The New York herald., 1846-04-20

Hiram Powers and c. Edwards Lester.
CARD-It with extreme regret that refs. again to
having fabricated a Life of Powers | have been as
sailed as though had Intentionally and really injured
,ns scuP.ors reputation, while in my work.
deavored to render both art and the artist
service. My motives were good. and they a. least
though failed to secure my Object But / have
good reason to believe that have rendered Mr. Powers
service for the pres: universally has complimentsd
that part Of my book relating to him; and my know
ledge there has not been single criticism passed upon
the opinions and statements made in his name.
So long the charges made against rested on the
assertion of my enemies was willing to leave them
simply with assertion of their fasehood But gen.
lsman has seen t to violate private confidence and dis
regard the express command of Mr. Powers and publish
letter from him in which Mr. p, his name,
charges with crimes that would the reputation
Of any man, II they were true. He says
The author of that work has abused my confidence
by publishing many things not intended for the public
and as II that was not enough he has put words and
sentiments in my mouth which never uttered
srtaned and TO crown ALL he has made what he calls
an Apology for Powers which is as destitute Of truth
IAN the circumstances, SO particularly narrated,
about his visit with the manuscript hat said and did
&c, are fsisehoods. The manuscript was never left
with me- nor did ever, with pen pencil revise and
correct 1t.
q" now find that he has paradsd before the public
most pomPous as well as vul language, and father
many OF his own sentences and in some instances
whole pages OF his own composing
regard all this as great misfortune to for il
s not only calculated to do present injury, but,
the book may find Ns paco-unworthy il is-in libra
ries and other deposi'ories, 1t will remain lasting dis
Whatever obloquy might rest on me from those
charges. lhever could consent 70 publish confidential
letters to defend myself SO long as Mr Powers did not
endorse them But being made over his own sig.
nature, will exculpae myself let the result be what
approved Of all had written and here repeat the state
ment and am willing to declare under the solemny Of
an oath that every page there printed Of Mr. Power, he
painful result that has followed natural that
should not fortiiy myself with documents to show
frank and unrestrained. But in case affecting vi
tally man: reputation as this and where assertion may
% met simply by assertion il may not be indelcats in
me to say that Mr. Powers dictated most Of these
versaons and read the entire MS with in the
bosom Of my family, and they testify that il was
submitted to his inspection and received his approval
There are besides several gentlemen in New York.
who were in Florence at the time, and give their
testimony TO prove my words words
letters TO sustain my statements The work had been
entirely prepared while together in Florence.
and nothing but the detention Of our ship at
Leghorn gave room for any between us
From these letters make such extracts refer directly
to the subject. promising them by saying that have
ten in Powers own hand writing, and show from
tho MS that he went over pencil in hand and made
s to the editors Of the city, and they open to
any ones inspection who may wish to see them. Tho
letter received in Leghorn just before sail
ing:
FLORENCE, March 20, ls4a
My Dear LESTER ~
an extract from a paper (Gl.Se) You viii perceive
from oil this that my friends in America doing what
things published in my name might possibly ret up 4
dfcussion in the papers at home, and you know that
there are those who would seize upon criticism OPT
them. The handle might be well enough in itsef but
who knows what they might attach on the end Of to
aoISa me on the head T Az to :. going
to make the work about to publish wholly your
own lam prepared to support all that have said to
can be, without becoming myself principal in it.
You may say that you obtained facts, &C. from me,
them when they are sO9hp9 %
that would give my enemies or am sorry and grsved
TO fni that have enemes) an advantage ever me-
king this course, and be likely to do real good
All desire Is TO avoid discussions about my opinions
against me- think that what told you about my mo-
dels ought to be left out for you know that there is
prejudice in the United States against using naked fs
male models
You might state the facts but not give them loca.
ton hope and believe that you will regard all this in
slider your own good in it with as much interest a. nv
own and that am most grateful to you for your kind
and most liberal views towards myself
| think you will understand what mean.
You are not to leave my name out, but II only in
such rs,s ?, csnn0. BY Be urn to an
dsnce. Most sincerely yours, II. Powrns.
Every suggeston in the above letter, faithfully fol-
loved. To mske sure went up to Florence again,
to have Powers mako another thoroug revision
OF the MS, and no did. When the work printing
had four extra sets Of proofs struck or which
by Of the best critics in New York. that nothing
also on ny own responsibility struck out whoie para
graphs Of Mr. Powers language, or made them my
own by putting them in notes, from the motives
leave it to the reader Of my work. II there 10 single
opinion expressed in calculated to awaken hostile
eeling provoke harsh criticism against Mr. Powers
To show that Mr.. Powers went over the MS In detail
give an extract from note written to me respecting
letter from Gov Pane VT, to Mr. Brown, the artist in
quirng what MIR. Powers would ask to execute statue
Of Henry Clay, for the VT State House. He asks my
advice about writing to the Gov. himself, instead Of
through Mr. Brown, and closes thus, in his peculiar
style:
.c, ."April 7th. is4s.
"Now your uncle thinks he will not trouble his friend
Gov Paine. What think you tell you Of all lhis on
account Of what said about Vermont the State House.
xc Do you think i would be well to modify thss. re-
H. for perhaps il will grow into "spewnr Of itself ="
Il will be seen, by referring to my work. vol H. p. 1885,
eally belonged to Mr. Powers This shows very clear.
that Powers had In his mind every part Of that work.
The letter from which the nsxs extract /, taken "a.
eceivsd in this country, and refers mainly to money
matters The following paragraph thrown in accidental
work. relating to himself He says:-
"FLoRENcE, Sept. II, 1s4o.
DEAR LISTER -
had letter the other day from Mr.. Long.
vorh in which he mentions his having made your ac-
~ he says nothing Of the book,
uds that he had not yet heard read His let
full Of kind expressions, which 80 to prove that II
10 had seen it, he was not displeaseJ. Believe
ne your friend, &C."
win simply add here that Mr. Longworth had seen a
art at least OF that work. for read II to him myself
Mr. Powers also wrote letter to the late T. l. Carey,
Phiadephis, telling him OF the work had prepared
bout himsel and expressed desire that he would pub
sh IT, This letter contained rster minute description
my bsok, and stated that be (Mr had helped to
prepare II. have written for . copy Of the letter.
have many letters from Mr. Powers, which forbear
publish hoping that neither he nor his friends nor
pes viii compel me to make them public The above
xiracts will 90 deemed SUFFICIENT by every candid
,sn TO excuIpate my character. No public act Of