Part 9

We have no knowledge of any Egyptian obelisk much exceeding one hundred feet in height, though some writers speak of such monuments of considerably greater dimensions. The extreme difficulty of obtaining monoliths exceeding one hundred feet renders it probable that the measurements of the authorities referred to were mere vague estimates rather than ascertained dimensions.

* * * * *

Yours truly, GEO. P. MARSH.

BROOKLINE, MASS., _August 1, 1878_.

MY DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 20th ultimo reached me yesterday. I thank you for sending me the copy of Mr. Story's letter, which I have read with great interest. I am only a second vice-president of the Monument Association, and am not included in the commission for completing the work. I had no part or lot in the original design of the Monument. * * * As an original question, I might have desired a different design; and I had no small part in inducing the building committee, many years ago, to omit the pantheon at the base, and to confine the design to a simple obelisk. After that was arranged, and when the Monument had reached so considerable a height, I was very averse to changing the plan. A whole generation of men, women, and children had contributed, in larger or smaller sums, to this particular Monument; and States, cities, and foreign nations had sent stones for its completion.

To tear it all down, with a view to improve the design, was abhorrent to me. Story called to see me when he was in Boston, and I told him that, so far as I was concerned, my first wish was to finish the Monument as a simple obelisk; but that, if a change was unavoidable, owing to any insecurity of the foundations, his idea of turning it into an ornamental Lombard Tower was the best plan I had seen suggested. * * *

I am aware that what is called "advanced art" looks with scorn on anything so simple and bald as an obelisk, more especially when it is made up of a thousand pieces, instead of being a monolith shaft. Yet the Bunker Hill Monument, of which the design was furnished by one of our earliest and best artists, Horatio Greenough, is one of these complete obelisks, and Webster was proud to apostrophize it as "the true orator of the day," when he was pronouncing his own incomparable oration.

I recall other obelisks, at home and abroad, which tell their story most impressively; and when I look around to see what "advanced art" has done for us and done for itself to the myriad soldiers' monuments which have been recently erected, I fall back on the simple shaft as at least not inferior to any one of them in effect and as free from anything tinsel or tawdry.

A grand arch, which I believe you once proposed, would be a noble monument of our Union, and might well be the subject of independent consideration in season for the centennial of the organization of the Government in 1889. I have repeatedly urged such an arch as commemorative of our Constitutional Union, in Boston. But it would have still greater propriety in Washington. I cannot help hoping, however, that it will be erected with new stones, and without any disturbance of the Washington obelisk.

Pardon me for so long a letter and for so frank an expression of my views.

I have heard nothing on the subject of late from any of the Commissioners or of the Association, but have taken it for granted that the whole matter was decided.

If, however, it is to be reopened, I shall be very glad to see Mr. Story's designs, and to consult with you agreeably to your friendly invitation.

Believe me, dear Mr. Morrill, respectfully and truly,

ROBERT C. WINTHROP.

Hon. JUSTIN S. MORRILL, _United States Senator_.

ACTS OF CONGRESS RELATING TO THE COMPLETION OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

Act of August 2, 1876, 19 Statutes, p. 123. Joint Resolution, June 14, 1878, 20 " p. 254. Joint Resolution, June 27, 1879, 21 " p. 54. Sundry Civil Act, June 16, 1880, 21 " p. 268. Sundry Civil Act, March 3, 1881, 21 " p. 444. Sundry Civil Act, March 3, 1883, 22 " p. 615. Sundry Civil Act, August 9, 1886, 24 " p. 245. Sundry Civil Act, February 28, 1887, 24 " p. 424. Sundry Civil Act, March 3, 1887, 24 " p. 509. Sundry Civil Act, October 2, 1888, 25 " p. 553.

LIST OF BLOCKS

CONTRIBUTED FOR INSERTION IN THE INTERIOR WALLS OF THE MONUMENT.

Maine. New Hampshire. Vermont. Massachusetts. Connecticut. Rhode Island. New York. Pennsylvania. New Jersey. Delaware. Maryland. Virginia. West Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina. Georgia. Florida. Alabama. Mississippi. Louisiana. Texas. Arkansas. Tennessee. Missouri. Kentucky. Ohio. Indiana. Illinois. Michigan. Iowa. Wisconsin. Minnesota. Kansas. Nebraska. Wyoming. Dakota. Montana. Utah. Nevada. California. Oregon.

