New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-23
THE yESPUCcI PORTRAIT.
Reply TO Mr.. G.. Edwards Lester.



SIR: Enclosed you will find letter Of the Cav. Yes
puec in reply that of c. Edwards Lester in The III
time Of February 25.
Mr. Bayard Taylors assertions being fully sustained
the portrait of Amergo Vespucci discovered after being
shut up from the public for than seven years-our
Government and people apprzed OF all the CIRCUMSTANCES
sndipg its transmission to the United Sates-there re
mains only one more wish to be accomplished at present
that the picture will last into the safe keeping Of
Congress. On this point allow to make suggestion
should Lester offer to our Government any portrait of
Ame,ipo Yespucci puporing be The one he rceicd from
The fqnilg in Florence IL viii, before accepting De qlte
that il is he original atNNg Ptsstoe copy
of il il so readily obtained that deception may be attempted
uIOn even the wsdom OF Senator'S Testers courteous
TOW ard me was expected as the natural ebutiou
Of liz SANITY character This one e failure IN his spec
ualons ought disturb his equanmity seeing that IN
npy Others equally worthy Of bis talents he has been 50
peouliary successful Ills COHsuisbtP' at Genoa was
speois fruitful in acts rejecting much honor upon his
Government light upon his own integrity ana genus
They are theme Of animated 70 the present
d.y throughout the Mediterranean and am happy 10 say
AZ anv of them are recorded in the Stqte Department
az Arlington Ter the benefit of all future Administrations
10 their foreign appointments
With many sincere IN lnks for the space you have gwen
in your paper ward the discovery aud recovery OF the
vefy valuable and only authentic portrait Of Amerigo
yespucci remain, Respectfully your ob,t seTyt too
Floyeaes AIra 70 1856
LETTER FROM
rrar station
Tote Editor Of Then. y. Tribune
SIR, have met with Article inserted in your journal
rned, Mr. Lester and the Picture of Nespucci concern
ing which am desrous to make you some explanations
The letter upon which Mr. Lester grounds his defense
Of himself was written by when under the influence Of
his friendly professions, was far from believing that
,xonld ever become source OF contention.
During our Intercourse upon the subject IN question: Mr.
tert0d NE that such letter necessary As testno
La that he commissioned BY me 70 make Inc aPphcs
ron 70 Congress. This letter was written oy ne aud Sent
,gsther th Other letters concerning the family aud Witn
the picture Of Amergo Nespucci 10 Lsghon to Nc Les
ter Who vas TO be there at that time with his family at the
Hotel Of II. Mark 49,,
Afw days AFTER received his reply in which he thanks
me for nv poteness him. and adds Nothing Is now
wanting but certificate that the picture by Bronzno
mis- il yery important and the certificate must also be
signed by your hand and aterward Inspected ~ some
Professor among the Artists We cannot accomplish our
NagifMr Lester understood that the picture given
% him The certificate which he required would have been
s,auops for zee are not 10 look gIt horse IN The mouth
~ The proverb goes and besides be declares tha Without
i,my design could not be carried out
popld AK what was that design if not the one which
had been arranged between namely 10 make present
of the picture the Congress of the United States and al
he ssre time SUBMIT Congress petition tending 10 show
.curiary situation Of the Nespucci family Ib al ne
The commission Of Mr Lester which he assures me ne
ts eyecuteo ard must beg the respected Editor OF ne
T,,IDne 10 ascertain OF Dir. Clay, Mr calhoun and mr
I,r ifihey have been consulted in this matter and II
here is any document to prove the rejection of ts iona
ton by Congrtss. -, -.;, g.
"A
~ ,iTe concerning this Transaction assure you nave
mo letter except the one from Geneva dated Nov.
$50 IN which he expresses his expectations Oh inc sue
f the undertaking ard even leads me to expect that
II hall prove unsuccessful be himself would bestow
non me pi, &c Of his own land He however concludes
Ills letter by saying Il still have hopes that the picture OF
amerieo will be- sold in Boston for reasonable sum On
a. 10Th Nov replied cursory 10 his polite professions
ard also expressed my dpessure at the thought OF MS
conseutpg sell the picture since the Nespucci A had
only been induced to part with SO precious memorial IN
consideration of the honorable result that might accrue %
them from IT, Otherwise begged him to desst from inc
prosecution Of this design which would disgrace MS COM
mission. -.
Having received no further intelligence from him. re-
ouested The respected artist Mr. Kellogg to nnd Mr. Les
ter and requested him formally TO protest Id my name ana
! now renew this protest against the sale
In his defense Mr. Lester Observes The sgnorVespucc
bad been very DESTROYS for six seven years that woud
4 sell the picture Nothing could be more iAse.
II on March 90 lsi5, after the whole nesOu1uon mao
been concluded BY me- he had satisfied himself that the
picture had been given to him. and rom thai ne 40 mao
no communications with me, how could ne prove tnAi VI
The space OF sx years had been ANXIOUS " 'oA
the picture especially he could not produce any ooca
mept testifyng this my desire This inconsistency IN
worthy Of the Of Mr. Lester and nope 10 VIII
.ouId beg the respected Editor Of The Tribune &c
/ make known 70 Mr.. Lester that II my eAprs S
uish thar there should be change maze IA Tue
| frame Of the picture Of Nespuccii LOT WnSu oVu
signed II 10 him il was in the best conoitOh as Ar a
regards the hrmness Of the frame, sei a.
Gent and the gliding which was ren. wea - ~ "' " ~
| CONSIGNMENT was also ia remark able preserSsuon,
subscribe myself with expressions OF respect ana esteem
i0ui H"''''' Axrnco vEsPuccI.
An Orthodox Clergyman on the Tribune