The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (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
I shall to-day direct the post-rider not to continue his route to this
place after to-day, and to take your orders as to the time you would wish
him to continue coming to you. I salute you with affectionate esteem and
respect.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
WASHINGTON, June 15, 1808.
SIR,--I have considered the letter of the director of the mint, stating
the ease with which the errors of Commodore Truxton's medal may be
corrected on the medal itself, and the unpracticability of doing it on
the die. In my former letter to you on this subject, I observed that to
make a new die would be a serious thing, requiring consideration. In fact,
the first die having been made by authority of the Legislature, the medal
struck, accepted, and acquiesced in for so many years, the powers given by
that law are executed and at an end, and a second law would be requisite
to make a second die or medal. But I presume it will be quite as agreeable
to Commodore Truxton to have his medal corrected in one way as another,
if done equally well, and it certainly may be as well or better done by
the graver, and with more delicate traits. I remember it was the opinion
of Doctor Franklin that where only one or a few medals were to be made, it
was better to have them engraved.
The medal being corrected, the die becomes immaterial. That has never been
delivered to the party, the medal itself being the only thing voted to
him. I say this on certain grounds, because I think this and Preble's are
the only medals given by the United States which have not been made under
my immediate direction. The dies of all those given by the old Congress,
and made at Paris, remain to this day deposited with our bankers at Paris.
That of General Lee, made in Philadelphia, was retained in the mint. I
mention this not as of consequence whether the die be given or retained,
but to show that there can be no claim of the party to it, or consequently
to its correction. I think, therefore, the medal itself should be
corrected by Mr. Reich; that this is as far as we can stretch our
authority, and I hope it will be satisfactory to the Commodore. I salute
you with constant affection and respect.
TO SHELTON GILLIAM, ESQ.
WASHINGTON, June 19, 1808.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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