LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ
Edited by ALICE E. SMITH
Thomas Buchanan Read was less than
twenty years old when
he wrote the letters printed below, yet
he had experienced many
and strange adventures. At the age of
fourteen he had rebelled
at the life of a tailor's apprentice and
escaped to Philadelphia.
Here for a time he had clerked in a
cellar grocery, then served
as apprentice to a cigar maker, and
finally made his way on a
flatboat to Cincinnati. For three years
he had made this city his
headquarters, spending his time
variously as a sign painter, a
sculptor, a student, an actor
impersonating female parts, and a
cigar maker. For a brief space he had
enjoyed a studio of his
own, under the patronage of Nicholas
Longworth, but the impet-
uous youth would not accept the latter's
well-merited criticisms,
and the two parted.
The two years covered in these letters
see Read a successful
artist in his own community and his
departure for New York City,
smarting under Longworth's prediction of
failure. Here his charm
of personality and his vivacity at once
made him a popular mem-
ber of the group of other young artists
from the West. He kept
in touch with his Cincinnati friends by
his exhibitions in the
recently established Academy of Fine
Arts and by his letters to
Edwin R. Campbell. These letters
indicate that he was quite "the
man about town," and on terms of
more or less intimacy with
journalists and novelists of the day,
many of whom he character-
izes. The final letter finds him in
Boston, worshipping at the feet
of the great painter, Washington
Allston.
In Boston he met Henry W. Longfellow
whose success and
advice doubtless encouraged Read to
attempt the writing of poetry.
His earliest verses were published in
the Boston Courier and in
(68)
LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ 69
1847 appeared the first of a number of
editions of his collected
poems. Some of his lyrics, such as
"Drifting" are still considered
to be of merit. He is probably best
known, however, for his
patriotic poems, many of which found
their way into school books
of the eighteenth century. Numberless
youths have recited the
stirring tale of the warrior-preacher
Muhlenberg who
Suddenly his mantle wide
His hands impatient flung aside
And lo! he met their wondering eyes
Complete in all a warrior's guise
or of the
Terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar
Telling the battle was on once more
And Sheridan twenty miles away.
No complete list of Read's paintings can
be found. The Cin-
cinnati Art Museum owns three: "The
Harp of Erin," "Hero,"
and "Portrait of an Old Man;"
and at least six more are known
to be in private hands in that city. His
portrait of Longfellow's
children hangs in the New York
Metropolitan Museum and one
of the artist himself is in the
Washington National Gallery. He
also executed a few works in sculpture
as, for instance, a bust of
General Sheridan. It will be observed
from the titles of his works
that he attempted fanciful paintings as
well as portraits, according
to the fashion of the times.
Much of the later period of his life was
spent in Florence,
Italy, where his geniality and wit made
him a leader in an art
and literary circle that included the
Brownings, Owen Meredith,
George Sand, Mrs. Frances Trollope, the
American artists Hiram
Powers, Joel T. Hart, John R. Tait, and
others. A friendly con-
temporary critic remarked that, while
Read's lack of early training
and his versatility prevented his
achieving lasting success in either
writing or painting, yet his popularity
served to keep the pot
boiling, and fortunately for Read, it
continued to boil to the end.
He died in New York City in 1872, aged 50.1
1 This biographical information is based on the Preface to the 1883 edition
of
Read's poems, a sketch by John R. Tait
in Lippincott's Magazine (Philadelphia, 1868-
1916), XIX (1877), 307-21, and Mantle
Fielding's Dictionary of American Painters,
Sculptors and Engravers (Philadelphia, 1928). The verses are from "The
Wagoner of
the Alleghanies" and
"Sheridan's Ride." Francis W. Robinson of the Cincinnati Art
Museum supplied the information on the
location of Read's paintings.
70
OHIO ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
These letters were written by Read to
Campbell, editor of
the Cincinnati Spirit of the Times. They
are preserved in the
Draper Manuscripts in the State
Historical Society of Wisconsin.
(Draper MSS. 9DD86, 10DD3-5,
8-13).
Madison [Ind.] June 1840
DEAR NED
Ive Been gathering subject for the last
two weeks to write to you and
I think perhaps I've got enough now to
fill one side at least -- Well to com-
mence -- I arrived safe here found the
folks all glad to see me Especially
those that wanted me to finish their
pictures -- On the following Saturday
I went over into old Kentuck to democratic
Barbaque (I don't exactly know
whether that last word was spelt
Right or not) About 60 of us started
from here on horse Back about eight
oclock A.M. We had proceeded about
3 miles when we stop'd at a tavern to
Refresh ourselves--What do you think
we Refresh'd ourselves with -- it wasn't
hard cider By a long shot Now
when I tell you I know your mouth will
water and youl say that we were
the Real democrats -- it was a
big tub of Butter Milk fresh out of the
churn We all gatherd Round the tub and
all drank out of the same gourd
Wasn't that democratick EH!!!
