1851-03-31 Story Statue: William W. Story to the Trustees (page 2)

to say that it was written expressly at the instance
and at the request of Dr. Bigelow. He came to me
as I understood on the part of the Trustees to suggest
the propriety of a modification of the Contract in
respect to the marble & the time - and to learn my
views and intentions in respect to the making of the
statue. Some conversation took place in which I
stated my views fully - said that I had never
asked for a change in the contract - but as the Trus-
tees were desirous that the American marble should
be used, the contract must be altered so as to enable
me to comply with their wishes - that as to the
time allotted for the execution of the work, although I
expected to finish it according to the contract, yet
since an extension of the time had been sug-
gested, it would be most agreeable to me as it would
free me from certain considerations which might other-
wise embarrass me. At the period of this conversa-
tion my model had been exhibited to the trustees
& a meeting had been called ^proposed by the committee
in my presence for the express purpose of accepting
or rejecting it. Dr. Bigelow requested me to write