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Peale's Speech

Washington

and his Portraits
by 
Rembrandt Peale

"There is a Virtue in the looks of a great man,"

The celebrated Traveler, Chateaubriand had but a transient interview with Washington - "Happy however" Said he - "that his looks were cast upon me, I have felt myself warmed from it, all the rest of my life! There is a virtue in the looks of a great man."

It is impossible to contemplate the actions and character of Washington, without an earnest desire to know him, as it were, personally; and to be assured that his corporeal features were in accordance with his mental and moral grandeur, 

The patriotic veneration of Washington, transmitted as a sacred Inheritance to his Country, though proudly shown in the foundation of Cities bearing his name, & columns erected to his memory - still would leave a blank - a blank to be filled - a duty unperformed - It would ever be desireable to to know his identical & peculiar look; and when we are assured that his aspect was as noble as his character, and that his steady Countenance corresponded with the firmness of his conduct, it is impossible to be indifferent - to the Picture or the Sculpture which is intended to represent his impressive Image

In the United Sates Senate Chamber I heard the eloquent - voice of Henry Clay declare the patriotic Sentiment - that "if he could have his Will, every Room in the Capitol, & every House in the United States should be decorated with a Portrait of Washington".

It is pertinent to our subject to quote a sentence from "Braden's Enquiry into the authenticity of the Portraits of Shakespeare" - - "of such a man" - says - says Braden - "who would not wish to possess an exact resemblance? - our which must be. by the aid of Picture, to enjoy him in private life; to sit with him in the same room; and, while we have before us the inspirations of this mind, to catch the characteristics look of his meditation; or perhaps, the smile with which he brightened his familiar circle.... It is our own duty to convey to distant times the pleasures we ourselves enjoy; xxx and thus hand down, along with works that - are never to die, the Image of him who composed them."

If such be the earnest - desire of Britons to behold the impersonation of Shakespeare, because of his graphic exhibitions of human Character, and the influence of his writings, in fixing & perpetuating