476 

 MR. BARNES' PRESENTATION OF THE IRVING BUST. 



Brooklyn, May 29th, 1871. 



Hon. J. S. T. Steanahan, 



President of Park Commission. 



Dear Sir : — A year ago last April, I gave J. Wilson McDonald, 

 the sculptor, an order to execute a colossal bust of Washington 

 Irving, in bronze, to be presented to the Park Commissioners, as the 

 nucleus of an art collection in the park. I have now the pleasure of 

 informing you that the work is nearly completed, and awaits the 

 approval of your Commission at the studio of the artist, No. 161 

 Eifth avenue, New York. 



Mr. McDonald requests us to visit him on Friday next, and I 

 shall be pleased to accompany such of your Commission as may 

 desire to inspect the work at any hour you may name, and there- 

 after to join you in an appropriate location of the bust. The pedes- 

 tal will accompany the bust, and your Commission will simply have 

 to receive and set the same in place. 



I am, with great respect, 



Truly yours, &c, 



DEMAS BARNES. 



Extract from the Minutes of the Board of \"oth June, 1871. 



Whereas, the Hon. Demas Barnes has, in a written communica- 

 tion to the Board, expressed a wish to erect a colossal bust in 

 bronze, of Washington Irving, executed by J. Wilson McDonald, 

 the artist, with a suitable pedestal, within the enclosure of Prospect 

 Park, and to present the same to the Park Commissioners, free of 

 expense. Therefore 



Resolved, that the Board accept the same, with a cordial acknowl- 

 edgment of the well known liberality of their distinguished fellow- 

 citizen, the donor, and that the Executive Committee be empowered 

 to make proper arrangements for its reception in the park. 



