Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-09

ueiu by q strong force of the rebels. We can only
afford, as an escort for this string of animals, which
Will occupy nearly Sen miles Of road, one European
regiment, reduced or weak in numbers one troop OIL
horss artillery, squadron of carbineers, and corps
OF Sikh cavalry. II is curious and credible thing
that, unaicsd from home, We have not only taket
Delhi but nave already sent 2OUO men from here &c
the commandments, and are still able TO SEND
him nearly 1000 more {"
OUDE.-A report had reached Cslcutta-from a re-
liable source-that as soon as Mauns Sings adhesion
to the insurgents cause in Dude became known, all
the small talookdsrs. who had hitherto stood aloof
hssfened to make the, best terms they could them
solve, with the rebels. 1t is stated that with view
to make their accession the more acceptable such OF
them Us had previously concealed and protected Eu.
ropean fugiives delivered them up to the enemy and
that oil our unfortunate countrymen and countrywo.
men thus surrendered have been butchered.
THE VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT
From the Southern Literary Messenger for Febsuary
The noble Equestrian Statue of Washington by
Crawford has been safely placed upon its pedestal in
the Capitol grounds of our city, and awaits the day
OF its Inauguration, which has been fixed for the I'D
OF The present month All the arrangements for this
| interesting ceremony have been perfected, and We
have every confidence that the proceedings will be
worthy of the work glory of art of the State Of
Virginia whose munihGence has caused il To BIZ made,
and of the fame of the llustrious whom it has
been erected. As we write. the closely fitting gar.
ment of canvass which the Hollsnders placed over
the full majesty Of its graceful proportions impress
ing every one with its power The interest taken in
it by our citizens has been daily manifested by the
| crowds which have gathered around the base. This
interest will reach its CULINARY point the ap.
preaching anniversary of Washngton's birth, when
to the roar of artillery and the stratus Of the trumpet
sauted by lofty eloquence and tuneful poetry. the
Statue will be finally exposed to view and after that
1t will subsde from the intense enthusiasm OF the mo-
nent INFO lasting admiration and grateful pride
Since the raising of the Statue we have been fur
nished with letter and poem that refer to it, both
OF which we have great pleasure in laying before our
readers. The letter is from John G. Chapman, Esq.
the distinguished American artist and is addressed to
the Governor of Virginia. 1t nsrrstes with feeling
and spirit the circumstances attending the execution
Of the Statue by the lameued Crawford, and will be
read with delight
ROME, l35 Via del Babuino,
Dec. 18th, 1857.
MY DEAR WrsE:
address you in the confidence Of our old friend
ship, and as should have done some twenty years
or more ego, in matter which concerns me much
not as touching my individual interests, the world
goes, but for the love | bear the memory of very
dear friend. Were the Governor Of Virginia another
| should AK your aid and interest in the matter, and
rely upon your introduction for favorable accepta
| ton. Allow me, therefore, TO disembarrass myeef OF
your official position, at least so far as a more ample
explanation OF the motive, and perhaps apology, for
this communication might under other circumstances
be required.
| Rumors have reached me of difficulty likely to oc
cur from misrepresentation Of the condition in which
| the work for the Washington Monument was left by
my lamented friend Crawford, which forbid my si.
ence upon the subject, to you at least, whom can
address with condolences conscious that whatever in.
Ruencc action you may be called upon to exercise
in relation thereto Justice to the memory of Crawford
will be secured by placing you in possession of the
| truth Of the matter.
OF all the facts in relation to the progress of this
work, from its commencement to The present time,
| in tu pho ppG.
| dently-nons to whom Crawford more freely com.
municated his views, and to whom the means by
which they carried into effect are better known.
consider il therefore debt which owe TO his me.
mOry, as well obligation TO you that should
sumo the correction Of any obvious nisrepresentn.
tons in relation thereto that have been or may be
promulgated.
