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The Statue of Jefferson.

[A paper read before the Jewish Historical Society, December 27, 1894, by Lewis Abraham, Esq.]

In accordance with a resolution offered by Senator Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont, while he was a member of the House of Representatives, in 1864, "that each State should be permitted to send the effigies of two of her chosen sons, in marble or bronze, to be placed permanently here," the old Hall of Representatives is fast becoming an American memorial chamber.

Several statues, purchased by the United States, have been deposited there, and many of the States have taken advantage of the privilege and have honored their distinguished dead in the manner suggested by the resolution of Congress.

There is, however, one splendid work of art in the corridor that has a peculiar history. It was a gift to the Government. All the others have been paid for by Congress or the several State Legislatures. The bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson, by David d'Angers, a French sculptor, was presented to Congress by an Israelite, Lieutenant (afterward Commodore) Uriah Phillips Levy, of the United States Navy, in 1833, but was not formally accepted until forty years thereafter.

Originally it stood in the rotunda, but was removed from there and for many years remained in the grounds in front of the Presidential Mansion. After its acceptance in 1874, upon motion of Senator Sumner, it was finally located in its present position. It represents the author of the Declaration of Independence as just having signed that instrument of American Liberty. The pedestal is a superb piece of work, executed by Struthers, of Philadelphia, in four varieties of marble. It was the first piece of statuary ever owned by the Government, and is dedicated by the donor to his fellow citizens. Upon the scroll which Jefferson holds in his hand is engraved a verbatim copy of the Declaration of Independence, with fac-simile signatures of John Hancock and Thomas Jefferson.

The Levy family were intimate personal friends of the great framer of our Magna Charta and second President, and after his death became the owners of his old family seat, Monticello. There is a special significance in the gift and in the sentiment it conveys, and the co-religionists of Levy remember with pardonable pride that this piece of statuary, symbolizing the grand declaration of human equality and honoring one of the greatest of the men who erected the fabric of American Liberty, was the free-will offering of one of their people.