Burlington, Vt. 21st March 1877.

Hon George P Marsh, Rome, Italy.

Page 1

My dear Sir. You will doubtless be somewhat surprised when you recognize the hand writing of your old correspondent and co-adjutor in the Ethan Allen Monument and Statue Campaign, which closed with a great celebration on the 4 day of July 1873. After waiting, for the publication of the proceeding, for more than one year, I obtained a copy and forwarded the same to you by mail without an accompanying letter, which I endeavored to supply by a letter commenced on the 24 November, 1874, which, through a lack of interest in the subject matter, vis inertiæ, constitution cacoethes scribandi, and a little touch of octogenarianism, I failed to accomplish. I might add in extenuation of my subsequent negligence the fact of severe attack of pneumonia and a constant and threatening catarrh, which Dr Thayer cannot cure.

I have been induced, in the face of all these obstacles, with an unwillingness to interfere with your time, to write you of an interview I had with Governor Peck yesterday, on the subject of the contemplated Statue of Senator Collamer, which this State has ordered and is about to be constructed by Powers, the artist. Gov Peck showed me a photography of a bust of Collamer made by the artist, as the model, to be put in marble, if approved by the Governor, who, as I understood, having no decided convictions himself, would abide your opinion and taste. I understood that you sent the photography to Gov. Peck, but did not understand that you expressed an opinion about it. I must confess

that I was much surprized at the pretense of calling it a likeness of M Collamer or that in these days [of] universal photographing there could be such a failure in obtaining a likeness. I told the Governor that they could not have had a photograph--that I had a good one and I would send it to you (to be exhibited and returned as I highly prized it as a gift from Mr. C's daughter) and that would supercede any further words on the subject -- All which the Gov wished me to do and to write to you. Which I have thus done, I hope not officiously, in aid of the cause of truth and good taste.

I cannot close this note without congratulating you as an American minister and citizen on the providential termination of the Presidential election--an event only second in importance to the glorious issue of the Rebellion.

I remain with very kind regards to M Marsh, very truly and respectfully yours

John N. Pomeroy.

References in this letter:

In 1855 the Vermont legislature appointed a committee to be in charge of a monument over the grave of Ethan Allen in the Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington. John Norton Pomeroy was appointed chair and Marsh served with him. Larkin Goldsmith Mead was chosen to create a figure of Allen for the monument. Unable to raise the necessary funds, the project was not completed until 1873. Mead's statue was instead placed on the portico of the State House and another figure, by Boston sculptor Peter Stephenson, surmounted the granite base erected in Burlington.

Dr. Samuel White Thayer was Professor of General and Special Anatomy in the Medical Department of the University of Vermont.

Governor Asahel Peck (1803-1879) judge on the Supreme Court, and governor of Vermont. He was respected for his knowledge of the law.

Jacob Collamer (1791-1865), was a judge, a representative and a senator in Congress, and Postmaster-General under President Taylor. His statue stands with the statue of Ethan Allen as the representatives of the state of Vermont in the Capital building in Washington D. C.

Hiram Powers (1805-1873), the most famous 19th century American sculptor and a friend of Marsh's from their early childhood in Woodstock, Vermont. Powers emigrated to Italy in 1837.

The lawyer, John Norton Pomeroy, (1792-1881) was a lawyer and prominent resident of Burlington, Vermont. He held several position in Vermont state government and was named chairman of the Statuary Committee to oversee the construction of the monument placed over the grave of Ethan Allen in Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington.