Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-26
CRAWFoRD'S EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF
WASHINGTON.

Through private source. we learn from Richmond
that the Colossal Equeatrisn Statue OF Washington
by Crawford, is probably at this moment upon james
River. The vessel on which it was shipped from
Amsterdam, has been now out 43 days, and, allowing
for the delay occasioned by adverse weather, abe
ought to have entered the Capes. and to be making
her way up to City Point. The tonnage Of the vessel
ia 80 considerable that che will doubtless be unable
to 90 any higher, lad it will become necessary to
transhp the statue for transportation to Richmond
Here an awkward difficulty will lnterpose. According
to our Information, the statue as boxed upis compete
with the exception of the tail Of the hnrse ana occu-
pies box twenty FIVE feet high, twenty teet long,
and eight or ten feet wide. The tail can be adjusted
easily after the statue has been raised to- the pedes'a
it ia to occupy. But how is a package go large anu
40 ponderous (for the statue itself weighs ID tons
10 be taken from the vessel and lowered into the
lighter! Our knowledge Of mechanical contrvances
is so limited that are not able TO say "hether tue
ordinary ropes and pulleys employed IN the uscnargS
of cargo would be strong enough for the lifting oil
spch mass of metal, but should greatly distrust
them and it would not do to hazard work OF such
ariistie excellence and nesmable value, by handling
it in an unsafe manner Again, VIII the liSh'er Do
tina hest mode of conveying the statue to Richmond,
where the trouble Of raising the box from the river
must be encountered second time, and a long mile
and half of up hill hauling lies between the wharf
and the Capitol Squared May it not % more con
city, and 80 by the direct Northern lue to it's place of
destiua;onl We these questions for information
simply, and only because we feel deep interest IN
! of art beyond all question the most imposing that
| the country can boast Of We would not have IT
injured even so much by the scratch of nail up
on the glittering bronze, and We know that in mat
ters of this Sort unless great care is taken by the
parties charged with the tuperiutend5nce nl5cnlei ID
| very apt TO be DONE
1t becomes a question of very general interest, now
that the statue is at hand, when shall be inaugu-
| rated The Fourth of July HI the Anniversary OF
| the Nations Freedom, would seem to be suitable
day for tho exercises which should mark 40 striking
an event. but there objections to it, in the present
instance The excessive heat Of the season 10 our eli.
mate one of these but this consideration apart there
does not now remain sufficient interval between the
reigning date and the Fourth of July, to make the
necessary arrangements for the Inauguration. There
should be An Grafton and Poem-the occasion should
be rraced by the presence of the President OF the
United States, (Gen. Taylor, attended the ceremony
of LAYING the cornerstone OF the Monument, and his
Cabinet and the Governors of the several States
should be- invited to witness the proceedings. Barely
six weeks are left to before tho Fourth of july an
insufficient period in which to prepare for such eel
| ebration. Next TO the Fourth of July, the I'D OF
February-being the day on which the cornerstone
la-appears the most sppropriae but this seems
too long to wait for the elevation OF the statue, which
we are impatient to see upon Its base We beg, with
great Difference the Commissioners, to maked sugg.s
ton rs to the day Let il be the 18Th Of October sig
nalizng the most glorious incidents in the life OF
Washington-the capture of Yorktown. What says
the Enquirer !? This will afford time enough Tor the
judicous selection of orator and poet for the sale re-
mova of the statue to Richmond and tor the constrao
ton Of the heavy scslfolding over the Monument in.
dspenssb|e to the raising OF the colossal morse
and rider to the top. October is our golden season
then the atmosphere s usually clear and bracing and
the sunshine brilliant. but not overpowering. A lar
greater number OF strangers would come to Richmond
beneath the October sun," which Webster has
celebrated, than during the fervor of JULY Peters
burg Express.