SPECIAL EEPOET OF TUE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 151 



plied by the Institution. This series includes those which in the opinion 

 of Professor Henry's family are most characteristic likenesses. 



"I shall be pleased to have from you any communication on this sub- 

 ject, and, if possible, designs for the proposed statue and pedestal, for 

 communication to the Board of Regents at their next annual meeting 

 in January, 1881. 



"As this Board is to decide upon the construction of the statue, it 

 will not be possible to give you hnal authority iu the matter until tlie 

 Board shall have taken action thereon. 



" 1 am, meanwhile, very truly yours, 



" SPENCER F. BAIRU, 



^^ Secretary. 

 " W. W. Story, Esq., 



'■'■American Sculptor^ Rome, Italy. 



Letter of Mr. Story to Professor Baird. 



" Venice, July 15, 1880. 



" Sib : I have just received your letter of June 10, informing me of the 

 bill lately passed by Congress, by wliich the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution are authorized to contract with me for a statue in bronze of 

 the late Professor Henry, for the sum of $15,000, including the founda- 

 tion and pedestal of the monument, and asking mc whether I will accept 

 this commission. 



"jMr. Senator Morrill had already communicated to me this entirely 

 unexpected and agreeable news. Until his communication was made, 

 I had no notion that it was intended to erect such a statue, but I most 

 willingly accept the commission, with hearty thanks to those friends 

 who, without any knowledge on my i^art, put forward my name as the 

 sculptor. 



" My recollections of Professor Henry are in every way most pleasant. 

 He was very kind to me when I was last in Washington, a-nd it will 

 give me pleasure to do all iu my power to make a statue of him worthy 

 of his high distinction and his amiable character. 



The photographs which you have had the kindness to send have not 

 yet arrived, but I have little doubt that they will supply me with the neces- 

 sary material. As you say nothing of a mask in plaster from the face, 

 I suppose none was taken. This I greatly regret, as it would furnish 

 me, in connection with the photographs, the absolute facts of the face, 

 as well as the character and expression. If such a mask was taken, or 

 anything was ever made of him containing the exact measures of his foce 

 and features, I should be most glad to have them. If any bust was ever 

 made, however bad, it would be of use to me in determining points of 

 size and measurement. I hope, too, there may be among the photo- 

 graphs some one or more in profile^ or at least three-quarters face. Do 

 not in such case be prevented from sending them merely because they 



