120 Frederick Law Olmsted 



in New York in 1857, 1 want now and this from no regard for 

 Art or fame or money. 



Mr. Olmsted's own summary of his fitness for the oppor- 

 tunity which presented itself in 1857, he gave in Spoils of 

 the Park, written in 1882, to be reprinted in full in Volume 

 Two of this work. 



It is worth while also, perhaps, to give in conclusion two 

 of the endorsements submitted with his Central Park 

 application in 1857. (See facsimile opposite.) 



Similar petitions bear the signatures of Russell Sturgis, 

 Horace Greeley, George H. Putnam, Henry Holt, Whitelaw 

 Reid, William Cullen Bryant, Bayard Taylor, Alexander 

 Hamilton, Philip Schuyler, John M. Scribner, August Bel- 

 mont, Morris K. Jesup, Henry Havemeyer, E. D. Morgan, 

 Roosevelt & Co., and many others. 



Pleasantest of all was the letter from Professor Asa 

 Gray: 



"Harvard University 



"Botanic Garden, August 24, 1857. 



"To THE President of the Board of 

 Commissioners of the New York Park 



"Dear Sir 



"I have just learned that F. Law Olmsted, Esq., is about 

 to offer himself as a candidate for the superintendency of the 

 Central Park, New York. 



"I desire very simply and sincerely to say that I know 

 Mr. Olmsted well, and that I regard him as eminently fitted 

 for that position. I do not know another person so well 

 fitted for it in all respects, both on practical and general 

 scientific grounds and I have no doubt that if the choice falls 

 upon him, he will do great honor to the situation and to his 

 own already high and honorable reputation. 



"I have the honor to be 



with great respect 

 Your obedient faithful servant 

 " (sgd.) Asa Gray. 



"Professor of Botany &c. 



"Harvard University." 



