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A PORTRAITGEORGEWASHINGTON,FROMANORIGINALAS HE APPEARED WHILEDRAWING,REVIEWINGBOSTONCOMMON,THE CONTINENTAL ARMYIN 1776;A HISTORY OR THE PORTRAIT,ANDDOCUMENTARY EVIDENCEIN PROOF OF THE CORRECTNESS OF THE :rUBLISIIED BY CROCKER & BREWSTER.18 5 1.ON

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, byCHARLESFOX,In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of ,

PREFACE.To rescue from oblivion a Portrait which, in theopinion of competent judges, is a remarkable like ness of the Father of his Country, and to derivesome pecuniary benefit from the sale of it, are theprincipal objects of the author in presenting it to thepublic.CHARLESBoston, January,1851.I3tffFOX.

GEORGEWASHINGTON,SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN ARMYHDtffJRUXJ TPIKCIS 1SW!LOTIE B.&!&T W&T&9ANDFIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,WAS BORNIN THE COUNTY OF WESTMORELAND, VIRGINIA,AND DEPARTED THIS LIFE AT MT. VERNON,December the fourteenth, seventeen hundred and ninety-nine,IN THE SIXTY-EIGIITII YEAR OF HIS AGE.“ Behold the Man! Columbia’s pride and boast,His head a Senate and his arm a Host! ”

PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.CHAPTERHISTORYOFTHEI.PORTRAITHE portrait, from which the engrav ing has been executed, was discoveredby the author in the possession ofa very respectable family in Boston,in 1847.They were relatives of theyoung artist, and had carefully preservedthe portrait for more than seventy years.It was taken by Mr. Nathaniel Fullertonfrom General Washington, as he appeared,on his horse, while reviewing the Americanforces on Boston Common, in the year 1776.The countenance, exhibited in the original drawing,was so expressive of the character of Washington,—2

10PORTRAITOFWASHINGTON,of tlie wisdom,- the benevolence, dignity, and mag nanimity of that extraordinary man, — that I thoughtit must he a correct likeness of him.*Knowing thatthere were a number of aged persons living, who hadseen Washington when he was in Boston, and like wise met him in other places, I showed the originalportrait to a number of them, individually, for thepurpose of obtaining their opinions in regard to thecorrectness of the likeness.It is well known, thatpeople far advanced in life generally retain a clearerrecollection of the events, especially those of a re markable character, of their youthful days, thanthey do of persons and circumstances presented tothem in the latter period of their lives.The events of the Revolutionary War, and thepersonal appearance of the distinguished actors init, made too strong an impression upon the minds ofall, who in those days were in the morning of life,ever to be obliterated, while the faculty of memoryremained in its full, or even partial exercise.I haveever found the memory of old people remarkablyretentive in relation to the events of their early* The original portrait was put into the hands of Mr. GeorgeG. Smith, and the engraving is a faithful and accurate copy ofthe original.

PORTRAITOF11WASHINGTON.days; and particularly to those of our Revolutionarystruggle.Most of those with whom I have conversed, haverelated to me the ceremonies observed at the timeWashington appeared in Boston, and various othercircumstances of the times, detailed in a manner sominute as well as prolix, that I have been satisfiedthey had a very vivid recollection of what they hadseen in those days, however their memories mightfail them in regard to the events of after years.The result of my investigations, in relation to thecorrectness of the likeness, will be seen in the testi monials,obtainedfrom a numberof agedandrespectable individuals, presented to the reader.The persons, whose opinions arehere offered,have given them after an attentive examination ofthe original portrait; and, while they were lookingat it, I could see the pleasure and satisfaction theyfelt in the expression of their countenances.Theyseemed to view it as the face of an old acquaintance,whose features were familiar to them, and in whosemindsitexcited themost pleasurable emotions.They generally looked at it earnestly for a long timewithout speaking, and then expressed their satis faction at the faithfulness of the likeness.I was

12PORTRAITOFWASHINGTON.cautious not to elicit their opinion by enticing ques tions, but suffered them to express it themselves ;and it was done by dictating to me, or written bytheir own hands.The evidence that I have offered to prove thecorrectness of the likeness, I trust will be satisfac tory to candid minds ; although additional testimonycould be produced to the same effect, from sourcesequally respectable.

N, THEARTIST.HE father of Nathaniel Fullerton wasa native of Holmes’s Hole, in Mar tha’s Vineyard. Young Fullerton wasborn in School Street, in Boston.Hewas an enthusiastic young man, andparticipated in the feelings of those whowere actuated by the spirit of indepen dence whichfinally producedhostilityagainst England.It was natural for the children to adoptthe sentiments of their parents, and to partakeof the excitement prevailing at the time.When thetrouble occurred between the boys in Boston and theBritish soldiers respecting the coasting-hills and theforts of snow, which the boys were in the habit ofbuilding on the Common, and which the Britishsoldiers often wantonly destroyed, a committee of theboys waited upon General Gage to complain of the

14PORTRAITOFWASHINGTON.conduct of the troops, and to seek of him someredress for their grievances.It is said that theBritish General received them courteously, viewedwith admirationthe course they pursued, passedmany encomiums upon their courage, and assuredthem that they should receive no further molesta tion in their sports from his soldiers.In this affair,young Fullerton took a leading part, and was one ofthose who personally addressed the British Generalupon the subject.Young Fullerton evinced a desire to make portraitpainting his profession ; but, being of a consumptivehabit, he was obliged to discontinue his applicationto the business, and sail on a voyage to India for therecovery of his health.Fie returned to Boston fromhis voyage, without having received any benefit froma change of climate and business.He died shortlyafter his arrival, and was buried in the cemetery ofthe Stone Chapel.It is related that his brother,William Fullerton, was one of the party of Ameri cans who labored on the fortifications on Breed’sHill, previous to the renowned battle, and injuredhimself in such a manner by his excessive exertions,that he was carried home in a state of exhaustion,and in a short time died.

