That remains to do for the completion of it will require only five or six weeks, but must do it in the proper time, when the mortar will be perfectly dry, and the colors do not have any more changement. This last work will cover the connections of the pieces of plaster, put up in sections at every day, and giving more union to the colors at the said junctions for to obtain the artistic effect. It is the general rule in doing this kind of work to avoid the damp atmosphere of the winter season, but I will do this last finish as soon as the weather will permit, early in the spring, as always I have done in every other painting in real fresco in the Capitol and everywhere. Also would be inadvisable to show that large painting without the proper light, because the windows of the dome are in the rear part of the painting and must be placed the reflectors already calculated in the Capitol’s original plan. I hope when the appropriation will be passed by the Congress the said reflectors, and the gas apparatus will be completed, and I will be ready for my part. I am always at work but I ask only the bill of August last, and you can assure the Honorable Secretary of the Interior that I never will claim any other bill after this, till my work will be entirely completed. With respect I am Your Obedient Servant C. BRUMIDI Apparently negotiations with Brumidi for painting the Dome fresco began with the letter from Tho. U. Walter, “architect of extension and new Dome,” dated August 18, 1862. Brumidi was authorized to proceed on March 11, 1863. On December 3, 1864, Tho. U. Walter wrote that the canopy for the picture over the eye of the Dome was ready for the artist and that Mr. Brumidi was “about to commence to work.” On November 1, 1865, Edward Clark, Architect of the Capitol, reported that the picture over the eye of the Dome was all painted in but that Mr. Brumidi was unwilling to have the scaffolding removed until the plastering was thoroughly dry and the colors had no more “changement.” On January 9, 1866, Edward Clark wrote the following letter to James Harlan, Secretary of the Interior: “I have the honor to state that we are now making preparations to take down the scaffolding over the eye of the Dome to reveal Brumidi’s picture. It becomes necessary to have some canvas, or other strong material to place under the scaffolding to catch the dirt, etc., that would otherwise fall to the floor of the Rotunda which might cause inconvenience, perhaps accident. “It is possible that some old sails might be borrowed from the Navy Yard for that purpose, and I therefore respectfully ask that you make a request to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy for the loan of such as may be necessary for this purpose which will be returned as soon as this work is done.” SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ROOMS