Mount Auburn Cemetery

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with proper artists, said statues to be those of persons distinguished in American History.

After some discussion this subject was specially assigned for action at the next meeting.

Lot 417.

A letter from Mr Curtis on the subject for a contract for the perpetual repair of lot no. 417 - belonging to W. S. Fearing was read and referred to the Committee on lots

T.J. Lee's Petition

A letter from Thos. J. Lee on the subject of the price of lots. Spoken for last year, was referred to the Committee on Lots with full powers.

Lilac Path

Messrs Bangs & Crockett were appointed a Committee of two with full powers to make a change in the location of Lilac Path

Adjourned without day - Henry M. Parker. Secretary.

LETTER. C.P. Curtis to W W. Story.

-- Copy of letter --

W.W. Story Esqr Paris. Dear Sir -

I have your letter of May 25 & have communicated it to the Trustees of Mt Auburn. They are pleased to learn that your statue of Mr Justice Story is so nearly finished. By the tenor of your and their contract of Oct. 1851. the statue is to be delivered at the door of the Chapel in 3 years from 1 Oct 1851 -- I am instructed to mention this inasmuch as you state the hope that you may find a vessel [so?] that the statue may arrive in Boston in November next. In regard to a pedestal the Trustees desire me to thank you for your offer to procure one -- but they will attend to it themselves. The President thinks a suitable pedestal can be made here as reasonably as in Italy.

I beg you to present my respects to Mrs Story and to believe yours faithfully? -- C. P. Curtis. Boston July 11. 1854.

Say that I leave Rome in a couple of days on my way to the United States where I hope to be in the latter part of July next.

Immediately after my arrival I shall visit Boston where I expect to have the pleasure of seeing you and receiving at your earliest convenience the first half of the price of the Statue ($2500) in accordance with the arrangement I proposed in my letter of Sept. 6/55 in reply to yours of July 5/55 containing the order for the Statue.

It's not impossible that I may upon arriving in Paris require One Thousand Dollars of the above $2500 - if so. I shall take the liberty of drawing upon you for the same through Mess^rs Munroe & Co. There may be no necessity for this draft but in case there should be my mentioning the matter at-present will answer the purpose of the usual advice in such affairs.

I need not say that I have endeavoured to the best of my ability to model a Statue worthy the confidence you have been pleased to extend towards me and

These presents are to certify to all whom it may concern that the undersigned, D.K. McRae, United States Consul at Paris, France bears witness to the execution in plaster, of a Statue of Gov: John Winthrop by Richard S Greenough, Sculptor of Boston, Massachusetts, which Statue, being in a sitting posture, is of the following dimensions, viz From the bottom of the plinth to the top of the head, 5 feet, 4 1/2 inches; Lengh of Plinth 4 feet; width of d. 2 feet 2/8 in. Thickness of d. 4 2/8 In.; Said Statue conforming in all essentials to the action and position of a plaster sketch of one third size, modeled by said Richard S. Greenough in Boston, Mass.

Given under my hand and official Seal at Paris aforesaid this 25th day of April 1856.

D.K. McRae U S Consul

{stamp: Consulate of the United States of America (Paris) E PLURIBUS UNUM in black ink}

copy to R.S. Greenough Apr. 1856

Copy

To RS Greenough) Boston April 1 1856

My dear sir

I have duly received your two letters from Paris of Jany 21 & March 9th.

The pedestals have not yet arrived, but no doubt we may expect them soon.

I am gratified with the report of the successful progress of the Winthrop Statue, & have no doubt that it will do equal honor to the sculptor and the original. The latter probably never dreamt that his posthumous character was to be sustained by such able hands.

The colored panes are removed from the end windows of the chapel, & also from the clerestory, replacing them with white glass except in the two large windows which being deeply recessed, do not strike the statues with their light.

I think when the plaster statue is complete, you had better send to Mr Curtis (or whoever is your correspondent here) a draft for the sum to which you are entitled by contract (say $1500.) payable in 3 days from sight, & drawn on George W. Bond, Treasurer of Mount Auburn Cemetery. For the satisfaction of the Trustees you had better accompany your own announcement with the voucher--

Paris, April 26th, 1856.

$1500. -

Three days from sight, Please pay to Charles Henry Parker, the sum of One thousand, five hundred dollars on account of statue of Gov John Winthrop, according to contract.

Richard S. Greenough,

Geo. W. Bond. Treasurer of M^t Auburn Cemetery.