POUT HA XTOFWASHINGTON.CHAPTER15III.DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE,IN PROOFOFTHECORRECTNESSOF THELIKENESS.HE following testimonials have beenfurnished by gentlemen well knownin Boston, giving their opinions ofthe remarkable correctness of the por%trait.OPINIONOctoberOF THEHON.H.G.OTIS.7th, 1848, I had the pleasure ofan interview with the Hon. Harrison G. Otis.I found him very feeble in health, but his mentalpowers were unimpaired.I requested him to ex amine the portrait of Washington, for the purposeof obtaining his opinion.After looking at it, hesaid, “ I think it a very good likeness of General

16PORTRAITWashington.”OFWASHINGTON.He then examined it attentively fora few moments, and added, “I can say, Sir, that Ithink it a very excellent likeness of Washington.”Perceiving that he was very feeble, I did not thinkit a proper time to ask for a written opinion, hopingthat I should find another opportunity for asking thefavor.But this was the last interview I ever enjoyedwith that distinguished and accomplished gentleman,as he died shortly after.CHARLESFOX.

PORTRAITOPINIONOFOFIION.17WASHINGTON.JEREMIAH S.BOIES.Boston, January 22, 1849.Mr.Charles Fox,of Boston, has shown me aminiature likeness of General Washington, taken byMr. Fullerton, in 1776, whilst the General was re viewing the troops on Boston Common.I havingseen General Washington in the time of the Revo lutionary War, when in Cambridge—when he visitedBoston, after the close of the War—and at his dwel ling-house at Mount Vernon, where I passed theday in the month of June of the year in which hedied; and his elevated situation in life having alwaysattracted my attention to his countenance, which,serious and dignified, made those impressions on mymind which the lapse of many years has not effaced,I am enabled to express my opinion that the likenesstaken by Mr. Fullerton in 1776 is so correct that itis worthy of preservation; and is a perfect likeness, *wrhen he wras reviewing the troops in Boston.JEREMIAH S. BOIES.3

18PORTRAITOFWASHINGTON.OPINION OF JOHN WELLES.Boston, February 28, 1850.Haying examined the Portrait mentioned in Mr.Boies’s testimonial, I can say that I fully unite withhim in the opinion he has expressed as to the cor rectness of the likeness of General Washington.JOHNWELLES.»OPINION OF ELIPHALET WILLIAMS.Boston, March 3, 1850.To Charles Fox, Esq.:Sir,—Having examined the Portrait you exhib ited to me, from Fullerton, of General Washington, Iam fully impressed with the belief that it is the mostperfect likeness I have seen of that important personage.Respectfully yours,ELIPHALETWILLIAMS-

PORTRAITOPINIONOFTHEHON.N. OFWASHINGTON.GURNEY, EX-ALDERIVIAN19OF BOSTON. Boston, November 10th, 1848.Mr. CharlesFoxhas shown me a Portrait ofGeneral Washington, requesting me to express myopinion in regard to its correctness.I saw General Washington at the time he visitedBoston, in 1789, soon after he was inaugurated asthe first President of the United States.I was thenyoung, when important objects and events makevivid and lasting impressions upon the mind.Iwell remember his tall and dignified figure, hispiercing eye, liis sedate and somewhat sallow counte nance; and, in fact, the whole lineaments of his facewere indicative of his general character, whose fea tures can be better conceived than described.Inmy opinion, the Portrait delineates the whole con tour of the man with remarkable correctness.NATHAN GURNEY.

20PORTRAITOPINION OFWASHINGTON.OF JABEZ ELLIS, ESQ., EX-ALDERMAN **OF BOSTON. Boston, October, 1848.Amongthe remarkable events of my youth, whichmade an indelible impression upon my memory, wasthe appearance of General Washington, when hevisited Boston, in 1789.I distinctly remember hisform and countenance, and have no hesitation instating that the miniature of him, drawn by Fuller ton, and shown to me by Mr. Charles Fox, is aremarkably faithful likeness, and expressive of thevirtues characteristic of that great and excellentman.JABEZELLIS.

’4PORTRAITOPINIONOFOFWASHINGTON.DAVID WILLIAMS,Boston,21ESQ.Octobeu 16tli, 1848.Mr. Charles Fox:Sir,—Youask my opinion on a small picture youshow me of that great and good man, George Wash ington.I reply: — Once only did I ever see Washington,and that was, as my memory now serves me, early inthe fall of the year 1790, soon after an adjournmentof the second session of the first Congress under theConstitution.I was young then, but the wholeappearance and look of Washington, as he thenwas, has ever seemed to me as if stamped upon mymemory.He stood in a citizen’s dress, his headbare, his eye mild, looking downward.The pictureyou show me does seem to bring up before me aside view of Washington’s face, (except the eye ofthe picture being more upward,)as I saw himin life.Respectfully yours,DAVIDWILLIAMS.