The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-06-26
Eyerett's Grafton.

SIR: On behalf OF comm ittee OF the
Directors OF the Bunker Hill Monument As.
ISOLATION, have the honor to surrender %
you, rs the President Of that body, yondcr
marble statue of Gen. Joseph Warren, who
laid down his life for his country on this
spot, eighty two years ago this day. la this
act OF grateful cOmmcmOratiOn, We DO but
pay an clrly.promiscd lonS.dcferrcd tribute
vi affection and respect 10 one of the most
Jealous champions and efficient promoters of
American liberty and indcpendence-th
first distinguished victim in the cause. As
lar rs il is in our power, We wipe oil the
rcprOaeh which has rested upon us for two
generations. As carly n the Sth OF April,
l777, il was ordered by tho Continental Con-
sress, that u monument should be erCctc
20 tho memory Of General Warren in the
town of Boston, and 10 the memory Of Gen.
Mercer in fredericksburg, Virginia. Tho
marble U. which those monuments are 10 10
erected has not yet been quarricd. In 1894,
the members of King SolOmOn's Lodge Of
NlasOns in Charlcstown, erected on tho sum-
nit OF Bunker Hill Tuscan column, in
honor of General Warren and his brave as
sOciates in arms. The property Of the spot
ON which this monument stood was, by tho
donation of the lion. James Russell, vested
in the Lodge, and was cvdcd by them TO tho
Bunker Hill Monument Association IN 1873,
on condition that some trace ol their carly
patriotic effort should be preserved within
the more appropriate and permanent monu-
ment, which the association was about TO
erect. This pledge was fully redeemed in
Isis, by allowing the lodge 10 place within
their great work an exact copy in marble OF
the original monument and Of the inscrip-
tions upon 1t.
At the celebntion Of the anniversary of
the battle, in 1850, three quarters Of cen.
fury after the great event, IL occurred TO
generous and patriotic citizen present, whOso
heart and hand were ever open to the calls
of public spirit or bcneyolcncc-thc late
Thomas llandasyd Perkins, that the time
had come, when the duty oi erecting some
permanent memorial ut General Warren
ought no longer To DO neglected, aud q con-
tributiOn of one thousand dollars was LIBERAL
IL offered by him for this purpose. This
offer. contained in q letter to the late lamcn-
ted DR.. John &. Warren, was referred 10
committee of the Directors Of tho Bunker
Hill Monument Association 10y whom, after
due consideration, u marble statue, TO b. cx-
ecuted by some American artist was
recommended rs the most suitable form Of
the memorial. This recommendation was
adopted by the Directors, was approved by
Col. Perkins, and has been carried into effect
by his generous subscription and the cOntri.
buttons Of other liberal bcneiactors. Tho
work was coniidcd, in conformity with tho
expressed wish Of Col. Perkins, TO Mr. Hen
~ Dexter. Of Cambridgeport, a mcritorions
sclc. Taught American artist, whj, in its exc
cu,ion. has united the sympathetic ardor OF
the patriot with the CONSCIENTIOUS zeal OF
the sculptor. lie has adopted the original
portrait Of Warren, by COpley, " TIE OASIS
lol his liEene.s,, and has M doub. attained
as perfect n resemblance of tho yonthiui he
~. as /, is now in the power OF the aIt to
uruduee. In his presence, aud that OF his
wnrk. IL would h. alike supciilnOus aud in
delicate 10 enlarge upon is merits PER-
form the last pleasing and honorable duty
of the committee for procuring the satu,
in now transferring il TO your Official pos
session, and placing Ii. through you, in tho
permanent custody Of the Bunker Hill Mon
ument Association.
Tho performance Of this pleasing and