Chapter IX: Section 2: And be it further enacted, That on the (6)

It was then customary with the Indians, when they made a treaty of peace, to simulate the burying of the tomahawk. In a speech of Red Jacket's to the Honorable Samuel Dexter, secretary of War, delivered at Philadelphia, February 11, 1802, is the following passage: "Brother, you offered to join with us in tearing up the largest pine tree in our forests, and under it to bury the tomahawk. We (p. 114) gladly join with you, brother, in this work, and let us heap rocks and stones on the root of this tree, that the tomahawk may never again be found."

The engraving is a representation of the medal generally known as the Red Jacket medal, from its having been given by President Washington to the celebrated Seneca orator and chief Sa-go-ya-wat-ha (_He keeps them awake_), better known as Red Jacket, on the occasion of his visit to Philadelphia in March and April, 1792. On the death of this great chief of the Six Nations of the State of New York (Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas, and Tuscaroras), in 1830, it passed into the hands of his nephew the Seneca chief So-sa-wa (_Corpulent man_), James Johnson. It now belongs to James Johnson's grand-nephew, Do-ne-ho-gà-wa (_Open door_), General Ely S. Parker, who served during the Civil War on the staff of General U.S. Grant. He was afterward for some time commissioner of Indian Affairs, and is now living in the city of New York. It is owing to the politeness of General Parker that I am able to give an engraving of this, the only well-authenticated Washington Indian peace medal, although similar ones were given during his administration to different Indian chiefs, as will be seen from the following extract from a message addressed by General Knox, then secretary of War, to the Choctaw nation, and dated Philadelphia, February, 17, 1792: "Brothers, your father, General Washington, sends you two great silver medals--you will point out the two great chiefs who are to receive these marks of distinction."

General Parker says that this medal was made by Dr. Rittenhouse, who was director of the United States Mint at Philadelphia from 1792 till 1795, that these medals were of three sizes from President Jefferson to President Fillmore's administration, and that they were given to Indian chiefs according to their rank. Since then they have been made of two sizes only.

No. 19. (p. 115) PLATE XX.

_April 30, 1790._

To Peace and Commerce. [Rx]. The United States of America.

THE DIPLOMATIC MEDAL.

TO PEACE AND COMMERCE. To the left, America, personified as an Indian queen, seated, facing the right, and holding in her left hand the cornucopia of abundance (_Peace_), welcomes Mercury (_Commerce_) to her shores, and with her right calls his attention to her products, packed ready for transportation. In the background, to the right, the sea, and a ship under full sail. Exergue: IV JUL. MDCCLXXVI. (_4 Julii, 1776: July 4, 1776_).

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The arms and crest of the United States of America. Arms: Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules, a chief, azure. The escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle, displayed proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch, and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows,[64] all proper, and in his beak a scroll inscribed with this motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM (_One out of many_). Crest: Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon: a glory, or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field.[65]

[Footnote 64: The thirteen original States.]

[Footnote 65: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xxix and
xxx.]

Only two of these Diplomatic medals have thus far been awarded, one to the Marquis de la Luzerne and the other to the Count de Moustier.

CÉSAR ANNE DE LA LUZERNE was born in Paris in 1741. He was (p. 116) graduated at the Chevau-légers school, became aide-de-camp to the Duke de Broglie; was appointed major-general of cavalry in 1762; and colonel of the French grenadiers in 1776. Quitting the army, he entered the diplomatic service, and was envoy to the court of Maximilian Joseph, Elector of Bavaria, in 1766, and minister to the United States in 1779-1784. He contracted, under his own responsibility, a loan to relieve the distress of the American army in 1780; received from Harvard College the degree of LL.D. in 1781, and the same from Dartmouth College in 1782. He was appointed ambassador to England in January, 1788. Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of State, wrote to him, April 30, 1790, by order of President Washington, conveying to him an express acknowledgment of his services, and of the high appreciation of them by the government and people of America, informing him also that, by order of the President of the United States, a medal and a chain of gold would be prepared and delivered to him by the chargé d'affaires of the United States at the court of France. The Marquis de la Luzerne died in London, September 14, 1791, before the medal was finished.

ÉLÉONORE FRANÇOIS ÉLIE, COUNT, AFTERWARD MARQUIS, DE MOUSTIER, was born in Paris, March 15, 1751. He entered the army when but fourteen years of age, and at sixteen was sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navarre cavalry; captain in the Dauphin dragoons 1771; mestre-de-camp, 1777, and soon after maréchal-de-camp; and lieutenant-general, 1816. Entering the diplomatic service in 1771, he first served as gentilhomme d'ambassade in Lisbon, then as conseiller d'ambassade in London, 1772; was chargé d'affaires at Naples, and in 1777, minister to the court of Treves, He was sent on a special mission to England in 1783, and as minister to the United States in 1787. In 1790 he declined the mission to the court of St. James, and went as ambassador to Berlin. Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of State, informed him, March 2, 1791, by order of President Washington, that a medal and a chain of gold would be presented to him by Mr. Short, in the name of the United States of America. In September, 1791, he declined the ministry of Foreign Affairs, emigrated in 1792, and came back to France with Louis XVIII. in 1814. The Marquis de Moustier died at Bailli, near Versailles, February 1, 1816.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. (p. 117)

_John Adams to the President of Congress._

To His Excellency
John JAY, Braintree, August 3, 1779.
President of Congress.