Turkey. Greece. Japan. China. Siam. Brazil. Paros and Naxos, in Grecian Archipelago. Bremen. Switzerland. Cherokee Nation. Wales.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

New York City. Philadelphia, Pa. Warren, R. I. Boston, Mass. Baltimore, Md. Richmond, Va. Washington City. Alexandria, Va. Frederick, Md. Charlestown, Mass. Little Rock, Ark. Durham, N. H. Stockton, Cal. New Bedford, Mass. Lowell, Mass. Nashville, Tenn. Newark, N. J. Salem, Mass. City of Roxbury, Mass.

F. A. A. M.

Patmos Lodge, Maryland. Grand Lodge of Maryland. " " Ohio. " " Mississippi. " " Kentucky. " " New York. " " Virginia. " " Alabama. " " Tennessee. " " Florida. " " Pennsylvania. " " Arkansas. " " Georgia. " " Dist. of Colum. Subordinate Lodges, Philadelphia. Roxbury Lodge, Mass. St. John's Lodge, Richmond, Va. Washington Naval Lodge, No. 4. Arthenia Lodge, Troy, N. Y. Lafayette Lodge, 64, New York.

I. O. O. F.

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. " " Mississippi. " " Kentucky. " " Indiana. " " Iowa. " " Virginia. " " New Jersey. " " Ohio. " " United States. " " Maryland. Philadelphia, Penna. Eureka Lodge 117, New York City. Troy, N. Y. Germantown, Penna.

SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

Grand Division of North Carolina. " " Connecticut. " " Illinois. " " New Jersey. " " Ohio. " " Rhode Isl'nd. Philadelphia, Penna.

Mount Lebanon Lodge, B. B. B. Washington Naval, A. Y. M. Addisonian Literary Society. "Cincinnati Commercial, 1850." United Sons America, Penna. American Whig Society. Hibernian Society, Baltimore, Md. Independent United Order of Brothers. Uni'd Amer'n Mechanics, Phila'a.

Fire Department, New York City. Invincible Fire Co., Cincinnati, O. Washington Light Inft., D. C. Fire Depart't., Philadelphia, Pa. Co. I, 4th U. S. Infantry. 1851. National Greys, Washington, D. C. Continental Guards of New Orleans. First Regiment, Light Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteers. Westmoreland County, Va., Birthplace of Washington. "Braddock's Field." "Battlefield of Long Island." Kings County, 1776. Association of Journeymen Stonecutters, Philadelphia, Penna. "From the Home of Knox--Citizens of Thomaston, Maine." Hawkins County, Tenn. "From Otter's Summit--Virginia's loftiest peak." Oakland College, Miss. General Assembly of Presbyterian Church, Washington, May, 1852. American Institute, New York. "Maryland Pilgrims." German Benevolent Society, Washington, D. C. Columbia Typographical Society, Washington, D. C. "Postmasters and Assistant Postmasters, Indiana, 1852." "Pupils of the Public Schools, Baltimore, Md." Cliosophic Society, Nassau Hall, N. J. Wilmington, North Carolina, Thalian Association. Tuscarora Tribe, District of Columbia, I. O. R. M. Anacostia Tribe, No. 3, I. O. R. M. Oldest Inhabitant's Association, Washington, D. C. Young Men's Mercantile Library Association, Cincinnati, Ohio. Mosaic Block--ruins of ancient Carthage. From Chapel of William Tell, Luzerne, Switzerland. Americans residing in Foo-Chow-Foo, China, 1857. "From the Temple of Æsculapius, Island of Paros. Presented by Officers of U. S. S. Saranac." American Medical Society. Jefferson Society, University of Virginia. Lava--Vesuvius. Geo. Wm. Terrell. Pupils Buffalo Public Schools. Honesdale, Wayne County, Penna., 1853. Citizens of Stockton, San Joaquin County, Cal. "From two Disciples of Daguerre," of Philadelphia. Children of Sunday Schools, M. E. Church, City of New York. Ladies and Gentlemen--Dramatic Profession of America. Erina Guard, Newark, N. J. Sons of New England in Canada. "From Alexandrian Library in Egypt." "From Tomb of Napoleon, St. Helena." Western Military Institute, Ky. Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

TRANSLATIONS OF THE INSCRIPTIONS ON FOREIGN BLOCKS.

