The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
Dear Sir,--My last letter to you was of the 6th instant, acknowledging the
receipt of your favors of the 2d and 6th of January. Since that, Mr. Jay
has put into my hands yours of the 12th of January, and I have received
your note of February the 10th, accompanying some newspapers.
Mine of the 6th covered the President's letter to the King for my recall,
and my letters of leave for myself and of credence to you, for the Count
de Montmorin, with copies of them for your information. Duplicates of
all these accompany the present; and an original commission for you as
chargé des affaires, signed by the President. At the date of my former
letters, I had not had time to examine with minuteness the proper form of
credentials under our new Constitution: I governed myself, therefore, by
foreign precedents, according to which a chargé des affaires is furnished
with only a letter of credence from one minister of Foreign Affairs to the
other. Further researches have shown me, that under our new Constitution,
all commissions (or papers amounting to that) must be signed by the
President. You will judge whether any explanation on this subject to M. de
Montmorin be necessary. I enclose you also the copy of a letter written to
the Marquis de La Luzerne, to be communicated to the Count de Montmorin,
and by him to the King, if he thinks proper.
It has become necessary to determine on a present proper to be given to
diplomatic characters on their taking leave of us; and it is concluded
that a medal and chain of gold will be the most convenient. I have,
therefore, to ask the favor of you to order the dies to be engraved with
all the despatch practicable. The medal must be of thirty lines diameter,
with a loop on the edge to receive the chain. On one side, must be the
arms of the United States, of which I send you a written description,
and several impressions in wax to render that more intelligible; round
them, as a legend, must be "The United States of America." The device of
the other side we do not decide on. One suggestion has been a Columbia
(a fine female figure) delivering the emblems of peace and commerce to a
Mercury, with a legend "Peace and Commerce" circumscribed, and the date
of our republic, to wit, 4th July, MDCCLXXVI., subscribed as an exergum;
but having little confidence in our own ideas in an art not familiar here,
they are only suggested to you, to be altered, or altogether postponed
to such better device as you may approve on consulting with those who are
in the habit and study of medals. Duvivier and Dupré seem to be the best
workmen; perhaps the last is the best of the two.
The public papers which accompany this, will give you fully the news of
this quarter.
I am, with great and sincere esteem, dear Sir, your most obedient, and
most humble servant.
TO MR. RANDOLPH.
New York, May 30, 1790.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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