The Secretary of State to
Ambassador Bacon.
Department of State,
Washington, April 18,
1910.
No. 58.]
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a letter
which has been received from Mr. James Mann, chairman of the commission
appointed by the governor of Virginia to present, on behalf of the
people of that State to the people of France, a reproduction in bronze
of the statue of George Washington made by Jean Antoine Houdon, a bill
providing for this gift “as an expression of Virginia’s cordial
admiration and loving regard” having been recently passed by the general
assembly of Virginia. I also inclose a copy of a letter from Gov. Mann,
advising the department officially of the action taken by the general
assembly and of the appointment of Col. James Mann as chairman of the
delegation, Mr. Don P. Halsey and Mr. F. W. King as his associates, who
will proceed to France as representatives of the people of Virginia, to
make suitable presentation of the statue.
The department feels confident that you will take pleasure in informing
the foreign office of this contemplated courtesy which the people of
Virginia desire to extend to the people of France, and if it is the
pleasure of the Government of that country to accept the gift for its
people, as it doubtless will, the department would be glad if you would
arrange for a suitable location, the approximate time for its unveiling,
and such other details as may be found necessary for the presentation.
The department will also be gratified if you can meet the members of the
delegation upon their arrival at Paris with the replica, and upon the
occasion of the unveiling simply introduce the chairman, who will make
the address presenting the statue. It has been pointed out to the
governor of Virginia that the gift should be made as coming from the
people of the State of Virginia to the people of France rather than as a
gift from the State to the Republic.
It is the desire of the department that you lend your hearty cooperation
toward carrying out the wishes of the people of Virginia, and that
arrangements to that end may be made at an early date.
I am, sir, etc.,
[Enclosure 1.]
Mr. Mann to the
Secretary of State.
Norfolk, Va., April 9, 1910.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that at
the recent session of the General Assembly of Virginia a bill was
unanimously passed setting forth the historic friendship and the
cordial relations which have existed for more than a century between
the people of Virginia and the people of France and directing that a
reproduction in bronze be made of Houdon’s famous statue of
Washington, and that the same be presented to the people of France
“as an expression of Virginia’s cordial admiration and loving
regard.”
It was further provided that a commission of three be appointed by
the governor of Virginia to present the said reproduction of said
statue, on behalf of the people of Virginia, to the people of
France. Pursuant to this enactment the governor appointed as
commissioners James Mann, Don P. Halsey, and F. W. King, and
directed that they proceed to France and make the presentation in
the name of the State of Virginia.
[Page 512]
The original statue was made by Jean Antoine Houdon, of whom
Jefferson wrote “Houdon came to America to see and study Washington,
and in October, 1785, spent two weeks as his guest at Mount Vernon.
While there he took a mold of Washington’s face and exact
measurements of his person. He returned to Paris and there created
in marble this statue, which was pronounced by Lafayette ‘a fac
simile of Washington’s person.’ “It stands in the place of honor in
the center of the rotunda of the capitol at Richmond and is regarded
by our people as a priceless possession. By artists and historians
it is accepted as the standard likeness of Washington, and it is
regarded not only as a true portrait of the most illustrious of all
Americans but as a great and beautiful work of art.
A copy in bronze, pronounced to be a perfect copy of the original,
has been placed by Virginia in Statuary Hall in the Capitol at
Washington, and the reproduction which it is now proposed to present
to the people of France will be cast in the same molds.
We can have the statue ready and in position at any time after the
10th day of August, 1910, and the commission will proceed to France
and present the same at such time after said date and at such place
as may be designated by the French Government upon its
acceptance.
The commission respectfully requests that you communicate to the
Government of the Republic of France, through the proper channels,
the desire of the people of Virginia to present this statue to the
people of France and that our ambassador at Paris represent us in
making the necessary arrangements for its presentation.
It is perhaps well to add that after our conference with you on
Monday last we called on the French ambassador for the purpose of
presenting our compliments and of acquainting him with the action of
the Virginia General Assembly. He received us most cordially, and
was enthusiastic in assuring us that his Government would be much
pleased to accept the gift on behalf of the people of France. I
wrote Senator Martin an account of our visit to Ambassador Jusserand
with the request that he communicate the same to you.
Thanking you on behalf of my associates and myself, I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
The Governor of
Virginia to the Secretary of
State.
Commonwealth of Virginia,
Governor’s Office,
Richmond, April 11,
1910.
Sir: In connection with the letter
addressed to you on the 9th instant by Col. James Mann, I deem it
proper to advise you officially that by an act of the general
assembly, approved March 17, 1910, provision was made for the
presentation by the people of Virginia to the people of France, “as
an expression of Virginia’s cordial admiration and loving regard,”
of a reproduction in bronze of the famous statue of Gen. Washington,
made by Houdon, which stands in the rotunda of the capitol of
Virginia.
Pursuant to authority vested in me by said act I have appointed as
representatives of the people of Virginia, to proceed to France and
make presentation of this statue, Col. James Mann, chairman,
Norfolk, Va.; Hon. Don P. Halsey, Lynchburg, Va.; and Hon. F. W.
King, Clifton Forge, Va.
Any assistance you may render the gentlemen of this commission in the
performance of their pleasant duties will be much appreciated by
me.
I have the honor to remain, etc.,