TURKEY.

"So as to strengthen the friendship between the two countries, Abdul-Majid Kahn has also had his name written on the Monument to Washington."

These words form a chronogram--"1269-1779 of the Hegira." Above the inscription is a monogram signifying "Abdul-Majid, son of Mahomet Kahn." Upon a lower corner, "Written by the court poet, Mustapha Izyt."

Block is of white marble, highly polished, and ornamental.

BREMEN.

"Washington dem Grossen und Gerechten das befreundete Bremen."

(Friendly Bremen to the great and good Washington.)

JAPAN.

"Exported from the harbor of Simoda, in the Province of Isu, the fifth month of the year Ansey Tora." [April, 1853.]

GREECE.

Block of white marble from ruins of the Parthenon:

"George Washington, the hero, the citizen of the new and illustrious liberty: The land of Solon, Themistocles, and Pericles--the mother of ancient liberty--sends this ancient stone as a testimony of honor and admiration from the Parthenon."

CHINA.

"Su-Ki-Yu, by imperial appointment, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Fuh Kun, in his Universal Geography, says:

"'It is evident that Washington was a remarkable man. In devising plans he was more decided than Chin-Sing, or Wu-Kang,[A] in winning a country, he was braver than Tsau-Tsau or Lin Pi.[B] Wielding his four-footed falchion, he extended the frontiers thousands of miles, and then refused to usurp the regal dignity or transmit it to his posterity, but first established rules for an elective administration. Where in the world can be found such a public spirit? Truly, the sentiments of three dynasties have all at once unexpectedly appeared in our day! In ruling the State he promoted and fostered good customs, and did not depend on military merit. In this he differed from all other nations. I have seen his portrait; his air and form are grand and imposing in a remarkable degree. Ah! who would not call him a hero?

"'The United States of America regard it promotive of national virtue generally and extensively neither to establish titles of nobility and royalty nor to conform to the age, as respects customs and public influence, but instead deliver over their own public deliberations and inventions, so that the like of such a nation--one so remarkable--does not exist in ancient or modern times. Among the people of the Great West, can any man, in ancient or modern times, fail to pronounce Washington peerless?'

"This stone is presented by a company of Christians and engraved at Ningpo, in the Province of Che Heang, China, this third year of the reign of the Emperor He-en Fung, sixth month and seventh day." [July 12, 1853.]

ARTICLES DEPOSITED IN RECESS IN THE CORNER-STONE OF THE MONUMENT ON JULY 4, 1848.

Constitution of the United States and Declaration of Independence; presented by Mr. Hickey.

American Constitutions; by W. Patton.

Large design of the Washington National Monument, with the _fac simile_ of the names of the Presidents of the United States and others. Lithographed.

Large design of the Washington National Monument. Lithographed.

Historical sketch of the Washington National Monument since its origin, in MS.

Portrait of Washington, from Stuart's painting, Faneuil Hall.

Plate engraved with the names of the officers and members of the Board of Managers.

The Statesman's Manual, containing President's Messages from Washington to Polk, from 1789 to 1846, vols. 1 and 2.

Copy of the grant for the site of the Monument under the joint resolution of Congress.

Constitutions of the Washington National Monument Society, addresses, circulars, commissions, instructions, form of bond, from 1835 to 1848.

Small design of Monument and likeness of Washington, with blank certificates for contributors.

Watterston's New Guide to Washington; by G. Watterston.

Map of the City of Washington; by Joseph Ratcliffe.

Laws of the Corporation of Washington; by A. Rothwell.

J. B. Varnum, Jr., on the Seat of Government; by J. B. Varnum, Jr.

Statistics by John Sessford of the number of dwellings, value of improvements, assessments of the real and personal tax, &c., in the City of Washington, from 1824 to 1848, print and manuscript; by John Sessford.

Census of the United States, 1840; Force's Guide to Washington and vicinity, 1848; by W. Q. Force.

Drake's Poems; Catalogue of the Library of Congress, printed 1839; Catalogue from 1840 to 1847, both inclusive; by Joint Committee on the Library of Congress.

Memoir of a Tour to Northern Mexico, 1846-'47; by R. P. Anderson.

All the coins of the United States, from the eagle to the half-dime, inclusive.

Census of the United States from 1790 to 1848, inclusive.

