Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-18
.r,lr or WASHINGTON

On Inc a2l Of June 1884, by The Legislature
re Viroinia i, was "Resolvcd, That the Execu-
live be renue,ted 10 take measures for procuring
statue of Gen. Washington. 10 be oil the ilnest
marble and the best Workmanship, with The ioi-
lowing inscription on lis pedestal:
The General Assembly OF the Commonwealth OF
VIRGINIA have caused this statue 10 be
erected as a monument OF atlec-
lion and gratitude 10
GEORGE w ASHINGTON;
! who,
| pn;,;n, y, tho endowmens Of the hero the virtues
of he natfiot, and eNerting both in establish
| inc ,he liberties OF his country, has rem
acred his name deaf 10 his fellow
citizens, and given Inc world
an immortal example
OF true glory.
Done in the year OF Christ
ono thousand seven hundred and
eighty.eigh, and in The year OF The Common.
wealth the twelfth"
This inscription is understood 10 have been
written by James Madison)
AccorJ;poly Gov. Harrison applied 10 Mr.. JEFF
ferson and DR.. franklin, then in Paris, 10 en-.
gage slatuary. NJ. Houdon was engaged, and
came n America in 1885, in the same vessel
with DR.. franklin. He took from Mr.. Jefferson
a letter 10 Washington, from which The following
is an extract:
FROM JEFFERSON TO WASHINGTON.
"Faris, 10 Ja!y, 1853.
"Mr. Houdon would much sooner have had
the honor Of attending you, but Tor spell Of sicS-
ness, which long induced US 10 despair OF MS re-
| coyery, and from which he is but recently ieco-
vered. lie comes now, for the purpose OF lend
ing The aid Of his art to transmit you TO poslcrty
He is wi,hou! rivalship in il, being employed
from all parts Of Europe in whatever IS capital
lie has had difficulty 10 withdraw himself from
an order OF The Empress OF Russia a difficulty,
| however, that arose from desire TO show her re-
spcc but which never gave him 4 moments he
station about his present voyage, which ne con-
siders as promising .he brightest chapter OIL ms
history. have spoken Of him as an artist only;
but can assure you also, lka as 4 man, he IS
disinterested, generous, candid, and painting Tor
glory; in every circumstance merillng your good
opinion. Lie will have need 10 see you much
while he shall have the honor OF being with you;
which you can the more freely admit, as his emf
nence and merit give him admission into geneel
societies here"
| PROM WASHINGTON TO HoUDoN.
! "1Ionnt Icrno,l, ~ September, 1875.
"SiR
SPY letter, which have lately had the honor
TO receive from Dr. Franklin al Philadelphia, |
am informed Of your arrival al that place. Ma.
ny letters from very respectable Characters in
France, as well as the doctors, inform me OF the
occasion; for which, though the cause is not OF
my seeking, | feel The most agreeable and CRATE
| full sensations / wish the object Of your mission
had been more worthy Of the mastery genius Of
the first stauary in Europe; Tor thus you are rep
| resented 10 me.
at will give me pleasure, sir, 10 welcome you
10 this seat Of my retirement; and whatever have,
or can procure, that is necessary 10 your pur-
poses, or convenient and agreeable 70 your
wishes, You must freely command, as inclination
TO oblise you will be among the last things in
which ! shall be found deficient, either on your
arrival or during your STAY.
"Wilh sentiments OF esteem am, sr," SC.
The artist reached Noun, Vernon on the 81 Of
October, where he spen, fortnight, devoted 10
The purpose O. his visit.
FROM JEFFERSON TO WASHINGTON.
"Paras An JANUARY. 11SG.
