Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-06-24

e patronage, Dul lHdl TIC SNI
NOT disfranchise one Of their felow-memoeIs.
Is the Hon. Mr. Buchanan, the present oecie-
tary of Stale who is personal Trend OF the az,
list. who fully appreciates his artistic TALENT anu
who has 10 this hour supported all ms views,
blind or corrupted? What shall we say OF inc
venerable and honorable John Quincy Adams,
The friend Of Pcrsico, who first discovered anu
fostered his useful talent, at time when AiileI-
ca could only boast of few native stone cutters
certainly not sculptor! happen 70 pos. ~,
comics OF the suboned letters, and am sure lnal
the distinguished correspondent OF Mr. Persico
will parton me for making them public, when
he considers The motive by which am lmpeiieu'
| desire 10 vindicate the reputation of The very
man whom he first patronized, and whose youih-
full talents were made TO bloom and truclliy, by
his genial influence, under the animating sun Oh
Liberty.
Copy of a Correspondence between Mr.. Luigi
Persico. and The Hon. John Quincy Adams
"WAsnlSGroS, March 81, 1897.
"Illustious and Benevolent Man-Accep! IN
trust for poslerity your bust in marble, which
! have executed with view, that, when your use
FIJI career shall have closed, the features OF The
marriott and philanlhropist, ever industrious Tor
The good of his country and OF mankind, shall
remain TO be looked upon BY succeeding genera
! lions IN incie Them 10 Il noble emulation oil his
virtues and actions. Lolui rEn.'iCo.
"To the Hon. John Quincy Adams"
The above note was enclosed in The following:
"WAsnxGroN, March Sd, 1887.
GDear Sir: have selected tins day 10 present
IN Won the bust | have executed, because u IS
day you have rendered dear 10 my memory II
is now in The Library Of Congress 10 your ORDER.
Accent nv thanks for all you have done Tor me,
GU "'' 49, aLUIGI PERSICO."
To which The following is an answer;
"WAsmlSGToN, March 80, 1887.
"Mr LUIGI PERsIco:
"My Dear Sir: have received with the deepest
sensibitv your letter OF yesterday, rendered dol-
bly, precious 10 me by your allusion 10 the DAY,
and 10 associations in my own mind, not less IN
eresting to myself than to you.
"The bust has been admired by many persons,
who have seen and mentioned il 10 me as like
ness. No nudge Of sculpture can behold il, with
out admring il as a work Of art. 1t is TOO valua-
bic for me to accept as present; but lei me suS-
sesl to you the idea OF presenting Ito The Library
| of Congress- where il now is, and where may
/ remain monument OF gOnr nnrtrdHed fatent, oil
your grateful recollection and of your dlsinieresi-
ed friendship. There il will honor Inc, by exhl-
/ biting TO muliiludes in after Times, the linearnens
Of my ace in the simplicity OF nature ana The
perfection of art. 1t will honor YOU as demon
stratve Of The talent which it was my good for
tune TO recognise, 10 encourage, and 10 patronize
as far as il was within my humble means. The
artist and his friend and subject will 90 down TO-
ee,her in that block OF marble 10 the succeeding
! ages and in that association my share OF reward
will be as precious in my estimation, as yours OF
grateful generosity and renown in the Art of
| praxeles and of Michael Angelo.
al am. dear sir very faithfully yonr friend.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS"
! wan 10 .,o,,,,,n, Nf.eere Editors Sat;ci, I
| will moi say "Z." but your numerous and inlei-
/ gent readers, that J. T. was not in So very bad
company, when he found himself in the society OF,
and conceded with, the aforementioned gentle
| men, whose opinions certainly are rather more
/ authoritative than rs, who has seen little OF
| Italy, but who knows nothing OF the Italians
Ii is evident, that nothing but personal inimical
feelings to Persico could have produced such
mass of viiuperalion against }. /. va, with
his puny hands, not only wishes TO send J. L. 10
the mad-house but 10 crush Persico. "Lc Coa
,aiss,," remarks Vollaire in his commentary
on Cornee, ''n'n gue Z art en- rue anOn Z artistic
Az eonf,airc, les contemporaries toujOurs Jalonr ne
soasent m a 0rtisie et Oubiicm I art" This is
bml too true, and is sisnay illustrated in the pre-
sent conIse of ~
J. Il. is furthermore obliged, in selfdelencc
and in order 10 shield himself from The foul as
persion that he is 'penan-a-lincr, 10 introduce
letter from the Philadelphia ARTISTS Fund So
ciety" 10 81. r." which speaks Tor itself, and
which will support The statement OF your clever
Correspondent "B.":
"PmlLADELrnrA, September 6, 1895.
