Copying Book: Secretary's Letters, 1860 (page 349)

349

Nov^r 10 [186]6

Hon. Nath^l Silsbee, Treas^r Harv^d Coll.

Dear Sir,

I have carefully inquired
into the matter of complaint of Geo. M. Folsom,
contained in the enclosed note, respecting the alleged
breaking of the Damon Monument on "Harvard Hill"
and have learned from the Superintendent, whose
statements are [?] by others having proper
means of knowledge, that the monument was
observed prostrated what a year or more [?]
on the next day after a fierce northwest gale
which blew down a large pine tree within a
hundred and fifty feet of this monument, tearing
the tree out by the roots. The stump of the tree
still remains there in position as it fell. Both
the tree and monument fell in the same direc-
tion -- up hill, i.e. the S.E. -- The Superintendent feels
confident that the gale prostrated the stone.

Not so much for curiosity, as to examine
the form and strength of this stone, I determined
to visit the spot: and this I was unable to
do until yesterday, which must be my apology
for so long delay in making a written reply
to the charge. Having stated to you some time since
the Superintendent's method of accounting for it