REPORTS OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 693 



On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was — 



Resolved, That the chairman order, for the use of the Board, 250 copies of Senate 

 document No. 212, being the first report of the Board of Eegents to Congress ; pro- 

 vided the cost of the same do not exceed fifteen dollars. 



And, on motion, the committee adjourned. 



Forty-first Meeting, November 26, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 



The chairman, on his return from New York, made the following report : 



In regard to the illustrations of the work on Public Architecture, I find that to 

 procure their execution in a manner that shall be creditable to the Institution, will cost 

 more than I had anticipated. Mr. Drayton, who has charge of the publications of 

 the Exploring Expedition, and has, in consequence, great experience, both in regard 

 to the relative talents of engravers and to the proper cost of engravings, has afforded 

 me much assistance in this matter. We found it impossible, however, to contract 

 for the steel engravings, giving two perspective views of the Institution, one from 

 the southeast, and the other from the northwest, and executed in the best style of art, 

 for less than three hundred and fifty to four hundred dollars for the two ; which is 

 fifty per cent, more than I expected to pay. 



Having satisfied myself, however, that engravings of this character could not be 

 obtained for less, I empowered Messrs. Sherman and Smith, corner of Broadway 

 and Liberty street, to whom Mr. Drayton recommended that they should be intrusted, 

 to proceed with one specimen ; after which they would be able to fix the exact price 

 at which the two could be completed. 



For the reasons above stated, and considering the very limited amount placed at 

 the disposal of our committee for illustrations, I judge it prudent to trust, for the 

 other illustrations, to wood cuts, which are now executed in New York in very good 

 style, and which will not cost more than half as much as steel engravings. 



Accordingly, I called on Mr. Adams, by whom were executed the wood-cuts in 

 Harper's Pictorial Bible, and who has since, as I learn, retired from the profession. 

 I had been advised to consult him as one who knew more about the relative talents 

 of wood-cutters in this country than probably any other man, and he recommended, 

 as the best for architectural engraving, Mr. John H. Hall, Fulton street. I had 

 several interviews with Mr. Hall, obtained his prices, and inspected several specimens 

 of his work, with which I was well pleased, and of which two are herewith submitted 

 to the committee. The effect does not seem to me greatly inferior to that of steel 

 engraving. 



Mr. Hall offered to execute the perspective view of the Gothic plan of Mr. James 

 Eenwick, ordered by resolution of this committee of April 10, and which requires 

 more work than the perspective view of the Institution, for $100. 



It will be necessary to employ more than one wood-cutter, in order to complete 

 the illustrations in reasonable season ; and if the committee decide that it is best to 

 procure the illustrations chiefly on wood, I have made the arrangement for putting 

 them in hands. Mr. Koberts, whom I stated in my report of April G, to have been 

 recommended by Mr. Durand as the best wood-cutter in this country, I found exclu- 

 sively engaged by one of the tract societies. 



In regard to the application made by resolutions of this committee, under date 

 April 19, to the vestry of Grace church, and of Trinity church, and to the firm of 

 Alexander T. Stewart & Co., for plates of Grace church, Trinity church, and Stewart's 

 new marble store, I have to state that the Grace church vestry have liberally agreed to 

 pay one hundred dollars for a plate of their church, on the terms of our resolution. 

 The Trinity vestry have not yet come to a final decision. Mr. Stewart was not seen, 

 though twice called on ; but one of his partners informed Mr. Kenwick that they 

 would probably furnish an engraving of their building, as it is to be ultimately 

 completed. 



By the terms of our resolution, the engraving of Grace church must bo executed 

 on steel or copper ; and as it is a much less elaborate engraving than that of the 

 Smithsonian building, Mr. Drayton thinks we can have it executed on steel for a 

 hundred dollars. 



Even if we decide to let all the other illustrations be cut on wood, it will, I think, 

 be impossible to execute those already embraced in our resolutions, and such as are 

 indispensable to a due explanation of the text to the general reader, for the sum of 

 $1,000, to which the appropriation is at present limited. Nor do I believe that the 

 treatise itself, including the appendix, can be advantageously condensed into a 