Sir: The Chevalier de la Luzerne is a Knight of the Order of St.
John of Jerusalem, of an ancient and noble family, connected by
blood with many characters of principal name in the kingdom; a
grandson of the celebrated Chancellor de la Moignon; a nephew of
Monsieur Malesherbes, perhaps still more famous as first
President of the Court of Aids, and as Minister of State, a
brother of the Comte de la Luzerne, and of the Bishop of Langres,
one of the three Dukes and Peers who had the honour to assist in
the consecration of the King; a near relative of the Marshal de
Broglie, and the Comte his brother, and of many other important
personages in that country; nor is his personal character less
respectable than his connections. As he is possessed of much
useful information of all kinds, and particularly of the
political system of Europe, obtained in his late Embassy in
Bavaria; and of the justest sentiments of the mutual interests of
his country and ours, and of the utility to both of that alliance
which so happily unites them, and at the same time divested of
all personal and party attachments and aversions, Congress and
their constituents, I flatter myself, will have much satisfaction
in his negotiations, as well as in those of the Secretary to the
Embassy, Monsieur Marbois, who was also Secretary to the Embassy
in Bavaria, and is a Counsellor of the Parliament of Metz, a
gentleman whose abilities, application and disposition cannot
fail to make him useful in this momentous office he sustains.

I have the honour to be with great respect, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
John ADAMS.

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to William Short._

To
William SHORT, Esquire, New York, April 30th, 1790.
Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America,
Paris.

Dear Sir: 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 am therefore to ask the favour of you to
order the dies to be engraved with all the despatch practicable.
The medal must be of 30-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 (p. 118)
several impressions in wax, to render that more intelligible;
round them as a legend must be "The United States of America."
The device on 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 the legend "Peace and
Commerce" circumscribed, and the date of our Republic, to-wit: IV
Jul. MDCCLXXVI, subscribed as an Exerguum; 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.

I am with great and sincere esteem,
Thomas JEFFERSON.

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to the Marquis de la Luzerne._

To His Excellency
THE MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE. New York, April 30th, 1790.

Sir: When in the course of your Legation to the United States
your affairs rendered it necessary that you should absent
yourself a while from that station, we flattered ourselves with
the hopes that that absence was not final. It turned out in
events that the interests of your Sovereign called for your
talents, and the exercise of your functions in another quarter.
You were pleased to announce this to the former Congress through
their Secretary for Foreign Affairs, at a Time when that body was
closing its Administration, in order to hand it over to a
Government, then preparing on a different model. This Government
is now formed, organized and in action, and it considers among
its earliest duties and assuredly among its most cordial, to
testify to you the Regret which the People and Government of the
United States felt at your Removal from among them; a very
general and sincere regret, and tempered only by the consolation
of your personal advancement which accompanied it. You will
receive, Sir, by order of the President of the United States, as
soon as it can be prepared, a Medal and chain of gold, of which
he desires your acceptance, in token of their Esteem and of the
sensibility with which they will ever recall your Legation to
their memory.

But as this compliment may hereafter be rendered to other
missions, from which yours was distinguished by eminent
circumstances, the President of the United States wishes to pay
you the distinguished tribute of an express acknowledgment of
your services, and our sense of them. You came to us, Sir,
through all the perils which encompassed us on all sides. You
found us struggling and suffering under difficulties as singular
and trying as our situation was new and unprecedented. Your
magnanimous nation had taken side with us in the conflict and
yourself become the center of our common councils, the link which
connected our common operations.

In that position you laboured without ceasing, till all labours
were crowned with glory to your nation, Freedom to ours, and
Benefit to both. During the whole we had constant evidence (p. 119)
of your Zeal, your abilities, and your good Faith; and we desire
to convey this Testimony of it home to your own Breast and to that
of your Sovereign, our best and greatest Friend, and this I do,
Sir, in the name and by the express Instruction of the President
of the United States.

I feel how flattering it is to me, Sir, to be the organ of the
public sense on this occasion, and to be justified by that office
in adding to theirs, the homage of those sentiments of respect
and esteem with which I have the honour to be,

Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
Thomas JEFFERSON.

_____

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable Paris, June the 14th, 1790.
Thomas JEFFERSON,
Secretary of State.

Dear Sir:
- - - - -

I received three days ago the first letters which have come to my
hands from you since your arrival in New York. That of the latest
date was April 30th. I communicated to Mr. de Montmorin[66] also
the copy of the letter to Mr. de la Luzerne, which he desired I
should allow him to retain.

I shall employ Dupré to execute the medal you mention, after
having consulted with the Abbé Barthélémi, respecting those parts
which are left undecided, and no time shall be lost in forwarding
the business.
- - - - -
Wm. SHORT.

[Footnote 66: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Louis
XVI.]

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to William Short._

To
William SHORT, Esquire, New York, July 26th, 1790.
Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America,
Paris.

