New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-21
ME-. LESTER AND THg vBsPUCCI
PORTRAIT.

FLoHxNck Friday Dee. 81. lsss
SIR: Having been requested by friend to
obtain information in regard 20 the authentic
ity Of portrait of Americus Vespucci, nov
detained in the possession Of Mr.. {. Edwards
Lester, Of New-York, addressed the Cav.
Ameriso Nespucci on the subject. and heprom-
ised 10 prepare a statement TO be used by me
in such manner as would most likely cause the
restoration Of so valuable picture 20 his fam
lily While awaiting his statement, TIE Neg
York Tribune of eth December reached ma.
containing letter Of Mr., Lester. in which he
charges Mr.. Bayard Taylor with having
brought against him one ofthe heaviest accuse
tons ever brought against the name OF an hon
orable man :" the gravest libel that could b
uttered against HIM" IAN unjust, false and
wicked accusation. because Mr.. Taylor wrets
from Florence that the said picture "was given
BY the Cavalier Vespucci, a lineal descendant
OF the great geographer, 10 Mr.. Edwards Lester
for the purpose of beingpresented 10 the Ameri-
can Government" and having received no mo-
tee of its acceptance BY our Government. he 10
anxious 10 recover it again Believing tho
words of Mr. Taylor TO be strictly true, went
Immediately 10 Cav. VeSpucci TO obtain the
promised statement. He had already prepared
il, and after having translated TO him the letter
of Mr. Lester in The Tribune, he accompanied
me without delay 10 the lodgings ofMr. Jerome,
our Consul az Trieste (whois temporarily herc.)
that he might sign the statement in presence OF
some recognized official agent of our Govern
ment This was done last evening" but instead
L. - =. 4 n 81
to YOU b. this days mad, that you may have IL
in your power as soon as possible, not only to
sustain Mr. Taylor, but also to aid in restoring
the portrait 10 its rightful owners, or in having
il placed among the archives OF our Government.
When you have read al the correspondence
between Vespucci and Lester, think YOU will
agree with me that the intention from The begis-
niag. was 10 present the portrait o. the Amcr-
can Government, in order TO awaken an inter
est for the descendants and shat Dir, Lester 10
understood il, he being only the bearer Of It,
and the interpreter OF the wishes OF the family
10 our Government for there is norhere
throughout the correspondence the least inu-
nation that it was presented TO him "persos-
naiiy as q token of gratitude and esteem, but
there is ererwchere evidence that il was en-
trusted to Mr. Lester as an official agent OF our
Government, and a supposed particular friend
of the family, to aid him in establishing before
the Congress of the United States, the fact OF
their being the true and only lineal descendants
Of the great navigator, and to pave tho wayt0
an expression before the American Congress, Of
the sentiments, desires and hopes. OF the Yes
pucci family.
Attached to the statement is careful copy
rerJatim of the letter of Lester, alluded TO by
Vespucci Ii, as also the one given in the body
OF the statement, is now Ia my possession. There
can be no doubt of their being iii Lester's own
nd.writlng
hIsERK KELLOGG.
The following is a translation of tho letter Of
Sig. Vespucc above referred to, of which .
verified copy in Italian, is n possession of the
Editor Of The Tribune:
To Mn. KELLOGG Esteemed Sir:--I have re-
ceiyed letter from you dated Dec 30 asking Of mo
If the picture representing Amerigo vespucc,
signed by me TO Mr. Lester, really authentic, you
having commission to purchase it,
would here pass the question Of its authen
ITCHY, and enter my protest agxpst such purchase.
giving my reasons for ID.
Mr. Lester having arrived In Florence In the year
lsi5 very eager 10 become acquainted with the
members OF the vespucci family and particularly with
the writer. lie was very inquisitive concerning the
situs,ion Of family and hearing that they we're 10
moderate circumstances, thus expressed himself
81 am Edward Lester cousin Of the President OF me
United States and resident Consul At Genoa hope
that my visit 10 ts city may BE- OF advantage 10 you.
will advocate your cause IN my own country, making
known your situation, but in order better 10 establish
the authenticity OF your descent It will be necessary for
10 exhibit some authentic document erning your
family"
The Vespuce family possessed IN $780, very inter
esting documents but unfortunate conssgration des
troyed the greater part of them But, In order TO
tisiy his kind earnestness, made him present Of the
authentic portrait Of Amsrige vespucc the only
mortal that remained TO me which he very readily
oepted assuring that this valuable gin should be de
posted In my name In the sesate, and that he would
hinseI become interpreter to the nstion, making
known 1t the situation Of the descendants Of this
great and the necessity Of providing for them.
lie then urged me TO procure for him the gepealogi
cal tree Of tho family which able TO complete up
to the present day, In the Diplomatic Archives alta
great expense.
Having LET. here by the way Of Leghsrn, March ~.
l545, Mr. Lester sent me letter bearing date March
~ which transcxibe rom the original
"DEAA yEsPuccr Your family tree was received
the day before yesterday.
taank you for all your polteness kindness and con-
ndence, during my resdence In Florence Nothing 10
wanting except certificate Of The picture, which
may be 10 bronze
9TH. Ia very important and Il Is nsceasay that this
certificate should be signed BY your hand and afterwards
examined by some professor vi The srt-waOut this
could not complete our design.
"As cannot postpone nay departure shall expect 10
shortly hope receive IN three days. Adiru, dear
friend will write you "a arrive In America
Many compliments % your sisters. Adieu.
"Your fsBhfal, EDWARD LEsrER"
believe that this account wsl lead you 70 give ny
the idea Of such purctsps and beg you obtain or
information 10 the present residence u the
many times named Mr. Lester that he may render an
account Of bis transscti0n.
afterwards received another letter, written 70
from Genoa, By which, 70 my great surprise IIearn that
he ~ishes 10 exhibit this picture at fair price
lsnswered him immediately, expressing my surpriss
At such proposal, when my stension had been TO pre-