Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Liberality of Congress.

With much pleasure we observe, says the New York Evening Post, that the Resolution originally introduced into the senate by Mr. Barbour, for the purpose of employing Col. Trumbull of this city, to execute four national paintings, has passed that house by a very large majority. It is a measure that will receive the approbation of a grateful and generous people. The present opportunity to preserve the form and likeness of those patriots to whom we owe, under Providence, our national existence, is a precious one, and if suffered to pass unimproved, will never again offer.

Colonel Trumbull, the gentleman selected for the honorable task, is a son of the late revolutionary Governor Trumbull of Connecticut, and entered the army which achieved our independence with all the ardor of youth, in 1776.

He was soon appointed adjutant general to the army of the north, and served on Lake Champlain and its shores under Arnold, when Arnold fought on the side of his country. He was then aide de camp to Washington, and filled other conspicuous and important offices. But it is not so much of Colonel Trumbull's merit as an officer of the army, that we speak on the present occasion, as of the great historical painter.

This country has produced an extraordinary number of painters of great eminence: of whom West and Trumbull must be allowed to occupy the first place, as historical painters: as Copley and Stewart do as portrait painters. West and Copley have been the pride of England who claims them as her own. Trumbull and Stewart have returned to their native country to enrich and honor it by the display of their talents here. Col. Trumbull was long the favorite pupil of West, and about the year 1785, he conceived and began to execute the great plan of painting a series of pictures commemorative of the most glorious events of the revolutionary war, and the establishment of the national independence.

After finishing in London the Battle of Bunker's Hill, and the Death of Montgomery, he returned home and having with indefatigable zeal and industry, and at much expense, succeeded in procuring likenesses of several of his subjects, some in France, and some in London he began his pictures of the Declaration of Independence, (which contain an excellent portrait of every distinguished member of that celebrated body of men.) The Battle of Trenton, Surrender of Burgoyne and Cornwallis, &c. &c. into all of which he has introduced the likenesses of the principal actors. May the present congress do honor to themselves and their country, by liberally encouraging him to complete his arduous undertaking, and by securing the benefits of them to the country.