Dear Sir:
- - - - -

As I presume the die will be finished by the time you receive
this, I am to desire you will have a medal of gold struck for the
Marquis de la Luzerne, and have put to it a chain of 365 links,
each link containing gold of the value of two dollars and a half,
or 13 livres 10 sous, the links to be of plain wire, so that
their workmanship may cost as it were nothing. The whole will
make a present of a little more than a thousand dollars,
including the medal and chain. As soon as done, be pleased
to forward them by a safe hand to the Marquis de la Luzerne, (p. 120)
in the name of the President of the United States, informing him
that it is the one spoken of in my letter to him of April 30th,
1790. Say nothing to anybody of the value of the present, because
that will not always be the same in all cases. Be so good as to
have a second medal of gold struck in the same die, and to send
this second, together with the dies, to Philadelphia by the first
safe person who shall be passing. No chain to be sent with it.

I am with great and sincere esteem,
Th: JEFFERSON.

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to the Count de Moustier._

To
THE COUNT DE MOUSTIER. Philadelphia, March 2d, 1791.

Sir: I have received your favour of November 6th, wherein you
inform me that the King has thought proper, by a new mission to
the Court of Berlin, to put an end to your functions as his
Minister Plenipotentiary with the United States.

The President, in a letter to the King, has expressed his sense
of your merit, and his entire approbation of your conduct while
here, and has charged me to convey to yourself the same
sentiments on his part.

Had you returned to your station with us, you would have received
new and continued marks of the esteem inspired by the general
worth of your character, as well as by the particular
dispositions you manifested towards this country.

Amidst the regrets excited by so early a loss of you, it will be
a consolation, if your new situation shall contribute to advance
your own happiness.

As a testimony of these sentiments, we ask the acceptance of a
medal and chain of gold, with which Mr. Short is instructed to
present you on the part of the United States.

To this general tribute, permit me to add my own, with sincere
wishes for your constant happiness, and assurances of the respect
and esteem with which
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: JEFFERSON.

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to William Short._

To
William SHORT, Esquire. Philadelphia, March 8th, 1791.

Dear Sir: You are directed to have a medal struck from the
diplomatic die, formerly ordered, and to present it with a chain
of gold to the Count de Moustier, who is notified that this will
be done by you. I formerly informed you that we proposed to (p. 121)
vary the worth of the present by varying the size of the links of
the chain, which are fixed at 365 in number. Let each in the
present instance contain six livres worth of gold, and let it be
made of plain wire, so that the value may be in the metal and not
at all in the workmanship. I shall hope to receive the dies
themselves when a safe conveyance presents itself.
I am, with great esteem,
Th: JEFFERSON.

_____

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable
Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, June 6th, 1791.
Secretary of State.

Dear Sir: The medal which you desire to be made for Mr. de
Moustier shall be executed as soon as I can have the "coins"
[dies] finished. You will no doubt be much astonished at this
delay, but the engraver has been so devoted to the affair of
their money, which is contending for by all the artists, that it
has been impossible to get him to finish the work he had
undertaken for the United States, and which was nearly completed
last fall. This delay cannot last much longer, and he assures me
he will shorten it as much as possible. He is to write a letter
that I may send it to Mr. de la Luzerne and show him that the
delay does not proceed from me. I don't know by what opportunity
to send you the dies; there is no other than by the public
carriages to Havre, and at present they would be stopped and
examined by several of the municipalities, who would take them,
from their weight, to be specie to be exported, which they do not
allow, notwithstanding the decrees of the assembly....

Wm. SHORT.

_____

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable
Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, September 25th, 1791.
Secretary of State.

Dear Sir: You will have heard of the death of Mr. de la Luzerne
in England. The dies for the medal destined for him have been
retarded in a most unexpected manner on account of the engraver
being employed here in the new coinage. Previous to the death of
Mr. de la Luzerne, I explained to him the cause of this delay and
sent him a letter from the engraver on the subject, which he
answered by a desire that the national work should be first
performed. The dies were since completed, but unfortunately one
of them failed, as often happens, in the hardening.

The engraver is now employed in repairing this evil and says it
will be done in two or three weeks.

I suppose it so certain that this medal should be given to (p. 122)
Mr. de la Luzerne's representative, that as soon as it is
ready I shall mention the subject to Mr. de Montmorin and follow
his advice respecting it.

Dear Sir, Yours affectionately,
Wm. SHORT.

_____

_William Short to M. Dupré._

Monsieur:[67]

Comme je ne pense pas que vous ignoriez que la médaille pour
l'Amérique, dont le coin a péri à l'épreuve du balancier, est
promise depuis longtemps à des personnes d'un caractère distingué
sans doute vous ne serez pas surpris de l'intérêt que je prends à
ce que ni la délicatesse des donateurs ni l'empressement des
légataires soient compromis.

Or je ne vois, Monsieur, qu'un seul moyen de l'éviter, c'est de
remettre aux donateurs, pour le moment, la seule épreuve que le
coin a permis et qui est entre vos mains; ce moyen, en écartant
tout soupçon de négligence de ma part, évite aussi aux États-Unis
le désagrément de paraître avoir oublié ses promesses.

