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“LETTER LXXIV. TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.
Paris, July 12, 1785. GENTLEMEN, |
In consequence of the orders of the legislative and executive bodies of Virginia, I haye engaged Monsieur Houdon to make the statue of General Washington. For this purpose it is necessary for him to see the General. He therefore goes with Doctor Frank- lin, and will have the honor of delivering you this himself. As his journey is at the expense of the State, according to our Contract, I will pray you to favor him with your patronage and counsels, and to protect -him as much as possible, frém those impgsitions to which strangers are but too much exposed. I have advised him to proceed in the stages to the General’s. J have also agreed, if he can see Generals.Greene and Gates, whose busts he has a de- sire to execute, that he may make a moderate deviation for this purpose, after he has done with General Washington.
But the most important object with him, is to be employed to make General Washington’s equestrian statue for Congress... No- thing but the expectation of this, could have engaged him to have undertaken this voyage ; as the pedestrian statue, for Virginia, will not make it worth the busmess he loses by absenting himself. I was therefore obliged to assure bim of my recommendations for this greater work. Having acted in this for the state, you will, I hope, think yourselves in some measure bound to patronise and urge his being employed by Congress. I would not have done this myself, nor asked you to do it, did I not see that it would be better for Congress to put this business into his hands, than into those of any other person living, for these reasons: 1. He is, with- out rivalship, the first statuary of this age ; as a proof of which, he receives orders from every other country for things intended to be capital. 2. He will have seen General Washington, have taken his measures in every part, and, of course, whatever he does of him will have the merit of being original, from which other workmen can only furnish copies. 3. He is in possession of the house, the furnaces, and all the apparatus provided for making the statue of Louis XV. If any other workman be employed, this will all have to be provided anew, and, of course, to be added to the price of the statue; for no man can ever expect to make two equestrian statues. The addition which this would be to the price, will much exceed the expectation of any person who has not seen that appa-
