Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-10
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.

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laying before readers just received it. the following
interesting letter from the accomplished Sculptor Thoma
Crawford ESQ., announcing his satisfactory progress with thu
statues for the Washington Monument on our Capto
Square, Americans solournng in Rome have written hgt
praise OF Crawords model OF the statue OF the eoquen
Vrginun Patrick Henryand cannot doubt tha. all his
great works for the Virginia Monument will be worthy
his noble theme of his acknowledged genius and high
taton
Some sixteen months past, had 10 battle warmly ir
defence OF the plan Of the selected etcrnze the
memory of Washington. Time and reflection have but con
hrmed our preference of The model chosen We sought
adopt monumental structure that would be original in this
country that would rival the best creations OF Gecian Ro
and modern genius that would in itself create schoo
Of art and would many many years hence prove Mecca
whose shrine would resort only the enthusiastic low
ers OF art but the devoted admirers Of Republican virtue and
excellence from teeming land well as from the
continents of the Old World. 1t is genial though sad
pleasure the tourist through the ruins of the old World
10 see monumental marble bronze, the mailed war
ror as If reposing for long nights res and the meek and
santly bishop with closped hands, and white calm motion
less features reclining by his side if awaiting the hour
when the dark quiet night of death will TO bright and
joyful end"
With how much purer and elevated homage will the
future traveller filled with love for liberty and human virtue
md almost inspired wisdom, look up TO the eke images
Of Washington Henry and Jefferson erected by the graft
tude and affection of their devoted State The theme Is most
prefer to adopt the eloquent rcaks of
tho ST. Louis union touching the National Monument
Washington
Rising as an outward and visible sign of our loyalty to the
CONSTITUTIONS the manifestation and embodiment Of i'd
expression of sentiment inseparable from truly
American character and constituent elements Of patrsm
will be viewed by coming generations glorious symbol
OF national unity concord stability and greatness Differing
from other monuments il will the memory of the
yiFf AhuR inf
nation he delivered The student of the past fingers in
speechess ecstasy around the columns OF Taan and
Antonnus views with unmeasured admiration the magni
arches of Titus and Cnnstantines, is animated with
Frenchmans enthusiasm when he behulds the mementoeso
Napoleon in the Place Vendome and allows his
for genius and yau To oveeap the bounds OF nationality
when he upon the of The great Nelson But
with other feelings will thousand hence look
the monument Washington They will view II tnonu
men to character prolonged and pepeuaed in The nation
that called him father 1t will be regarded not merely
memorial Of the most ustrons parsonage but also Of The
benehcent agency in the long history oil the world
the glory of Washington not only to have possessed all
political virtues in their perfection but 10 have i'm
parted portion Of his peculiar WISDOM moderation
and ncorrupbe integrity to the government which he aid
cd establish 1t will be impossible we londy believe IN
coming ages separate The Ideas and contemplate the
character without by the samo act OF reVe
renee and admiration, yielding homage 10 the other
IL impossible contemplate undertaking like this,
massive and durable structure destined survive empires
and centuries and look upon the changes and evo
lions of thousand years. without thinking ourselves OF thai
mysterious and evenul future IT. five centuries hence the
assemble his children and his chldens children at the base
noble pie instruct them in the ustrious virtues and
great actions which it bears mute witness, and cite the
character of Washington still "without shadow and
without model" what wondrous vcssitudcs will not have
passed the political world! Civilization and empire Will
have been quietly transferred 10 the hemisphere
Europe will be in her decrptude and second childhood Ma
lions have their hey day OF vigorous youth, their strong and
sober maturity and their toothess and pased old age ami
,nany an empire exus in its pride and power will
be then trembling the OF its existence The
schno boy will then read of the battle of Waterloo as we
loo etho nf
that and Christian civilization will then have reacheo
its fullest development and Napole con and wellington
Canning and Taeyrand will longer be worshpped as me
dem-gods of the nineteenth century We Doubt even Mr
Ralph Waldo Emerson, or the greatest "phlanthroPss o
| the day, will come in for that honor
Many IN humble scholar Agassz and Humboldt:
will their proportions as they recede along the
far VISTA and be honoed by the of A. D. 230O as the
heroes of age. As years accrue the logs and couas
which the vision clear and the sky oghtens IN
the distance II would be trying Of effort OF an
English SCULPTOR should he transfer II from the gloomy al
uosphere of London the clear and brilliant skies OF lay
Of one thing the aultess and symmetrical char
acter of Washington will seem symmetrical unbem.
