The New York herald., 1869-12-26
FINE ARTS.
KitteipS Portrait Of President Grant.
The following correspondence Will explain itself:
MERCANTILE LIBRARY,


MERCANTILE LIBRARY,
AsrOR PLACE, NEW YORK, Dec. %, 1859.
DEAR SiR--The portrait to which tue enclosed cor
OF this city, who received from Mr.. Wilson g. Hunt
commission to paint II FOR the Mercantile Library
In May last. Mr.. kitte was favored by the Presi-
dent with several sttlngs and occupied, during his
stay or four weeks in Washington, room IN the
White House AZ studio. The portrait Ia half-lengn
dent most faithful likeness. Tne Mercantile Lib
rary Association will feel obliged to you if you can
give the correspondence place In your columns
Yours respectfully.
A. M. PALMER, Librarian.
To M. G. D. BORDEN, President OF the Mercantile
Library Association
DEAR SIR have the pleasure to present to the
Mercantile Library Association the portrait OF the
President the United states, taken IN June last
the library have field open Before them as wide as
the Western continent and the two great oceans that
wash ts shores. Statesmen guide In the councils or
the nation but the integrity and intelligence OF the
merchants direct commerce and control exchanges.
In a free republic the humble citizen may aspire to
the highest p0sttionB-aS IN politics so in COM
merce-by constant attention TO business, saving OF
earnings, with integrity and honor. Merchants
have arisen to positions OF einnence. Without
honor wealth is as sounding brass and a tinklng
cymbal.n Please convey to The members my thanks
for many past kndnesses and to yourself and the
board my best wishes for the continued prosperity
= ~ ''' ~ wa = WILSON &. HUNT,
NEW YORK, Dec. is, 1862
NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 1889.
WILSON G. HUNT, ESQ.,
DEAR SIR am In receipt OF your letter donating
to the Mercantile Library Association portrait or
the President OF the United States In behalf OF the
more than ten thousand active members Of our nsti
tuition hasten to offer you our hearty ana heartfelt
thanks or the gift itself cannot speak TOO highly.
The careful study OF gentleman OF high merit In
his profession, the high incentive that naturally
attaches to such Subject-enhanced, II possible, by
the generous purpose for which 1t was desgned-as-
sure us tor the painting an intrinsic worth Tor winch
any expression Of words must be, at tie best, q
meagre return. For this We thank you again and
again. But this large hearted act OF yours Is lar
many occasions wnen it has been our pleasurable
duty to acknowledge like thoughtlulness In you
Even now the Ink Is hardly dry that made our letter
OF thanks Tor an act tnat through your lnfu
ence placed IN our possession llfe'painting OF
the prOioundeSt statesman Derhap5--certalnly the
aDlest orator tnat our country has produced. But
deeper STILL and underlying all other considerations,
comes the conviction that our institution mas III you
what believe me, SIR, ~ SO much needs-a warm,
strong q devoted friend. WIN 1t afford you pleas
ure to know that 1t lS the consciousness OF sucn
friendship a8 yOurs-as sure az stendfast, thou
sand times proven unchanging as time ITSELF
that does more than all else to encourage and sns-
tain usp You have been pleased to refer to the
wide Held they have before them. True, Sir, II is
wider than the continent and the oceans. 1t is
bounded by eternity ITSELF The Library Is but sin.
gle agency in opening our eyes 10 the vast area OF
untred opportunity lying before us; but 10 those for
whom IL conceived and IN whose interests 1t now
making Of knowledge the lever Dy which all society
Is moved Tor the legitimate offspring Of knowledge
T. Rest assured @ ,s y dsar s SS%r wss
gift since our highest ambition VIII De 10 make or
the Library what you aud all good friends would
have It, .the benefactor OF the merchants clerk.n
With repeated assurances or gratitude and esteem,
/ am, tor the Library, very truly yours,
M. q. III. President.