Papers of John Adams, volume 21
The confidence i put in the persuation of the most high Caracters of this Country, which have all at once retracted from there promises of promoting the plan of a National Monument puts me in the necssity of taking the prudent stop to returne to Europe directely1
My expence having been of graet consideration, and incresed by my application in the Noble monumental plan i am in the necessity of calling for the somme of my works, which i cant give them as a donation as i had proposed to do for the said circumstances
393An immoral man would say, for the same plan reason and upon the same principles
of which those high-caracteristic Gentilmen have acted in withdrawing
themself. for promoting the plan, as they had constantely promised.
Therfore i shall take the Liberty to draw upon you and in
favour of mr George Meade the somme of 1350. Dallars price of your Medallion in
Alaboster Originaly performed by me2
Reckoning upon your [discrorge] with honoring your signature i am with consideration sir / yor Most Obt Ser
RC (Adams Papers).
Artist Giuseppe (Joseph) Ceracchi twice submitted
plans for a monument to commemorate the American Revolution, to no
avail. He returned to Europe, where he was guillotined, for his
political activities, in 1801 (Hamilton, Papers
, 18:271).
AA donated this medallion of
JA to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. George
Meade (1741–1808) was a Philadelphia merchant and land speculator (
AFC
, 10:105, 383–384).