2118. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, Pictures of.—[continued].
The painting lately executed
by Col. Trumbull, I have never seen,
but as far back as the days of Horace, at least,
we are told that “pictoribus atque poetis;
Quidlibet audendi semper fuit œqua potestas.”
He has exercised this licentia pictoris in like
manner in the surrender at Yorktown, where
he has placed Lord Cornwallis at the head of
the surrender, although it is well known that he
was excused by General Washington from appearing.—
To S. A. Wells.
Ford ed., x, 133.
(M.
1819)