DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. The President died at 22 minutes past 7."-Secretary Stanton to General Dix, April 15th, 1865. A Picture of Permanent National Interest. PAINTED AND ENGRAVED BY A. H. RITCHIE. A magnificent Engraving on Steel from Ritchie's original painting, representing the last moments of President Lincoln, is in active preparation, and will be published during the year 1866. It will be executed by Mr. Ritchie, who unites in an eminent degree the genius of the painter with that of the engraver, and who in both departments of art stands in the front rank of American artists, in proof of which statement we refer to his great pictures of "WashIngton and his Generals," "Fitting out Moses for the Fair," and "Mercy Knocking at the Wicket Gate." The portraits included in the group composing the last sad scene in the eventful life of our beloved President were taken from life sittings, and are remarkable for their fidelity to nature. The life-like portraits of the eminent men-absorbed by the event about to take place -the touching pathos of the scene-the absence of every thing of a sensational or melo. dramatic character, and the apparent truthfulness with which the gifted artist has delineated the surroundings of the dying patriot, must commend this great work to every lover of the real in historic art. As a specimen of natural and harmonious grouping we are bold to say that this admirable painting has seldom been surpassed. The figures aro twenty-six in number, and comprise those of the dying President; his son, Capt. Robt. Lincoln; Vice-President Johnson, Secretaries Stanton, Welles, McCulloch, and Usher; Postmaster-General Dennison, and Attor ney-General Speed; Generals Halleck, Meigs, Augur, and Todd; Senator Sumner, Rev. Dr. Gurley; Speaker Colfax; John Hay, Private Secretary; Ex-Governor Farwell, Judge Carter, Judge Otto, Surgeon-General Barnes; Doctors Crane and Stone; Hon. Mr. Farnsworth, R. F Andrews, and M. B. Field. The size of the Engraving will be 21 inches by 32 inches, on large and heavy Plate Paper. SIZE OF THE PAINTING, 7 FEET BY 4 FEET. PRICES. Artist's Proofs (signed), $50; India Proofs, $25; Prints, $10. Address DERBY & MILLER, Publishers, 5 SPRUCE STREET, N. Y. The Engraving will be Sold by Subscription only. Agents Wanted in every County. "The tribute of a free-will offering."-Deut. xvi. 10. THE TRIBUTE BOOK: A RECORD OF THE MUNIFICENCE, SELF-SACRIFICE, AND PATRIOTISM OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IN DEFENCE OF THEIR INTEGRITY AS A NATION, DURING THE WAR FOR THE UNION. ILLUSTRATED. By FRANK B. GOODRICH, Author of "THE COURT OF NAPOLEON," &c. THE undersigned will publish, about October first, a book with the above title, the object of which is to preserve, in a permanent form, as large a portion as may be, of the names of those who have given of their means, or devoted their energies, to aid the Government in prosecuting the war for the maintenance of the union of the States. The work will thus be not only a record of those who have paid "tribute" to the cause, but will be itself a "tribute" to them. The subject naturally falls under two heads-the first comprising the spontaneous gifts of money to aid in the raising of regiments, the equipment of troops, the outfit of officers, &c., upon the breaking out of the Rebellion; and the second —when this work had been assumed by the Government-chronicling the collecting, purchasing, forwarding, and distribution of supplies to promote the health, comfort, and efficiency of the army. The first work was, of necessity, done without order or system; the second was accomplished by organized bodies, known as the Sanitary and Christian Commissions. The book will in nowise be a mere list of names or catalogue of subscriptions, though in this respect it is intended to be as full as its limits will allow. In the first place, it will contain a general narrative of the events of the period connected with the subject, enlivened by such incidents of personal effort and munificence (and the widow's mite will not be overlooked) as may properly find a place there, by authentic anecdotes, sketches of persons and places, &c., &c.; and, secondly, it will be profusely illustrated by engravings upon wood, from designs by our first artists, executed in the best possible manner. The field for illustration is wide, and in this respect it is intended that the book shall not suffer by comparison with the finest issues of the American Press. It is believed that no record whatever exists of the largest and most interesting portion of the free-will offerings of the American people, and it is the purpose of the publishers to supply this want. As an evidence that no expense has been spared, to produce a volume every way worthy of the subject, the pub. lishers beg to state, that the munificent sum of forty thousand dollars has been advanced by the projector of "The Tribute Book," George Jones, Esq., of the New York Times, for the first edition alone. ILLUSTRATIONS. FIVE LARGE DESIGNS, illustrating the Sanitary Commission, the Christian Commission, the Western Sanitary Commission, the American Union Commission, and the National Freedmen's Relief Association, and containing the Portraits of their Presidents. TWENTY-FIVE VIGNETTES and INITIAL LETTERS, for Committees of Sanitary Fairs. FOUR ILLUSTRATED PROGRAMMES of Entertainments for the Soldiers-Dramatic, Musical, School, and Amateur Theatricals. Six and Ninety-six Knitting for the Soldiers. Apple-Paring Bee. Quilting Party. The Flag upon the Churches. Minute-Man of Kalamazoo. Bird's-Nest Bank. The First Subscription. East Tennessee Refugees. Blackberrying for the Soldiers. Cutting Wood for Soldiers' Widows. Making Shirts for Washington's Army. The Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. Getting