New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-04
IRE Portrait Of Americas vespucsus-A Let
ter from G.. Edwards Lester.

Bb!hfu o!lot, PuDhS"S" - - TT
hoc,a unf,vorably uDop e.. Edwards Lester,
- cIIo,,;no e+.tona,t
Esq, we give place 10 inc io1o""S ''"'0
f-o,,, ,b,t gentleman in reply:
avn We =, -.
To ne Edtorof IheN. L. H'"me'
On nv return from NeW-Enghnd lndnks-
festival find that in The Daily Tribune OF Nov
81 M Ravard TAYLOR in writing from Florence has
, sssipst ,oe one OF the heaviest accusations ever
Sronb AGAINST the name OF an honorable man, and one
biS2 pyes,,ne you viii very cheerfuly retract. In
TIA. pfefIs Tbnns of Nov a. the same libel u repub
Eshed and IL the circulation which is claimed for your
I-., he not entirely falulous this libel must
- ,,,r ,h,opgh nearly or quite 100 900 copies.
III deemed 10 he a serious matter when, from the
bps OF one nan an ,sv il he deemed when
tas-how nucn NOR , ~ to the w1rld by the
100 or Titaa press which prints 10000 copies an
hour
Mr. Taylor ssys h.e Of Bcouni,ps portrait Of Amsriso
By the bye ~hs, ms s hS The tIa.rsr eres. Coa
vepOo vhch va. s.ns's sy he csv,Per We ppetbs
lnesl descendant Of that great 1 ta"ards Le
M The purpose Of being presented 70 the Ans can "oveunnL
lervs exhibited for time he Library o. h.fes. AZ
", vas precious loom OF The family and a. he has received
no no,ee acceptance by our Government he = anxious to re-
'',s. ri. ,he orsyet libel thu. could be uttered
,st me n not only assumes that am destitute of
,iose ordinary sentiments Of honor, which ought TO
smde rnfn in whatever they do, but it deliberately
sHoo e yrtb inch violation OF public trust as no
sno' -. =, rblic william would dare 10 commit When
on T1 laid that the picture of Amengo Vespucci
Id hon wen 20 me for the purpose u being presented
t,bo A,nSrican Government" he took a most unwar.
sorssbe liberty with the facts nor could ne plead in
extenueton Of the liberty he took ignorance o. the
subject; for all the ia ts had been in various FORMS
bro,vht before the nation particularly in my LIE aud
Teoos &c A,oericus Vesnucius nbljshoA In l2t6 in
,IcS or the 41etb maze apDearod l.fer from Amor
loo VI, nucc 20 myse which set fortA an the facts in
- csse spd inc nuLliceiign of which will demonstrate
,hs, NJ Tsvor no. uttered against me nm uuiounded
snd cruel sccusation This letter shows that the Dor
,r M Amercus Vesnuc;us was given to me persona.
,r a, token NJ Gratitude and esteem and by al the
niles Of honor and of business that guide men every.
,.beyc deer, n To be my own propertv Read then
the Ietter of which have e1oken
w. -. =. -. -, ,,ov ,s,,,oo v,.-rc,,
"ta, Inv van 70 Iesye v ttout 1ssi'e.toT the sent,
neuts Of polouud gratitude toward The
teous and tn manner IN whh you have treated as e
ow beveI , 80 ny ,T I'D ~ ,osI
~ aSJe,,st G us of eonye the American Cone.. the sent
epts o, y FAM depressed bv many msortunes
motions late Whie beg you TO continue 70 eye n your
a',ianct m rastns Known 10 tons. oer o, az ,
gSS sS Zen Fam , IA WIKI Is tbe ony memorial Of him
which ronans to my lanyf tra viii look with
pleasure the features Of DE man w9o gave ms n 20 e t
ma 9ean'u po'uoh Of Ae so'e 70 ""''" ''' '' ~ ''
The Vepe family with you Pleasant voyage and would eypesa
you the profound gratitude and consideration Your humble ser
want , AN'AI'o 't''''e-
F0'f'oi io'h narch' io'o' - .
If Mr. Taylor happened to be ignorsnt Of tne Work OF
which speak he ought o. least to have been s0newhst
careful in speaking about the subject at all 1t
ought to be enough that should De attacked IN my own
country and by one OF my own country rlen, Wilno9t
cross'ng the huanuc Whete Proless " " hlon en-
above all, IN Italy, where served my dOVeinheht BIN
years IN an olhcla stanon bringing away WIN me rom
ths same Florence the diploma c one Oh tie most an
Gent INSTITUTIONS OF learning III ilay' WHICH ma ho'oi
been conferred upon any other OF my countfymen; l
am known III FLORENCE nov ohIy 10 ~ Du1
10 its scholars ana MI Taylor might nave CHOSEN SOM
otter capital in Europe from which TO have da'ed Ii
belous attack upon me, during hurried Wit through
country where had hve many years lhe oH;hse t.
therefore the greater and Tor t among other reas )
deem complete retfsctOn due 10 myself
Allow me now since the man acts are ou, %
this picture which sent as the letter above shows,
voluny offering OF regard to me personality TOOK
brought TO the United States, and Immediately oh'Ted
10 the American Congress, as treasure worm the pos
session and guardianship OF the Nation ana WIN "
presented memorial irom tne nemDers OF t1e tes-
puccl "muy IN Florence III "hTh they esAcu io 'u
privilege OF ciuzchslp ana SUFFICIENT qufy VI lt"i'
10 enable them by 'hsI own eNoruons, 70 niall."h
thereon with respectabty the name OF the IcestOI
OF which they are 90 justly proud ;, -.
For more than three nlontns ehoenVoic' III w a5h-
ngon 70 get IaVoIaoe nearing lol ~ nc
Vespucc family. ien thai our repupica1 fePu'Suon
called for some expression oil regard 10 te descendants
OF that ilusnous man, VINO enlarged the Oouhs VI hu
man knowledge, ana tacrhceu 20 muen III INC Causoo
humanity rlrSt OF aI ehuessoleu 10 oot"m al ~
mission 81 President f0k 10 nans this al tiie
Presidential mansion. Thinking it would be better TO
putt n the Congre-snnI Library a once nc
The Library COMMITTEE and the picture was pun III the
Library directed 10 IL the sehuOh OF large mum
Der Oi men IN both Houses depOsled such papers On
the subject from the descendants OF Nespuclus anu the
authenticated dspatches from the Grand Duke Oi lus-
cany would have been enough TO establish the orl
sinsly Of any work OF whatever. Again and again
tried have the matter brought before Congress and
as the records of the Senate will show my request wac
that the picture might be purchased by me Nauoh 0r
such should be deemed proper, and ne araits
Of such purchase 10 be dHsed 10 the desceHddRs o. TIE
sTsa' dscor1r: "
The whole plan aled although II had the Dcst ehuet
vors OF some OF the beet men III the nanoni ouI 40
not think that ought to be subjected to m!'representa
uon and abuse because failed IN an attempt 10 convert
what yves private gift into public honor and advan
iage to the children OF Americas Vespnems If have
done anything ann proud OF, tha, my country
may well praise me Tor II i tue effort made III me
cause of humanity and nationality IN tht matter. II
,;a' - NJ 49, -" s. ~, So I 40 ma,
=, 80 -. 90 -. ,;,,i,x cannot
oar moro common acts