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

| penny ef1tfance.fee, ana t0ond III tno
means Of writing and al the informs.
| ton you might need TO hand. You
buy paper atlcost price, and have the
use Of writing materials grstuito1siy.
The French institution is speculation,
ana II the building just opened on the
Boulevard Montmartre succeeds, no
| doubt We shall see others established
al over the cspitah
shs Portrait Of shs Earl OF Chatham.
The striking heroic-sized oil-portrait
| of the celebrated orator and statesman
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. the
able champion Of the constitutional
rights OF the British colonies in Ameri-
| CO, displayed on the wall Of tho House
of Delegates In our State Capitol. has,
in the apprehension of most visitors
there, hung for an indefinite period In
| its present place, but few Of them, it
may be affirmed. possessing any definite
| information rs to its origin, whence 1t
came, or why placed whore 1t is. The
| object Of the present communication is
to satisfy as far as may be this natural
curiosity.
Toward this purpose condensation
is first made from IN article in tho
Virginia Historical Register, Vol. l.,
DID. 68-76, which includes portion OF
the original correspondence regarding
the portrait.
From . letter Of Edmund Jennings,
| 1.-THE second Of the name in Virginia, it
may be presumed.) to Richard Henry
Lee, in Virginia, dated London, Novem-
Der 10, 1867, it appears that the "gen-
tlemen Of Westmoreland county,"
having subscribed to the cost of por-
trait OF Lord Camden, requested the
sgency Of Jennings in securing tho re-
quisite sitting of Lord Camden. The
artist engaged was the celebrated Ben
jsmin West. Jennings writes: Imme-
dia,ely on my return to England from
tour on the continent, waited on
Lord Camden, presented your letter to
him, and was, received in the most
obligipg manner. He told me he
thought himself much honored by the
appreciation Of the gentlemen Of the
county Of Westmorslsnd, and gave me
in command to return them his most
respectful thanks, which beg to do
through your means in the most par
ticulsr and acceptable manner"
The fate of this portrait, if ever
painted, seems to be unknown. Jennings
in another letter to Lee, dated Noyem-
Der, 1868, states that, owing to the Off
cisl pre0ccupation Of Lord Camden,
Mr.. West had not then secured a
sitting. The commission, however, en-.
trusted Jennings may be assumed to
have instigated the painting of the por-
trait of Lord Chatham. Jennings
writes " But as the honest cause Of
America hath been supported with
true liberslity by that great man,
Lord Chatham, l could wish that
bis merits were not forgot, and
therefore take the liberty Of send
ing you by Captain Johnston his
portrait, which, if you think 1t worthy
of the acceptance of the gentleman OF
Westmoreland, beg you will offer
them 10 my name. 1t was executed by
Mr.. Peele, of Maryland, who was re-
commended to me by several friends in
that Province as young man OF
merit and modesty. have found him
SO, and heartily wish he may meet with
every encouragement on his return to
America, which believe will be soon,
he having made great actual prof..
cheney and laid the grounds, hope, of
perfection in his art" Here it may
be remarked that it would be OF inte-
rest to investigate the after-career Of
this young artist. 1t may be that many
portraits of the colonial period extant
in Virginia aud precious beirlooms in
prominent families may have been
painted by him. Certainly majority
Of these portraits, by internal evidence,
and the known fact that those they
portray were never out Of Virginia,
must have been painted in the colony.
but, being without name or signature OF
the painter, the name Of not single
native artist or portrait-painter has
been transmitted. It is an interesting
subject of inquiry, and claims the at
tention OF all who may be IN the pos
session of facts in elucidation OF 1t.
Returning to the portrait Of Lord
| Chatham: 1t is thus noticed ia the Vir.
qinia Gazette of April 20, l769: "A
fine painting of the Right Hon. the
Earl of Chatham, SUBSCRIBED for ian
error, as has been Observed by the
Gentlemen of Westmoreland, is just
arrived, to be put up in the courthouse
of tina. county. 1t is the performance
Of one Mr.. Peele, young Msrylander,
Ito whom bis Lordship sat for his pic
ture,) who, some years ago, was bound
apprentice to saddler in Annapolis;
but, discovering . very great genius for
painting, he was sent to England by
the contribution Of some Gentlemen
TO be instructed in that art. The piece
is original, though little resembling the
prints we have seen Of that Nobleman.
His countepance appears full Of fire and
expression, and he looks as If he was
waiting for an answer to some forcible
argument he had just used, being rep
resented in the habit of Roman orator
speaking in the forum. Els right hand
is extended naked to the elbow, his left
hanging down, and holding Magma
Charta. Close by him stands an altar,
supported by the busts Of Sidney and
Hampden, with the fame sacred to Lib.
erty burning bright on it; and on one
side q garland wreathed over the head
Of Hampden. On the background the
palace Of Whitehall and the window
where Charles I. was brought QUITO be
beheadsd are discovered, and somewhat
near tho statue of Britannia, with the
cap Of Liberty, treading upon the Con-
gress at New York, the American I'd.
resses, &C."
The considerate gin recently to the
Virginia Historical Society by General
r. l.. 7. Beale,' The Hague, West
moreland county, of two original role
want documents, offers correction Of
error in the. above description, and is
further explanatory Of the design Of
| IL s-x.a& L. 1.kt>~ q.