTA, April %, 1863
To the Editor of the Press:
Bya resolve of the Maine Legislature of
1867, the governor was directed to appoint
suitable artist to execute portrait of ABR
ham Lincoln, provided the cost of the same did
not exceed the sum of $1,000. Gov. Chamber
lain accordingly selected Mr.. A. H. Bcknell
of Boston, native of Maine and now but
thirty-two years of age, who has certain y per-
formed the task with scrupulous fidelity. The
portrait, which is of life-size and two-thirds
length, has been received at the Capitol and
now adorns the council chamber. 1t is not an
attempt at simply likeness, an endeavor to
Catalogue the features of the countenance;"
but the artist
'poring Oh the face,
Dviney through all hindrance found the
BE lad it,"
AS Whittier happily observes of another of
bis portraits, "It is the face of the speaker at
Gettysburg and the writer of the second in
augural" Behind what was commonplace in
his features, we can seem TO discover all that
was good and all that was great in Abraham
Lincoln. 1t indicates the Informing spirit Of
the man within" We could wish that the
portrait had been of full length to correspond
with that of Washington in the rotunda, but
as the work has progressed under the super
vision Of the governor, we assume that there
Were good reasons for having it as it is.
George G.. Stacy. Esq, for several years our
courteous and popular State Librarian, has
been commissioned and qualified as Deputy
Seci etary of State in place of J. Ell. Coch-
rane, ESQ.,, whose appointment to position in
the office of the supervising architect at
Washington you have before noticed. Mr..
Cochraue will report himself at Washington
forl hwith, but expects TO be employed chiefly
in Portland, Wiscasset Bath and Bangor; also
iu Augusta, in case the Togus Asylum should
be rebuilt. He has already evinced such de-
cided taste and skill for the duties pertaining
to his now position, that he cannot fail to
make an efficient aid.
Hon. j. I. Woodward has received the dd
interim appointment as State Librarian, and
the Governor has signiied his intention to
present his name to the council, at their next
session, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
resignation of Mr.. Stacy.
Bishop Neatly oficiated at ST. Marks
church in this city last Sunday and admins
tered the rite of confirmation to fourteen can
didates, who, through the laying on of hands,
became admitted to the full privileges of the
church.
1t is said that the A & W. Sprague Com
pany, like McClelan's army, seriously con-
template forward movement in their oper-
ations on the Kennebec. At all events, they
have decided to rebuild, on an enlarged plan,
the somewhat extensive machine shop destroy
ed by fire last December. But like the re-
doubtable general above mentioned, they ad-
vance in a systematic and scientific manner.
1t is pleasant to contemplate our future great
ness as manufacturing town, and L have no
doubt the enterprise was GLORIOUS victory"
The "loyaty of Ella hath never been i'm
peached."
The ice embargo having been lifted, our reg
ular facilities for communication with Boston
by water are again established. The steamer
Clarion, connecting with the Star of the East
between this city and Gardiner, made her first
appearance yesterday noon.
We patiently wait for the coming of that
"etherial mildness." DAMON.