Veuillez donc bien, Monsieur, vous prêter à cet arrangement, dont
les personnes intéressées ne manqueront pas certainement de vous
tenir compte, vos droits sur la fabrication n'étant, d'ailleurs,
que retardés, puisque le coin doit être refait.

Je vous prie donc, Monsieur, de remettre la médaille au porteur,
afin que je puisse la présenter pour remédier, en quelque sorte,
à l'accident, et dans le cas ou vous penseriez devoir la retenir,
veuillez bien m'en informer par écrit afin que je puisse me
justifier de toute autre manière vis-à-vis les personnes
intéressées.

Je suis très-parfaitement, Monsieur, etc.

[Footnote 67: The original of this letter, without
date or signature, which is in French, and which
was communicated to me in Paris by M. Narcisse
Dupré, is undoubtedly in the handwriting of Mr.
William Short.]

[Translation.]

_William Short to M. Dupré._

Sir: As I do not suppose that you are ignorant that the medal for
America, of which the die was broken in the coining press, has
been for a long time promised to distinguished persons, you will
no doubt not be surprised at the interest which I take that
neither the delicacy of the donors nor the desire of the legatees
should be compromised.

Now, Sir, I see only one means of avoiding this, that is to give
to the donors, for the time being, the only proof which the die
has permitted and which is in your hands; this, while removing
all suspicion of negligence on my part, prevents also the United
States from occupying the disagreeable position of appearing to
have forgotten its promises.

Be good enough therefore, Sir, to lend yourself to this (p. 123)
arrangement, which the interested persons will most certainly not
fail to acknowledge; your rights upon the making being besides
only retarded, since a new die must be made.

I beg you therefore, Sir, to hand the medal to the bearer, so
that I may present it to remedy, in some degree, the accident;
and in case you think you ought to retain it, be kind enough to
inform me thereof in writing, so that I may justify myself in
every way to the interested parties.

I am, very truly, Sir, etc.

_____

_M. de Moustier to M. Dupré._

À
Monsieur DUPRÉ,
Graveur, place Dauphine, 10.

J'ai eû d'autant plus de regret, Monsieur, du retard qu'a éprouvé
l'exécution de la médaille qui m'a été destinée par le
gouvernement des États-Unis, que j'ai appris qu'il était dû à des
causes qui ont dû vous contrarier. J'espère qu'une troisième
opération aura un succès complet. Je le désire plus vivement
depuis que j'ai vu par l'empreinte en métal qui est chez Mr.
Short, combien cette médaille est agréable à produire par un
François en pays étranger qui aime à y faire valoir ses
compatriotes. Lorsqu'elle sera achevée, je vous serai fort obligé
de vouloir bien me la remettre, puisque Mr. Short doit
s'absenter.

J'ai l'honneur d'être très-parfaitement, Monsieur, votre
très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur,
F. DE MOUSTIER.

[Translation.]

To
M. DUPRÉ,
Engraver, Place Dauphine, 10.

I have had the more regret, Sir, at the delay which has happened
to the execution of the medal destined for me by the Government
of the United States, since I have learned that it was due to
causes which have been annoying to you. I hope that a third trial
will prove a complete success. I desire it the more ardently
since I have seen by the impression in metal at Mr. Short's how
gratifying its exhibition will be for a Frenchman abroad who
loves to do honor to his compatriots. When it shall be finished I
will be much obliged to you if you will please have it sent to
me, since Mr. Short is about to leave.

I have the honor to be very truly, Sir, your most humble and very
obedient servant,
F. DE MOUSTIER.

_____

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._ (p. 124)

To the Honourable
Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, February 8th, 1792.
Secretary of State.

Dear Sir: The diplomatic medals ordered so long ago and delayed
so unexpectedly for the reasons already given to you have been at
length completed and delivered with their chains, that for Mr. de
la Luzerne to Mr. de Montmorin, and that for Mr. de Moustier to
himself.

I inclose you copies of their prices--the originals with the
receipts remain in my hands for your directions--they were paid
for, together with 2,400 livres, to the engraver Dupré, by a
draft on the bankers at Amsterdam, the whole amounting, as you
will see, to 14,570 livres, the exchange, 32-1/2, made 3,946.1.
The nominal price of the chains was more than 6 livres and 13
livres 10--gold having risen on account of the assignats, but the
exchange having lowered in a greater proportion, the price is
less in florins than it would otherwise have been. The gold
employed in the chains was of 20 karats, the usual alloy, and
weighed the first 4m. 5o. 4-1/2gr. 31d., and the second 1m. 6o.
4gr. The gold of the medals was finer, according to usage. I had
only two golden medals struck. The six of bronze will await your
orders.

Your obedient servant,
Wm. SHORT.

_____

_M. Lagrange to William Short._

À Monsieur SHORT: Paris ce 31 Janvier 1792.

J'ai l'honneur de vous prévenir que les deux médailles et les
étuis sont prêts. Je vous serais obligé de les faire retirer à la
monnoye des médailles ainsi que les six médailles de bronze.