in Hay for Soldiers' Widows. Treating a Regiment to Doughnuts. From designs by the following THE TRIBUTE BOOK will contain five hundred and twenty pages royal octavo, printed on fine tinted paper, and will be illustrated by over one hundred and fifty engravings. It will be bound in Turkey morocco, gilt edges and sides, in the best style of workmanship. The Book will be sold exclusively by subscription, at the reasonable price of TWENTY DOLLARS. DERBY & MILLER, Publishers, 5 SPRUCE STREET, NEW YORK. CARPENTER'S GREAT NATIONAL PICTURE. THE FIRST READING OF THE Emancipation Proclamation before the Cabinet, By PRESIDENT LINCOLN. Ir was the most critical period of the war. MCCLELLAN's campaign before Richmond, upon which hung the hopes of the whole loyal North, had just resulted in disastrous failure. After the most stupendous perparations known in modern warfare, the great sacrifice of life had aecomplished absolutely nothing in crushing the Rebellion, which, flushed with success, was more defiant than ever. Universal depression and discouragement succeeded the first brilliant hopes engendered by the great uprising of the North, which followed the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Thus far had the war been prosecuted by the Administration without touching SLAVERY in any manner. The Proclamations of FREMONT and HUNTER, in Missouri and South Carolina, had been nullified at Washington. At length, the demand for a change of policy, beginning with a few radical men, became too decided to be longer ignored. The Anti-Slavery party, largely in the minority at the outbreak of the Rebellion, numbered its converts by millions, so deeply seated had become the conviction that SLAVERY was the sole root and cause of the War. The President could no longer hesitate. The last of July, 1862, the first draft of the Proclsmation was prepared and a Special Cabinet Meeting was called; but the occasion of the summons was not made known. The President said he had "fully decided to take the responsibility of the act of EMANCIPATION, but that suggestions as to the subject-matter were in order." Nothing was offered that he had not already anticipated and carefully considered, until Mr. SEWARD spoke: "This matter is of so much importance," said he, "that I fear its effect at this juncture; it may be considered the last measure of an exhausted Government—a cry for help the Government stretching forth its hands to Ethiopia, instead of Ethiopia stretching forth its hands to the Government.' Therefore, Mr. President, I suggest that you postpone the issue of the Proclamation until it can be given to the country upon Union success rather than defeat." The result was, that the Proclamation was reserved, and first given to the world amid the acclamations which followed the battles of SOUTH MOUNTAIN and ANTIETAM. This is the moment of time seized by Mr. CARPENTER in the composition of his picture The President seems suddenly arrested and impressed by the wisdom of the view of the Secretary of State. In truth, it was an aspect of the case, as he informed the artist, that he had until that moment entirely overlooked. His marked face and figure are turned towards Mr. SEWARD, who is in the act of speaking. He grasps the Proclamation in his left hand, which has dropped upon the table at his side; the old lines of humor are all gone from his face, and in their stead is a strange blending of firmness and anxiety. Slightly in the rear of Mr. LINCOLN is the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. CHASE, standing with arms closely folded over his breast. The President is supported on each hand by the Secretaries of War and the Navy, Mr. STANTON upon the right, and Mr. WELLES on the left; both of whom, together with Mr. CHASE, are looking, with varying shades of expression, towards the speaker, Mr. SEWARD. At the end of the table, opposite the President, leaning forward upon his arms, is JUDGE BATES, the Attorney-General. Immediately at his right, standing, as if having but recently entered the room, is MONTGOMERY BLAIR, the Postmaster-General. In the background, also standing, is the late CALEB B. SMITH, then Secretary of the Interior. By invitation of Mr. LINCOLN, Mr. CARPENTER Occupied the State Dining-Room of the “White House" during the painting of the picture, which consumed about six months. From the New York Tribune. "It is, by all odds, next to Trumbull's Picture of the Declaration of Independence'-a picture worth all the rest in the Capitol put together-the best work of this class that has been painted in America." From the Pittsburg Chronicle. AUTOGRAPHS.-The order-book for copies of the engraving of Carpenter's great picture of the "Cabinet Council concerning the Emancipation Proclamation" contains some very valuable and interesting autographs. On the first page are the orders of all the distinguished men whose portraits are on the canvas, and also of Secretaries Fossenden, Dennison, Cameron, and McCulloch. The first page of the Boston orders bears the name of Everett, Gov. Andrew, Sumner, Garrison, George Thompson, &c. Others are scattered throughout its pages, among which we noticed those of Lieutenant-General Grant, Major-General Sherman, Senator E. D. Morgan, Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, and many more of equal note A MAGNIFICENT STEEL PLATE ENGRAVING From this picture is now being executed by the celebrated Artist, A. H. RITCHIE. The Size of the Engraving will be 21 inches by 32 inches, on large and heavy Plate Paper. SIZE OF THE PAINTING, 14 FEET BY 9 FEET. PRICES. ARTIST'S PROOFs (signed), $50; INDIA PROOFS, $25; PRINTS, $10. ADDRESS DERBY & MILLER, Publishers, 5 SPRUCE ST., N. Y. THE ENGRAVING WILL BE SOLD BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. |