THE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. VOL. VIII.] General Department. FEBRUARY, 1864. NOTES ON SOME PORTRAITS OF WASH INGTON. BY GEORGE GIBBS. [No. 2. Virginia, dated at Philadelphia in July, 1792, at which time Washington declined to sit, but it would appear that the request of Alexandria lodge, of which Washington had formerly been Master, subsequently prevailed on him. Mr. Hayden has seen a MASONIC PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.- copy of this portrait in the possession of a Mr. Charles B. Richardson, the publisher of Baltimore ledge, and surmises that others this Magazine, some time since showed me may exist, as it seems to have been the ara photograph from a portrait of Washing- tist's expectation to make them. ton, representing him in Masonic Regalia. The authenticity of the portrait as one The original was stated to be by an artist taken from life may be therefore considered named Williams, and preserved in the as established. It represents Washington lodge at Alexandria. At my request Mr. as bearing greater marks of age than any Benson J. Lossing undertook an inquiry other I have seen. He wears the apron, into its authenticity, and at the same time I sash, collar, and jewel of a Past Master of addressed a letter to Mr. C. Cammack, Sr., Masons. The picture, with the other proGrand Treasurer of the District of Colum- perty and archives of the lodge, has been bia, for the same purpose. Mr. Lossing has removed since the rebellion broke out, but obtained from Mr. S. Hayden of Athens, they are said to be in security. The apron, Bradford Co., Pa., an account of the pic- Mr. Cammack informs me, was a present to ture, from which I extract the following: Washington from Madame de la Fayette. Mr. Hayden has no knowledge of the ar- These articles all belong to the Alexandria tist beyond what is stated in the records of lodge, but the gavel with which he laid the the Alexandria lodge, by which it appears corner-stone of the Capitol at the city of that in August, 1793, Mr. Williams offered Washington (which he did in regalia), is to compliment that body with a portrait of now in the custody of a lodge at Georgethe President of the United States, provi- town. ded it would prevail upon him to sit, and that the lodge made application to that effect accordingly. In October, 1794, the portrait was received, and an appropriation passed to defray the expenses of the artist in going to Philadelphia on the business. In the "Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington," p. 523, there is a mention, which Mr. Hayden cites, as follows: "A Mr. Williams, a painter in Crayons, had sittings about 1794, and made a strong likeness, but we have no further knowledge of him or his works." He is undoubtedly the person referred to in a letter to Gov. Lee of A well known, though not very common It may be added that a full length statue of Washington in Masonic dress was executed by Powers just before the rebellion, and was designed to be erected at Fredericksburg. It never was set up, however, and is now concealed somewhere at the South. The Williams portrait is now being photographed from Mr. Richardson's copy by Fredericks of Broadway, New York, where cartes de visite can be obtained. "PIEHLE" PORTRAIT. THE engraving, is one of quarto size, in an oval frame, is nine inches in height, including included within a shaded square, "publish- head and bust, and represents Washington ed by T. Holloway, and the other propri- with much the same profile as in Houdon's etors, May 21, 1794," representing Wash- marble. The hair is drawn back from the ington in military dress, with a tablet forehead, curled at the side, and tied with a beneath of Cornwallis's surrender, lettered ribbon in a very long queue. A military "Event of the 19th of Oct., 1781, at York- cloak is thrown back over the shoulder so town, in Virginia," and with the following as to exhibit the epaulette, upon which are note, "The English Artist has followed three four-pointed stars.* The lappel of the lines of the Print in the French origi- the coat is buttoned back, showing the nal after a picture by Piehle, on account of waistcoat, and a very prominent shirt frill. the remarks of Mr. Lavater." The fea- The profile looks to the right. tures, as Mr. Tuckerman has observed, The Mrs. Wright in question is undoubtwould not be recognised for those of Wash-edly Mrs. Patience Wright, an American ington. I have never seen the French who pursued her art in England, as a moprint, but am able to give a clue to the pic- deller in wax during the war of the Revoture by "Piehle." Dr. Charles Beck, of lution, where she made herself useful to her Cambridge, Massachusetts, informs me that country by transmitting valuable informait was formerly the property of a Mr. tion to Franklin, then in Paris. A