A list of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, its Officers, with the dates of their respective appointments; by W. J. Carroll, Clerk Supreme Court of the United States.

Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati, with the original institution of the order and _fac simile_ of the signatures of the original members of the State Society of Pennsylvania; by Charles L. Coltman.

Constitution and General Laws of the Great Council of the Improved Order of Red Men of the District of Columbia.

By-Laws of Powhatan Tribe, No. 1, and General Laws of the Great Council of the same Order.

American Silk Flag; presented by Joseph K. Boyd, citizen of Washington, District of Columbia, on the 4th of July, 1848.

The Temple of Liberty, two copies, one ornamented and lettered with red. The letters are so arranged in each that the name of Washington may be spelled more than one thousand times in connection; by John Kilbourn.

Design of the Monument, small plate, produced by a process called electrotype; by Chas. Fenderich, Washington.

A copy of the Constitution of the first organized Temperance Society in America; by L. H. Sprague, July 4, 1848.

Sons of Temperance in the District of Columbia.

Report on the Organization of the Smithsonian Institution; by Professor Henry.

Coat of Arms of the Washington family; by Mrs. Jane Charlotte Washington, July 4, 1848.

The Blue Book for 1847; Congressional Directory; by J. & G. S. Gideon.

Thirty-first Annual Report of the American Colonization Society.

Message of the President of the United States and accompanying documents, 1847.

Navy Register, 1848; by C. Alexander.

Coast Survey Document; Army Register for 1848.

The Washington Monument; Shall It Be Built? by J. S. Lyon.

Holy Bible; presented by the Bible Society; instituted 1816.

Vail's Description of the Magnetic Telegraph; by A. Vail.

Report of the Joint Committee on the Library, May 4, 1848, and an engraving; by M. Vattemare.

Morse's North American Atlas.

African Repository and Colonial Journal, 1848.

Military Laws of the United States, 1846; by G. Templeman.

Appleton's Railroad and Steamboat Companion.

Daguerreotype likeness of General and Mrs. Mary Washington, with a description of the Daguerreotype process; by John S. Grubb, Alexandria, Va.

True Republican; the likeness of all the Presidents to 1846, and inaugural addresses; by G. Templeman.

Silver Medal, representing General Washington and the National Monument; by Jacob Seeger.

Copies of the Union Magazine, National Magazine, Godey's Lady's Book, Graham's Magazine, and Columbian Magazine, for July, 1848; by Brooke & Shillington.

Constitution of the Smithsonian Association, on the Island, instituted November 9, 1847.

Harper's Illustrated Catalogue; by S. Colman.

Smithsonian Institution--Report of the Commissioners on its organization; Reports from the Board of Regents; by W. W. Seaton.

American Archives; A Documentary History of the American Colonies to the present time; fourth series, vol. 5; by Peter Force.

Guide to the Capitol; by R. Mills.

An American Dollar; by Miss Sarah Smith, Stafford, N. J.

American State Papers, 1832; National Intelligencer for 1846 (bound); by Gales & Seaton.

Abstract Log for the use of American Navigators; by Lieut. M. F. Maury, U. S. N.; by M. F. Manry.

Report of Prof. Bache, Superintendent of the Coast Survey; by Coast Survey Office.

_Fac simile_ of Washington's Accounts; by Michael Nourse.

Claypole's American Daily Advertiser, December 25, 1799, and the Philadelphia Gazette, December 27, 1799, containing a full account of the death and funeral ceremony of General Washington, the official proceedings of Congress, Executive, &c.; by G. M. Grouard.

Publication No. 1, Boston, 1833.

A cent of 1783 of the United States of America; by W. G. Paine.

United States Fiscal Department, vols. 1 and 2; by R. Mayo, M. D.

Maps and Charts of the Coast Survey; by Survey Office.

Letters of John Quincy Adams to W. L. Stone, and introduction; letters of J. Q. Adams to Edward Livingston, Grand High Priest, &c.; Vindication of General Washington, &c., by Joseph Ritner, Governor of Pennsylvania, with a letter to Daniel Webster and his reply, printed in 1841; American Antimason, No. 1, vol. 1, Hartford, Connecticut, 1839, Maine Free Press; Correspondence Committee of York, Pennsylvania, to Richard Rush, April, 1831; his answer, May 4, 1841; Credentials of a Delegate from Jefferson County, Missouri, and proceedings of a meeting of citizens to make the appointment of a delegate; by Henry Gassitt, Boston, Massachusetts.

