Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

For the Gazette of the United States.

Mr. Editor,

In your Gazette of yesterday I observed several queries from "Americanus"— which I shall take leave to answer, being furnished with materials sufficient to substantiate the facts.

B.

DID Mr. Peale convene the Artists, to take into consideration the plan of a national institution for the encouragement of Painting, &c. &c. or was he invited by them to assist in carrying their ideas into execution?

The design of a national institution was a Federative plan suggested by the founders of the Columbianum some time before Mr. Peale was invited to meet them, consequently his claim to the title of an original founder is usurped.

D

Did Mr. Peale reprobate and oppose the plan of a national college?

Yes uniformly, as well as the name Columbianum.

Did Mr. Rush, the carver, recommend the artists to withdraw themselves from Peale's Museum; and did he assure them he would follow their example, in order to preserve the Columbianum?

Yes positively.

Did Mr. Rush adhere to his declaration above alluded to?

No he forfeited his word.

Did Mr. Birch, jointly with nine others, voluntarily sign an obligation to support the establishment of a national Columbianum, on a foundation not liable to be subverted or shaken by illiberality or intrigue?

Yes in the most unequivocal manner.

Did Mr. Birch and his associates, in this solemn engagement, discharge the confidence they reposed in each other?

Mr. Birch forfeited all claim to confidence by deserting the cause he had promised to espouse.

Did any members of the Columbianum retire from the Society at Peale's Museum, after the artists had withdrawn themselves?

Yes several Gentlemen and Artists of the first respectability.

When the artists withdrew from the Museum, did they abandon their intended institution?

Certainly not, for they immediately adjourned to Mr. Groombridge's house adjoining the Bank of Pennsylvania and there proceeded regularly, in order to carry the original plan of a national College into effect.

Did Mr. Peale present the constitution of his society for incorporation without the knowledge of the members who compose it?

Yes, as appears by the assertion of Mr. Loutherbourg; who seems, from his own account, to have been uncandidly and dishonorably treated in that instance.

Did the association at Peale's Museum formally adopt the name Columbianum, until they knew it to be the distinguishing name taken by the national college of artists, convened at Mr. Groombridge's?

No.