To
M. Dupré,
Engraver of Medals, Paris.
Mr. Jefferson is going to have a description of all the medals printed, in order to send them, with copies of the medals, to the sovereigns of Europe. The one of Mr. Franklin, made by M. Dupré, is wanting; he begs you to lend him a copy, and to communicate to him the description also, if any has been made, as is probable.
February 23, 1789[17].
No mention is made of the size of the medals, as the plates show their exact dimensions.
Being desirous that the execution of the engravings should be as perfect as possible, I invited M. Jules Jacquemart, of Paris, to undertake the whole of them. M. Jacquemart needs no praise. All amateurs know his etchings from Van der Meer, Franz Hals, Rembrandt, etc., and his plates for the "History of Porcelain," by M. Albert Jacquemart, his father, for the "Gems and Jewels of the Crown," published by M. Barbet de Jouy, and for the "Collection of Arms" of Count de Nieuwerkerke. The American public has had, moreover, an opportunity of admiring the works of this eminent artist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York city. His collaboration adds great value to the artistic portion of this work.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
REFERRED TO IN THE INTRODUCTION.
A
Mount Vernon, November, 1787.
To
The Printer of the American Museum (Mr. Carey.)
Sir: I understand that a part, if not all, of the medals which, in the course of the late war, were voted by Congress to officers of distinguished merit, and for the execution of which I contracted with artists at Paris, have lately arrived in America. But, not having seen any account published of the devices and inscriptions, I presume it will not be ungrateful to the public to receive some authentic information respecting these memorials of national glory. However superfluous the publication of the correspondence[18] on this subject with the Perpetual Secretary of the Royal Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres might be deemed, it will not, I conceive, be improper it should be known that this learned society, to whom a reference was made, entered on the 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. You will be at liberty to insert in your Museum the result of their deliberations.
In our free republics certainly nothing should be suppressed that can tend to awaken a noble spirit of emulation, to cherish the fine feelings of patriotism, to exhibit alluring examples for imitation, or to extend and perpetuate the remembrance of those heroic achievements which have ennobled the era of the American Revolution. Few inventions could be more happily calculated to diffuse the knowledge and preserve the memory of illustrious characters and splendid events than medals-whether we take into consideration the imperishable nature of the substance whence they are formed, the facility of multiplying copies, or the practice of depositing them in the cabinets of the curious. Perhaps one improvement might be made. The sage and venerable Dr. Franklin, whose patriotic genius is active in old age, and ever prolific in projects of public utility, once suggested,[19] in conversation with me, as an expedient for propagating still more extensively the knowledge of facts designed to be perpetuated in medals, that their devices should be impressed on the current coin of the nation.
Under influence of such ideas, I shall claim the indulgence of my countrymen for bringing forward a communication which might possibly have come more satisfactorily from some other quarter. An apprehension that the subject might remain unnoticed is my apology.
I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
David Humphreys.
Devices and Inscriptions of American Medals.
The gold medal for General Washington represents the head of His Excellency, with this legend: georgio washington supremo duci exercituum, adsertori libertatis, comitia americana. On the reverse: The Evacuation of Boston. The American army advances in good order toward the town, which is seen at a distance, while the British army flies with precipitation toward the strand, to embark on board the vessels with which the roads are covered. In the front of the picture, on the side of the American army, General Washington appears on horseback, amid a group of officers, to whom he seems to be pointing out the retreat of the enemy.
Legend: hostibus primo fugatis.
On the Exergue: bostonium recuperatum, die 17 martii, mdcclxxvi.
The gold medal for General Gates represents the head of that general, with this legend: horatio gates, duci strenuo, comitia americana.
On the reverse: The enemy's general, at the head of his army, who are grounding their arms, presents his sword to the American general, whose troops stand with shouldered arms.
Legend: salus regionum septentrionalium.
On the Exergue: hoste ad saratogam in deditionem accepto, die 17 octobris, mdcclxxvii.
The gold medal of General Greene represents the head of that general, with this legend: nathanieli green, egregio duci, comitia americana.
On the reverse: A Victory treading under feet broken arms.
Legend: salus regionum australium.
On the Exergue: hostibus apud eutaw debellatis, die 8 septembris, mdcclxxxi.
The medal in gold for General Morgan, and those in silver for Colonels Howard and Washington, were to be indicative of the several circumstances which attended the victory at the Cowpens on the 17th of January, 1781, in conformity to a special resolution of Congress.
It may not be foreign to the purpose to add that dies have formerly been engraved under the direction of Dr. Franklin,[20] for striking the gold medal for General Wayne, and the silver medals for Colonels de Fleury and Stewart, emblematic of their gallant conduct in storming the works of Stony Point, sword in hand.
These are all the medals voted by Congress in the course of the war.[21]
B
Registre des Assemblées et Délibérations de l'Académie Royale des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres pendant l'année 1785.
Vendredi 8 avril 1785.
Monsieur le secrétaire a fait part d'une lettre de Monsieur Humphreys, ancien colonel au service des États-Unis, par laquelle il demande trois médailles pour Messieurs Washington, le général Gates et le général Green. Il envoie en même temps des renseignements sur les actions de ces trois personnes.
L'académie a remis à huitaine pour s'occuper de ces trois médailles.
Mardi 19 avril 1785.
Après ces différents arrangements, on s'est occupé des médailles demandées par le Congrès d'Amérique, et l'on a invité messieurs les académiciens à apporter des projets pour ces médailles, à la première séance, dans laquelle on est convenu de nommer des commissaires pour rédiger ces médailles.
Vendredi 22 avril 1785.
Monsieur Dacier a fait ensuite la lecture des projets des trois médailles pour les trois officiers généraux américains; après les avoir bien discutés, on a nommé, pour les terminer, Messieurs Barthélémy, Dupuy, Brotier et Le Blond.
Mardi 26 avril 1785.
Monsieur Dacier, le secrétaire perpétuel, lut ensuite les sujets de médailles demandées par le Congrès pour trois officiers généraux.
Pour Monsieur Washington.
D'un côté sa tête.
Légende: georgio washington supremo duci exercituum adsertori libertatis.
Exergue: comitia americana.
Revers: La prise de Boston, l'armée anglaise fuyant vers le rivage pour s'embarquer, etc.
Légende: hostibus ou anglis primum fugatis.
Exergue: bostonium recuperatum die 17 martii anno 1776.
Pour Monsieur Gates.
D'un côté sa tête.
Légende: horatio gates duci provido comitia americana.
Revers: Le général ennemi, à la tête de son armée, présente son épée au général Gates, à la tête de l'armée américaine.
Légende: (p. xxxvii) salus provinciarum septentrionalium.
Exergue: hoste ad saratogam in deditionem accepto die 17 8{bris} 1777.
Pour Monsieur Green.
D'un côté sa tête.
Légende: nathanieli green egregio duci comitia americana.
Revers: La Victoire foulant aux pieds des armes brisées.
Légende: salus provinciarum australium.
Exergue: hostibus ad eutaw debellatis die ... 1781.
Vendredi 13 mai 1785.
D'après des observations des commissaires, on a cru devoir changer, dans les deux médailles du général Gates et du général Green, le mot Provinciarum en celui de Regionum. Et dans les médailles de Gates, du côté de la tête, au lieu de Duci provido on a mis Duci strenuo.
Vendredi 25 novembre 1785.
Monsieur le secrétaire a fait encore la lecture d'une lettre du colonel Humphreys, secrétaire d'ambassade de l'Amérique, par laquelle il prie l'académie, au nom du Congrès, de faire trois médailles votées par le même Congrès; l'une pour le général Morgan,...