We took two Bands of Music with and
they [sic] way we made the
country Ring with Yanke doodle and Hail
Columbia was death to all the Kentuck
Whigs!!!. . .
CINCINNATI Friday Sept. 11th 1840
DEAR NED
I am lonesome I go to your place every
afternoon and put my hand
on you but youre not there I have become
so habituated to thus every day
walk that I go there before I Think -- I
have done all that I can do to
my picture until the Return of the
Genr'l2 I call'd the paper in his hand
the farmer at the Request of the Honr P.
S. Symmes -- good EH I headed
the paper on the floor the daily
National Intelligencer good again EH--
I thought that I had best let the
aforesaid critic see my picture that he
might show me the faults -- but
wonderfull to tell he didn't find a single
fault but made several suggestions he
wanted to know in the first place
what reason the gen'l had for turning
his head around and to Relieve the
awarkwardness [sic] of the
picture he said I had best paint a hand and arm
handing the genr'l some papers What a
Ridiculous Idea to cut a mans
arm of Just above the Elbow on the edge
of the canvass. I wasn't fool
enough to do that Well to the next he
wanted to Know why the genr'l
was setting so far from the table said
he couldn't write in that way Oh
wel says I all he's got to do is to move
his chair back a few inches -- but
say[s] this learn'd critic to give a
Reason why he moved him self in
advance of the table you'l have to paint
a grate with fire in't where the
Library stands Look as though he drew up
to warm his feet -- how smart
EH ha ha ha. -- I've got the figure
work'd up better than I expected to
get it and what few have seen it are
pleased with it J. H. Beard and John
Cranch
Both think at least they said so -- that is decidedly better than
fowlers3 and that was las[t] tuesday and
Ive done a great deal to it since I
2 General William Henry Harrison. The
present location of this portrait is not
known.
3 John Cranch and James H. Beard
were both portrait painters who worked in
Ohio. The former had studied for a
number of years in Italy. Read always speaks of
Beard in terms of great admiration. T.
T. Fowler was a portrait painter in New
Orleans at this time.
LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ 71
have made 20 dollars beside I have
painted a portrait to go to Germany of
a young German gentleman -- Ned I wish you would come
back as soon as
possible the foreman [of] the
office said that you would not be back for a
week yet As soon as my picture [is] done
I want it to be placed somewhere
so that it can be seen and I should like
you to be here you understand
EH I wrote to Cumbaugh at Madison to
send my trunk I Received his
answer saying that he would send it
imeaditely By the Boat-- ...
CLEVELAND Nov., 10th 1840
DEAR NED
I have attended the post office Everyday
in hopes of getting a Letter
from old Nicky. ... I got the
Letter out But it was a very unwelcome one
Kause Why. I had to Pay double
Postage Astonishing verily. I will give
you a copy of it.
CINCINNATI oct. 20th 1840
SIR. I enclose to you 50$. tho' not in
accordance with my own judgment.
You are on a visionary Experiment. By
whose advice I know not & dis-
appointment will attend you. Go as far
as you may, the Humbuggery of
Exhibiting Pictures of Popular Men in
times of high excitement was well
enough where a Person has friends to
back them. You go among strang-
ers. to be perfectly candid with you I
have lost all hope of your ever
becoming a painter You have let ignorant
friends induce you to believe
yourself a Painter before you have
learn'd the Rudiments of the art and
instead of devoting your leisure hours
to close study youve Been Parading
the streets with the followers of the
Play House Without a dollar. You
have deem'd you could command Employment
and Refused to go to a
Ladies House to Paint her Portrait altho
it was done in order to en-
courage you--if you wish to become a
Painter with untireing industry
Pursue your Art in the western towns
where good Paintings are not
known until you have so far improved as
to be able successfully to com-
pete with artist of high standing I fear
you have not the industry and
ambition necessary to succeed the
Capacity you have
Yr well wisher
N LONGWORTH
the above is an exact copy of the letter
I Received to day--touch a mans
Purse and you touch his heart His
letter Puts me in mind of the old woman
that would not let her son go to the River
until he had Learn'd to swim he
would have me stay in western towns where
good Paintings were not Known
until I could successfully compete with Inman
Sully and others. Now I
leave it to you if that is not one of
the moist absurd ideas you ever heard
But why does he talk thus discouragingly
because I touched his pocket
you Know the circumstances of the Mrs
Burnett case But Enough of this
I've Return'd him his 50$ his dear 50
dollars Because I did not need them.