short bioStreckeiser, of Basle, in Switzerland, and graphical notice of her may be found in now belongs to his daughter, Mrs. Righi- Dunlap, and an amusing anecdote in ElThe late Theodore Parker, who saw the picture when travelling in Europe, re- Revolution." In a note to a letter of quested Dr. Beck to procure a copy, and Franklin, by William Temple Franklin that gentleman caused two to be executed, (Works of Franklin, vol. vi.) she is styled one of which he retains himself. It is a Mehitable Wright, but Dunlap writes her small painting, and bears the following in- name as Patience on the authority of her scription; "Le General Washington, Peintown letters, and says that she was also d'après nature à Philadelphie, par N. called Sybilla, as she professed to predict Piehle en 1783." The family account of it future events. The following letter from is that it was purchased in a shop in Paris her to Jefferson is published by Dunlap. during the French Revolution. This is in all probability one of those by C. W. Peale. ner. kanah Watson's "Men and Times of the MRS. WRIGHT TO JEFFERSON. LONDON, AT THE WAX WORK, Aug. 14, 1785. BROWN'S STATUE IN UNION SQUARE. "HONOURED SIR: I had the pleasure to The head in this is taken from a marble hear that my son Joseph Wright had paintduplicate of Houdon's bust, originally ex-ed the best likeness of our HERO, Washecuted by that artist for the Hon. Rufus ington, of any painter in America; and my King, which came into the possession of friends are anxious that I should make a the late Col. George Gibbs, and is now the likeness, a bust in wax, to be placed in the property of the Hon. Hamilton Fish. WAX MEDALLIONS OF WASHINGTON. State house, or some public building that may be erected by Congress. The flatterI have recently seen a profile photograph ing letters from gentlemen of distinguished virtues and rank, and one from that Geof Washington, purporting to have been taken from the wax original by Mrs. neral himself, wherein he says: He shall Wright." Having in my possession a wax think himself happy to have his bust done medallion of Washington, apparently its by Mrs. Wright, whose uncommon talents, counterpart, I am anxious to ascertain c., &c.,' make me happy in the prospect upon what authority the one referred to is of seeing him in my own country. ascribed to that artist. This portrait, which is in about half the actual relief, and is encased in a deep oval * Mr. Elias Dexter also has a photograph, apparently from one of these medallions, in which the stars have five points. "I most sincerely wish not only to make 1787, by her modelling in wax. The the likeness of Washington, but of those younger daughter married Hopner, the five gentlemen who assisted at the signing rival of Stuart and Lawrence as a portrait the treaty of peace, that put an end to so painter." It might be conjectured that the bloody and dreadful a war. The more pub-medallion in question was by Miss, instead lic the honours bestowed on such men by of Mrs. Wright, but I should judge from their country, the better. To shame the Dunlap's expression that she had married English king, I would go to any trouble before her return to America. and expense to add my mite in the stock I trust that some correspondent will of honour due to Adams, Jefferson, and ascertain by whom the medallion really others, to send to America; and I will, if is; how many copies of it there are, what it is thought proper to pay my expense of other works by the same hand exist, and travelling to Paris, come myself and model finally if any authentic modellings by Mrs. the likeness of Mr. Jefferson; and at the Wright, her son Joseph, or her daughter same time see the picture, and if possible Mrs. Platt, are yet to be found.* by this painting, which is said to be so like him, make a likeness of the General. I wish likewise to consult with you, how we may honour our country by holding up the likenesses of her eminent men, either in painting or wax work. A statue in marble is already ordered, and an artist gone to Philadelphia to begin the work (Houdon). This is as I wished and hoped." It is to be inferred from this letter that she had not at its date (1785) executed any model of Washington. Certainly she could not have done so from life, for she had never seen him, and according to Dunlap she died during the same year. OPERATIONS IN MAINE IN 1779. JOURNAL FOUND ON BOARD THE HUNTER, CONTI- Monday, 19th of July, 1779.-The fleet sailed from Nantasket road this morning, consisting of 16 armed vessels, with about 20 transports. Wednesday, 21st.-We arrived at Townsend about sunset, where 1000 militia were in readiness to embark, including those that came from Boston in the transports under command of General Lovel. Friday, 23d.