The letter referred to in the above message is as follows: MOUNT VERNON, Dec. 31, 1799. SIR: While I feel, with keenest anguish, the late dispensation of Divine Providence, I cannot be insensible to the mournful tributes of respect and veneration which are paid to the memory of my dear deceased husband; and as his best services and most auxious wishes were always devoted to the welfare and happiness of his country, to know that they were truly appreciated, and gratefully remembered, affords no inconsiderable consolation. Taught by that great example which I have so long had before me never to oppose my private wishes to the public will, I must consent to the request made by Congress, which you have had the goodness to transmit to me; and, in doing this, I need not, I cannot say, what a sacrifice of individual feeling I make to a sense of public duty. With grateful acknowledgments, and unfeigned thanks for the personal respect and evidences of condolence expressed by Congress and yourself, I remain, very respectfully, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, THURSDAY, 8th MAY, 1800. Mr. Henry Lee, from the Joint Committee appointed to prepare and report measures in honor of the memory of General George Washington, made a further report; which was read, and ordered to be committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-day. The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the report of the committee appointed to prepare and report measures in honor of the memory of General George Washington; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Parker reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said report under consideration, and come to a resolution thereupon, which he delivered in at the Clerk's table; where the same was twice read, amended, and agreed to by the House, as follows: "Resolved, That a mausoleum be erected for George Washington in the City of Washington." The committee have, in discharge of the important duties devolved on them by the House, been furnished with the following letters: No. 1. ARLINGTON HOUSE, 27th February, 1830. SIR: I perceive with the most sincere gratification, that the House of Representatives have appointed a committee to report upon a national interment of the venerated remains of Washington. Permit me to offer to your notice, and through you, sir, to that of the honorable committee charged with this interesting subject, certain facts. touching the consent of Mrs. Washington to the removal of the remains of the Chief, in 1799. Mrs. Washington yielded to the request of Government only in the firm. and fond belief, that, upon her decease, her remains would be permitted to rest by the side of those of her beloved husband; and, in a correspondence, strictly private and confidential, which occurred between Colonel Lear, on the part of the bereaved lady, and the first President Adams, touching this subject, the venerable and afflicted relict was given to understand that Government could do no other than comply with her just and honored expectations. In this belief, Mrs. Washington directed that, upon her decease, her remains should be enclosed in a leaden coffin, precisely similar to the one containing the ashes of her illustrious consort, which command has been obeyed to the letter. I beg leave, sir, to submit to the honorable committee the copy of a letter addressed to the Hon. John Quincy Adams, Ex-President of the United States, with its answer; also, a copy of a letter from Major Lawrence Lewis, the nephew of General Washington, and sole acting executor of his will. In making these communications, permit me to observe, sir, that I have done no more than filial duty required at my hands. It is left for Government to determine whether the remains of those who were endeared to each other by forty years of happy and eventful life, shall become separate in the lasting repose of the tomb. I have the honor to be, Your obedient humble servant, GEORGE W. P. CUSTIS. To the Hon. GEORGE E. MITCHELL, Esq. Chairman of Committee, &c. &c. &c. No. 2. ARLINGTON HOUSE, 25th Feb. 1820. DEAR SIR: I perceive with much pleasure, and truly much surprise, that Government, after the lapse of thirty years, has at last determined to give national rites of sepulture to the venerated remains of Washington, thus enabling his country to declare, in the words of the divine bard, "Such honors Ilion to her Hero paid! "And peaceful sleeps the mighty Hector's shade." In 1799, when Mrs. Washington, yielding to the request of Congress, her consent for the removal of the remains of the Chief, a correspongave dence occurred between Col. Lear, on the part of the bereaved lady, and your venerable parent, the late President Adams, in which the Colonel urged that the consent of Mrs. Washington had only been obtained upon an understanding, that, on the decease of the afflicted relict, her remains should be consigned to the same sepulchre as should be provided by Government for those of her beloved husband. I always understood from Col. Lear, that the letters of President Adams assured Mrs. Washington that a request so just and honored as was hers, to be interred by the side of her illustrious consort, would meet with no objections from Government. If, sir, in the course of your examinations of the papers of the late President Adams, you shall have met with any documents touching this interesting subject, will you have the kindness to forward copies of the same to the honorable committee charged with reporting on the national interment of the remains of Washington.. With great respect, I have the honor to be, dear sir, Your obedient humble servant, The Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. No. 3. WASHINGTON, February 26, 1830. G. W. P. CUSTIS, Esq. Arlington House. DEAR SIR: I find among my father's manuscripts a copy of a letter from him to your venerated grandmother, dated 27th December, 1799, purporting to enclose, by William Smith Shaw, a copy of the resolutions of Congress, passed on the 24th of that month, and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General Washington under the marble monument to be erected in the Capitol, at the City of Washington, to commemorate the great events of his military and political life. The answer to this letter is not among my father's papers here. It was transmitted by him to Congress, with a message, dated 8th January, 1800, which is upon the Journals of both Houses on that day. There is in the message itself an intimation, expressing, as I understand it, my father's opinion, all that he could give, upon the subject to which your letter refers. I find no second letter from