"The intention of Mr. Forrest to visit Europe having been stated in the public papers, his approaching departure was considered, by a large number of his fellow-citizens, as presenting a proper occasion to express to him, by some suitable public tribute, the estimation in which he is held, alike for those talents which had placed him at the head of his profession, and those virtues which had endeared him to his friends. To carry out this object, a meeting was held at the Shakspeare Hotel, when the subject was fully discussed, and a committee appointed to consider and report to a subsequent meeting the mode in which the object should be accomplished, so that the tribute might be creditable to the taste of those presenting it and worthy of the high character and merit of him to whom it was to be rendered. In the mean while, the following gentlemen signed a paper expressing the desire of the subscribers to take part in the contemplated testimonial: PHILIP HONE, CORNELIUS W. LAWRENCE, OGDEN HOFFMAN, JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM, JOHN CRUMBY, CHARLES L. LIVINGSTON, DANIEL L. M. PEIXOTTO, A. A. CAMMANN, WM. DYMOCK, GIDEON LEE, HENRY OGDEN, THATCHER T. PAYNE, WILLIAM M. PRICE, ROBERT H. MORRIS, JOHN WOODHEAD, GEORGE MEINELL, ABRAHAM ASTEN, WASHINGTON IRVING, WM. C. BRYANT, PROSPER M. WETMORE, WILLIAM LEGGETT, GEORGE P. MORRIS, WM. DUNLAP, GEORGE D. STRONG, WM. HOLLAND, JOHN S. BARTLETT, THOMAS H. PERKINS, JR., FRANCIS W. DANA, WM. F. WHITNEY, DAVID HOSACK, JAMES MONROE, OLIVER M. LOWNDS, D. P. INGRAHAM, DANIEL JACKSON, JAMES M. MILLER, F. A. TALLMADGE, JAMES C. SMITH, WM. T. M'COUN, ISAAC S. HONE, JOHN V. GREENFIELD, WILLIAM TURNER, WILLIAM P. HALLETT, JOHN M'KEON, L. MINTURN, RICHARD RIKER, ANDREW WARNER, J. FENIMORE COOPER, FITZ-GREENE HALLECK, WILLIAM P. HAWES, WM. GILMORE SIMMS, ROBERT W. WEIR, R. R. WARD, WM. HENRY HERBERT, JAMES LAWSON, WM. H. DELANO, NATHANIEL GREENE, JAMES PHALEN. "The committee to whom the matter had been referred reported that a gold medal, with a bust of Mr. Forrest in profile on one side, surrounded by a legend in these words, _Histriom Optimo_, EDUINO FORREST, _Viro Præstanti_, and a figure of the genius of Tragedy with suitable emblems on the other, surrounded, as a legend, with the following quotation from Shakspeare, '_Great in mouths of wisest censure_,' would perhaps constitute the most expressive and acceptable token of those sentiments of admiration and regard which it was the wish of the subscribers to testify to Mr. Forrest. The report having been unanimously adopted, the task of drawing up suitable designs was confided to Mr. Charles C. Ingham. The dies were engraved by Mr. C. C. Wright.