The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-12-11


bers from his exalted station until the
close of the session, when he reviewed
his contest with Sausage" Sawyer and
its consequences, and expressed his re-
greet that "the last link - was broken y
that bound him to the House.
The war correspondent, who has
since performed important duties in
every continent, was first found in the
United States forces which conquered
Mexico. 1t had previously been thought
that war was the business of soldiers
and Of statesmen, and that the people
had nothing to do with it except to shed
their blood and to pay their taxes. But
the nited States army which invaded
Mexico was accompanied by a corps of
plucky and persevering correspondents,
who kept those at home correctly posted
about all that TRANSFERRED. General Scott.
jealous. irascible, and domineering. issued
his celebrated "Order No. 349," but
without avail. The correspondents not
only continued to chronicle gallant acts.
dashinS off picturesque accounts of bat
ties while the fighting was going on, but
they criticised the conduct of manmuvr-
ing politicians at home and the petty
tyrannies of officers i'll the field.
Mr. Robert Weir's picture represent
ing the Embarkation of the Pilgrims
from Holland was completed and placed
in the rotunda of the Capitol during the
administration of President Polk. Origi-
nally driven from their English homes
by religious persecution, they have en-
barked for the New World seeking free
dom to worship Cod" The three most
prominent figures on the deck of the
SpeedrcH, waiting on dark autumnal
day for the turn Of the tide to put out
to sea, are Governor Carver, Elder Brew
ster, and Pastor Robinson: each one
dressed in Geneva suit of black, and
each one having bald head, a gray
beard, and 4 pale face, as if the three
We're painted from the same model.
iiSh tilCiC 10 AhiItS CltIulSll. " no was.
history informs us. a small man. but who
is represented in the picture as a stalwart
warrior, with tawny hair and scarlet hose.
wearing his cuirass and carrying his
sword, although there were no foes in
that vicinity. 4 woman equally gigan-
tic i'll size wears fanciful green dress.
while Dame White has gown of striped
satin, and Mistress Winslow stands on
the verge of the ocean dressed like one
of Ruben's portraits of his mistress. In
the background are other men and women
gayly attired, like the supernumeraries
in :. melodrama, and the picture fails to
81 an idea of the sincere yet bigoted
exiles for conscience sake. The artist
sacrificed historical truth that he might
produce picture full of strong effects.
He received $4,000 for his work.
Mr.. John Nanderlyn, who was commits
stoned to fill another of the then vacant
panels of the rotunda, went Immediately
to Paris, where he spent several INSTALL
ments of his remuneration before he COM
menced his Landing of Columbus. He
then employed a French artist, and hired
the costumes worn in the opera of Ernani,
so that the picture was finished ''by the
job Indeed. it might be called "raising
the wind, us any one will say who sees
it, or the engraving of it which ornaments
the reverse of the five dollar notes now
issued for the three flags borne by three
of the original group of filibusters are
blown outward in three different direc-
lions. Those familiar with the real abil-
ity which characterized Vanderlyn's ear
lier works We're sadly disappointed with
his landing of Columbus.
A third panel was filled with picture
so called-of the Baptism of Pocahon-
tas, by Mr.. John 6. Chapman. In cater
ing to the pride of those who claimed to
be descended from the first families of
Virginia, Mr.. Chapman had difficulties to
contend with, probably more depressing
than even the failing of inspiration which
must attend the portrayal Of an apocry-
phal ceremonial. The Baptism of Poca-
hontas is not only libel on our respect.
as people, for historical truth, but its
sole effect upon lovers of art is to excite
ridicule.
Mr.. Henry 1nmaH, an artist of some
reputation, received the commission to
fill the fourth vacant panel, and went to
Europe, where he was said to have made
studies for his picture, and he had re-
ceived three annual installments of $4,000
each when he died. Mr.. S. F. B. Morse.
an impecunious artist, who afterwards
became enriched by his connection with
electric telegraphs, offered either to COM
plete the work Of Mr.. Inman. or to paint
a new picture, for the remaining $4,000 !:
but the offer was not accepted. In 1871.
Congress, on the urgent solicitation of
General Schenck, authorized the payment
Of this $4,000, with $4,000 more, to Mr.. w.
II Powell, for picture of De Soto dis
covering the Mississippi and when the
work was completed he received further
appropriation of $1,000. De Soto, who
had been for months .journeying through
the wilderness from Florida, appears in
gorgeous attire, and recalls the we'll
known figure of Henry ". entering Paris,
In the foreground group urging forward
c,ppnn rarninlS ono Of similar ortil
lery movement in the Siege of Saragossa,
while some voluptuously formed maidens
(surely not Indians) are very like the
damses who figure in Horace Nernet's
Capture of the Smala, at Versailles. The
whole picture, in short, is a plagiarized
patchwork of generalities, absurd and in
co pgruous, badly drawn, gaudily color
ed. and as destitute of historic value as
an act of Congress is of poetic feeling.
\ group of statuary, by Luigi Persico
Ga pOrtege of Mr.. Buchanan), placed on
one Of the two bookings on the sides of
the steps leading up to the eastern porti-
co of the Capitol, excited much attention.
The original commission gave s12, 600 for
the group, but as much more was subse-
quently voted. The subject chosen by
the artist was Columbus explaining the
mysteries Of the globe TO {, naked and
crouchiHg Indian Woluan. y very clever
letter VIA, written by Colonel Seaton, and
published in his. National Intelligencer,
purportng to have come from this nude