DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.33567#0124
50
An introductory address by Mr. Henry G. Stebbins, the Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, was
to have followed the singing of the hymn, but Mr. Stebbins was not able, as will be seen by the following letter,
to be present:
" 2 WEST SIXTEENTH STREET, 21st.
" A. S. SULLIVAN, Esq.
" DEAR SIR: I had hoped and expected until to-day to perform the duties assigned to me by the committee
in charge of the arrangements in the formal presentation of the obelisk in Central Park to-morrow. I find myself,
however, prevented by a sudden and severe cold, which forbids the carrying out of my purposes. I regret this
the more because I have taken a special interest in the bringing here and in the location of an artistic memorial
of an ancient civilization, which now fitly looks on the beginning of what I trust will become a great museum
of art. This museum is destined to supply a permanent home for the trophies from all countries and of all
periods in which art has flourished and left its memorials. I hope I may be allowed to express my conviction
that the selection of the site for the obelisk will be more approved as its harmony with the surroundings and
the security of its setting become more and more generally recognized. Liberality, enterprise, official aid, and
private assistance have added a graceful and suggestive monument to our great out-door gallery. I hope that
the successful placing of this interesting monument in such a relation to the future national gallery of America
will encourage our wealthy citizens to enlarge the Art Museum and to fill it with all those treasures which so
greatly increase the attractions of the metropolis.
" Yours, very sincerely,
" H. G. STEBBINS."
Mr. John Taylor Johnston then introduced Mr. Evarts, who was received with hearty applause, and who
in the following address formally presented the obelisk to the city:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I responded with pleasure to the call of the committee to take
such part in the installation of the obelisk as they in their judgment thought suitable. My relation to the
occasion and my service before you are naturally and necessarily mainly official and ceremonial, for I have had
no personal share in the first construction of this obelisk, nor in any of its movements since; and in the great
transaction so creditable to ourselves and our age by which it has been acquired, by which it has been
transported, and by which it has been placed on this site, I have had only an official and ceremonial share. I
think it is something like twelve years ago that one of our distinguished fellow-citizens, the head of one of the
principal journals of the country, being in the Mediterranean on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal,
and being in the company of the Khedive of Egypt, learned from him that there was no insurmountable
obstacle in Egyptian mystery or Egyptian pride against the obelisk's being sent across the ocean, if only an obelisk
could be supposed capable of making the voyage. This idea, cherished for some years, at last began to put
itself in the course of execution. In the first year, I think, of my administration of the Department of State
some preliminary considerations on the subject were taken between that gentleman and myself; but it was not
until the visit of our excellent and faithful Consul-General in Egypt, Mr. Farman, to this country in the summer
of 1878, that full information was gained here of the conditions necessary and the prospect of success, and
that full instructions were given to him on the part of the government as to his action in reaching the desired
end. From that step the stages were easy and rapid, and in May, 187$, Mr. Farman informed the State
Department that the consent of the then Khedive had been given to the transaction, and your distinguished
fellow-citizen, Mr. Stebbins, was acquainted with the success of the measure to which from the beginning he had
lent his name and influence. Thus it seemed as if every difficulty was overcome so far as the good-will of
the Khedive was concerned, and the first step of our government for the transfer of the prize; but by one of
the vicissitudes of government which abound in that land the Khedive suddenly abdicated, leaving his gift
incomplete and leaving the country and the obelisk behind him, and there was somewhat of solicitude whether
the incomplete gift would be assured to us by the approval and ratification of his successor. But the delicate
and careful and faithful efforts of Mr. Farman were at last crowned with success, notwithstanding some
obstacles on the part of jealous governments which thought it a shame that their capital should not hold all
the obelisks, even if Egypt should be despoiled of them. When we arrived at that conclusion we went in search
of a man of courage, skill, and knowledge of the sea, competent in the judgment of others and confident in
his own ability, and we were fortunate in finding such an one in an accomplished officer of our navy, Lieutenant-
Commander Gorringe, a man wholly fitted for the achievement of bringing the obelisk hither. And when I
asked the Secretary of the Navy to grant him leave of absence, and desired to know whether his previous
record had been such that this grand work, with all its risks and peril, could be entrusted to him, I got but
one answer, and that was that whatever Gorringe undertook to do he would accomplish. Whether that was
as well-deserved a reputation then as I supposed it to have been I know not, but I think that the wider circle
of observers and the generous testimony of his fellow-citizens will now give warrant, that whatever Lieutenant-
An introductory address by Mr. Henry G. Stebbins, the Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, was
to have followed the singing of the hymn, but Mr. Stebbins was not able, as will be seen by the following letter,
to be present:
" 2 WEST SIXTEENTH STREET, 21st.