Annual Report of the Comptroller of the State of New York, January 5, 1848; Tolls, Trade, and Tonnage of the New York Canals, 1847; State of New York--first report of the Commissioner, Practice and Pleadings; by Hon. Washington Hunt.

Specimens of Continental Money, 1776; by Thos. Adams.

Report of the Commissioner of Patents, 1847; by Edmund Burke.

Walton's Vermont Register and Farmers' Almanac, 1848; by Hon. Mr. Henry.

Maury's Wind and Current Charts of the North Atlantic; by M. F. Maury.

Astronomical Observations for 1845, made under M. F. Maury, at the Washington Observatory; by M. F. Maury.

Casts from the seals of the S. of T. and I. O. R. M.; by J. W. Eckloff.

Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Congress and Documents; by R. P. Anderson.

NEWSPAPERS Deposited in Corner-Stone.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Worcester Palladium Worcester. Salem Oracle Salem. The Telegraph Gloucester. Cape Ann Light " Boston Daily Atlas Boston.

CONNECTICUT.

New England Weekly Gazette Hartford.

NEW YORK.

Irving Democrat Irving. Long Island Farmer Jamaica. Cayuga New Era Auburn. Troy Daily Post Troy. Troy Daily Whig " Journal and Advertiser Auburn. Auburn Daily Advertiser " Star of Temperance " New York Day Book New York. Mercantile Times " Northern Christian Advocate Auburn. New York Daily Sun New York. New York Weekly Sun "

PENNSYLVANIA.

American Democrat Carlisle. Pennsylvania Democrat Uniontown. Lycoming Gazette Williamsport. American Press Republican Lancaster. Daily Morning Post Pittsburg. Lancaster County Farmer Lancaster. Bradford Argus Towanda. Pittsburg Daily Gazette Pittsburg. Daily Morning Telegraph " Pennsylvania Republican York. North American U. S. Gazette Philadelphia. Public Ledger "

MARYLAND.

Somerset Herald Somerset. Der Somerset Republican " Marlboro Gazette Upper Marlboro. Baltimore Daily Sun Baltimore. Baltimore American "

VIRGINIA.

Spirit of Jefferson Charlestown. Valley Whig Fincastle. Martinsburg Gazette Martinsburg. Weston Sentinel Weston.

NORTH CAROLINA.

North Carolinian Fayetteville. Old North State Elizabeth City.

GEORGIA.

Federal Union Milledgeville. Southern Recorder "

ALABAMA.

Mobile Register and Journal Mobile. Mobile Daily Advertiser " Alabama Tribune " Hannibal Journal Hannibal.

MISSISSIPPI.

Weekly Jacksonian Holly Springs. Vicksburg Weekly Whig Vicksburg. Mississippi Telegraph Louisville.

OHIO.

Daily Cincinnati Gazette Cincinnati. Western Reserve Chronicle Warren. Greenville Banner Greenville. Buckeye Eagle Marion. Defiance Democrat Defiance. Democratic Herald Greenville. Claremount Courier Batavia. Massillon Telegraph Massillon. Mahoning Index Canfield. Troy Weekly Times Troy. Daily Cleveland Times Cleveland. Cleveland Plain Dealer " Democratic Inquirer Portsmouth.

KENTUCKY.

Western Citizen Paris. Kentucky Flag Mazeville.

FLORIDA.

Quincy Times Quincy.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

National Intelligencer Washington. Union " National Era " Saturday Evening News "

NOTE.--The papers above all contained articles relative to General Washington or the erection of the proposed National Monument to his memory.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Chin Shing and Wu-Kwang, two Chinese patriots, who commenced the overthrow of the Tsin dynasty (B. C. 209), remarkable for their vigor of character.

[B] Tsau-Tsau destroyed the Han dynasty A. D. 220, and Ling Pi, having survived all his own efforts to uphold it, founded the Shuh State, which had a short duration.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:

Text in italics is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Punctuation has been corrected without note.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected as follows: Page 21: pannels changed to panels Page 72: Amercan changed to American Page 76: consituting changed to constituting Page 85: memoralized changed to memorialized Page 115: Rorert changed to Robert Page 118: missing word feet added Page 123: apostophize changed to apostrophize