Les 2 médailles d'or pèsent 2m. 4on. 1gr. à 175_l._ l'once 3434_l._
2 bélières en or à 6_l._ chaque 12
6 médailles de bronze à 7_l._ chaque 42
2 étuis de galuchet[68] 142
----
Total 3630

J'ai l'honneur d'être Monsieur votre très humble et très
obéissant serviteur,
LAGRANGE,
Caissier de la Monnoye des Médailles.

[Footnote 68: Galuchet, prepared shark-skins.]

_____

Mémoire de deux grandes chaines d'or fournies à Monsieur Short par Auguste, orfèvre du Roi.

_Petite Chaine._ À l'époque où l'or était à 110_l._ l'once, (p. 125)
chaque maillon de cette chaine devait coûter 6_l._, maintenant
que l'or vaut 133_l._ 6-8. Ce qui est plus du 6ème en sus de
son ancien prix, celui de chaque chainon revient à 7_l._, ce
qui élève le total des

365 chainons à la somme de 2555_l._
L'anneau et l'S de cette chaine valeur 65
----
2620

_Grande Chaine._ Chaque maillon de la grande chaine qui par la
même raison ne devait coûter que 13_l._ 10 revient au prix de
16_l._, ce qui fait pour le total des

365 chainons à la somme de 5840_l._
Pour l'anneau et l'S de cette chaine valeur 80
----
5920
----
Total des deux chaines 8540_l._

[Translation.]

_M. Lagrange to William Short._

To Mr. SHORT. Paris, January 31, 1792.

I have the honor to advise you that the two medals and the cases
are ready. I would be obliged to you to have them taken from the
Mint of Medals, as also the six medals in bronze.

The two gold medals weigh 2m. 4oz. 1gr.[69]
At 175 livres[70] the ounce 3,434 livres
2 loop-rings in gold at 6 livres each 12
6 medals in bronze at 7 livres each 42
2 galuchet cases 142
-----
Total 3,630

I have the honor to be, Sir, your very humble and very obedient
servant,
LAGRANGE,
Cashier of the Mint of Medals.

[Footnote 69: Former weights of France: 1 livre = 2
marcs = 16 ounces = 128 gros = 384 deniers = 9,216
grains.]

[Footnote 70: Former moneys of France: 1 livre = 20
sous = 240 deniers or 48 liards. 1 livre = 0.9876
francs.]

_____

Account of the two large gold chains furnished to Mr. Short by Auguste, goldsmith to the king.

_Small Chain._ At the time when gold was worth 110 livres the
ounce, each link of this chain was to cost 6 livres; now that
gold is worth 133 livres, 6 sous, 8 deniers, which is more (p. 126)
than one-sixth above its former price, that of each link
comes to 7 livres, which increases the total of the

365 links to the sum of 2,555_l._
The ring and the S of this chain, cash 65_l._
-----
2,620_l._

_Large Chain._ Each link of the large chain, which for the same
reason was to cost only 13 livres, 10 sous, comes to 16 livres,
which makes for the total of

365 links the sum of 5,840_l._
For the ring and the S of this chain, cash 80_l._
-----
5,920_l._
-----
Total for both chains 8,540_l._

No. 20. (p. 127) PLATE XXI.

_March 4, 1797--March 4, 1801._

John Adams President of the U.S. A.D. 1797. [Rx]. Peace and
friendship.

PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS.

[_Second President of the United States of America._]

JOHN ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. (_United States_) A. D. (_Anno Domini: The year of our Lord_) 1797. Bust of President John Adams, facing the right.

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and buttons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and a tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

JOHN ADAMS was born at Braintree, now Quincy, Massachusetts, October 19, 1735. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1755, studied law, and settled in Boston in 1768; he was a delegate to Congress, 1774-1778; serving on the Boards of Naval and of Foreign Affairs, and also on the Board of War; commissioner to France, 1778; to Holland, 1780; minister to Holland, 1782; to England, 1785-1788; vice-president of the United States, 1789-1793; President of the United States, 1797-1801. He retired to Quincy in 1801, and died there, July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Independence of the United States, and on the same day with Thomas Jefferson.

No. 21. (p. 128) PLATE XXII.

_February 2, 1800._

Patriæ. patres. filio. digno. Thomas Truxtun. [Rx]. United State
frigate Constellation, of 38 guns, &c.

CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN.

[_Action with the Vengeance._]

PATRIÆ. PATRES. FILIO. DIGNO. THOMAS TRUXTUN. (_The fathers of the country to their worthy son, Thomas Truxtun._) Bust of Captain Truxtun, in uniform, facing the left.

UNITED STATES FRIGATE CONSTELLATION OF 38 GUNS PURSUES ATTACKS AND VANQUISHES THE FRENCH SHIP LA VENGEANCE OF 54 GUNS 1 FEBY. (_February_) 1800. Naval action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, Captain Truxtun, and the French frigate La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, Captain Pitot. The Constellation has lost her main mast. Exergue: BY VOTE OF CONGRESS, TO THOMAS TRUXTUN 29 MAR. (_March_) 1800.[71]

[Footnote 71: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiii and
xxxi.]

The engraving is an exact representation of the original gold medal, at present the property of Thomas Truxtun Houston, jr., of Washington, the great-grandson, in the female line, of Commodore Truxtun.

