From Giuseppe Ceracchi to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., c.10 May 1795
Giuseppe Ceracchi to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr.
Philadelphia [c.10 May 1795]1
Sir
Mr King Boudinot and Wollcot will better explane the reason of there unsincerity respecting the plan of the National Monument they have connected other plots more pernicious, because secretly acting ageinst it to destroi it.2
My situation thank God, is for to be as the President immagin but if I should give time to the American egerness for foregn mony, my fortune might have been furthed at last.
Let us see now what my avidity was ⟨Seeking⟩ for. Thousend American would have given 30 Dollars a year while I should have passed the best substance of my Geneus and in consequence of my life, which I shall certenlay emploie with more delight now, that I am disingaged by this American infatuation, from which I am now delivered as from a poisons Monster which possessed my senses. Therefore I shall not experience the ingratitude of all those persons whose kindness as favored me so long as I coul[d] oblige them: it is to be considered that many have been the recceiver I allon [alone] the Generall Giver.
the only folt [fault] that I can reproch to my self is but credulity, I had mesure others with the foot rooll of my veracity and generosity, and upon consideration I belive that the President and I have been both duped.
At last in this longe letter in which you saed as been directed by the President of the United States nothink strikes me more then the Civil insult payed ageinst the sacrad Geneus of Liberal Arts.3 therfor I shall be happy to recceive back agein my Original Marble Bust according to the proposal. I am with Estime Your Hum Servt
Jos Ceracchi
If convinient i shall send people to mor. morning to reateke it.4
ALS, DLC:GW. Ceracchi addressed the letter to Dandridge “at the presidence.”
1. The date is based on the docket, which GW recorded, “re[c]d 10th May 1795.” Since Ceracchi resided in Philadelphia, it is conceivable that he wrote the letter the same day.
2. For Ceracchi’s earlier comments on sentiments against his proposed monument, see his letter to GW of 28 March.
In a letter to James Madison dated 21 March, a frustrated Ceracchi complained that William Bradford and Elias Boudinot had spoken against his project and represented it as “redicelous and improper.” The two men, said the artist, employed “all the documents of a lawior or a friar in expressing the narrow compas of there soll [soul], i thought to hear the imploration of holy Ignorance descending from heven upon the people of America, as it was implored in Room [Rome] last Year in contradiction of comun sense; Then i could not holpe to remarke that there resoning was contrary to the sanction they give to my Plan with there signatures, to which Mr Boudinot ansered that he did it as well as other Gentilmen, that did the same act, merely to encoreg my feling, and to give me some credit … this sentiment of M: Boudinot make me belive that a plot of not uncomun Kind are agent the plan of National Monument for some other objet that i cant discover” ( 15:490).
3. Ceracchi referred to the letter Dandridge sent him of 9 May.
4. The following day the artist notified Dandridge: “Since iesterday I have ordered the same men that carit the bust to fatch it back, and I suppose that by this time will be effected” (ALS, DLC:GW).