154 SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



the commission and authorization to commence the work by the 1st of 

 October or November, I could finish the model by the spring and imme- 

 diately arrange for its casting in bronze during the summer so as to 

 have it ready to send to Washington by the 1st of October following 

 (1881). 



" I suppose that the Board of Eegents is equally interested with myself 

 in desiring the statue to be finished as soon as possible, and if they will 

 definitely authorize me to begin the model by the 1st of November, I 

 can promise, unless some unforseen accident occurs, to finish it in bronze 

 by the 1st of January, 1882 ; otherwise I fear we shall have to put it 

 forward to January, 1883. 



" If the Board of Eegents have faith in my ability and will trust me to 

 follow out my own ideas in this statue, I will pledge myself to do my 

 best to satisfy myself and them, and to spare no pains to give them a 

 statue wortliy of the subject, worthy of the place, and satisfactory to 

 the family, friends, and admirers of Professor Henry. 



" You must not expect too much. The male costume of the present 

 day is crude, graceless, and thoroughly un sculptural. But I wiU do 

 what I can to hide its awkwardness and ugliness without falsifying 

 truth and fact, and endeavor to render the statue serious and dignified 

 and natural. I suppose that Professor Henry had no academic costume, 

 and that there is no peculiar professional dress in which he could be 

 represented. If there be, and the Board of Eegents is willing that I 

 should clothe the statue in such a dress, I should most gladly do it. 

 Then I should be able to drape him in some way at once dignified and 

 true to fact. The academic costume could be treated so as to make an 

 imposing statue. In such case, would you have the kindness to forward 

 to me the dress, that I may use it to model from ? The silk academic 

 robes would be admirable and advisable, but I scarcely dare to hope 

 that he wore one, or that I may use it. What did he wear? If this 

 academic dress is out of the question, what may I represent him in? 

 Did he wear a cloak ? 



" The sketch I have made represents him as in a buttoned frock-coat, 

 over which is a loose open sack ; it is in the attitude of meditation ; his 

 head bent slightly forwards, looking down, one hand resting on a desk 

 or stand at his side, by which to break the horrible uniformity of the two 

 legs of pantaloons, and give breadth and dignity to the base, and one 

 hand across the breast midway, at the place of the upi^er button of the 

 buttoned coat; on the stand are books on which his left hand is placed. 

 On the whole, those who have seen it, think it simi^le, dignified, and 

 thoughtful. If it is to be made in coat and trousers, I doubt if I could 

 do better, but I shall think it over and make other sketches. 



" Will you be kind enough to send me any memoir that may exist of 

 Professor Henry, so that I may have a more thorough knowledge of his 

 character and services and labors than I now have. I beg you not to 



