Washington orders Busts
On 20 Sept 1759 George Washington orders head statues. It is interesting that one of them is Julius Ceasar. Twenty some years later the founding fathers use Julius Caesar as an epithet to hurl at their political enemies, like modern politicians use Hitler to ascribe any tyrannical impulses to their opponents.
by Carl J Richard, dives into the corruption and good impulses of both Senate and Julius Caesar complicating any final judgement.
But back to those head statues, those busts.
George Washington's ordered them, but he never got them.
GW got his wild beasts and his small ornaments for his chimneypiece, but William Cheere reported that there were no busts available of the size GW specified of the six military heroes. See Invoice from Robert Cary & Co., 15 Mar. 1760.
What did GW order?
Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union of Mount Vernon have a copy GW’s description of the bust and ornaments
GW requested: “
8 Busts &ca according to the following directions & measures of Copper. Enamel. or Glazed. viz.
1 of Alexander the great—
1 of Julius Cæsar
1 of Charles the 12 of Sweden &
another of the King of Prussia
these all to be of the same sizes
in order to fill up
broken pediments over doors,
& not to exceed 15 inches in height
nor 10 inches in Width.
2 Furious Wild Beasts of any kind,
not to exceed 18 inches in length & 1
2 in higth
but as near that size as may be drawn
as if approaching each other &
eager to engage,
at the distance of about 4 feet,
to be the same Colour as those above.
of somewhat smaller size than the above to stand on each end of a pediment wh. is carved in this Manner [here appears a drawing of a curved pediment.]
Sundry small ornaments for a Chimney piece that is 6 feet long & 8 inches wide.” S
Source
Instead of those busts, what about:
GW's order taker suggests something else:
There is no Busts of Alexander the Great (none at all of Charles 12th of Sweeden) Julius Cæsar, King of Prussia, Prince Eugene nor Duke of Marlborough of the Size desird;
and to make Models woud be very Expensive—at least 4 Guineas each.
but I can make Busts exactly to the Size wrote for (15 inches) and very good ones at the rate of 16/ Each of—Homer, Virgil, Horace, Cicero, Plato, Aristotle, Seneca, Galens, Vestall Virgin[,] Faustina[,] Chaucer, Spencer, Johnson, Shakespear, Beaumont[,] Fletcher, Milton, Prior, Pope, Congreve, Swift, Addison, Dryden, Locke, Newton
Founders Online 46
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Compiled by Jim Moyer Sept 2023, posted 10/10/23 but backdated to 20 Sept 2023, another updated 10/12/2023, 10/14/23
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More links
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Founding Fathers hurling Caesar epithets
Pages 156-160 lists quotes from Founding Fathers using Julius Caesar to accuse their opponents of Tryanny.
by Carl J Richard, published 2008 Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, first paperback edition 2009
". . .another incident took place on the same occasion which will further delineate Hamilton’s political principles. the room being hung around with a collection of the portraits of remarkable men, among them were those of Bacon, Newton & Locke. Hamilton asked me who they were. I told him they were my trinity of the three greatest men the world had ever produced, naming them. he paused for some time: ‘the greatest man, said he, that ever lived was Julius Caesar.’ Mr Adams was honest as a politician as well as a man; Hamilton honest as a man, but, as a politician, believing in the necessity of either force or corruption to govern men."
Source
"The evidence indicates however, that either Jefferson misunderstood Hamilton, or Hamilton was playing a joke on the humorless Virginian." The book goes on to explain Hamilton's more nuanced understanding of Julius Caesar versus the corruption of the Senate.
Pages 157
by Carl J Richard, published 2008 Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, first paperback edition 2009
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Founders knowledge of Caesar
This is not related to the Founders using Caesar as an epithet but proves how acquainted the Founders were with anything of Rome and Julius Caesar even if it was learned through Shakespeare or through Addison and Steele's Cato, A Tragedy.
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President George Washington refers to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar - Act 4, scene 3
when urging John Jay to negotiate a Treaty with England rather than resorting to a trade war that James Madison advocated.
As far as depends upon the Executive, measures prepartatory for the worst, while it hopes for the best, will be pursued; and I shall endeavor to keep things in statu quo until your negociation assumes a more decisive form; which I hope will soon be the case, as there are many hot-heads, & impetuous spirits among us, who with difficulty, can be kept within bounds. This, however, ought not to precipitate your conduct; for as it has been observed, there is a “tide in human affairs” which ought to be watched; and because I believe all who are acquainted with you, will readily concede, that considerations both public & private combine, to urge you to bring your mission to a close with as much celerity as the nature of it will admit.
Source
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Shakespeare's Julius Caesar - Act 4, scene 3
BRUTUS
Under your pardon. You must note besides
245That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim full, our cause is ripe.
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men
250Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves
Or lose our ventures.
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Cato, A Tragedy
See all the quotes we think came from our Founders but who borrow similar phrasing that came Cato, A Tragedy
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