THOMAS TRUXTON was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, February 15, 1755. He served as lieutenant and captain of privateers during the War of Independence. In 1782, while engaged in carrying Mr. Thomas Barclay, United States consul-general, to France, he beat off a (p. 129) British frigate of thirty-two guns. After the war he commanded East Indiamen, but in 1794, on the creation of the American Navy, he received a commission as captain, and was appointed to the Constellation, of thirty-eight guns. In 1799, he captured l'Insurgente, a French frigate of thirty-six guns, Captain Barreault. His celebrated engagement with La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, Captain Pitot, took place February 2, 1800, and for this exploit Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He afterward commanded the President, of forty-four guns. In 1802, Mr. Smith, secretary of the Navy under President Jefferson, having interpreted as a resignation Truxtun's refusal to accept the command of the Mediterranean squadron, unless a flag captain was given him, the country was deprived of this gallant officer's services. He retired to New Jersey, and afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he was high-sheriff of the city and county from 1816 to 1819, and where he died, May 5, 1822.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting a Medal to Captain Truxtun, etc._

_Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the
President of the United States be requested to present to Captain
Thomas Truxtun a golden medal, emblematical of the late action
between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight
guns, and the French ship of war La Vengeance, of fifty-four, in
testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his
gallantry and good conduct in the above engagement, wherein an
example was exhibited by the Captain, officers, sailors, and
marines, honourable to the American name, and instructive to its
rising navy.

_Resolved_: That the conduct of James Jarvis, a midshipman in
said frigate, who gloriously preferred certain death to an
abandonment of his post, is deserving of the highest praise, and
that the loss of so promising an officer is a subject of national
regret.

Approved March 29, 1800.

_____

_Captain Thomas Truxtun to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 130)

To
Benjamin STODDART, Esq., United States ship Constellation,
Secretary of the Navy. At sea, February 3, 1800.

Sir: On the 30th ult. I left St. Christopher's, with the
Constellation, in excellent trim, and stood to windward in order
to gain the station for myself before the road of Guadaloupe; and
at half-past seven in the morning of the day following I
discovered a sail to the south-east, to which I gave chase, and
for the further particulars of that chase, and the action after
it, I must beg to refer to the extracts from my journal,
herewith, as being the best mode of exhibiting a just and candid
account of all our transactions in the late business, which has
ended in the almost entire dismantlement of the Constellation,
though, I trust, to the high reputation of the American flag.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Thos. TRUXTUN.

_Occurrences on board the United States ship Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, under my command, February 1, 1800_:

Throughout these twenty-four hours very unsettled weather; kept
on our tacks, beating up under Guadaloupe, and at half-past seven
in the morning, the road of Basseterre bearing east, five leagues
distant, saw a sail in the south-east standing to the south-west,
which, from her situation, I at first took for a large ship from
Martinique, and hoisted English colours in giving chase, by way
of inducement for her to come down and speak me, which would have
saved us a long chase to leeward off my intended cruising ground;
but finding she did not attempt to alter her course, I examined
her more minutely, as we approached her, and discovered that she
was a heavy French frigate, mounting at least fifty-four guns. I
immediately gave orders for the yards to be slung with chains,
top-sail sheets, &c., stoppered, and the ship cleared, and
everything prepared for action, and hauled down the English
colours. At noon the wind became light, and I observed the chase
that we had before been gaining fast on held way with us, but I
was determined to continue the pursuit, though the running to
leeward, I was convinced, would be attended with many serious
disadvantages, especially if the object of my wishes were not
gratified.

Passed two schooners standing to the northward, one of these
showed American colours, and was a merchant vessel, and the other
I supposed to be of the same description.

February 2d, at one P.M., the wind being somewhat fresher than
at the noon preceding, and an appearance of its continuance, our
prospect of bringing the enemy to action began to brighten, as I
perceived we were coming up with the chase fast, and every inch
of canvas being set that could be of service, except the bog
reefs which I kept in the topsails, in case of the chase, finding
an escape from our thunder impracticable, should haul on a wind
and give us fair battle. But this did not prove to be her
commander's intention. I, however, got within hail of him at 8
P.M., hoisted our ensign, and had the candles in the battle (p. 131)
lanterns all lighted, and the large trumpet in the lee-gangway
ready to speak him, and to demand the surrender of his ship to
the United States of America; but he, at that instant, commenced
a fire from his stern and quarter guns, directed at our rigging
and spars. No parley being then necessary, I sent my principal
aid-de-camp, Mr. Vandyke, to the different officers commanding
divisions on the main battery, to repeat strictly my orders,
before given, not to throw away a single charge of powder, but to
take good aim and fire directly into the hull of the enemy, and
load principally with two round shot, and now and then with a
round shot and stand of grape, &c., to encourage the men at their
quarters; to cause or suffer no noise or confusion whatever; but
to load and fire as fast as possible when it could be done with
certain effect. These orders being given, in a few moments I
gained a position on his weather quarter that enabled us to
return, effectually, his salute; and thus a close and as sharp an
action as ever was fought between two frigates, commenced and
continued until within a few minutes of 1 A.M., when the enemy's
fire was completely silenced, and he was again sheering off.