The interest that have felt in this noble work has
not been melted by the fact alone of it's achievement
being entrusted to in whose professional services
I have felt the concern Of long and sincere friend
| ship The manner in which it undertaken and
carried forward by our State, the little Boosting, and
talk, and ado, thar was made about 1.-THE frank and
honorable good faith in which 1t was conhded to an
arstn all respects worthy and capable Of it's achieve
ment evince that Virginia, in the impulse to confer
honor on her illus.rious dead had assumed consis
tent elevation Of sentiment, and Hber8ity OF action,
worthy of them and of herself. own il took me by
happy surprise have known 30 much of differ
ent ways of public dealing in matters of art 10 Anne
RIGA, that was scarcely prepared TO find that the
Old Dominion had escaped the cnntagion OF CONNER
cia bargaining for Art with artists. / never elt 30
strongly the pride Of my claim of birth-right 10
her. as when che thus proved that abe still maintained
the integrity OF her ancient character aud set an ex
ample TO States and public which in the history OF
art will place her forever in prominent and honora
| BILE position.
| Crawford felt this; and with it deep of re.
aponsibility ari-ng fhersrom. can bear witness to
the noble ambition which il prompted to the utmost
eIsrtion of his genius, and to the untirng industry
and ardent zaa in the execution OF bis task which It
scited and had his faculties and life been spared
but few months. even weeks, longer, the power OF
successful completion OF the Washington Monument.
in accordance with his well matured design, would
| have been placed beyond hazard.
| On his return last autumn from America, although
suffering more severely than he was willing to ac.
knowledge, or even 10 believe himself with lncpient
indications of the malady, which has resulted so IA
tally he gave himself at to the completion OF the
worklwith even more than hs accustomed energy
During the time of his absence from Rome he had not
only fully matured his purposes and we'll digested all
the means and details of their execution bat had tor
tilted and refreshed his strength by tour OF observa
ton and study through Germany, etc, and when he
returned to Rome he expressed to me the reie which
be felt in having al last clear conception OF his finish
ed achievement All that remained to be done was
to give it reality. When this point was reached by
Crawford, work came forth from his hand like one
of magic. Toll and labor with him was IN creaflon--
and how earnestly he labored, how far his fertile
MUS and imagination often ventured to the utmost
limits of The possible it was at times fearful to wit
mess by those whom love or friendship admitted to
his confidence. The mechanical operations of his art
were comparatively easy TO him. Practically FAM.
liar with all their details By course OF sewers Study
and early training, conversaDt with all the resources
of his art, quick in the apprehension and prompt IN
the adaptation of eIpedisnts, no ono whom have
ever known could 80 happily and successfully avail
himself of the labors OF others, which ne DID 10 All
extent that, although perfectly allowable hes laid him
open to unmerited censurs by some, who have pre-.
dictated the charge upon the seeming, no. the truth ii
ever man did his own work and that faithfully and
conscentiously he did, The aid he derived from others
restricted to the employment OF the phyacal
labor required IN the perfection OF hla works,
and the extent 10 which such aid WAS absolutely
necessary, in such works he was engaged
upon during the last few years OF his HE,
must be obvious, and even to those not familiar
with the means and methods OF workmanship en-
poyed in plastic production. he headed not, ana
never sought employed aid from incapaciiy or wan
of power within himself to achieve all that his genius
prompted. II he appropriated the services OF other
hands they were under the direction OF bis own su
peror intelligence in all relating to his art Ihls all
that knew him. we'll as /, can answer Tor, anu
those who may say otherwise of him. are ignorant OF
the truth of his character ~ al artist and man.
Before he was srriken down and obliged to go to
Paris in the hope of receiving alienation, II not re
NEEDY. for the mslady under which he was suffering,
the Mason and Marshall put up in large in clay,
the former very far advanced AZ would have been the
latter but for catastrophe Detailing the vessel in
which bust and certain materials necessary for its
advancement, were sent from New York, and which
have only recently arrived. Otherwise all the requr'
ed material ae we'll the general design OF The two
were fully prepared, nHd nothing remained to be done
but to embcdy them in the finished work: Al that
concerned him at this period is vividly i'm
pressed upon my memory by the deep concern
which the peril Of bis situation excited which
peril 1 feared WAS increased by his labors-
which he continued, in spite of all the remon'
strsnces Of his friends-to the utmost point Of ply
steal endurance. This period Of advancement in the
statues of Mason and Marshall having been reached,
and his workmen fairly started in their lahore, with
ample data to carry them forward, before he began
the last two required he submitted to partial OPERA
ton or rather surgical examination of his eye from
which be hoped relief at least to have the extent
and character Of his malady fully ssce.tained the un
favorable result of which, however, LETT no other ad
visa la atarnstiye than 10 abandon all other consd