Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-13
-RICHMOND. MARCH Is.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
IdeG ofd MoNument to tie Memory of Gene
raj WGSLiUofou

rat Washington.
a Monument to the memory ofGeneral
Washington ought TO be magnificent, APP
propriate, and durable: without any me-
retricious ornaments, or long and studied
inscriptions. His merit is now too well
known, and will descend TO future ages
with omucii iustre, to require any eulogy,
beyond the simplest expression of the
various characters in which he appeared.
The Latin language is better adapted TO
such purposes than our own il is more
concise il willprobably last longer, and
being long since tiHt both in structure
and meaning, is not liable 10 those alter
atlons which ours may possibly undergo
The following plan is founded upon these
principles
1. Upon base Of sixteen feet cube, :
bove The earth, lei there be erected an
obeiisk thirteen feet square at the base,
| and onelundred and four feet high, (eight
diameters of the base making one hun
dred and twenty feet high, including the
base-the internal parts of which should
be of the best Virginia stone; the external
| OF whit siatuary marble, from Italy, well
cemented, and forming solid mass from
the foundation upwards, leaving only a
small hole not exceeding eight or ten inch
es III diameter. in the middle, for very
large Franklin, of two inches diameter.
well capped with silver, for three feet
from the top, and rising ten feet above
the top of the obelisk, TO pass through.
The outer surface Of the marble TO be well
| polished
On the East front of the base. facing
the rising sun, LET the following inscription
be engraved i'll large capitals cut very
deep.
GEO: WASHINGTON.
VIRGiNIE,
VoVIT" IMMoRTALIFATEM.
MDCCCXIX.
On the West front, the following inscrip-
ton may be added on the base
PATRI PATRIE,
PdIRIA GRATA.
There should be no mouIdings on the
base, norany ornament whatsoever, upon
1t, or the obelisk.
Such are my ideas Of the most appro-
pirate monument to the greatest man that
modern ages have ever seen.
But, If ornaments must be added,
VIII venture to suggest such as appear to
me liable To the least objection.
First. About ten or fifteen feet above
tine base, upon the Eas; front, let there be
| an American Eagle in ALTO RELIEVE.
larger than the life, and piercing the clouds.
holding in his talons by a ring, a LARGE
MEDALLION, with a bust of Gen. WASH
ington, also III ALTO RELIEVE within
tile medallion, and round the head of the
bust, thesewords, i'll large capitals, raised:
Dun, Presses, CIVIS.
And in The beak of the eagle these words.
III large capitals on a label
AID ASTRA.
Second. 1t might perhaps be more a.
Srecable 10 the taste OF some of those who
might contribute 10 the monument TO
substitute the following,
On the East front of the obelisk. let
there be niche rising from the base, and
| deep enough behind TO receive the statue
of Gen. Washington which now stands i'm
the Capitol, without lis present base: so
as for the statue, Tor rather the pliuth up
on which itstands, y 10 range in line with
the foot of the obelsk.
Round the circular part Of the niche.
DUX Presses, CIVIS.
And over the arc!, of The niche. the A.
merlcan Eagle. as above, holding a label
III lis beak with the words,
AID ASTRA.
WAsHIEGToNIENsIs.
March 0, 1915,
For the word foyif SEP por.re,s r,;.,t.. ~, 4,