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This good fortune was made possible by Colonel Mercier who delivered to me Your
Excellency’s esteemed letter, dated October 13 last. From the public papers I have
learned, with inexpressible pleasure, that Your Excellency has been so kind as to
honor me with a treasure from Mount Vernon: The image of Washington, some of his
mementos, and one of the monuments of his glory are to be bestowed upon me by
Your Excellency in memory of that great man, the New World’s foremost son. Words
cannot express how greatly my heart cherishes so glorious an assembly of thoughts
and objects. Washington’s family honors me in a manner far exceeding my remotest
hopes, as a reward from Washington, given by the hand of Lafayette, is the ultimate
in human compensations. He was the outstanding architect of political reform, even
as Your Excellency is the outstanding citizen-hero, the champion of freedom, who on
the one hand has served America and on the other the Old World of Europe. What
mortal then is deserving of the high honors which Your Excellency and Mount Vernon
propose to confer upon me? My embarrassment is equalled only by the infinite sense
of gratitude with which I tender Your Excellency the respect and veneration due
the Nestor of human freedom. I am, Your Excellency, with the highest regard, your
respectful admirer. Bolivar.”
The set is accompanied by letters to W. Keith Neal in the late 1950s. Among these
is a pair of letters sent to Neal by Charles H. Illingworth in 1959. The first is dated
February 12th, 1959, and discusses Neal coming to visit Illingworth and noting “my
grandfather was a close friend of Bolivar’s...” The second is dated March 1, 1959, and
notes: “I am so glad you came to see me last week. My grandfather was a friend of
Bolivar’s. In what way he helped him I am not sure. The gun was presented to my
grandfather for services he rendered...” Consulado General de Colombia Simon J.
Martinez-Emiliani wrote to Neal in 1958 discussing the inscription and Bolivar’s
relationship with Manuela Saenz. Another from the Royal Armories in
1959 also discusses the set and provides a translation of the plaque.
Notes from Norman R. Blank state that the set was passed down
in the Illingworth family, purchased by W. Keith Neal, and
then purchased from Neal by Blank.