I: Resolution of the Virginia Legislature, 22 June 1784
I
Resolution of the Virginia Legislature
[Richmond, Va.] Tuesday June the 22d 1784
In the House of Delegates
Resolved that the Executive be requested to take measures for procuring a Statue of General Washington to be of the finest Marble and best Workmanship with the following Inscription on its Pedestal;1 vizt
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have caused this Statue to be erected as a monument of affection and gratitude to George Washington—who uniting to the endowment of the Hero the virtues of the Patriot and exerting both in establishing the Liberties of his Country has rendered his name dear to his fellow Citizens and given the World an immortal example of true Glory. Done in the year of Christ——and in the year of the Commonwealth——.
1784. June 24th
Teste
Agreed to by the Senate
John Beckley Clerk ⟨h.d.⟩
Will: Drew C.S.
D, DLC:GW. The text of the resolution is printed in , on 22 June 1784.
1. Gov. Benjamin Harrison wrote Thomas Jefferson in Paris on 20 July: “The Assembly of this State have voted a Statue of our late worthy commander in Chief General Washington, and have directed their intentions to be carried into execution by the Executive. . . . we have unanimously fixed on you and my friend Doctor Franklin . . . to undertake it. . . . To enable the Artist to furnish [sic] his work in the most perfect manner I have ordered Mr Peale to send to your address a full length picture of the general as soon as possible. The intention of the assembly is that the Statue should be the work of the most masterly hand. I shall therefore leave it to you to find out the best in any of the European States” ( 7:378–79). See also Boyd’s note. The Virginia Gazette or the American Advertiser (Richmond) on 28 Aug. reported that Harrison had written to Charles Willson Peale about sending a picture of GW to Jefferson. Jefferson wrote GW on 10 Dec. 1784 that he and Benjamin Franklin had chosen Houdon to make the statue.