Peter Cardelli to Thomas Jefferson, 12 September 1819
From Peter Cardelli
Washington 12 Septombre 19
Exellance
C’est j’en suis sur un annui que d’ecrire si souvant et Vous étourdire pour un sujet de peu d’importance … mais c’est un Objet trop precieux pour moi qui Sacrifie trois dolar par jour au Capitol sur l’experance au moin de faire connoitre au Congres que je Suis Sculpteur … j’ai presanté celui de Mr Madison Au President, il en a èté Satisfait et tous ceux qui l’on vu. Tous le Monde desire voir Celui de Mr Jefferson l’infortune veut que je ne l’eye pas .…. Si c’etoit un effet de Votre beauntè Mr Jefferson de mè faire la Grace ou de donner ordre s’il y a l’occasion des Vagons; ou bien de le faire envoyer par quelque negre sur une Charrette a Richemont comme Mr Randolf m’avoit offert dan sa Lettre j’en fairoit les frai et j’en fairoit bien des remerciments unis aux autres beauntes que j’ai resu &c &c—&c
c’est ma seul resource et je ne suis pas riche du tout plusieurs persones m’en demandent; je ne peut le doner sans celui lá …
C’est par suscription que je les Vandrois a 12 dolar chaque Jefferson—Madison—Monroe—et ceux qui aiment Adams Sec. State Si Mr Jefferson—ausi pour m’encourajer desirait les Avoir j’en Sairoit bien reconnoissent—. Mes Respects.
Pr Cardelli.
Editors’ Translation
Washington 12 September 1819
Excellency
I am sure you find it annoying that I write you so often and make your head spin with a matter of little importance … but this is too valuable an object to me, sacrificing as I do three dollars a day at the Capitol in the hope of at least letting Congress know that I am a sculptor … I have presented Mr. Madison’s bust to the President, who was satisfied with it, as were all those who saw it. Everyone wishes to see the one of Mr. Jefferson, but unfortunately I do not have it .…. If you would be so kind, Mr. Jefferson, as to grant me the favor of sending it or ordering it to be sent to me if a carriage is available, or else to have it sent by some negro on a cart to Richmond, as Mr. Randolph offered to do in his letter, I would pay the cost and be very thankful, as I am for all the other kindnesses I have received etc. etc.—etc.
These busts are my only resource, as I am not at all wealthy. Many people are asking me for them, but without that one I cannot comply …
I will sell them by subscription for 12 dollars each. Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and, for those who like him, Secretary of State Adams. If Mr. Jefferson also wishes to encourage me by acquiring them, I would be very grateful. My respects.
Pr Cardelli.
RC (MHi); ellipses in original; between dateline and salutation: “A Son Excellance”; endorsed by TJ as received 18 Sept. 1819 and so recorded in SJL. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene.
In a 19 Aug. 1819 letter Cardelli informed James Madison that president James Monroe approved of his busts, and he stated that he was preparing molds so as to produce many likenesses of Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and TJ. On 4 Nov. 1819 Madison asked Cardelli to send an invoice for the first three and to forward a bust of TJ as soon as it was executed (Madison, Papers, Retirement Ser., 1:499–500, 543).
Index Entries
- Adams, John Quincy; and P. Cardelli search
- Capitol, U.S.; sculptors at search
- Cardelli, Peter (Pietro); bust of J. Madison search
- Cardelli, Peter (Pietro); bust of J. Monroe search
- Cardelli, Peter (Pietro); bust of J. Q. Adams search
- Cardelli, Peter (Pietro); bust of TJ search
- Cardelli, Peter (Pietro); corresponds with T. J. Randolph search
- Cardelli, Peter (Pietro); letters from search
- French language; letters in, from; P. Cardelli search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Portraits; P. Cardelli’s bust search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); P. Cardelli’s bust of search
- Monroe, James; P. Cardelli’s bust of search
- Monroe, James; presidency of search
- Randolph, Thomas Jefferson (TJ’s grandson; Jane Hollins Nicholas Randolph’s husband); corresponds with P. Cardelli search
- sculpture; P. Cardelli’s busts search
- slaves; transport goods search