"Dear Sir: Your very liberal donation Of fifty
dollars Tor The Artists Fund Society was laid
before meeting of that body, and by resolve
| OF The Society," | was deputed TO thank you for
the voluntary and highly acceptable present,
and for your general benevolencc, which has
| had cheering influence upon The spirit OF
those who have dared 10 Struggle for pro-
tessional dignity. | am instructed also 10 in
torn you, that The copy OF the charter, bylaws,
&C., will be handed you when prepared. am
proud my dear sir, OF the privilege and The honor
nv professional brethren have conferred upon
me, of returning their heartfelt thanks for yoir
generous devotion 10 their interests, and Of Civ
| ing assurances of the sentiments OF admiration
| and of lasting gra tude which they all entertain
for the ability and zeal and warm-hearedness
with which you have aided the cause OF all DE-
serving artists.
"You may now be truly denominaled the friend
and champion Of intellect and professional rights.
81 am dear sir, your friend and humble ser
want, JOHN NEAGLE.
ITO DR.. J. T, Philadelphia"
must add, that ]. T. has moreover, the no.
nor TO be one of the founders, honorary and ANA
tenr members of this Society, and one OF It's Ply
sicians: that during the first few annual exhibit
billions Of this Society, when the friends OF this
institution were reru ic,r, and found little sympa-
thy among the million, J. L. furnished more
pictures Than any other individual, selected from
his private collection 10 be exhibited for The benc-
| fit OF those same native artists and tor The ad-
vancement of AMERICAN arts, whose cause he has
| always warmly defended, 10 The best OF his hum
hle abilities, against nTuding Influences anu su-
perrilious arrogant presumption.
Allow me now, gentlemen, 10 thank your cor
respondent, "B, for his able and friendly defence
OF my humble self The difference oil opinion
that may exist between MS, on The subject of the
arts only tends to strengthen and endear The lies
OF friendship; for from the contention OF opposite
opinions, with such mind as that OF %" as
from The aurilion of pebbles light will necessari-
" follow.
shall now beg you to do me The favor TO send
a copy OF the paper containing this reply Ia The
members of the "Arias' Fund Safety" and, also,
10 have the kindness To forward another 10 The
Hon. John Quincy Adams.
In conclusion, | hope that have satisfactorily
! proved that MIR. PeIsico is not The insignificant
man and artist that "X." wishes 10 make him out;
! but that on The contrary, he is positive loss to
! the American arts now that he is compelled TO
seek patronage in another, and to hun unknown
country country the inhabitants OF which are
proverl,a for their liberal feelings towards al
artists, though not ''naiircs," and who have ex-
tended their munilicent patronage TO Benjamin
West, 10 Leslie, 10 the younger West, Nc, &c,
all native Americans. ). /.
! The auson made 10 the day, 10 dear to the reco-
lection Of my friend Persico, is the same IN which MI
Adams contracted with him for The Two Statues enblc
NAUTICAL OF Peace and Var, in the Capitol IN Wash
| ingtoH, and which tie very last day of his Ad-
ministration. J. I.
Arrival FROM MsxIco.-The barque Anahu-
ac, Captain Wilson, arrived yesterday morning,
from Vera Cruz in twenty-five days passage.
The Hon. Wilson Shannon, late Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister PlenipoentiaTy 10 Mexi-
CO came in the Anahuac as passenger.
II was The general feeling in Vera Cruz, when
! the Anahnac sailed, that Texas wonld never be