I have allmost finish'd 7 portraits and
I expect [to] Leave here next Monday
for the East with about 1,050$ of my own
Earning and old Nick may go
to the devil I Believe youl
acknowledge that there is not an artist in the
west that you are acquainted with that
has work'd as steady and as hard as
I have. Why did he think that I done
nothing what Business had he to
draw that conclusion he only call'd but
once during the whole season and
that was in the early part Previous to the
time that I wanted him to
assi[s]t me in going east he never
call'd after until I got him to call and
see my picture of the General Yours
&c
THOS B. READ.
72
OHIO ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
[Marginal note:] if people knew Mr Longworth and his motives they would
not give him so much credit for his
Benovelence
[Marginal note at beginning of
letter"] this Letter is private Entirely
[Note on back of letter'] if i had have ask'd him in the first Place it would
have Been O.K. Provided no money was
wanting.
NEW YORK CITY 1841
[In pencil] March
DEAR NED
Mr. Reeves call'd in to see me this
morning and said he would take the
picture provided I would roll it up. I
concluded to do so. It is not varnish'd
I wish you would have it varnish'd
before you show it to any person get
Godfrey Frankenstein to do it for you,
(but don't allow him to quarrel with
the subject) be careful to have the dust
all clean off of it before the
varnish goes on....
Mr. Reeves is a great friend of mine
when I come on to Cincinnati
I am a going to paint his head he has a
fine one I am also agoing to
finish the portraits that I left undone.
I expect to see old Nick every day--
I am going to dine with Mr Reeves this afternoon at the
Astor House I
think you may expect me on this fall
without fail. I only had 3 sittings on
this portrait and I have not work'd on
it since, but it is regarded as one of
the strongest kind of likenesses I presume you will
recognize it, The
cloak makes some difference in the
appearance, give my respect to the
Academy4 at the next meeting
and tell them I remain their loyal subject;
no odds to me how much knowledge is
difused in sections I am still true
to the Academy, that is, if they have
not expunged my name, on account
of them four Bitts or shillings as we
say here. But as that is "the head
and front of my offending" I hope they have been
inclind to use the rod
of justice gently -- ...
NEW YORK CITY May 5th 1841
DEAR NED
I set down to acknowledge the receipt of
yours some time since, and a
paper today containing a very
complimentary notice of myself and Brackett
for which I feel very thankfull. the New
York papers have been praising
my picture of Harrison for the
last two or three weeks very strong -- Ben-
nett came out in his paper four times last week to
favor of it he paid me
a visit and I have become acquainted
with his lady who by the by is a
very prety woman -- he said in his paper
the other morning "Why dont
the corporation by it, it is worth
$1,000 at least" everybody in the city is
familiar with the name of Read the
man what painted Gen Harrison. so
you see I have gained a reputation here
in a very short time, well thats
something at least. The first of May is
a great day in New York drays
Handcarts, wheelbarrows &c occupy
the streets, they perfectly monopilise
the side walks and e[ver]ything else among
the rest, I moved to 65 Murray
st I have taken rooms and board with Mr
Seba Smith5 where I shall
4 The Cincinnati Academy of Fine Arts
was founded in the fall of 1838 with
Godfrey Frankenstein as its first
president, and in the following year held its first
exhibition in the Ohio Mechanics'
Institute. Great interest was manifested during this
whole decade in art and literature.
Edwin R. Campbell voices Cincinnati's aspirations
in the Spirit of the Times Carriers'
Address for 1840:
Hail glorious city of Cincinnati
Home of the arts and literati.
5 Seba Smith was a writer and editor of
the Portland (Maine) Courier. His
wife was one of the popular poets of the
'forties.
LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ 73
remain I think for the summer I expect
to spend July in Conneticuit,
having received an invitation from a
lady to that effect only think of it
Ned I clan] make love to the
galls out there and ramble with them thro'
the green shady groves at the dusk of
even and hem delightful heh, now
dont put a vulgar meaning to my words
Ned -- the National Academy has
opend, and they say it is the best
exhibition theyve ever had. God help the
former ones then if this is the best. You may not
have as many in number
in your exhibition as we have here, but
if your exhibition of paintings are
not better generally than these, it
should be set down as a humbugg. there
are but 3 or 4 good pictures in the
collection and those are surrounded by
such damnable daubs of red blue and
yellow that it is impossible to see
them don't believe a word about Inman6
being a better painter than Sully
its no such thing I tell you candidly he
cant paint near as well as J. H.
