568. ART, Selecting works of.—
With
respect to the figures, I could only find three of
those you named, matched in size. Those were
Minerva, Diana and Apollo. I was obliged to
add a fourth, unguided by your choice. They
offered me a fine Venus; but I thought it out
of taste to have two at table at the same time.
Paris and Helen were represented. I conceived
it would be cruel to remove them from their
peculiar shrine. When they shall pass the Atlantic,
it will be to sing a requiem over our
freedom and happiness. At length a fine Mars
was offered, calm, bold, his falchion not drawn
but ready to be drawn. This will do, thinks
I, for the table of the American Minister in
London, where those whom it may concern May
look and learn that though Wisdom is our
guide, and the Song and Chase our supreme
delight, yet we offer adoration to that tutelar
God also who rocked the cradle of our birth,
who has accepted our infant offerings, and has
shown himself the patron of our rights and
avenger of our wrongs. The group then was
closed and your party formed. Envy and malice
will never be quiet. I hear it already whis
pered to you that in admitting Minerva to your
table, I have departed from the principle which
made me reject Venus; in plain English that
I have paid a just respect to the daughter but
failed to the mother. No, Madam, my respect
to both is sincere. Wisdom, I know, is social.
She seeks her fellows, but Beauty is jealous,
and illy bears the presence of a rival.—
To Mrs. John Adams.
Ford ed., iv, 99.
(P.
1785)
