BRADY’S PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION OF AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN. In addition to his Portraits of Representative Men, Mr. Brady has produced an entirely new and remarkably spirited Collection of Views, illustrating prominent incidents of the War, from the first battle to the final surrender of Lee and Johnston; and several hundred specimen copies have just been placed on the walls of his Grallery, to which the attention of the public is respectfully called. The historic interest that attaches to really faithful repre- sentations of important scenes and actions, as well as to the portraits of distinguished personages, renders this Collection of inestimable value, and a useful auxiliary to future historical inquiry. Pho- tography has never before been applied to so important an object, and rarely, if ever, with such brilliant and satisfactory results. The Views were taken on the spot, during the progress of hostilities, by Mr. Brady and his assistants, and represent “grim visaged war ” exactly as it appeared. If Art could have preserved for us, with equal fidelity, the scenes of the Revolution, and the features of the eminent men of that time, how much it would have simplified the labors of the historian and the historical painter ; how greatly it would have enriched theii’ works ! The Pictures show the battle-fields of the Rebellion, and its memorable localities and incidents: such as Military Camps, Fortifications, Bridges, Processions, Reviews, Siege-Trains, Valleys, Rivers, Villages, Farm-Houses, Plantations, and famous Buildings of the South : together with Groups and Likenesses of the promi- nent actors, in the performance of duty ; Ijefore and after the smoke of battle ; around l)ivouac fires ; in the trenches, and on the decks of iron-clads — the whole forming a complete Pictorial History of our great Hational Struggle. The Collection also embraces the results of Mr. Brady’s labors for the last twenty-five years. 1. — Portraits, taken from the original sittings, of many distinguished men, tvho figured in tlie early years of tlie present century, some of whom, at a later period, appeared as Leaders in political coiilliots. 2. — The Likenesses of all the prominent actors in the War with Mexico. 3. — The Portraits of 8tatesmen, Legislators, Jurists, .Journalists, Itivines, Merchants, Bankers, Artists, Authors, Explorers, and Eminent Men and Women of the whole country — Uorth and South. “ Often have I found,” stiys Mr. Carlyle, “a portrait superior, in real instruction, to half a dozen written biographies.” These Portraits and Views are absolutely faithful ; but many of the prominent personages are dead, and the materiel from which the Views are made has, for the most part, ceased to exist. The “ pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war ” is gone ; the for- tifications are in ruins; the bridges over which armies marched have been destroyed ; the picturesque military camps have been broken up, and the battle-fields wear a changed appearance. The preservation and permanent exhibition, in the city of Hew York, of this rich historic collection becomes, therefore, a matter of grave importance, and, since the close of the Rebellion, has been repeatedly urged Ijy some of our best citizens. It is proposed, therefore, to place the Collection in one of the Galleries of the N. Y. Historical Society, where it will be secure from injury or loss by fire, and, at the same time, accessible to the historical student, the artist, and the public. This plan has met with the cordial approval of all to whom it has been submitted, and €\^t Comttil of Jational i^rahma of icmp, at a meeting held on Monday evening, January 29th, 1866, unani- mously adopted the following resolution : '•'• Resolved : That we esteem the extensive and valuable collection of pho- tographs by Mr. M. B. Brady, of scenes, incidents, and portraits connected with the late Rebellion, and other material of historic interest, as one of great value ; as a nucleus of a national historical museum ; as reliable authority for Art, and illustrative of our history ; and we strongly recommend the proposal to secure for it a safe and permanent place in the keeping of the IST. Y. Historical Society.” (Signed,) D. Huntington, Pi-esident, Henky Peters Gkat, Vice-President, T. Addison Eiohaeds, Corresponding Secretary, J. B. Steakns, Recording Scretary, E. D. E. Greene, Treasurer, Geo. a. Baker, Thomas Hicks, S. R. Gifford, J. F. Kensett, J. Quincy A. Ward, E. Leutze. ITfttfr from ITifiitntant-iSfnfral (Sraiit. Head-Quarters Armies of the United States, ) Washington, D. 0., Feb. 3, 1866. ( M. B. Brady, Esq. : Dear Sir : — I am glad to learn that you have determined to place on permanent exhibition, in the galleries of the N. Y. Historical Society, your Col- lection of Photographic Views of Battle-fields, &c., taken on the spot, while the occurrences represented were taking place. I knew when many of these representations were being taken, and have in my possession most of them, and I can say that the scenes are not only spirited and correct, but also well chosen. The Collection will be valuable to the student -and artist of the present generation ; but how much more valuable it will be to future generations ! (Signed,) U. S. Grant, Lieut.-General. )