Beard. He's all glare, red cl[ms. illegible] backs
with brass headed nails,
and all such kind of Jim crockery. there
are devilish few painters in New
York to come any whers near Beard you
may rely upon that. ... I never
visit the artists here I keep to myself,
folks would say I was trying to
copy after some of them Powell is apeing Inman as much as
possible. I
have four pictures at the accademy, vis,
Ruth & Naomi a sketch in the
possession of Charles stilson[?] astor
house Oh speaking of the Astor
house why dont you send your paper there
they would file it, they get the
gazzette and keep it on file, do send it
the astor house does not pay for
any papers they get to proceed, I have a portrait of Alderman
Dodge &
do of an old lady two of the best heads
I ever painted, also a portrait of
Dr Barstow[?] of Salem the man that
wrote 45 Whig songs although I
say it myself that shouldn't say it but
say it for the sake of saying it, my
pictures hold their own and part of
somebodys else for they have on their
catalogue credited my portrait of the Dr
to H. P. Gray. I am satisfied
tho' I will write a long article soon.
which of my pictures did you put
up in the exhibition I know that you would
not allow them to serve me
as they [did] the last time to
put my worst picture in the exhibition let
me Know what picture you have sent for
Im sure 'twas you that sent it.
I have a present for you, Ned, a picture
that I want you to put in the
Meckinaks fair in June. Mr. Smith who is
writing by my side says that
he will have one of his poems sent to
you
Brackett is doing very well with his
exhibition More anon about it.
I still have some engagements -- Saw
Forest play the gladiator tuesday
night good. it is the general impression
that the steam ship president has
gone to the Bottom, alas. I wind up in
the words of the illustrious poet
"my pen is poor my ink is black
If you cant read it send it back."
forever yours,
T. B. READ
NEW YORK CITY, May 23d 1814[41]
MY DEAR NED:
You cant Imagine how I want to see you
There [is] a vacancy in my
heart as big as my hat, however I hope
to see you some time one consola-
5 Henry Inman was a rising young
portrait and landscape painter. Thomas Sully
was at this time at the height of his
fame; in 1837 he painted a portrait of Queen
Victoria that Read in a later letter
mentions seeing. Read appears rather jealous of
William H. Powell, a young native of
Ohio, whose career was closely paralleling his
own. Edwin E. Brackett of whom Read
speaks several times made busts of many
important men of the time; his group,
"The Shipwrecked Mother," is at Mount Auburn.
74
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
tion, -- the Apolo exhibition has
closed, the national accademy of Design
is crowded all the time with visitors.
the other Evening I walk'd with Miss
White Daughter of T. L. White Editor of
the Southern Literary Messenger
who are both stoping at Mr Seba Smiths
at present White is a fine man
his daughter rather handsome -- examine the Evening
Express of
May the 20th & 22. in the first you
will find a fine notice of my picture
of Ruth & Naomi. The Express has
come out this year and made a gen-
eral sweep cut allmost everything to
pieces in the academy save two or
three pictures, one by Ingham, G.
Cole, Huntington, and my picture of
Ruth & Naomi they said of that as
follows "this picture is a good one, it
makes a very good effect, is well drawn
and colourd." next to that hear
what they say of Powell.
"No 226 Epes Sargent Esqr author of
volesco [Velasco], by W. H.
Powell
a scholar[ly] piece, without any expression" again "No 233
con-
templation, a portrait of a lady (his
wife) by W. H. Powell. not worth
criticising." --
in the express of the 22nd you
will find that after they have finishd
their criticisms they name over those
artists who they consider the best,
and what do you think they have my
name among some dozen others not
more, thats a compliment EH!!! -- do
send us your paper occasionally -- I
spent about two hours very pleasantly yesterday
with H. T. Tuckerman,7
the author. I was very much delighted
with his remarks he wants to get
a situation out West as an editor of
some paper or assistant in some large
concern where he would get a salary
sufficient to support him he asked me
if I could give him any information as
to Cincinnati I told him I was not
capable of doing so myself but would
write to you presuming that you
could give the necessary
information if you will write me
imeaditely and
let me know what chance there would be
for him in C. you will confer a
great [ms. illegible] both, he
stays in town about two weeks yet, so write
imeaditely -- Brackett is still
exhibiting his group, doing tolerable
I have not written my Sister for some
time Call and tell them I am
doing well, and will write them soon.
