The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 | Page 5

the (p. xvi)
discussion with the same alacrity as if the subject had been designed to
illustrate the actions of their compatriots, or to immortalize some
glorious events in the annals of their own nation."[3] Commissioners,
consisting of four of its members, were at once appointed to suggest
designs for the three medals asked for Generals Washington, Gates, and
Greene.[4]

[Footnote 3: See A, page xxxiv.]
[Footnote 4: See B, page xxxvi.]
Through the courtesy of M. Narcisse Dupré, son of Augustin Dupré, I
am enabled to give the contract between his father and Colonel
Humphreys for the engraving of the medal for General Greene:[5]
[Footnote 5: For the French original see C, page xli.]
I, the undersigned, Augustin Dupré, engraver of medals and medallist
of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, bind myself to
Colonel Humphreys to engrave the medal representing the portrait of
General Greene. On the reverse, Victory treading under her feet broken
arms, with the legend and the exergue, and I hold myself responsible
for any breakage of the dies up to twenty-four medals, and bind myself
to furnish one at my own expense (the diameter of the medal to be
twenty-four lignes).
All on the following conditions: That for the two engraved dies of the
said medal shall be paid me the sum of two thousand four hundred
livres, on delivery of the two dies after the twenty-four medals which
the Colonel desires have been struck.
Done in duplicate between us, in Paris, this nineteenth of November,
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five (1785).
D. HUMPHREYS. DUPRÉ.
On November 25th of the same year, M. Dacier, the perpetual secretary
of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, communicated
another letter from Colonel Humphreys, in which he requested the
Academy to compose designs for three more medals, which had been
voted to General Morgan and to Lieutenant-Colonels Washington and
Howard. (p. xvii) Commissioners were appointed and designs made for
these also.[6]
[Footnote 6: See B, page xxxvi.]

Colonel Humphreys having returned to America before the medals
were finished, their superintendence was undertaken by Mr. Jefferson,
as will be seen from the following letter:
To the Honourable John JAY, Paris, February 14, 1787. Secretary for
Foreign Affairs.
Sir: Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals
and swords executed, which had been ordered by Congress, he
authorized Colonel Humphreys to take measures here for the execution.
Colonel Humphreys did so, and the swords were finished in time for
him to carry them. The medals not being finished, he desired me to
attend to them. The workman who was to make that of General Greene
brought me yesterday the medal in gold, twenty-three in copper, and
the die. Mr. Short, during my absence, will avail himself of the first
occasion which shall offer of forwarding the medals to you. I must beg
leave, through you, to ask the pleasure of Congress as to the number
they would choose to have struck. Perhaps they might be willing to
deposit one of each person in every college of the United States.
Perhaps they might choose to give a series of them to each of the
crowned heads of Europe, which would be an acceptable present to
them. They will be pleased to decide. In the meantime I have sealed up
the die, and shall retain it till I am honoured with their orders as to this
medal, and the others also, when they shall be finished.
With great respect and esteem, Th: JEFFERSON.
In another letter to Mr. Jay, dated Marseilles, May 4, 1787, Mr.
Jefferson again refers to this subject:
- - - - -
I am in hopes Mr. Short will be able to send you the medals of General
Gates by this packet. I await a general instruction as to these medals.
The academies of Europe will be much pleased to receive a set.
- - - - -

Mr. Jefferson's communication of the 14th of February was (p. xviii)
brought to the notice of Congress by Mr. Jay, and was referred back to
him by Congress. The result was the following report:
OFFICE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, July 11, 1787.
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of Foreign
Affairs, to whom was referred a letter from the Honourable Mr.
Jefferson of the 14th of February last,
Reports, Your secretary presumes that the following paragraphs in this
letter occasion its being referred to him, viz.: "The workman who was
to make a medal of General Greene brought me yesterday the medal in
gold, twenty-three in copper, and the die. I must beg leave, through you,
to ask the pleasure of Congress as to the number they would choose to
have struck. Perhaps they might be willing to deposit one of each
person in every college