Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21
THE LECTURE PORTRAIT
and The EuIOgy on Washington
Pasted Thereon.

And the EuIOgy on Washington
Pasted Thereon.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch.
In an old No. Of Littelrs Living
Age / find the following beautiful tri-
butte to Washington, which, though you
may have published before, yet Is most
appropriate to tho approaching anniver-
versary Of his BIRTH 165 years ago:
This eulogy was pasted on the back
Of the so-called Picture Portrait" and
is said to have been written by John
r. Smith. Of Philadelphia, though others
claim an Englishman TO be its author.
The story is that Smith saw on COM
mon picture IN a London shop-windoW,
an exact likeness Of Washington; he
bought it, and cutting the likeness out,
wrote the following lines and pasted
them on its back. and sent II 10 Judge
Washington, at Mt. Vernon
The Hon. Horace Binney Bishop
White. Judge Peters. and all who saw
If said Il was the best likeness ever
seen of washington. better even than
Stewards. All who knew Mr.. Smith be-
lieved him to be the author Of the verses;
MANY comics have since been made. The
editor of the Living Age, who knew
smith. also confirmed that belief. 1t
was first copied by the North Ameri-
can and United States Gazette from
I.ossing's History Of Mount Vernon and
again in the Living Age, February p
1860. -
The Defender Of His Country,
The Founder Of Liberty,
The Friend of Man.
History and Tradition Are Explored In
Vain,
For a Parallel to His Character
In the Annals Of Modern Greatness
He Stands Alone,
And the Noblest Names OF Antiquity
Lose Their Lustre in His Presence.
Born the Benefactor of Mankind,
He Was Signally Endowed With all the
Qualities
Appropriate TO His Illustrious career
Nature Made Him Great;
And. Heaven Directed,
He Made Himself Vlrtuous.
called by His Country to the Defence
of Her Soil
Ana. the Vindication Of Her Liberties,
He Led TO the Field
Her Patriot Armies;
And Displaying in Rapid ana brliiiaht
Succession
The United Powers
or Consummate Prudence
And Heroic Valor,
He Trumphed in Arms
Over tho Most Powerful Nations
OF Modern Europe,
His Sword Giving Freedom 70 America
His Counsels Breathing Peace TO the
World.
After a Short Repose
From the Tumultuous Vicissitudes
OF a Sanguinary war
The Commanding Energies or
1 Inc ton
Were Again Destined 10 New career
OF Glory and Usefulness
The Civic Wreath
Was spontaneously Placed
Nv the Gratitude of the Nation
on the Brow Of the Deliverer OF HIS
Country.
TIE Was Twice Solemnly Invested
win the Powers Of Supreme Magistracy
BY the Unanimous Voice
OF a Free People;
And In His Exalted and Arduous STATION
His Wisdom in the Cabnet
n,rorscended the Glorles of the Field.
The Destinies Of Washington
Were Now Complete.
trov,,e passed the Meridian Of De-
voted Life.
Having Founded on the Pillars
OF National Independence,
The Splendid Fabric
OF a Great Republic;
And Having Firmly Established
The Empire of the West,
tse eolemnly Deposited on the Altar OF
His Country
His Iaurels and His Sword,
And Retired 10 the Shades
OF Private Life.
...i,, CO Nav and So Sublime
was Contemplated by Mankind
with the Profoundest Admiration
And the Name OF Washington,
Adding New Lustre TO Humanity
Resounded
To the Remotest Regions Of the Earth.
Magnanimous I'm Youth,
Glorious Through Life.
Great IN Death,
His Highest Ambition
The Happiness Of Mankind;
His Noblest Victory,
The Conquest Of Himself.
Beoueathing TO America
The inheritance Of His Fame,
And Building His Monument
In the Hearts OF His Countrynen'
lie Lived,
,rhe Ornament of the Eighteenth Century;
Lamented by Mourning Worio'