Tell me how the Accademy and
Section have made out with their
exhibition -- and as I said before what
picture of mine you put in, appros dont
let the Accademy expunge my name
as a delinquent of fifty cents -- I
am going to write you a letter soon, these
sheets are too small to commence,
therefore I shall make this a business
letter in my next you may expect
Something -- It used to be the case with
me that I could not find any thing to
write, now I am 'bout as bad off, for
I have so much to say I dont know where
to commence -you may expect
that picture as soon as I can find an
opertunity of sending it you will be
pleased with it Altho' I say it myself
'tis d--lish good I must bid adieu a
while, and as ever remain
Your affectionate friend READ
P.S. Answer imeadiately do
NEW YORK, June 4, 1841
I am working still, I have a Banner to
paint for an odd fellows lodge
for which I get one hundred and seventy
five dollars the subject is original
Captain Marion -- and the British
officer taking dinner on potatoes --
Brackett just now handed me a paper from
you the picture I have for you
7 Henry T. Tuckerman had edited The
Boston Book and published two books on
foreign travel before 1840; in later
years he produced more volumes on travel, as well
as extensive criticisms on art
and literature.
LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ 75
is not entirely finished or I would send
on by mr Reynolds -- But I will send
on the first opertunity I wish it to go in the
Meckanicks fair if they receive
pictures this year -- Brackett is
prepareing to go to Boston you doubtless
have learn'd from the papers of the day
the general opinion of this group
-- the day befor yesterday I went in
company with Brooks of the Express
White and his daughter Mrs Seba Smith to Harlem Spent a very delight-
full day on Sunday last Mr Brackett and
myself [went] over to Elizabeth-
town to see Captain Anderson the Brother
of Longworths son-in-law the
best fellow in the world --
Elizabethtown is the residence of Gen Scott --
I like your criticism upon the
exhibition do tell me what pictures of mine
you speak of in your paper -- but I must
stop -- I have a sitter waiting
good Bye -- long life and a merry [ins.
torn] call on my Brother-in-law
and tell him doing well and all that sort
o thing
Yours forever
READ
N. B. I opend this again, to say to you
I am glad that they have
nothing of mine in the Section, I have
just now finish'd reading your
paper all thro advertisements and all,
your paper grows more interesting
than ever why dont you send it to the
Astor house. do with the enclosed
as you please it is with Bracketts
advice that I sent it
READ
NEW YORK CITY June 21st 1841
MY DEAR NED.
On last tuesday I took a notion to visit
my old Stamping ground
Philadelphia. I arrived there safe and
found My friends all glad to see me
after an absence of 8 years. I call'd on
John P. Frakenstein8 I found him
well, he treated me very kindly, and we
parted as good friends, and with
more reluctance than any Artist I
have ever become acquainted with. He
is doing very well. I went to the
Exhibition of the Academy of Fine Arts.
They have some splendid pictures there, Death's
picture of West on a pale
horse is splendid, grand, and beautiful, and Sully's portrait
of the Queen
is there also. It is not the
greatest picture ever painted There are many
other beautiful things there "too
numerious to mention" I went to see
"Christ's picture of West rejected" (I heard these
mistakes made in Phila-
delphia the people make them quite frequently)
It is a very grand affair.
The figure of the High priest is
splendid. But it would be absurd in me
to undertake to criticise it, therefore
you may live in expectation of seeing
a great picture in every sense of
the word. It is exhibiting in the Independ-
ence Hall The very room where the
declaration was signd. I though[t]
it worth the money to stand under the
same ceiling that once resounded
to the Voice of Jefferson Franklin and
others. I visited the artists fund
societys exhibition they have some very
good pictures. I only stopd
in Philadelphia two days I returnd to this City on thursday night,
and on friday afternoon Captain Anderson
the Brother of Nicks
son-in-law call'd to know if I would
accompany him up to West Point to
see the examination of the Cadets. I
went and was delighted with the
excursion. It would take too much of my precious
space to tell you all I
saw. I returnd to this city Sunday
evening again. I was overjoyd to re-
ceive a letter from you today. I dont
know how return my gratitude to
you for your good feelings toward me.
You feel for me as a Brother I
feel how unworthy I am to hold a place
in your breast. But Oh, Ned if
8 John Frankenstein was the brother
of Godfrey of Cincinnati, mentioned above.