It was at this moment that I considered him as my prize, and was
trimming, in the best manner I could, my much shattered sails,
when I found the mainmast was totally unsupported by rigging,
every shroud being shot away, and some of them in several places,
that even stoppers were useless, and could not be applied with
effect. I then gave orders for the officers to send the men up
the gun-deck to endeavour to secure it, in order that we might
get alongside of the enemy again as soon as possible; but every
effort was in vain, for the mainmast went over the side a few
minutes after, and carried with it the top-men, among whom was an
amiable young gentleman who commanded the maintop, Mr. James
Jarvis, son of James Jarvis, Esq., of New York. It seems that
this young gentleman was apprized of the mast going in a few
minutes by an old seaman, but he had already so much of the
principle of an officer ingrafted on his mind, not to leave his
quarters on any account, that he told the men if the mast went
they must go with it, which was the case, and only one of them
was saved.

I regret much his loss, as a promising young officer and amiable
young man, as well as on account of a long intimacy that has
subsisted between his father and myself; but have great
satisfaction in finding that I have lost no other, and only two
or three slightly wounded, out of thirty-nine killed and
wounded--fourteen of the former, and twenty-five of the latter.

As soon as the mainmast went every effort was made to clear the
wreck from the ship as soon as possible, which was effected in
about an hour. It being impossible to pursue the enemy, and as
her security was the great object, I immediately bore away for
Jamaica, for repairs, etc., finding it impossible to reach a
friendly port in any of the islands to windward.

I should be wanting in common justice were I to omit here to
journalize the steady attention to order, and the great exertion
and bravery of all my officers, seamen and marines, in this
action, many of whom I had sufficiently tried before, on a
similar occasion, and all their names are recorded in the
muster-roll I sent to the Secretary of the Navy, dated the
nineteenth of December last, signed by myself.

All hands employed at repairing the damages sustained in the (p. 132)
action, so far as to get the ship into Jamaica as soon as
possible.

Thomas TRUXTUN.

_____

_President John Adams to the Secretary of the Navy._

To
B. STODDART, Philadelphia, March 31, 1800.
Secretary of the Navy.

The President of the United States requests the Secretary of the
Navy to take immediate measures for carrying into execution the
resolution of Congress of the 29th, for presenting to Captain
Thomas Truxtun a gold medal, emblematical of the late action
between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight
guns, and the French ship-of-war La Vengeance, of fifty-four, in
testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his
gallantry and good conduct in the above engagement, wherein an
example was exhibited by the captain, officers, sailors and
marines, honourable to the American name, and instructive to its
rising navy.

John ADAMS.

_____

_John Adams to Captain Thomas Truxtun._

To
CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN, U.S.N. Quincy, November 30th, 1802.

Sir: I have many apologies to make for omitting so long to
acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favour of the 10th of
July. The copy you have done me the honour to present me, of the
medal voted by Congress, and executed according to my directions
to the Secretary of the Navy, I accept with great pleasure, not
only from my personal regard to the giver, but because I esteem
every laurel conferred upon you, for the glorious action of the
1st of March, 1800, as an honour done to our beloved country.
From both of these motives I have been highly gratified with the
honour the gentlemen of Lloyd's Coffee House have done themselves
in the handsome acknowledgment they have made of their
obligations to you. I regret that the artist had not completed
the medal in season, that I might have had the satisfaction of
presenting it to an officer who has so greatly deserved it; and I
lament still more that I had not the power of promoting merit to
its just rank in the navy, that of an admiral.

The counsel which Themistocles gave to Athens, Pompey to Rome,
Cromwell to England, De Witt to Holland, and Colbert to France, I
have always given and shall continue to give to my countrymen,
that, as the great questions of commerce and power between
nations and empires must be decided by a military marine, and war
and peace are determined at sea, all reasonable encouragement
should be given to the navy. The trident of Neptune is the
sceptre of the world.

I am, Sir, etc.,
John ADAMS.

No. 22. (p. 133) PLATE XXIII.

_March 4, 1801--March 4, 1809._

Th. Jefferson President of the U.S. A.D. 1801. [Rx]. Peace and
friendship.

PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON.

[_Third President of the United States of America._]

TH. (_Thomas_) JEFFERSON PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. (_United States_) A.D. (_Anno Domini: The year of our Lord_) 1801. Bust of President Jefferson, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity: on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes and as many buttons; on the other, the American eagle; above the hands, a calumet and a tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.[72]

[Footnote 72: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiv and
xxvi.]

This medal bears no signature, but as the smaller size of the same is marked R. (_Reich_), it is presumable that both are the work of that engraver.

JOHN REICH, a native of Germany, came to America by the advice of Henry Voigt, chief coiner of the United States Mint, who on his arrival took him into his employ to make scales and other fine work. Mr. Scott took him afterward as an assistant to make dies, but tried in vain to have him appointed by the government. Reich made the Preble and Hull medals and the Indian medals of Presidents Jefferson and Madison. He died in Albany, State of New York, in 1833.

