Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-22
VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
We have received number of documents in re
gard to the monument, of such general interest that
take the liberty OF presenting them TO the public eye
The monument, in its grand beauty and munifcence
will be such proud memorial of the generous graft
tude of our old commonwealth that every step in its
interest by the lovers Of art not only in Virginia
elsewhere. Hence we feel hesitation in publish.
ing the fullest details.
The subjoned letters and papers will be fully un.
derstood without further explanation. They disclose
the satisfactory fact that while the spirit of the gifted
Crawford will soon wing Its flight to higher sphere
he has taken care so to impress his genius those
in his employment that his designs will be faithfully
carried out in the completion of his great work.
For the fatal illness of Crawford himself, whether We
regard him as friend and man of lofty genius and
noble qualities, our heart truly bleeds. We cannot
express feelings at the approach Of the sad event.
more appropriately than in the following beautiful
and touching language of the New York correspon-
dent of the Boston Transcript:
"Crswiord, our celebrated sculptor is at the point
of death in London. Nature has sunk under the long
agony of dsease which surgical art could eradi
cate medical skill do more than alleviate He has
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systematic and udicous arrangements in regard TO his
affairs and become reconciled to leave world where
the highest success in noble vocation and the most
tender relations OF domestic life where fame, fortune
wife children and rends-an art he passonately loves
and the prime Of high faculties and feeling-combine
! to attach aud constrsn him fondly to linger. But
knowing it not thus TO be- he set about calm and
wise preparation. His religious artistic and business
frends-each in turn have come to hlm with the one
he partook Of the communion and revealed himself as
weaned from earth and purified through suffering and
the second he conded his professional wishes
that his workmen under proper supervision can
finish the large and valuable amount OF incomplete
work his studio: and TO the last he gave directions
for the settlement Of his pscunary affairs. What
an affecting picture is afforded by these scenes-thus
calmly and patiently to suffer, thus without repnng,
to die, in the midst Of so fortunate career the vg-
LIANT self possessed and heart broken wife and the devo
ted sister-ever at his bed sde-the children in this
country, unconscious Of their imminent oss-the ar
tist community in Rome full of sympathy and sorrow;
his great work-he equestrian statue of w Washington
on its way TO Vrgnis-the distant studio crowded
with the creations of his brain and hand-truy life
has contrasts and tragedies stranger than fiction!
We have already announced that the Brig "Wa.
borg" from Amsterdam, may be expected in James
River about the lst October with the Equestrian
Statue of Washington. The details, given below,
will show that she is fine vessel and that, after the
successful delivery of her precious freight, she will
afford to mercantile friends fine opportunity for
shipping cargo of tobacco to some Dutch or Euro.
pean port. 10 them we commend the "Walborg"
and her Captain.
But to the letters and documents:
From Mr.. Hooker, Of the Bankiag.iiouse Of Paken.
ham, Hooker j. Ca, Rome.
CARLSBAD, BOHEMIA, 22d Aug, 1857
w. +. RiTCHIE, ESQ, Richmond, Va:
DEAR SIR:-I left London last week for this place.
The day before leaving, Mrs. Crawford desired me to
write you and to enclose you:
A translation of letter dated Amsterdam, 2Dth
June last, which she had received from Mr.. Miller
Not received-Editor.
A letter of Instructions for the Engineers charged
with unpacking and erection of the Equestrian Statue
Of Washington.
A receipt Of Mr. Thorali Egidius for the statue
and
A translation in French OF letter received by her
from Mr.. Miller, dated 9Th July, which have not
time to place 10 English.
Mr.. Crswford's health tor several weeks past has
been such TO require Mrs. Crawford's constant at
tention and she has not been able to write you her
SELF and it is at her desire now beg to inform you OF
the progress OF the two etatues OF "Mason" and
"Msrshall,' which were commenced last Autumn, on
Rome, sarlr iu July and, th'nk must oe nns'eu !"
plaster by ti.Is tima.
The figure of "Marshall' stands waiting tor the
head The vessel which took the bust from New
York has met with disasters and been to Bermuda ~
j
time. ,.,. l..
The work on the two statues has been executed by
the two modsers whom Mr.. Crawford relies upon to
carry out his designs.
Mrs. Crawford says she does not remember who
the other two figures are to be. MIR. Crawford mas
made the designs. ,r
They are Gen. Andrew Lewis and Gen. Ihomae
| Neson-Editor. ,;o
As all hopes Of Mr.. Crawfords ever resumlng his
| lsbors have passed away, arrangements have oeen
made to have all his contracts fulfilled, where desghf
and models have been msde-and every'care WI! De
taken that no work leaves his studio that would Jeo
pardize his fair fame.
a statement from Prof. Gibson has appeared, cay
| inc the brain OF MIR. Crawford was 'added, and be-
come mass Of morbid degeneration" thus Is no.
| true-he euffered intense pain in Rome and paris
from the pressure of the tumor on the brain. which
pressure was removed after he went to LONDON,
10 March last and since which be has been IN Pereet
ru;ovment oC all his mental faculties; and this has
been source Of satisfaction TO bis devoted sorrow
ing wife who, with his sister, wait upon him day and
night. ! remain, yours, very truly,
JAMES CLINTON HOOkER,
| or Rome