22 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



given it a place in tlie Institute, and that you liave also given my name 

 a place among the many far more distinguished ones of the dear old 

 City of Peace. 



With best wishes I am, 



Yours most faithfully, 



W. W. Story. 

 Dec. 26, 1894. 



The second letter read was this : — 



Palazzo Barbeiuni, Rome. 

 August 27, 1897. 

 To THE Hon. President : 

 Robert S. Rantoul, 

 Essex Institute, 



Salem, Mass., 

 My dear Mr. Rantoul : — 



My father left to me all the original plaster casts of his statues in 

 his studio in Rome. It is my desire to present these works to the 

 Essex Institute at Salem, and I have much pleasure in offering, through 

 you, as a gift to the Institute, the only collection of original plaster 

 casts of Statues and Busts executed by my father, W. W. Story. 



My father was born in Salem, and he always had the greatest affec- 

 tion and regard for the old Town. I therefore feel sure that in mak- 

 ing this offer I shall be carrying out his wishes, and I also feel certain 

 he would have been most gratified to know that these statues — his 

 life's work — had found a permanent and suitable resting-place in his 

 old home. 



My desire is to present all his best works — there are some twelve 

 to fifteen or even more statues — some life-size — some even larger, 

 besides other small statuettes, — also many busts of distinguished men 

 and women. All these I would give, provided the space allotted were 

 sufliciently large properly to accommodate them. When I know what 

 room the Institute can dispose of, I shall be better able to judge what 

 number of casts could be becomingly exhibited. The only stipulation 

 I would ask to be allowed to make is, that this collection should be 

 properly and becomingly exhibited together in some permanent and 

 befitting building : and that no copies or reproductions of whatso- 

 ever size or description should be made of these works. If the 

 space were sufficient I should have much pleasure in presenting the 

 entire collection. 