76
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
QUARTERLY
one could only spread their heart out on
a sheet of paper and trust it to
Uncle Sam (But its no use words are
weak) it would occupy a larger
sheet than this, excuse the following
To E R C by T B R
When friendship for thee first bloomd in
my heart
Like the opening flowers of May
The fullness within burst the Shroud
wide apart
But not like the rose to decay
No never that name engraven so deep
Can fade from the tablet I hold
Thy memory dear the vigil will keep
Until this warm breast shall be cold
Hand in hand we have roved oer hill and
oer plain
Along by Miami's dark river
How well I remember we parted with pain
We parted I trust not forever
A pilgrim now far I wander from home
Though an exile Im destined to be
What eer is my fate wherever I roam
My heart turns with fondness to thee.
Though on the wide sea -- the high
rolling surge
Should threaten destruction to me
When glancing oer Eternitys verge
My last thought would hasten to thee
While lifes flowing stream permits me to
swim
And bears me still buoyantly up
III fill friendships glorious bowl to
the brim
Till Death dashes from me the cup.
Now we'll proceed to business You wish
to know about the Literati
I can tell you before I proceed they are
no great Scratch. So now to com-
mence with Mr Greely9 he is about 30 and
some what over the middle size
(as novelists say) and he is quite bald
but what hair he has is very much
like Schencks of Dayton real flax he
don't look unlike Schenck, his dress
and appearance in the street is not as
decent as old Nicks, and he goes
through the streets like a streek, But
he is the only honest editor in the
City, his paper is doing very well so
far as I can learn. Park Benjamin
has a very large head and body but a
horrid cripple in his legs he cannot
walk without assistance. But what is
worse than all He is so proud as to
be ashamed of his deformity. He will not
move in the presence of any one
scarcely. In principle he is small potatoes
one penny will turn him either
way. He is about 40 years of age.
Hastings Weld, is a queer combination
of humanity he is about Nick Longworth
size, a cuning catfish sort of a
9 Horace Greeley's New York Tribune had
made its first appearance two months
before this time. Park Benjamin edited
the New World (New York City); H. Hast-
ings Weld's New York Weekly Dispatch had
recently been merged with the Brother
Jonathan (New York City). Gen. George P. Morris edited the New
York Mirror;
Col. William Stone, the New York Commercial
Advertiser; James Gordon Bennett, the
New York Herald; and
Thomas W. White, the Southern Literary Messenger (Rich-
mond, Virginia, 1834-1864).
LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ 77
fellow with a very peculiar shaped head,
about 33 years of age. As for
General Morris he is about 38 years of
age and the vainest man in all
Gotham, the following anecdote, which he
tells himself on all occasions will
illustrate his character perfectly.
"A lady" says the General "call'd to sub-
scribe as she said 'to my unrivaled
paper'" and paid the clerk five Dollars
I imeadiately stepd up and told her I
would take the money that my name
was General Morris, upon hearing that
she flew into extacies taking me by
the hand exclaimd "why law are you
that great man General Morris.
Well here's another five dollars that I
freely give as a nark of my great
respect for your Superior talents and
good looks." here the General allways
affects to blush and at this critical
moment puts himself into a position that
the ladies may see the crimson mantle
his cheek. You may imagine him
from the above. Col. Stone is a large
and rather fine looking man of about
50. Nothing peculiar about him except
that he is proffesor of Animal
Magnetism. James Gordon Bennett, altho'
a grand rascal is rather a bene-
volent man when he takes the notion, he
call'd with his wife (who by the
by is rather handsome) to see my picture
of Harrison, and said it was the
best likeness he had ever seen, and has
been doing it up in his paper about
right ever since. he is near six feet
tall, about 45 years of age. Just dress
up Clevengers bust of Harrison with Red
Whiskers and make the Eyes
looking both in towards the nose and you
will have a perfect resemblence
of the great unhung. White of the
Southern Literary Messenger is a short
stuby man, of about 50. He puts me very
much in mind of the Sea captain
in Marryatts novel of the "Phantom
Ship" You recolect the character of
the Capt. of the "frow
Katrence" who thought there was no ship in the
world like the one he commanded, so it
is with white he thinks his maga-
zene a perfect "God send to the
world" and that the great laws of nature
would be thrown entirely out of their
course, should the "Messenger be
stopd on the road." But I must let
them go their way, and change the
subject till some future time. I am glad
to hear that the Academy has
been able to hold its way with the
section, and that you have not suffered
yourselves to be Bearded by a
pack of would be Lions of the day. Why
did Myers send the old man? it done me
credit at the time but it has past
its day. I am satisfied with what you
have seen proper to put in the exhi-
bition and am content that the
Cincinnatians shall discuss their merits until
they see something better The picture I
am to send you I am sorry to say
has not yet started I have had no
opportunity of sending it, but shall do
so the first chance I get and as it is
too late for the fair it can go in the
next exhibition. it is only a portrait
25 inches by 30. it is not so good a
painting I don't think as Mrs Seba
Smiths which I am still working upon,
at odd times. But Mrs. Smith's is quite
a large picture on a canvas 3 feet
by 4 I think that the committee of the
S[e]ction, are closely connected
with that class of your inhabitants that
Madam Trollope has described as
infesting your streets But Beard must
have felt "peculiarly uncomfortable"
when he read that piece in your paper
about foreign Book makers EH?