him, nor any paper showing that any thing further had passed between them on this occasion. I cannot imagine that there should be any question among those who incline to perform the promise of Congress at all, in what manner they ought to perform it. The request of Congress was not that one-half of General Washington's remains should be transferred to the Capitol. I am, dear sir, respectfully, Your friend, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. No. 4. WOOD LAWN, February 24, 1830. MY DEAR SIR: I observe the resolutions of Congress, of the 23d December, 1799, and the message of President Adams, of the 8th January, 1800, respecting the entombment in the Capitol of the remains of General Washington, are, by a resolution of Mr. Mitchell, again before Congress. Mr. Hayner stated, that, in order to obviate any objection which might possibly arise, he would inform the House he was authorized to state, that the resolution, if adopted, could be carried into effect without any opposition on the part of the family of General Washington. Nothing is said of the remains of Mrs. Washington; assuredly they do not mean to separate the bodies. These resolutions will be submitted to a Select Committee of one member from each State in the Union. I think this committee ought to be informed that the family of Washington will not consent to a separation of the bodies. I am sure your venerable grand parent expressed her views and wishes on this subject to President Adams. I am, my dear sir, truly and sincerely, Yours, : TO GEORGE W. P. CUSTIS, Esq. of Arlington. It thus appears that the family of General George Washington have consented, and now expect, that his remains, united with those of his beloved consort, may be entombed in the city distinguished by his name; and that the American people do intend to erect and consecrate to his memorv some monumental memorials, appropriate to the endeared and venerated character of the illustrious Father of his Country. The sub-committee do, therefore, after full advisement, and the most mature consideration, recommend that it be, Resolved, That the leaden coffin, containing the remains of General George Washington, be removed from the family vault at Mount Vernon, and that the same be deposited in a marble sarcophagus, and entombed in the vault heretofore prepared for that purpose, under the central dome of the Capitol; that building, erected by the people for the accommodation of their Government, being the most appropriate mausoleum for the great founder of it. The remains of Mrs. Washington, now united with those of her illustrious consort in the repose of the tomb, shall at the same time be removed, and being deposited in another marble sarcophagus, shall be entombed by his side in the same national sepulchre. On the lid of each sarcophagus shall be inscribed the name, day of the birth, death, and entombment of each, respectively. Immediately over the centre of this tomb, and on the ground floor of the Capitol, shall be placed a marble cenotaph, in the form of a well proportioned sarcophagus, on the lid of which shall be sculptured, in large letters, the name, day of the birth, death, place and day of entombment, of that illustrious man. Immediately above this, in the centre of the Rotundo, a full length marble pedestrian statue of Washington, wrought by the best artist of the present time, shall be placed on a circular pedestal, formed from the same material, of such width and height, being not less than four feet, as will be proportionate to the dimensions of that appartment. This pedestal shall be finished in the most perfect style of workmanship, but without the ornament of any device, either of emblem or legend, other than the name of George Washington, to whose memory this monument is consecrated. Your committee believe that these memorials, little costly and ostentatious as they may appear, will better accord with the feelings of this nation, and more appropriately commernorate the pure and elevated character of our Washington, than could any, the most expensive or splendid monument or mausoleum. When it is kept in mind that, although this age has produced the greatest statesman and captains known in all history, yet the high characters of those who have arisen in the world, either before or since his time, do but illustrate and render more eminent the distinguishing qualities of his worth and glory; so that the American people can never be deprived of the most revered and enduring monuments of this venerated man, so long as they shall continue to cherish and preserve their Independence, Government, and National Union, achieved by his toil, valor, and wisdom. For the Sub-committee. TRISTAM BURGES. The report of the sub-committee being read and considered, it was Resolved, That the select committee do approve of and adopt the said report; and that their Chairman be directed to report the same to the House of Representatives, with the following resolutions conformable thereto, viz: Joint resolutions providing for the national entombment of the remains of General George Washington, and for a pedestrian statue of that General. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the remains of General George Washington be removed, with suitable funeral honors, from the family vault at Mount Vernon, conducted under the direction of a joint committee of both Houses of Congress, on the day of December next, and entombed in the national sepulchre to be prepared for that purpose under the centre dome of the Capitol in the city of Washington, according to a plan recommended by a report of a select committee, made to the House of Representatives on the day of March, 1830. And be it further resolved, That the remains of Mrs. Martha Washington, consort of the late General George Washington, shall at the same time be removed, and entombed in the same sepulchre. And be it further resolved, That a full length pedestrian statue of General George Washington be, and the same is hereby, ordered to be obtained, to be executed by some distinguished artist, and of the best materials; and said statue, when executed, shall be placed in the centre of the rotundo of the Capitol, conformably to the plan recommended in the report of a committee herein before mentioned: and the President shall be, and he is hereby, authorized and requested to direct the execution of the said statue, with a suitable pedestal of the same material, and to cause the same to be placed in the place herein designated. And be it further resolved, That the sum of dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, for the purpose of carrying these resolutions into effect, |