Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-26

one hand 10 p01nU WIN ~
~ stslue 81 British Liberty, tramplins
ma, Foot ths Petition Of the Congress
4 New York--it hes been thought not
quite proper TO represent Liberty %
euiItv 81 20 action 80 Contrary 70 her
sepuins Epirit-which Conducting itself
S;ih strict Propriety, ought not 70 Vic
ists or treat with Contempt the Rights
Of any one, and that therefore the
Figure Of Tyranny, expressing strongly
On her Countenance Haughtiness and
Fear. ought to have been substituted IN
the Room Of that Of Liberty. There Is
something In the objection, perhaps how
ever the Artist meant to sllude to the Oo'
servation which has been made by His
torisns and political writer's, to the dis
grace Of Humanity, that tho States
which Enjoy the highest Degree OF
Liberty are apt to be Oppressive OF
those who are in subsection TO them.
Montague, speaking Of Rome and the
Government Of the Roman Provinces,
saws: La Liberte etoit dams la Centre,
ct la Tsrannie aur exfremitis' and In
another place LA Vile ne sentoa
point la Tyrannis, qm n ererco't 2"
sur les Nations pyitties.' But the
Fact was, and the Plain fact is, sufficient
for the purpose Of the Artist-that the
Petition of the Congress at New YORK
was rejected by the House Of Com
mons. the Guardians Of British Liberty.
An Indian is placed on the Pedestal in
en- erect Posture, with his Bow in his
Hand and his Dog by his Side,
TO show the natural Fsithfulness and
noble firmness OF Amerlcs. IL was
advis'd by some to have had the In
dian drawn in 0 detected and melsn-
cholly posture, and, indeed, considering
the apparent weakness of the Colonies
and the undoubted power Of Great
Britain, it might not have been very
improper to have been done 80, but,
in truth, the Americans being well
founded in their principles, and anims-
ted with q sacred love for their coun-
try, have never responded. An Altar
with q Flame is placed in the Fore
Ground to show that the Cause OF Lib
erty is sacred, and that therefore they
who maintain it not only by discharge
Iofl their duty to their King and them
selves, but q God. It is decorated
with the heads Of Sydney and Hsmp-
den, who spoke, wrote, and died in
support of the Principles of Liberty,
for as the Inscription on the Banner
placed between them expresses it !:
Sdnetus amor Patriae dat Animum.
GA Crore [sicl Grown is PLACID on the
altar as q dedication to that nan who
preserved his fellow Citizens and Sub
iects from Destruction. The Building
of Whitehall is introduced in the back
ground, not merely as an Elegant piece
Of Architecture, but as it was the place
where Charles the First suffered for at
tempting to invade the Rights of these
Kingdoms, and it is observable That
the Statue and Altar of British Liberty
are erected about on the spot where
that great Sacrifice was made, through
sad Necessity, to the Honor, Hsppi-
ness, Virtue, and, in one word, to the
Liberty of the British People. The
Petition Of the Congress at New York
and the Representation of Whitehall
point out the Time and almost the
Place where the Speech was delivered.
The Highest Honor would have been
conferred on the Americans II Lord
Chatham had condescended to sit
for his Portrait; but as the Calum-
ny Of Party hath, with too much
Success given Malicious Turn
to ell the meritorious and patriotic Ac-
tions of that Great Man in order to
vilify and prejudice Him in the good
opinion Of his Sovereign and FELLOWSHIP
ects, the Americans could not presume
at this Juncture to apply to his Lord
ship for that Favor. However their
Chief Object will be Answered in this
Work if it Manifests in the least their
Gratitude to his Lordship." The
head Of Lord Chatham is done from an
admirable bust by Wilton, and IS much
like him, tho different from the Com
mon prints" The portrait was first
set up at Stratford Hail." then the
mansion of Richard Henry Lee, where
it remained for many years, until, on
the erection of q new courthouse, about
1926 it was lodged in that building, where
il remained some time in December,
ls47, when by resolution OF the OOun-
ty Court the portrait was transferred
to the State of Virginia for due preser-
walton, in consonance with PROPOSE
ton which had been made by the joint
Library Committee Of the General AS
sembly, (Benj. w. S. Csbell, chairman
of committee of the Senate, and Joseph
@. Cabell, chairman Of committee of
the House of Delegates,) as long
before as March 4, 1888. 1t was placed
in the hall of the House Of Delegates
because there was no eligible place for
it in the library.room.
r. A. BROCK.
Richmond, "a, September %, 1886.