BACHELDER'S AMERICAN DIORAMA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 545, 21 August 1869, Page 2

BACHELDER'S AMERICAN DIORAMA.

The people of Westport bad opportunities of witnessing this admirable diorama on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and again last night. The excellence of the exhibition has elicited warm eulogies from the press in Australia, and also in New Zealand. Little remains, therefore, to be said at our bands. In fact it is difficult to speak within the limits of our space of the many beauties presented to our view. Tiie natural interest attaching to any representation of that great struggle which well nigh shattered the great American nation, is eminently calculated to attract the attention of anv audience; and the really artistic manner in which events of startling I interest, and places now of historic importance, fails not rivet that attention. The view of the city of Charleston, the very centre of the Secession movement, is an admirable picture. The artist at once seizes upon the sympathies of the audience by the evident truthfulness of his sketch. The evacuation of Fort Moltrio by moon-light showed some remarkably pretty effects, and was well received. The firing of the first gun presents a spirited sea piece, and was warmly appreciated as representing first actiu the what afterwards culminated into a great national tragedy. Tho burning of the Norfolk NavyYard is a most sensational scene, aud the mechanical eifects added an air of reality which we hardly expected to see. The repeated firing of guns, the burning ships, and the breadth of lured light spreading far and wide must be seen to be appreciated. The march of Colonel Elsworth's Zouaves down Canal Street, is a painting of much merit, and happily expresses the unbounded enthusiasm which at this time characterised New York. The city of Washington presents a very pretty subject, and the artist has done ample justice to this picturesque ly situate city. The passage of the Long Bridge is worthy of a longer notice than we can give. The various Battle scenes are painted with an amount of power, and truthfulness to nature which we have seldom before met with in similar exhibitions. The humorous camp scenes present the less ghastly side of the war, and contributed much to interest the large company collected. This is but an epitome of the many really beautiful pictures comprising the diorama. The various scenes are intelligently described by one of the Company, while appropriate music is employed to assist the general effect aimed at.

"We understand the proprietors intend shortly exhibiting in Westport their great diorama in illustration of Milton's Pardiso Lost. Reputation speaks in the highest terms of the excellence of this work, which we have no doubt will be warmly appreciated by every one possessing the least taste for the beautiful.