Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-05-17


nish to-day some further particulars in regard
some facts concerning which We're published
in THE SrAE OF Tuesday last. The gentlemen
named by Mr.. Corcoran as the trustees of the
noble institution held q meeting on Saturday
evening, tie 18th inst, when the deed FOR the
property was formally deli ivered, with the fol-
lowing Intere sting letter:
Mr.. CoRCoRAN's LETTER.
WASHINGTON, May 10, lS69.-GeRtIs nass.-It
is known 20 you that the building AZ the north
east corner OF Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street was de igned oy me for the encourage
ment OF the fine arts, as Is indicated ov The
dedication upon its front
The work was begun in the year lSSl and
was prosecuted with the heartiness nat.
urally incident 10 sucn an undertaking, 1ntil
IL was interrupted by the breaking out the
late civil war, when the public exigencies led
70 the immediate occupation OF the building
Tor military purposes, and 10 these uses II has
been dey oted ever since. until beinr no longer
required by the War Department, it is about
TO he restored 10 my possession.
l. was my cher shed hope 10 have placed ,he
proposed establishment complete in all Its ap-
poinIments IN successful operation before d.
vesting myself OF the title by any formal in
-trument, but the years which have thus
passed away. and thu accumulation OF other
cares and outies. warn me- NO longer to indulge
the pleasing anticipation.
i hSve therefore not doubling your general
interest in the SUBJECT. taken the liberty Of ex-
eouting TO you, as Trustees, a deed which l
herewith ENTHUSIASTICALLY defining the trusts
which i ask you 10 accept
In addition TO the title to the property itself
you will observe that the instrument vests In
YOU, for the purposes of the trust. the right 10
receive the rents wholly unpaid for the period
during which il has been occu pied by the Gov
ernmeDf, now nearly eight years, which will
doubtless be adjusted with you, in the absence
OF any special agreement, upon fair and per-
haps liberal terms.
As soon as the interior of the building shall
nave been completed, according TO the original
plans (Which shall be placed at your disposal),
for which the rents in arrears will more than
sumce, shall ask you to receive, as a nucleus.
my own gallery of art, which has been collect
ed at NO inconslderabie pains; and have as
surances from friends in other cities, whose
tastes and hberality have taken this direction,
that they will contribute fine works Of art from
their respective collections.
may add that il Is my intention to provide
further endowment of the institution in such
manner and to such extent as may be con-
sistent with other objects which claim my atten-
ton; and l venture to hope that " IN your Kind
cooperation and judicious management, we
shall have provided, at no distant day, not only
apure and refined pleasure fer residents and
visitors at the National Metropolis, but have
accomplished something usefuIin the develop
ment OF American genius.
l am, gentlemen, with great respect and re-
gard yC%r y%irnssS ooedient servsrt c,.,,
To James n. Carlisle, james c. Han George W.
Riggs, Anthony HYDE James e.. Bsr,et, james
G. Kennedy. James e. Mcclure, Heary ID.
cooke. William II. HaHers-
We have not space TO dav for the deed at
length; but the following synopsis, kindly
furnished by Mr.. Hyde, Secretary OF the Board
Of Trustees, will acquaint the public with the
substance Of its material provisions:
SYNOPSIS OF THE DEED.
1. Authorizes the organization Of the Trus-
tees, with needful officers selected from their
own number, make all needful bylaws and
nd ham
pleasure, by the concurrence Of a majority.
ii. Authorizes the Board to I'LL any vacancy
caused by death, signation, &c., as to keep
the Board at all times full. and to consist OF
nine members.
III. Requires all property delivered to the
Trustees to be held for the purposes OF the
trust.
Nv. Requires the property to be held under
the trust or any act OF Incorporation, tor the
perpetual estabiis hment and maintenance Of
public gallery and museum for the promotion
and encouragement OF the arts Of pain ting and
sculpture and the Fine Arts generally, under
such regulations as the Boird may adopt:
Provided, that the gallery and museum shall
be open TO visitors without any pecuniary
charge whatever, at least two days in each
week, for such hours as the Board may order
and make public; and at such other times for q
reasonable compensation, to be applied to the
current expenses of preserving and keeping in
proper order the building and contents
'. Authorizes the Board to elect agents and
assis:arce other than Its own members.
VI. Gives the Board the general management
of the establishment.
VII. Provides that tie property shall revert
feyer diverted from the purposes OF the trust.
VIII. Provides that the Board may apply
for and accept an act OF Incorporation, in ac-
corder ce with the deed OF trust, the Trustees,
In that case, to convey to the parties named in
the act Also, authorizes the Trustees TO receive
all the rents, to be used for the purposes of the
trust, 10 he immediately applied TO finishing
the building and putting the establishment in
TX. Confides to the Board the system and
appropriate measures tor increasing the collec.
tiOn OF paintings, statues, &c, OF which the prI-
vate gallery of the donor will form the nucleus,
and such other voluntary donations as may be
made, and also the general Management of the
Institution.
To Mr.. Corcoran's letter, the Trustees made
the following reply
REPLY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WASHINGTON, May ~, 1-6s-T0 WiIIiam "
rOrcorGn, Esq.-Dear Sir We have accepted the
trusts confided TO rs by your deed 0a this date,
in the formal manner indicated by the deed
itself.
But we desire, individually and collectively,
10 add the expression Of our personal appreci-
alton OF the privilege OF endeavoring efficiently
to administer such an Institution, projected
spontaneously by your liberal mind. and Sc
curely founded by your sole munificence
While we cannot doubt that, at least iu the
time OF our successors, all your auticlpations
will be realized, We sincerely hope that you
may yourself live 10 en- 10Y the high and pure
qualification OF witnessing the complete sue
cess OF vour generous intentions.
With great respect and warm regard, We re.
m ain very truly yours,
J. NJ. CARLISLE, JAMES e.. KENNEDY
j. y. HALL, HENRY ID. COOKE,
GRO. w. RIGGS, j. g. MOtfUIRE,
A. HYDE. W.T.. WALTERS.
JAMES q. BERRET,
The Trustees then effected a temporary
organization. by the appointment OF Mr.. Oar.
Isle chairman, and Mr.. Hyde secretary.
This being done, a committee was appointed
to prepare system of Bylaws, Regulations.
etc; another to attend to the restoration Of the
building by Government; and another TO ask
from the Corporation an ordnance exempting
the property from taxation by the city. After
attention TO some other matters of minor i'm.
portance, the Board then adjourned
In addition to the above, little or nothing
need be said. The noble original purpose OF
Mr.. Corcoran is substantially carried cut. A
public institution, OF which any CITY or coun.