February 13

[Writing from Monticello on February 13, 1821, as a retired former president in my twilight years, I am addressing Jared Mansfield, a distinguished professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point with whom I share a mutual devotion to national defense and institutional education. The historical context reflects a time when West Point, which I originally established during my presidency in 1802, has successfully matured into a vital bastion of American engineering and military science. While I gladly accept the honor of having my portrait hang at the academy, I humbly defer its successes to its professors before dryly comparing my advanced age to Voltaire's decaying features, warning Mansfield that the famed artist Thomas Sully will have a difficult journey traveling over muddy spring roads only to waste his fine artistic talents painting the face of a seventy-eight-year-old skeleton.]

I am favored, Sir, with your letter of January 26th, and am duly sensible of the honor proposed of giving to my portrait a place among the benefactors of our nation, and of the establishment of West Point in particular. I have ever considered that establishment as of major importance to our country, and in whatever I could do for it, I viewed myself as performing a duty only. This is certainly more than requited by the kind sentiments expressed in your letter. The real debt of the institution is to its able and zealous professors. Mr. Sully, I fear, however, will consider the trouble of his journey, and the employment of his fine pencil, as illy bestowed on an ottamy of 78. Voltaire, when requested by a female friend to sit for his bust by the sculptor Pigalle, answered, "J'ai soixante seize ans; et M. Pigalle doit, dit-on venir modeler mon visage. Mais, Madame, il faudrait que j'eusse un visage. On n'en devinerait à peine la place mes yeux sont enfonces de trois pouces; mes joues sont de vieux parchemin mal collés sur des os qui ne tiennent à rien. Le peu de dents que j'avais est parti." I will conclude, however, with him, that what remains is at your service, and that of the pencil of Mr. Sully. I shall be at home till the middle of April, when I shall go for some time to an occasional and distant residence. Within this term Mr. Sully will be pleased to consult his own convenience, in which the state of the roads will of course have great weight. Every day of it will be equal with me.