-The troops embarked on board the transports. Mrs. Wright's son, Joseph, not only executed a portrait, well known among those taken of Washington, but as mentioned by Watson, took a cast of his face in plaster in Saturday, 24th.-This morning we sailed the year 1784, and Washington, in describ- from Townsend, or Booth-Bay Harbour, ing the operation, mentioned that an im- and favoured by a pleasant N.W. gale, arpulse to smile "gave his mouth a slight rived at Penobscot Bay, anchoring under twist or compression of the lips observable four islands, about one league above Owl's in the busts Wright afterwards made." Head. Whether the busts thus spoken of were in Sunday, 25th.-We made sail, and about wax, or what other material, I cannot find. two o'clock came up to the entrance of a They are not, I believe, mentioned in the harbour called Magebagiduce, about 12 catalogues of the Washington portraits. leagues from the sea, where lay at anchor There is nothing peculiar in the mouth of the one I have. three British ships, viz. the North of 20 guns, the Albany of 18, and the Nautilus of 18, &c. On the north side of the harbour was the British flag displayed from a large Besides this son, Mrs. Wright had two daughters, of whom Dunlap says: "The elder married an American of the name of Platt, and inheriting some of her mother's works and talent, returned to this country Washington to Mrs. Wright, dated June 26, 1785 and died here. Mrs. Platt made herself (H. M. vii. 65), but it throws no additional light on well known in New York about the year the subject of the medallions. *There is a notice of Wright's bust in a letter from fort on a regular eminence, below which in number about six or seven hundred) the were two batteries, on the south side ano- Britons from the hill fired upon them and ther battery was forming; the whole made killed 16 men, and wounded as many; our a pretty formidable appearance. Some of men with great resolution returned the our largest ships passed by the harbour's fire, ascended the almost impassable precientrance several times within reach of their pice, routed them and took possession of cannon, and discharged a number of broad- the hill, killing (as they supposed) about as sides at the ships and fortresses, which many as they lost, and taking a few prisonwere returned with great vigour and intre- ers; from thence they advanced to a batpidity; in the meantime our transports tery near the large fort, and possessed came to anchor about one mile above, co- themselves of it, with considerable artillery vered by the ship Sally and brig. and baggage. The action continued near Monday, 26th.-Our ships in turn ap- an hour with great spirit and resolution on proached the harbour's mouth several both sides; the party that ascended the times in the course of the day, within three hill and put the Britons to flight were quarters of a mile of the British encamp-chiefly marines, consisting of about one ment, and discharged many cannon, receiv- hundred; the Captain of marines and eight ing an equal number with little annoyance, privates belonging to the Warren were excepting one unfortunate shot which over- killed. The troops are this day engaged set one of our boats, as they were landing in building a breast work near the large some troops on the south point, out of fort, to which all those that fled had rewhich Major Littlefield and two privates sorted. Several of our men have been were drowned. They pursued their object wounded in the course of this day by shot with great activity, and dispossessed the from the fort. A number of cattle are British party of their unfinished fort, killing taken and brought on board the ships. one man; after which our troops finished Thursday, 29th.-Our troops continue it and brought several 18-pounders to bear to fortify. P. M. All the ships are ordered upon the ships, which caused them to be to anchor within the mouth of the harbour, removed further up. This evening our where they were considerably annoyed and ships came to anchor in a line across the some men wounded by shot from the fort. harhour's mouth. The prisoners inform us, that the fort and Tuesday, 27th.-A council of war was shipping contain about 1000 men, much arheld this day on board the Commodore's tillery, and two years' provision. frigate, the result of which was that the prospect of succeeding appears at present marines from all the ships should join the very dubious, the British ships are removed troops and land under cover of the Hunter further up the harbour out of our reach. and Sky-Rocket; pursuant to which, about Friday, 30th.-Our troops continue to two o'clock at night, the ships came to an fortify without much annoyance within half anchor within musquet shot of the place a mile of the British fort. assigned for the landing the men, being Saturday, 31st.