that was like a dose of cayenne pepper
mixed with salt rubbd on a scared
back to so sensative a person as that antique
looking gentleman. I think
it likely that I may be on your way this
summer or fall all owing to cir-
cumstances. I am expecting old nick
every day I am holding myself in I
have a peculiar desire to see that most
reverd and hoary patriarch, &c &c
I am about commencing a Banner for a
lodge for which I get 200
dollars. I have been drawing several
original designs, of which I expect
to paint some one of these days. I have made an
original drawing of Gen-
eral Marrion inviteing the British
officer to dine with him, and I have made
78
OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
another design, which is highly
commented by those few who have seen it,
of the Apothiensis (that word is spelt
wrong) but to put it in plain language
Washington Ascent to Heaven I have made
him standing in a carr of
triumph drawn by two American eagles, an
angel floating just above him
pointing him the opening into
Immortality, the opening of Heaven gives me
a very fine chance to get my light, the
carr is wafted on by thirteen little
Angels each haveing a bright Star on
their foreheads to represent the
thirteen different independent states,
from the opening of heaven a host of
little angels are seen from the furthest
distance on up to the two nearest who
are just in the act of crowning him. I
have drest him in a white robe in
the old Roman Style, the Angels floating
in air will contrast finely with the
large noble and commanding yet serene
figure and countenance of Wash-
ington. I wish you could see my portrait
of the General since I have alterd
it, you know faults it had in drawing I
have corrected all those, I have
taken out the red curtain and it makes
the picture look half as large again
I am not ashamed of it now, I think more
than likely that when I am
entirely through my business in New York
that I shall take up my resi-
dence in Philadelphia I am strongly
atached to the city of "Brotherly love."
the people there have a more cultivated
taste and appreciate the arts and
artist higher. Brackett leaves here
Tomorrow for that pious city Boston;
in company with his Satanic
Majesty. He had just returnd from Albany
where he has been for the last week
taking a bust of J. C. Spenser Secretary
of this State. It is to be cut in marble
he gets 300 dollars for it when
carved, he has an engagement in Boston
to cut in marble a Bass relief for
monument at Mount Auburn -- he bids
adeau to Gotham with the same
prospect in view that he had when he
left the great Queen of the West,
namely, to prove to its citizens that he
is capable of doing Something
Superior to his last hasty production.
Write to me soon, and tell me all
about the Cincinnati artists and what
they are doing. I wish you would call
and see my sister, and tell them that I
was just a going to mail a letter for
them when I received yours, informing me
that mother had returnd from
Iowa, I therefore concluded I would
write it over again give my love to
them all. When you write home to your
folks remember me to all the
whole family my particular regards to Kate, and believe
Ned no change on
Earth ever changes my love for you for
like the Siamese Twins" the cord
that binds my heart with thine can only be severed by
Death.
T. B. READ.
N. B. for want of room I am forced to
stop for the present, until I write
you that long letter.
N. B.1st I forgot to say that Mr Seba
Smith wishes you to send another of
the papers containing a notice of his
Powatam [?] as I did not receive the
last. he is anxious to see it do send
one immeadiately if you have any
left and oblige both parties
N. B.2nd I forgot to tell you
that the great Mrs Ann Stephens10 was here
last evening, she is just like a Huxter
woman in manners she is so
coarse and the ugliest woman I ever saw,
she is all the time telling about
the young men falling in love with her.
and she say that when she suppd
with Martin Van Buren he put three extra
lumps of Sugar in her tea She
is the most disagreeable woman I ever
came across -- But I must stop the
clock is striking twelve and my hand has got the cramp
holding the pen so
10 Mrs. Ann Stephens was a popular
editor and writer who had recently moved
to New York. It is said that in her novel, Fashion and
Famine, the best drawn char-
acter was a huckster woman.