" A. S. SULLIVAN, Esq.
" DEAR SIR: I had hoped and expected until to-day to perform the duties assigned to me by the committee
in charge of the arrangements in the formal presentation of the obelisk in Central Park to-morrow. I find myself,
however, prevented by a sudden and severe cold, which forbids the carrying out of my purposes. I regret this
the more because I have taken a special interest in the bringing here and in the location of an artistic memorial
of an ancient civilization, which now fitly looks on the beginning of what I trust will become a great museum
of art. This museum is destined to supply a permanent home for the trophies from all countries and of all
periods in which art has flourished and left its memorials. I hope I may be allowed to express my conviction
that the selection of the site for the obelisk will be more approved as its harmony with the surroundings and
the security of its setting become more and more generally recognized. Liberality, enterprise, official aid, and
private assistance have added a graceful and suggestive monument to our great out-door gallery. I hope that
the successful placing of this interesting monument in such a relation to the future national gallery of America
will encourage our wealthy citizens to enlarge the Art Museum and to fill it with all those treasures which so
greatly increase the attractions of the metropolis.
" Yours, very sincerely,
" H. G. STEBBINS."
Mr. John Taylor Johnston then introduced Mr. Evarts, who was received with hearty applause, and who
in the following address formally presented the obelisk to the city:
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I responded with pleasure to the call of the committee to take
such part in the installation of the obelisk as they in their judgment thought suitable. My relation to the
occasion and my service before you are naturally and necessarily mainly official and ceremonial, for I have had
no personal share in the first construction of this obelisk, nor in any of its movements since; and in the great
transaction so creditable to ourselves and our age by which it has been acquired, by which it has been
transported, and by which it has been placed on this site, I have had only an official and ceremonial share. I
think it is something like twelve years ago that one of our distinguished fellow-citizens, the head of one of the
principal journals of the country, being in the Mediterranean on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal,
and being in the company of the Khedive of Egypt, learned from him that there was no insurmountable
obstacle in Egyptian mystery or Egyptian pride against the obelisk's being sent across the ocean, if only an obelisk
could be supposed capable of making the voyage. This idea, cherished for some years, at last began to put
itself in the course of execution. In the first year, I think, of my administration of the Department of State
some preliminary considerations on the subject were taken between that gentleman and myself; but it was not
until the visit of our excellent and faithful Consul-General in Egypt, Mr. Farman, to this country in the summer
of 1878, that full information was gained here of the conditions necessary and the prospect of success, and
that full instructions were given to him on the part of the government as to his action in reaching the desired
end. From that step the stages were easy and rapid, and in May, 187$, Mr. Farman informed the State
Department that the consent of the then Khedive had been given to the transaction, and your distinguished
fellow-citizen, Mr. Stebbins, was acquainted with the success of the measure to which from the beginning he had
lent his name and influence. Thus it seemed as if every difficulty was overcome so far as the good-will of
the Khedive was concerned, and the first step of our government for the transfer of the prize; but by one of
the vicissitudes of government which abound in that land the Khedive suddenly abdicated, leaving his gift
incomplete and leaving the country and the obelisk behind him, and there was somewhat of solicitude whether
the incomplete gift would be assured to us by the approval and ratification of his successor. But the delicate
and careful and faithful efforts of Mr. Farman were at last crowned with success, notwithstanding some
obstacles on the part of jealous governments which thought it a shame that their capital should not hold all
the obelisks, even if Egypt should be despoiled of them. When we arrived at that conclusion we went in search
of a man of courage, skill, and knowledge of the sea, competent in the judgment of others and confident in
his own ability, and we were fortunate in finding such an one in an accomplished officer of our navy, Lieutenant-
Commander Gorringe, a man wholly fitted for the achievement of bringing the obelisk hither. And when I
asked the Secretary of the Navy to grant him leave of absence, and desired to know whether his previous
record had been such that this grand work, with all its risks and peril, could be entrusted to him, I got but
one answer, and that was that whatever Gorringe undertook to do he would accomplish. Whether that was
as well-deserved a reputation then as I supposed it to have been I know not, but I think that the wider circle
of observers and the generous testimony of his fellow-citizens will now give warrant, that whatever Lieutenant-