The evening times., 1898-02-09
Mr.. HOAR's VALUABLE Gift
He Sends a Famous Engraving
10 the Library of Congress.
1t Was Executed in Concentration
of the Ieaty of Peace Between
France and America, Which Was
Signed in 1900 and Is of Gi eat
Historical Value.

Senator Hoar has just given to the
Library of Congress a curious and val
liable engraving which, so far as is
known, is the only copy existing in the
world. 1t is an engraving of Francois
Piranesi of the fete given at Morte
Fontaine, the elegant estate of King
Joseph Bonaparte, in Eonor of the
treaty of peace between France and
America. negotiated by Messrs. Els
worth, Murray and Davie on our part
and Joseph Bonaparte and two asso-
ciates on the part of France. The ap-
pointment had been offered to Patrick
Henry but he declined it.
This was n great event in French
history The bloody scenes Of the Rev
olution had put France at enmity with
all the other nations of the world. This
was the first great treaty of amity aft
er the fall of the monarchy.
The engraving is referred to in the
memoirs of King Joseph Bonaparte,
and in Mr.. Summers report Of the
French spoliation claims. a copy of
it was presented to Mr.. Sumner by a
French friend. But inquiry since his
death has failed to disclose it either
at the Art Meseum, To which he left
his works of art by his will or at Har-
ward College, to which he gave his Ii
brary.
Senator Hoar has been trying tn get
a copy for nearly twenty years, as has
the librarian Of the State Department
and also the Librarian of Congress.
Henry Vignaud, than whom no man
knows , he
of Paris in the matter of works of art,
as well as in the matter Of rare edi-
tions of the classics. has at last sue
ceeded in finding and sending TO Mr..
Hoar copy of this unique print. Mr..
Hoar intended To present il to the
Massachusetts Historical Society. but
the claim of the Library of Congress
seemed on the whole to be paramount
The fete was given at Morte Fon-
taine September 80, 1900, the day of the
signature of the treaty. a monument
was erected representing France and
America clasping hands in sign of am
ity Near by are the busts of Wash
ington and Franklin, and a candela-
brum which was presented by the Uni
ted States when they concluded their
first treaty with France. In the fore
ground was erected an altar. styled the
Altar of Liberty, on which the minis
ters plenipoteutiary of the two ma
tions are represented as swearing eter-
nal peace and union The three minis
ters of the French republic and the
ministers plenipotentiary of the United
States of America face each other in
front of the altar. Near by are the
three consuls of the French republic.
headed by Bonaparte and surrounded
by the secretaries Of the state and the
other ministers of the French republic:
presidents Of the different sections Of
the council of state, the president of
the senate. the president of the corps
legislatiff, the president of the tribu-
nal of justice, the president of the tri-
bunal of cessation, the prefix of the
department of rOise. the ENJOYS Of the
department of TOise. the mayors of the
principal maritime villages of France,
the corps diplomatique. the citizen
Despreau. the designer of the fete;
Saugeon the mayor OF Morte Fontaine.
one emblem represents Trenton as
the Federal city. The archives had
been removed to Trenton by reason Of
yellow fever in Philadelphia. Then
comes the horns of abundance. repre-
Senting the plenty which is supposed
to have followed the achievements OF
independence. Then q monument TO
October 19 17S1 the date of the surren-
der of CORVALLIS, bearing the inscrip-
ton. "Yorck-Town;" then three en-
blematic figures representing Philadel-
phia, Havre and Brest. By them is
the name of Green, and above all is a
figure representing peace extending an
olive branch from France to America.
Then there is an American vessel sail
ing with a French vessel. Then a
monument to the 18th of October. 1777.
bearing the name Saratoga. A Tyre
with an olive branch. An eagle hold
ing the name Lexington" Then there
is a monument to the Fourth OF July,
1776. with the words: independence
Americaine. Hancock" Then two
faisceaux bound together, with the
word Warren" A monument 20 the
nine Nendemiaire, Au TX. Two crowns
of olives by the name of Putnam. To
Washington. and by IL the words
Bunker Hill. A caducens with an an
chor. Then TO Franklin, with the word
Montgomery" Then an electric con-
ductor, and. beneath, the verse of
Turgot, "Eripuit coelo fulmen scep-
trumque tyrannis.'
The engraving is a somewhat rude
one, although Piranesi, the son of the
famous engraver of Roman ruins. was
himself one of the famous artists of
his time. The figures of the men and
women who made up the brilliant as
sembly are colored. probably by hand,
and are of two or three inches in
length,