THOMAS JEFFERSON was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia, April 2, 1743. He studied at William and Mary College, Virginia, and was admitted to the bar in 1767. He was a member of the House of (p. 134) Burgesses, of Virginia, from 1769 till the Revolution; was delegate to the Continental Congress in 1775; wrote the Declaration of Independence, 1776; was governor of Virginia, 1779-1781; member of Congress, 1782; minister to France, 1785-1789; secretary of State to President Washington, 1790-1793; vice-president of the United States, 1797-1801; President (first term), 1801-1805; (second term), 1805-1809. He then retired to his estate of Monticello, in Albemarle County, Virginia, and died there, July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Independence of the United States, and on the same day with John Adams.

No. 23. (p. 135) PLATE XXIV.

_1804._

Edwardo Preble duci strenuo Comitia Americana. [Rx]. Vindici
commercii Americani.

COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE.

[_Naval operations against Tripoli._]

EDWARDO PREBLE DUCI STRENUO COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to Edward Preble, a valiant officer._) Bust of Commodore Preble, in uniform, facing the left. On edge of bust, R. (_Reich_).

VINDICI COMMERCII AMERICANI. (_To the vindicator of American commerce._) The United States fleet, commanded by Commodore Preble, is bombarding Tripoli. Exergue: ANTE TRIPOLI MDCCCIV. (_Off Tripoli, 1804_).[73]

[Footnote 73: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiv and
xxx.]

EDWARD PREBLE was born at Falmouth Neck, now Portland, Maine, August 15, 1761. He served as midshipman and lieutenant during the War of Independence, was appointed lieutenant in the navy in 1798, and commanded the brig Pickering. In 1799 he became captain, and was appointed to the Essex. Owing to ill health he was unemployed till 1803, when he was given the command of the squadron sent against Tripoli. For his skill and bravery on this expedition Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. In 1806, President Jefferson offered him the Navy Department, which he declined on account of ill health. He died in Portland, August 25, 1807.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. (p. 136)

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Commodore Preble._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the
thanks of Congress be, and the same are hereby, presented to
Commodore Edward Preble, and through him to the officers, seamen,
and marines attached to the squadron under his command, for their
gallantry and good conduct displayed in the several attacks on
the town, batteries and naval force of Tripoli, in the year one
thousand eight hundred and four.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested
to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of the attacks
on the town, batteries, and naval force of Tripoli, by the
squadron under Commodore Preble's command, and to present it to
Commodore Preble in such a manner as, in his opinion, will be
most honourable to him; and that the President be further
requested to cause a sword to be presented to each of the
commissioned officers and midshipmen who have distinguished
themselves in the several attacks.

_Resolved_, That one month's pay be allowed, exclusively of the
common allowance, to all the petty officers, seamen, and marines,
of the squadron, who so gloriously supported the honour of the
American flag, under the orders of their gallant commander, in
the several attacks.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be also
requested to communicate to the parents, or other near relatives,
of Captain Richard Somers, Lieutenants Henry Wadsworth, James
Decatur, James R. Caldwell, Joseph Israel, and Midshipman John
Sword Dorsey, the deep regret which Congress feel for the loss of
those gallant men, whose names ought to live in the recollections
and affections of a grateful country, and whose conduct ought to
be regarded as an example to future generations.

Approved March 3, 1805.

_____

_President Thomas Jefferson to Congress._

Washington, D. C., February 20th, 1805.

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

I communicate, for the information of Congress, a letter of
September 18, from Commodore Preble, giving a detailed account of
the transactions of the vessels under his command, from July the
9th to the 10th of September, last past.

The energy and judgment displayed by this excellent officer,
through the whole course of the service lately confided to him,
and the zeal and bravery of his officers and men in the several
enterprizes executed by them, cannot fail to give high
satisfaction to Congress and their country, of whom they have
deserved well.

Th: JEFFERSON.

_____

_Commodore Preble to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 137)

To the Honourable
SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY,
Washington, D. C. United States ship Constitution,
Malta Harbour, September 18th, 1804.

Sir: I had the honour to write you from Messina, under date of
the 5th of July; I then expected to have sailed the day
following, but was detained, by bad weather, until the 9th, when
I left it, with two small bomb vessels under convoy, and arrived
at Syracuse, where we were necessarily detained four days. On the
14th I sailed, the schooners Nautilus and Enterprize in company,
with six gun boats and two bomb vessels, generously loaned us by
His Sicilian Majesty. The bomb vessels are about thirty tons,
carry a thirteen-inch brass sea mortar, and forty men. Gun boats,
twenty-five tons, carry a long iron twenty-four pounder in the
bow, with a complement of thirty-five men. They are officered and
manned from the squadron, excepting twelve Neapolitan
bombardiers, gunners, and sailors, attached to each boat, who
were shipped by permission of their Government. This step I found
necessary, as every vessel in the squadron was considerably short
of complement. The gun boats are constructed for the defence of
harbours; they are flat bottomed and heavy, and do not sail or
row even tolerably well. They were never intended to go to sea,
and, I find, cannot be navigated with safety, unless assisted by
tow ropes from larger and better sailing vessels, nor even then,
in very bad weather; however, as they were the best I could
obtain, I have thought it for the good of our service to employ
them, particularly as the weather in July and August is generally
pleasant, and, without them, my force too small to make any
impression on Tripoli.