shed and matchess under clearer and skies OF
The distant The national monument TO his memory
will have acquired higher significance, as erected TO Inc
honor Of whom SIM gle age could not learn 10 value
duly and whose character like some undeyeoped science
yields fresh and astonishing results with every effort 10
| penetrate it's mysteries
The stone work on the Capitol Square, sustain the
statues is progressing with success and daily deveopes
new features of majesty and beauty Every one pleased
with MATERIAL Virginia granite as solid as 1t is striking
in appearance-and the admirable workmanship Aready
the steps and the PLATFORM which they lead are compile
tedand three layers of the starorm bases which support
the circular pedestas for the statues are finished Inc
granite very hard and the working OF 1t ditcu-ou Inc
whole structure progressing very satisfactorily and WILL
we doubt not when completed be worthy of the
and of the noble tribute Of Virginia TO her eminent son.
Among the most jealous and effective champions in OBJ
tapine the muncen mid of the Legislature in oehai OF
this work we are pleused the Rev. Isaac
of FIuvannu. We satisfied that he would have been ap
pointed one the Commissioners TO select the model
had the Governor felt the importance OF having the
Commissioners resident in Richmond TO be always on the
spot perform the and trying labor OF inspecting
and re-examinng the 70 SO pnns entered for competition
"a labor and responsibility which occupied the Commits.
| sioners for several weeks: -.
ROME, MAY H. 1851.
| HIliam F. Richie, Esq.
NV Dear S-You will not hope infer from my silence
since left that have been neectng my PROMISE to Keep
you informed of The progress might make with the staay
of the Virginia Washington Monument The fact is there
has been very little Importance communicate until quite
recently could have written you lengthy letter. contain
ing description of the difficulties and doubts have expe-
renced in selecting the appropriate Of the various de-
signs made for the composition OF the statues since
nv arrival in Rome and how, after couple of months o
study at last settled upon what believe TO be the most
expressive arrangement for the statues OF Henry and eer-
! son. .o ;,,-..,o. 49,. :, :,
would have served convey some idea Of the gradual
gress which take place in giving papaoe expression
10 the conception of The Soul Por by gradual progress
ande merely TO the disposal OF dapery accessories &c. all
f which serve 10 up the composition The conception
subject a de1ep. eo is ssse ,se Dy The
ano,nno decisive was offered in relation to the Statues
upon the original design for the Monument n which had The
honor of placing before the COMMITTEE oa. merely an ap
Droach 10 the general effect you will readily conceive thn
when arrived in Rome the truly study tor The statua-
| ry could only then be entered upon.
worked out the architectural portion of the Monument In
series of careful drawings prepared expressly Tor he builder
dnncaes having been left with His Excelency G1S
in cnse of any accident occurring the originals now IN
possession Of the Supein,endng Architect Ihs
therefore had TO be literally commenced here ana nave
he satisfaction of informing you that the model OF inc
Patrick Henry eleven feet height sb ,b.4 1
and will be completed in August next Before ma .,e -
, have commenced the model Of the statue OF Je1eson III
1be sans proportions. The designs for the shields cohan
iop the arms Virginia. ready 10 be enlarged ~ w
! uuired size-sx feet in height. ,, c,r
! The preparatory study in clay for the Equestrian uoap
tof Washington nearly finished shall not De ao'e 10
mmence The work in large before November Next as
h.en ohlped TO wal, some time in order TO procure