LETTERS OF THOMAS BUCHANAN READ 79
long Brackett is snoreing away in bed as
tho he was working by the yard
a last adeu, T. B. READ.
P. S. I saw Fanny Ellsler.11 Her first
night since her return and what was
very astonishing I slept well after it.
She has a gastly smile from ear to
ear Miss Wells dances quite as well as
Fanny, but she does not play to
the audience so much.
BOSTON Nov. 28" 1841
MY DEAR CAMPBELL.
You may be somewhat surprised to find me
in Boston. Do not think
my leaving New York was to satisfy a
mere vacilating spirit; but the
advice of friends and the privelages
that Boston presented for studying my
Art was sufficient inducement for me to
leave Gotham for the land of
"stedy habits." I find the
Artists in Boston possesd of the true spirit with
which every lover of the Arts must be
endowd; they are not the envious,
cold, heartless, selfish, monied mercenary
characters with which Gotham is
so richly favord or rather cursd but
they enter into the feelings of one
another with a certain warmth that
indicates at once the artist and gentle-
man. Mr. Allston12 stands as
you are aware at the head of American
Artists and very deservedly; and if I am
not mistaken he is considered by
the English connoisseur's to be
one among the best living Artists of the
day. Mr Brackett and myself call'd on
him and spent a very pleasant even-
ing. I found myself in the presence of a
man who seemd perfectly uncon-
scious of his own greatness. (Which by
the way is the greatest evidence of
a great mind) He posseses a peculiar
tact of adapting himself to the level
of whatever company with which he may be
surrounded. The visitor at
once finds him the Poet the Artist
Philanthrophist, and the perfect gentle-
man, a combination rarly to be met with.
He posseses no secrets in the
Arts which he is not perfectly willing
to communicate to the enquiring stu-
dent. He is perfectly devoid of the
selfish ambitious feeling with which
artists generally are possessed of; he
paints not for fame, as he considers
the man who seeks the applause of the
roaring rabble can not be possessed
of a great mind and entirely devoid of
the true love of excellence. It is
his opinion that fame cannot be the
object of a great mind but the conse-
quences thereof. The moment I saw this
great Master I was impress'd with
the peculiarities of his person not the
effect of affectation -- but there was
something in his air so divine, and
surounded with an atmosphere that
made me feel at once in the presence of
a being whose mind was to pure
to mix in the groveling things of Earth.
His figure is very little above the
middle height and quite slim; his long
white hair curls from the top of his
forehead down allmost to his shoulders;
his eyes are quite full and dark
and glow with an expression so kind and
gentle that they are a perfect index
to the soul of the man. But lest I
should cramp your imagination with too
close detail, and force you to draw a
conclusion of his character short of
what it actually is I shall therefore
leave you to make up your mind as to
this great man from what you have
allready seen for I am certain of one
thing you cannot imagine him a greater
man than he is. He has call'd
upon Brackett several times to see the
bust of his brother in-law R. H.
Dana, which he seems much pleased with,
and expressed his opinion a few
days since to a gentleman, that with the
exception of one head by Hiram
11 Fanny Ellsler was a celebrated opera
dancer of the period.
12 Read had reason to be pleased at the
friendliness of the Boston artists that he
mentions in this letter. All of them were
internationally known, and at the heights of
their careers.
80
OHIO ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY
Powers, he never saw anything modern or
antique that pleased him as well,
which was certainly a great compliment
comeing as it did from such a man
as Washington Allston. Mr Brackett is
now engaged on a monument for
Mount Auburn, besides several bust: his
prospects are very flattering, as
he has succeeded in pleasing the
fastidiousness of the Bostonians, he will
be likely to rise fast in his profession. As for myself
I have as much as
I can attend to: situated on the same
floor with Chester Har[ding] with
but a partition between us, he is
inclined to be very gracious: he is a gen-
tleman and a true Artist. I have become
intimately acquainted with Mr
A G. Hoit I like him much, you know his
merits as an artist, which are
no ways limited. But more about the
Artist anon. I forgot to mention
that Mr Allston called on me a few days
since he spoke very flattering of
some of my pieces, and gave me some
valuable hints as to the use of color.
I wish you to let me hear from you
imeadiately and tell me all about the
Artist's of the queen City Send me a
paper every week, call on my folks
if you please, &c
Believe me yours as ever
T. B. READ