of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States, together with steel engravings of the Capitol, the Executive Mansion, and of the historical painting the "Signing of the Declaration of Independence." Steel portraits of the Presidents will be inserted each in its appropriate place. The compilation has not been brought even to its present stage without much labor and close application, and the end is far from view; but if it shall prove satisfactory to Congress and the country, I will feel com⚫ pensated for my time and effort. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 22, 1896. JAMES D. RICHARDSON. "SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE," by Col. John Trumbull, is the most famous of the historical paintings in the rotunda of the Capitol. It is the first painted of four ordered by Congress and was executed between 1817 and 1824. It is valued at $100,000. Jefferson and Franklin furnished the artist with the details as to the positions of the various figures, etc. |