The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 | Page 6

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."
As these medals were directed to be struck in order to signalize and
commemorate certain interesting events and conspicuous characters,
the distribution of them should in his opinion be such as may best
conduce to that end. He therefore thinks that both of Mr. Jefferson's
hints should be improved, to wit, that a series of these medals should be
presented to each of the crowned heads in Europe, and that one of each
set be deposited in each of the American colleges. He presumes that Mr.
Jefferson does not mean that any should be presented to the King of
Great Britain, for it would not be delicate; nor that by crowned heads
he meant to exclude free states from the compliment, for to make
discriminations would give offense.
In the judgment of your secretary it would be proper to instruct Mr.
Jefferson to present in the name of the United States one silver medal
of each denomination to every monarch (except His Britannic Majesty),

and to every sovereign and independent state without exception in
Europe; and also to the Emperor of Morocco. That he also be instructed
to send fifteen silver medals of each set to Congress, to be by them
presented to the thirteen (p. xix) United States respectively, and also to
the Emperor of China with an explanation and a letter, and one to
General Washington. That he also be instructed to present a copper
medal of each denomination to each of the most distinguished
universities (except the British) in Europe, and also to Count de
Rochambeau, to Count d'Estaing, and to Count de Grasse; and, lastly,
that he be instructed to send to Congress two hundred copper ones of
each set, together with the dies.
Your secretary thinks that of these it would be proper to present one to
each of the American colleges, one to the Marquis de la Fayette, and
one to each of the other major-generals who served in the late
American army; and that the residue with the dies be deposited in the
Secretary's Office of the United States, subject to such future orders as
Congress may think proper to make respecting them.
It might be more magnificent to give gold medals to sovereigns, silver
ones to distinguished persons, and copper ones to the colleges; but, in
his opinion, the nature of the American Governments, as well as the
state of their finance, will apologize for their declining the expense.
All which is submitted to the wisdom of Congress.
John JAY.
The records of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres show
that in 1789, at the request of Mr. Jefferson, it also composed designs
for the medals awarded by Congress to General Wayne, Major Stewart,
and Captain John Paul Jones.[7] Mr. Jefferson had previously had an
interview with M. Augustin Dupré on the subject, as will be seen by the
following note, the original of which is in Mr. Jefferson's
handwriting:[8]
[Footnote 7: See D, page xli.]

[Footnote 8: For the French originals of this and the following letter,
see E, page xliv.]
To M. DUPRÉ, Engraver of Medals and Medallist of the Royal
Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
Mr. Jefferson having received orders concerning medals to be struck
would like to talk about them with M. Dupré, if he will please do him
the honour to call on him to-morrow morning before eleven o'clock.
Saturday, January 3, 1789.
In the following month, Mr. Jefferson again wrote to M. Dupré, (p. xx)
inclosing descriptions of the designs for the medals of General Morgan
and of Admiral Jones. The reader will note some slight differences
between these and those originally composed by the Academy of
Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres:
To M. DUPRÉ, Engraver of Medals and Medallist of the Royal
Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
Mr. Jefferson has the honour to send to M. Dupré the devices for the
medals for General Morgan and Rear-Admiral Paul Jones, which he has
just received from the Academy of Belles-Lettres, and the making of
which he proposes to M. Dupré, the latter to be responsible for the
success of the dies up to the striking of three hundred and fifty of each
medal in gold, silver, or bronze, and to furnish proofs in tin at the end
of the month of March next, so that the medals may all be struck before
the 15th of April. He begs him to kindly