The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-16

~Ir. CravvH ord's SuecessOFs
singular and somevhst iIi-tennpersd letter has
been sublished by Mr.. Charles II. Ward, OF New
yort. TIE New York Evening Post, In which,
amer denying statement 10 some Northern news
p.per that Mr. Crawford had beaueathed his works
70 Mr.. Randolph Rogers for completion, and ieav
ing the reader to infer that the statement had the
endorsement Of Mr.. Rogers himself Gan inference
utterly without foundation and which no one who
knows this peculiarly modest and heightened gen
teman ~ould for ~ instant believe,) Mr.. Ward
undertakes to stats that Mr.. Crawford "ieft the
s~sssed models Of the statues for ihe Virginia Mon
ument in = state TO Be actively forwarded by his
workmen, still employed In bis studio, under the
direction OF his friend, Mr.. Terry. The figure Of
Mason u completed and ready for casting" Mr.
ward sads that "Mr. c. had 10 his studio young
Itaiian nanoi Blasetti, who has had in charge the
setting up in the clay from Mr.. C.s models OF
many Of his works. and OF whose perfect eompeten-
o. 10 enlarge bis statues 70 mathematical opera
tien bot not lightly to be undertaken save by one
hmiiIsr with shs artiss's method Of working) from
the nnishAf model there can be doubt. A
plaster COST h then to b taken, and from this the
bronze neuld IL readily made. How much fairer
ths, Crswfords works should be carried to perfeo
ton by oss like Biasetti, thoroughly imbusd with
his spirit, than that stranger artist. and one who
did not sh ve Crawfora's confidence, should reap q
reflected si,wy from his works"
Il strikes " that the tone Of ths last paragraph
b - aussnsr sus - IL is unjust. Mr.. Rogers has
never professe, I 70 enjoy the peculiar confidence
Of Mr.. Crawford though he vas one Of the friends
Of that lamsnssd sculptor, and entertained high
admiration OF his distinguished genius. Nor IL the
nan Who has exc .uted such works 80 these Of
Rogers. and who w. " selected by the government
ct wsshington, 10 0nnection with Crawford, to
perfor M q great work which had been directed by
Congress- In condition to require reflected glory
from the works" of Mr. Crawford or any other
man We never saw mt sre uncalied for hipg than
this at an artist, whose ely fault Is that he has
been appointed BY the Pr 'psr authorities OF Vir-
yinia 70 finish crawford's ". rk-appointed after q
careful Investigation of his position and achieve
ments a. . sculptor-a positit N and achievements
which derive new impressiven. VS. from the shrink.
ing modssty and unassuming department Of the
man. s+t
In regard to the statements Pit forth by Mr..
Ward relative to the condition In which Mr.. Craw-
ford len the unfinished portions Of the monument,
We know nothing. without pro- sssipg any criti-
cal knowledge Of the subject, 1t ,ems to that
model, TO be submitted to the mo, lids, ought to be
seen BY the artist who designed 1t. OF the young
Italian named Blaretti," whom Or. Ward intro
duces to the State Of Virginia Il ,e person who is
to take the place Of Mr.. Crawfor, I, we never had
the satisfaction Of hearing before 1t may be that
this workman may be capable Of tai ting the NINA
tire nodels which, it 10 asserted MI Crawford has
made, aEd enlarging them to the r. 'quired dimen-
sions, "a msthemat icsl operstio D." says Mr..
Ward, bat aot lightly TO Be undertd zen" &c,-we
should think not,-though IL 1t be q purely I" ma
thematicaa operation" why may 1t not be per
formed BY sDy ordinary Journe yman' 1t may
well be questaosei whether, in models finished
under such circumstances, there would be more OF
Crawford or Bisseftk Ror ours, Ives, we feel no
socituds In the disposal Of this latter, except for
the interests Of the Srsss We wis to see the re
naming statues worthy es the gra nd triumphs q
Crawford's splendid genius, which are now among
the treasures of Virginia, asd we cannot believe
that in the state Of health which for so long time
10 comply with his contract. But this involves a
question of fact, which the Governor and Commits
sioners Of the Monument will Of course thoroughly
investigate. We understand that the contract with
Mr.. Crawford by its own terms expires upon hi
Death We have only respect and admiration for
the memory and achievements Of the great sculp
tor, but 1t s due alike to his fame and to tht
either the statues Of Crawford, or of some other
great srtist,--such ldr. Randolph Rogers, tc
whom the completion Of the work has been en-
trusted. The Commonwealth of Virginia is Ger
tanly not going to recognize the italian youth
named Biasetti, the successor Of and substitute
for: Crawford