Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-07-01
STATUE OF WASHINGTON

'cn''e :" me hal'' lie following description IL gwen
of II IN the catalogue:
Ga the 22d ii june lisa by the Legislature Of Vir.
g,nia WAS Resolved That the Executive be requested
To take measures Tor procuring Statue Of Gen. Wash
ngion. 10 be Of the finest marble aud the best woranau
ship. with the following inscription IN lis pedestal
The Gencm Assembly Of the Commonwealth of Viz
gina have caused this statue 10 he erected asa
monument Of affection aud gratitude To
4 + q X 4 +. " As NGrON,
who,
unung 10 the end wmcnt of the hero hcNrturs II the
potrioi, and exciting both IN establishing the lib,
cities OF his country, has rendered his name
doat 10 his fellow citizens, and glvrn the
world an Immortal example Of true
glory.
Done in the year # Christ thou
sand seven hundred and clrhiy rlvhi aud
IN the year 1.-THE commonwealth the twelfth"
(rhis inscription is understood To have been written
by James Madnun)
Accordingly tov. Harrison applied 10 Mr. Jefferson
and III Franhln, then IN Pnr.s. enpag, a sntna,y
W. iioudon was engaged and cane IL America IN 1850
N tine same vessel with pr Franklin lie took from
Nlr Jefferson letter 10 Washington, from VIII CHI The
following is an cXtfaee
from jefferson 10 Washington
"P,als, 10 July. l,Sj
MI ll,udon would much soonor have had tho honor
ct attending YOU. hui io spell Of sickness which long
induced Us Ia despair OF hs recovery and from which he
Is hui recently recovered. He comes now for the pnr
pose ol lending the aid Of his ART 10 transmit YOU 10 pos
t"rliy. lie, is without nv shp in IT, being ,mpL,ycd
Tom all paris OF Enmpc IN whatever Is cap tai. lie has
had difficulty 10 Withdraw himself from an order Of tho
Empress oi Russia difficulty however that af,se from
desire 10 show her respect but which never gave Hint
a moment, hesitation @u' his presen. voyage. Which
he considers as promising the brightest chapef OF his
history. | have spoken OF hun an artist only; but |
can assure you Also that man. he IL dIsinlcrosed
generous, candid aud painting for glory every ccuu-
stance monng your g,Dd opinion lilo viii have need
To see You much while he shall hnve the honor Of being
with YOU which yon can the more freely admit az his
ctnnence and merit give him admission into uenee 81,
cices here"
From " dhiagion 10 Ifoulon
Mourn NrnNos, % September 1855
"Sir
"BY letter. which have lately had the honor To re-
ceve from DIR, Franklin at Philadelphia. am informed
ol your arrival nj taa place Many letters from very
respectable characters IN France, Well The doctor
INFORM me ol the 'ccason Tor which though the rausr
IS not Of my seeking. feel the agreeable aud prst.
iul SENSATIONS. wish the object Of your mission had
been more worthy ol the mascrly genius OF the first
s'suafy in Europe; Tor thus You represented to
me.
at will give me pleasure sir. 10 welcome Won to hi.
seat OF my retirement; and whatever | have or can
procure. that is necessary yam purposes convenient
and agreeable 10 ypur wishes, you must freely cpmnani
inclination 10 oblge you viii he among tho last things
IN which shall he found deficient, either on your Arrival
or during your shay.
"Nith sentiments of esteem. ! am, SIR" &c
The artist reached unt Vernon on the I'D of Orto1c
where he spent fortnight devoted to lho purpose Of his
visit.
From ,j.1trsoa 10 Uas,ag,ol
"PARls, jth January, l1SG.
Il have been honored With your letter Of September
the 2jh, which delivered M by Mr. Ioucon who
is safely returned lie has bought with him tho mould
Of the face only having lett the other parts of his work
lie ~ mn Ia nv antu
DR.. Franklin, who was joined with mo in the supernl-
icndonce oi thus Just monument, havGy LEFT before
what Is called the Of the statue was decided on
cannot 80 well satisfy myself, and am persuaded
should not so well satisfy the world, 10y consult ~
vunr own wish or nclinatian 10 this article Permit
me- therefore, To ask you whether there any particular
dress. any particular attitude. winch would rather
wish to he adopted. shall take singular pleasure in
having your own idea executed If YOU will be good
10 make II known To me-
From " na'ingion toJe0oson
MorNr VERNON, August. l7SG.
"ln answer TO your obglng inquiries respecting the
dress and attitude which would wish to have given I,
the statue in question. HAVE only to observe that moi
having sufficient knowledge in the arl Of sculpture Il
oppose my judgement 10 the taste o connoiseurs, d,
hJ desire 10 dictate III the matter On the contrary,
shall be perfectly satisfied with whatever may BIZ Judge,
dccnet and proper. should even scarcely have yenurt
To suggest, that perhaps serve adherence the gart
Of antiquity might moi be altogether oNped en
lIe deviation in favor Of the modern costume, i'll hal
not Amt from Col Humphreys that this ccnin
stance limited in rsarlon by Mr.. West to Mr. iluu
don. The taste, which has been introduced in painting
by West, understand is received with applause, and
prevails oXtcnsiyeyo
From Jc.g;,son 10 Uasiington
PArIs. II August, l7S7.
81 was happy 10 find, Ivy he letter Of August LIST
1S6, which you did me The honor wne to e, that the
modern dress or your would your apprpba
Hon found ii strongly the sentiment of " es, Copl.y
Trumbull and Brown, in l.ondDn after which ii would
be ridiculous to ndd. that IL was my own"
This work, therefore, purpots 10 be an exact portrait
statue OF W ashngionau authentic historical monument
tile costume being that in which he accustomed to
appear as Commander in chief No other statue was
ever made from his person, Tins was modelled
about years after the close Of his military career,
in mind in comparing it win later portraits How well,
in point of resemblance satisfied his contemporaries
and associates may be dgo from the strong declaration
of Judge Marshall To the person 10 whom the world is
indebted Tor the erection Of ashngton's literary
umcnt that, to- spectator standing the right hand
of the statue and taking hallront view at represent
ted tn original perfectly IA living could be rep.
resented in marble" Its placed in the State House
Richmond
The lameniable fate of what Canova fondy consid-
cred his immortal legacy to the New World naturally
excited solcude foI the safety of this unique statue,
the foundation oil his and all other works o"high ar
he same tie!nehe fixed pint from which dealizny
genius in future times mus, take It's departure. The
peipeuatoa Of it, in case oacciIrnt the original. by
exact copies seemed to have been long neglected.
Al length number OF public spirited gentlemen of bos-
ton, with Jared Sparks Esq, subscribed, last
summer, the of one thousand dollars, and proflrred