-This day the Commothe north side of the harbour on a beach dore, in consultation with the Captains of just above which arose a very high hill full the fleet, is concerting a plan for all the of trees, brush, and craggy rocks, where marines to go ashore about midnight, untwo or three hundred Highlanders and der the command of Captain Burke, and some Britons lay in ambush. in conjunction with the land troops, to The Wednesday, 28th.-About four o'clock attack a breastwork on a point near the in the morning the two ships began to fire British shipping just below their fort, thinkinto the woods, which was continued al- ing by taking that, the communication most incessantly for about half an hour, would be cut off between the fort and that the troops might have the opportunity ships. to land without being annoyed; as soon as Sunday, August 1st.-The attack was the boats had landed our men (who were made about 2 o'clock at night with great vigour and resolution, and notwithstanding about 100 regular troops who were near the arduous opposition that was made with their two-gun battery, tho' they were not cannon and small-arms, they were obliged near enough to inspire each other; the to desert the breast work in a little time British party soon retired to their fort, and repair to the fort. We lost about after which some of our people set fire to a fifteen men, and had as many wounded number of houses and large barns near the dangerously, killing and wounding (as is fort, which were soon entirely consumed. supposed) about as many of the British The procedure was judged to be conducted party; after being in possession of the with great imprudence, as it would only place it was found impracticable to main- have a tendency to distress the poor inhatain without much annoyance from the fort bitants; previous to the landing of the and ships, therefore after destroying a few British boats the Commodore and the Caphogsheads of rum and dismounting the tain of the Hampden had landed in the three nine-pounders in it, we resigned it to same place to view the land, who were them again. obliged to flee into the woods, losing their Sunday, 8th.--The Commander returned Monday, 2d.-Major Sawyer and the barge. Second Lieutenant of the Vengeance, with several others, died this day of their to his ship about ten o'clock in the mornwounds. ing, after much fatigue, travelling through Tuesday, 3d.-Many shells as well as the woods. shot are thrown from our fort into the British. Monday, 9th.-A signal was displayed from the Commodore for all Captains to Thursday, 5th.-Many cannon are dis- come on board, to consult what measures charged this day from our fort into the should be most advisable; after much deBritish. bate and vote passed for the ships to go Friday, 6th.-A signal from the Com- into the harbour, and attack the British modore was displayed for all the Captains ships, though it was judged by the Comof the fleet to come on board to consult modore and many others, that the attack about attacking the British shipping and would be attended with great risque and fort; the result was, that if the General danger of having our ships much injured, would attack the fort with his army, which as we should be exposed to the fort, which consisted of about 1200 men, including we could not in the least annoy. The conofficers, a number of the largest ships dition of this vote was, that the General should go into the harbour and attack the should attack the British fort at the same shipping. The plan was sent to the General for approbation. time, which was sent to him for concurrence. A general uneasiness is discovered through the fleet at being detained so long, many desert from the ships every night. Saturday, 7th.-The above plan was not conceded to by the General, supposing that, as his army consisted chiefly of mili Tuesday, 10th.-Consultation was attia that were undisciplined, he should be tended upon this day on board the Comdefeated in the attempt, therefore the con- modore; the result of which was, that an clusion was to continue the siege till intel- attack should be made the ensuing day, by ligence could be obtained from Boston the ships entering the harbour, and the land respecting reinforcement. Several boats forces attacking the British fortress at the were discovered to be landing men from same time. the British ships on the south part of the Wednesday, 11th.-The General not beharbour above our small breast work, which ing ready for the proposed attack, thought were prevented by the landing of about 100 men from our ships near by, in the mean time a skirmish commenced between a party of our men near our three-gun battery on the north side of the harbour, and proper to advance out upon a plain between the British citadel and the harbour to manoeuvre his men, being about 750, leaving about 500 in the fort, a detached party of 250 proceeded to the small battery near |