Mount Auburn Cemetery

considerable sums of money have been paid for work already done. It is to be recollected that these Contracts were entered into by virtue of a vote of the Trustees passed in Sept ^r & Oct ^r , 1854 - which was adopted by seven members out of nine, & sanctioned by their written approval - an unprecedented unprecedented formality of this Board; - and Since then, two elections of Trustees have taken place, at which all those members who voted for the purchase of Statuary - who did not voluntarily withdraw for their own convenience - were rechosen by the Proprietors; -

The majority of the Committee are of opinion that is is expedient to go on with the Contracts made for the acquisition of the three Statues of John Winthrop, James Otis and John Adams;- And they are also of opinion that in future that all appropriations for the embellishment and improvement of the Cemetery be restricted to such objects as may be deemed essential;-

Submitted for the Comm" ^ee by

Charles P. Curtis

W ^m R Lawrence

be saved to the Corporation. -

Your Committee have ^^{The undersigned has} looked into this subject and they finds it to stand substantially thus: contracts have been entered into with Randolph Rogers for a Statue of John Adams - at a cost of $5000 - on which $1000. have been paid - with Richard S. Greenough for a Statue of Gov. Winthrop at a cost of $5000. on which $1000 have been paid. - and the preliminary to a contract with Thomas Crawford for a Statue of James Otis at a cost of $5000 on which nothing has been paid. -

We are told that this Statuary was one of the original designs of the founders of Mount Auburn - This may or may not have been the case. - But if it were so, the Committee ^ ^undersigned can see in that fact no good reason why the design should be carried out if it be inexpedient to do so. - That such however was the original design the Committee would hardly ^ ^be gathered from the language of Judge Story as quoted in the legal opinion before referred to, or if it were the design _that

Voted, That it is important to place the Statues of Gov^r Winthrop, James Otis, and John Adams in the Chapel or Grounds of Mount Auburn

Voted, That a Committee be appointed with full powers to carry the suggestions contained in this report regarding the Statues into effect in such manner as they may deem [important?]

All of which is respectfully submitted --- Cha^s G. Narro

Mount Auburn Cemetery

March. 5. A.D. 1855.

At a meeting of the Trustees holden this day : Voted: That the President, Jacob Bigelow, be instructed and authorized, in the name and behalf of this Corporation; to contract with some suitable artist, to be selected by him, for a statue of James Otis, in marble; the cost of which shall not exceed five thousand dollars.

A true copy of record.

Attest. Henry M. Parker. Secretary

[stamp: small embossed book in shield in upper left corner]

An agreement made & concluded at Boston on the thirty first day of December A.D. Eighteen hundred & fifty five, by & between the Proprietors of the Cemetery of Mount Auburn, a Corporation established by law, of the one part, and Thomas Crawford of Rome, Italy, Sculptor, of the other part.

The said Crawford on his part, agrees to make execute & deliver to said Corporation, as hereinafter more specifically set forth, a marble statue of James Otis, of Revolutionary memory, of pure and fine white marble of the first quality, suitable for statuary, and in size to correspond & be companionable with a statue of John Adams, now in process of being made by Randolph Rogers, to be placed in the Chapel at said Cemetery, & also to do certain other things as hereinafter set forth, as preliminary & incidental thereto, & in aid of the general object of said Corporation in making this contract: __

And further said Crawford agrees to provide & deliver to said Corporation with said statue, a suitable marble pedestal for the same. _

The said Crawford shall forthwith proceed to make execute & complete in a good & workmanlike manner, a figure in plaster of said statue, which shall be of the full size of said statue, & which shall be completed within two years from the date of this agreement, & conveyed & made over to said Corporation, subject to the right of said Crawford to have the same at all times in & about the further execution of this contract.

And said Crawford further agrees to make, finish and deliver to said Corporation the said marble statue and pedestal as aforesaid, within three years & six months from the date of this agreement; and if not otherwise ordered by the Trustees, said statue & pedestal shall upon reasonable notice to the Treasurer for the time being of said Corporation. be delivered to said Treasurer at some