1851-03-31 Story Statue: William W. Story to the Trustees (page 6)

quality & size has thus far rendered the completion
of the statue impossible. I have had an order at
the Lerravezza quarry for two years - which they have
not yet been able to supply and were the full sized
model at this moment completed it could not be
cut in marble.

After mature consideration I have come
to the conclusion - in view of the apparent dissatis-
faction of the Trustees as to what I have done & what
I propose to do - to offer to resign to them the com-
mision to make this statue, so as to enable them to
place it in the hands of some artists who will better
be able to carry out their views. A work like this
requiring so much thought & study ^^{& feeling} cannot be limited
by the same conditions as a piece of mechanical work.
at all events, I cannot consent to work in such
conditions. I cannot agree to hasten the work at
the expense of its completeness. I should not be doing
my duty to myself - to my Father - nor indeed to
the Trustees. No one can feel so deeply interested
as I, that this work should be done as soon and
as well as it can be. If any one can do it quicker
& better than I, I shall be very glad to have it