y, with
the assistance of only two persons, the pieces of metal being first
prepared. I send you by Colonel Franks three coins of gold, silver, and
copper, which you will perceive to be perfect medals: and I can assure
you, from having seen him coin many, that every piece is as perfect as
these. There has certainly never yet been seen any coin, in any country,
comparable to this. The best workmen in this way acknowledge that his
is like a new art. Coin should always be made in the highest perfection
possible, because it is a great guard against the danger of false
coinage. This man would be willing to furnish his implements to
Congress, and if they please, he will go over and instruct a person to
carry on the work: nor do I believe he would ask any thing unreasonable.
It would be very desirable, that in the institution of a new coinage,
we could set out on so perfect a plan as this, and the more so, as while
the work is so exquisitely done, it is done cheaper.

I will certainly do the best I can for the reformation of the consular
convention, being persuaded that our States would be very unwilling to
conform their laws either to the convention, or to the scheme. But it
is too difficult and too delicate, to form sanguine hopes. However, that
there may be room to reduce the convention, as much as circumstances
will admit, will it not be expedient for Congress to give me powers,
in which there shall be no reference to the scheme? The powers sent
me, oblige me to produce that scheme, and certainly, the moment it is
produced, they will not abate a tittle from it. If they recollect the
scheme, and insist on it, we can but conclude it; but if they have
forgotten it (which may be), and are willing to reconsider the whole
subject, perhaps we may get rid of something the more of it. As the
delay is not injurious to us, because the convention, whenever and
however made, is to put us in a worse state than we are in now, I shall
venture to defer saying a word on the subject, till I can hear from
you in answer to this. The full powers may be sufficiently guarded, by
private instructions to me, not to go beyond the former scheme. This
delay may be well enough ascribed (whenever I shall have received new
powers) to a journey, I had before apprized the minister that I should
be obliged to take, to some mineral waters in the south of France, to
see if by their aid I may recover the use of my right hand, of which a
dislocation about four