New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-01-08
POWERS, s7aTUE OF WASHINGTON.

Baron RouGE 4th January, 1856.
essrs. Editors: As everything connected with George
Washington is always pleasing to American heart,
and the of Louisiana particularly inter-
ested in this noble work. they will be pleased to
that the statue of Washington stands now without
bemish its pedestal in the temple erected for its re-
ception
The statue raised its pedestal in the box that
contained Mr. Powers had directed the screws and
bolts removed the boxing then stripped off and it
stood covered with large sack. Gov. Hebert and
friends present this occasion, and
describe admiration when the sack was removed and
the statue burst into existence tits hard say whether
the associations connected with the figure of Washing
ton, the triumph of the artist, most praise
felt proud of the land of my BIRTH for here that
the classic chsel of American art had been ringing
umphantly among the rocks Of the Old Word-that
the hand of Powers had sprung immortal abor-that
truth fancy had been rivals in strife for excellence
until
"The rock assumed the noblest form of fe.n
After looking for sometime at the statue it was
cedd by all present to be the best piece of sculpture they
had and be 1t remembered, that Gov. Hebert
had visited Europe and may with some show of title
usurp this occasion the throne of Judgment 1t is i'm
possible to conceive more exquisite piece of marbein
deed Powers states in his letter to the Governor that
he has never finer piece of such size.
Mr. Powers has represented Washington in the citizens
costume of his time and such decked his manly
limbs in the days when his riumphs ended his hon
ors achieved and his gories their immortal
ity This costume has been strictly copied from the
preserved u the Smithsonian Institute, and has by the
sculptor with admirable skill been adapted to the rules
of art. The figure stands feet inches in height One
rests upon the fasees emblem of strength the
other contains scroll which may be supposed to be his
farewell address; the right leg supports the figure ;
the attitude is one OF perfect and serene repose ;
the expression of the face ia nobly contempatve, and
it is beyond power to look upon 1t without pious
reyorence-ndeed you feel disposed to stand uncovered
in It's presence and if you kne would be with the
of craven image and forget idolatry's crime.
Rapid and numbeess must be the reflections that hur-
ry through the mind of every American he stands
within the temple and contempates the grandeur
of our land. Memory will carry him bsck TO the day
when that beautiful queen of CASTLE and of Arragon
her jewels to the daring navigator and enabled him
discover land wherein Washington has fixed the nigh
test only true Republic of the world Step by step
he will her growing greatness until he finds her
where she s, with and station among the nations
of the earth, uuryaed uuequalied land unconquersd.
have heard it repeatedly objected to- that this statue
should have been in any way eneossdbut have never
who maintained the objection after he had
the statue. There statues made for exposurebut this
is not Of them. The Laocoon-the Yenua-the Moses
of Michael Angelo, and all the higher wrought works of