Trumbull Gallery of Paintings in Yale College. 217 
of art, was seen and appreciated by both. He explained to them 
his intention of painting a series of pictures, in commemoration 
of the principal events of the Revolution, in which should be 
preserved, as far as possible, faithful portraits of those who had 
been conspicuous actors in the various scenes, whether civil or 
military, as well as accurate details of the dress, manners, arms, 
&c. of the times; with all which he had been familiarly ac- 
quainted. Mr. Adams and Mr. Jefferson encouraged him in the 
prosecution of this plan, and a their approbation the following 
subjects were selected : 
* 'The Death of General Warren, at Bunker’s Hill. 
The Death of General Montgomery, at Quebec. 
The Declaration of Independence. 
The Capture of the Hessians, at Trenton. 
The Death of General Mercer, at Princeton. 
The Surrender of General Burgoyne, at Saratoga. 
The Treaty with France. 
‘The Battle of Eutaw Springs. 
The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown. 
The Treaty of Peace. ? 
The Evacuation of New York. 
The Resignation of General Washington. 
It was intended to publish a series of engravings from these 
pictures, and therefore a small size was adopted, suited to the use 
of the engraver. 
“t, Several of the compositions were immediately studied and pre- 
pared for the future introduction of the intended portraits, particu- 
larly the Declaration of Independence ; so that, before the two 
great men, before named, returned to the United States, from 
their respective embassies, their- portraits were painted in the 
work now submitted to view, (No.9,)—the one in London, the 
other in Paris. The portraits of the French officers in the pic- 
ture of the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, (No. 29,) were also 
painted from life, in Paris, in the house of Mr. Jefferson in the 
year 1787. 
After the present Constitution of the United States had been 
adopted, the artist, in the autumn of 1789, returned to America, 
to pursue his work. He found Congress assembled in New York, « 
then the seat of government; and, having procured the portraits 
of General Washington, and of many other distinguished charac- 