~ have ben honored with your letter OF Sep
TENDER The 2Gh which was delivered me BY Mr.
uoudon, who is safely returned. He has brought
with him The mould Of The face only, having leil
the other paris OF his work with his woTkmen 10
Gene by som. other conveyance. DR.. Franklin,
who was Joined with me in The superintendent
Of this Just monument, having ef US before what
is called The costume oil the statue was decided
on cannot SC we'll satisfy myself, and am per-
shaded should not well satisfy the world, as
by consulting your own wish or inclination as 10
this article Permit me, therefore, TO ask you
wlelhor there IS any particular dress, or any par
licular attitude, which You would rather wish
TO be adopted. / shall take singular pleasure
in having your own idea executed, il you viii te
So cool - 'udhe II known 10 me-"
FROM wAsH!HGToi, ,sr---snN
"1l9unt Vernon, AagGsL Leo.
Tin answer 10 your obiging inquiries respect
ing The dress and altitude which would wish 10
hare given 10 the statue in question, have only
10 observe, that, not having sufficient knowledge
in The art OF sculpture 10 oppose my judgment 10
The taste OF connoisseurs, do not desire 10 dictate
| in the matter On the contrary, shall be per-
fccty satisfied with whatever may be judged de-
| cent and proper. ! should even scarcely have
venured 10 suggest, Ina, perhaps scrvc adhc-
renee 10 The Sarb OF antiquity might not be alto
gelher so expedient as some lille deviation in
favor OF the modern costume, il had not learnt
from Col. Humphreys that this was a circun-
stance limited in conversation By Mr.. West TO
MIR. lloudon. The taste, which has been intro.
duced in painting by West, understand is re-
cci7ed with applause, and prevails extensively"
PROM JEFFERSON TO WASHINGTON.
| "Paris, Ia AHgua, 1857.
al was happy 10 find by the letter OF August
LIST, l7S6, which you did me the honor 10 write
would meet your appreciation. found it strong
y The sentiment OF West, Copley, Trumbull and
Brown, in London; after which il would be Iidi-
culous 10 add, that il was my own"
| This work, therefore, purports 10 be an exact
portrait statue OF Washinglon-an authentic his
torica monument-the costume being that in
which he was accustomed 10 appear as Command
erin Chief. No other statue was ever made from
his person. This was modelled about Two years
after the close Of his military career, in The fifty
fourth year OF his age, circumstance 10 be borne
i in nd in narirf 1ofn
How we'll in point oil resemblance, II satisfied bis
contemporaries and associates, may be Judged
| from The strong declaration of Judge Marshall 10
| the person 10 whom the world is indebted for the
erection OF Washingon's Mcsarv monument
that, TO a spectator standing on the right hand OF
the statue, and taking halt-.ront view, "i rep
resented the original as perfectly as living man
could be represented in marble" Ii is placed in
The Salc House at Richmond.
The lamentable fate of what Canova fondly !
considered his immortal legacy 10 The New World,
naturally excited soliclude for The safety OF This
unique statue, the foundation OF his and all other
works of "hish art" Oh The same hame-the fixed
point from which idealizing genius in future times
must take its departure. The perpeuaion OF il,
in case Of accident the original by exact copies
seemed TO have been loo long neglected. AT length |
a number OF public spirited gentlemen OF Boston,
in concert with Jared Sparks Esq, subscribed, |
last summer, The sum OF one thousand dollars
and profered il 10 Sisnor francesca Cicchi, |
we'll known skilful artist in his line, on condi-
ton that he should 60 10 Richmond make mould |
OF The statute, and furnish in Boston one perfect
cast-lhe mould 10 remain his property for the
multiplication of copies throughout, The land. alta
reasonable expense. This task Sisnor Cicchi
has most successfully performed AMI il is hoped
that all The States and many smaller commune
ties, may ere long choose 10 have This eyemplar
Of "true glory" overlooking their halls OF deibe-
ration.
II should be stated, that application was made
to the Government OF Virginia, through The Hon.
Andrew Stevenson, late Minister 10 London, who
took lively interest in The matter, and obtained
permission to have The mould aken-a permits
sion not 10 be lightly granted as The process would
not be without risk in unskillul hands.