our minister at the Hague, was expected, but was unavoidably detained. This portrait of Washington, appropriately draped with the American colors, was placed in the position of honor at the table; and under this inspiration, the appreciative host and his friends became eloquent in their eulogium of the Republic which Washington so greatly aided to establish.

Investigation thus far leads to high probability that this is an uncatalogued original portrait of Washington. The writer submits this cumulative evidence: First. It has been in Mr. de Vries's family from the year 1793, the year in which it was painted. To this the owner furnishes an unbroken chain of oral testimony. Second. It bears the name of an artist known to have painted original portraits of Washington. Third. One portrait painted by him is not accounted for. Fourth. It bears evidence of having been painted at the alleged time, in the canvas, the frame, and the artist's name. Fifth. The memorable service rendered our country by Claas Taan has ever been cherished with pride by his descendants.

In the opinion of the writer, investigation will confirm the claim of the “DE VRIES PORTRAIT" of Washington as original; at the same time, it will do tardy honor to a deserving friend of America whom history seems to have forgotten.

J. Howard Suydam

ADDRESSED TO JAMES DUANE, 1780

The new arrangement of the Medical Department of the army, referred to in the accompanying letter, took place October 6, 1780. Congress had on the 7th of April, 1777, adopted plans for hospitals, modeled after those of the British army, by Doctors Cochran and Shippen, and submitted by them with General Washington's approval. The result was the first distinctive arrangement of the Medical Department; and at its organization Dr. Cochran received the appointment of Chief Physician and Surgeon, and Dr. Craik that of first in order of the three chief physicians and surgeons of the hospitals.

Such were the positions of both Dr. Cochran and Dr. Craik in the Medical Department, when General Washington wrote the letter to James Duane, then chairman of the military committee of Congress.

On the 6th of October, 1780, the re-arrangement took effect, to which the letter refers, and which accordingly retained Doctors Cochran and Craik in their former positions-the one of Chief Physician and Surgeon of the army, and the other of the first of the three chief physicians and surgeons of the hospitals; which ranks they continued to hold till January 19, 1781, when Dr. Cochran, on the resignation of Dr. William Shippen, was made Director of the Military Hospitals of the army, and Dr. Craik Chief Physician and Surgeon of the army in place of Dr. Cochran, promoted. Dr. Craik, it will be remembered, was the life-long friend and neighbor of General Washington, and his family physician who attended him at his death.

The letter allows a curious glimpse of the perils to which, even in that primitive time, "a spirit of party out of doors" exposed those in the public service. We detect in those suggestive words the irrepressible desire, whose offensive prurience is better known to this degenerate age, as the greed of office. We learn that, in very truth, human nature discloses the same characteristics, under similar circumstances, at all times; and whether the world's theatre is occupied with the struggle of revolutions, or with the wrangle of politicians, the strife is ever the same between the ins and the outs.

* This letter was found among the papers of Judge Duane, and thus came into possession of General John Cochrane, Dr. Cochran's eldest grandson.-Editor.

Fac-simile of the original in possession of General John Cochrane.

Dearlir,

د

I have heard that

a new arrangement is about to take place in the Medical Department and Katitis like ly, it wil be a good deal curtad ed with respect to its present appointments. ___ Whauchbe the Persons generally employed I am not informed, nor do I wish to han -henever durch mention to you

Ithink Docter Cedran dad track from their Services-abilities and experience-and their clore attention, have the shictest claim to their Country !, notice, and to be amex, the first officers in the letablishment.

There are many other. deserving characters in the medical line of the army, but the reasons for my mentioning the above tenth are, that. I hav Le highest opinion of them and have it listed to me that there arrangement might possibly be influenced by a sperits of party out of Doom, which w. per operate in this favor. _I wih add no more than thahl, am with the most perfect ref. D Hi

G

A CANADIAN-AMERICAN LIAISON

Mr. Goldwin Smith and Mr. Erastus Wiman have cut all the maps out of their geographies excepting that of the United States of America. They would like to enlarge this map, and if they have their way it will be necessary to double it up before long: the book will hardly hold it. Whether they will succeed in thus revising the geography and making new work for the publishers of school-books may depend upon the result of the next Dominion election which will probably occur in the American presidential year 1892. Mr. Smith's able essays and Mr. Wiman's telegraphic dispatches have convinced the leaders of the Canadian Liberal party that the manifest destiny of the provinces is closer union with the United States, and as soon as they can agree upon a name for the new policy a vigorous campaign will begin. But the name is a very troubleShall it be "unrestricted reciprocity," commercial union, or annexation? In favor of the first and second, it is argued that in going down hill easy grades are the best; on behalf of the third, it is urged that when several roads lead to the same market it is wise to take the shortest. Perhaps American statesmen can help these doubting Canadian politicians to come to a decision.

some matter.

The question for Americans to consider is this: The idea of annexation being distasteful to Canadians in general, will it be good policy for Americans to form a liaison with Canada in the hope of bringing about an honorable union later on? It is inconceivable that any maiden who rejects an honorable offer of marriage from a lover would consent to become his concubine. But perhaps countries are different from maidens: Mr. Erastus Wiman thinks so. He is sure that Canada would indignantly reject an offer of annexation or marriage, and thinks she would readily consent to enter Uncle Sam's house as a concubine. The New York Sunday Sun, of September 30, 1888, contained an article giving the views of Mr. Erastus Wiman in the form of an interview with Mr. Blakely Hall. As newspaper men are sometimes charged with making mistakes in reporting interviews, it is important to note that Mr. Wiman, in the course of a letter to the Canadian press, dated October 3, 1888, said: "I had prepared a few days before, at the request of my friend, Blakely Hall, an interview, which, fortunately for my purpose, came out in the New York Sun of Sunday morning, and was simultaneously transmitted to a syndicate of 42 different