Auguste Bartholdi - Signed Autograph Letter - The Statue Of Liberty

Frédéric Auguste BARTHOLDI (1834 - 1904), French sculptor
Autograph letter signed to the politician Henri Martin. Paris August 23, 1878; 2 pages 1/2 in-8°.
Beautiful letter from the young sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, prey to financial difficulties and physical and moral exhaustion in the face of the challenge taken up for the creation of the Statue of Liberty: “Having learned that you had to go to Paris to go to your General Council, I think I should remind you of the request that Mr. LaBoulaye [Edouard de Laboulaye initiator of the project] made, since you will have the opportunity to speak to Mr. Waddington. If you could write a warm note to Mr. Girard, the Under Secretary of State, it seems that it would be of considerable importance. You are, dear Sir, the only person to whom I dare to speak about this because despite the advice of Mr. Laboulaye and those of my mother, it was impossible for me to take any action. I was not afraid to speak to you about this affair because of the sentiments with which you honor me; but that's all I could do, I cannot and I do not know how to ask for such personal encouragement. I'm going to go to the countryside to spend a few days; I feel completely tired, I need to pick myself up. Encouragement has often failed me; but I am trying to find in my own strength the vigor I need to complete the work of the Franco-American Union; we will appreciate its value and influence later. I do not apologize dear Sir for increasing the number of your petitioners because I am sure that you know how to judge my letter on its true value. I thank you very much from my heart for all the friendship with which you support me; you never abandoned me I drew a lot of my strength from you, because you are not one of those who wait for things to be successful to support them. I therefore address to you from the heart the expression of my grateful and devoted feelings..."