ed, in their highest state of perfection _wherever_ found:
for letters, science, and the fine arts constitute but _one_
republic, embracing the world. So thought our early Government,
and Mr. Jefferson--a distinguished member of that general
republic.

All which is respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.

[Footnote 12: This is an error. See page xi.]

Whatever may be the weight of General Scott's opinion on such a (p. xxvi)
subject, and whether or not it is important, as he insists, that
medals should possess high artistic value, in order that they may be
not only the rewards of merit and monuments of history, but also
favorable specimens of contemporary art, it must be acknowledged that
those struck since 1840 differ widely, in many respects, from those of
the preceding period. While the earlier works are of a pure and lofty
style, the later ones are not always in good taste. The former are
conceived generally in strict observance of classical rules, and will
bear comparison with the numismatic masterpieces of antiquity; the
latter reflect the realistic tendency of their day.

The Indian medals, with the exception of that of President Jefferson
and a few others, which are very fine, possess only an historic value.
These pieces owe their origin to the custom, in the colonial times, of
distributing to the chiefs of Indian tribes, with whom treaties were
concluded, medals bearing on the obverse the effigy of the reigning
British sovereign, and on the reverse friendly legends and emblems of
peace. Mr. Kean, member of the Continental Congress from South
Carolina, on April 20, 1786, moved: "That the Board of Treasury
ascertain the number and value of the medals received by the
commissioners appointed to treat with the Indians, from said Indians,
and have an equal number, with the arms of the United States, made of
silver, and returned to the chiefs from whom they were received." The
result was the Indian series, which bear on their obverses the busts
of the respective Presidents under whom they were issued (none (p. xxvii)
exists of President Harrison, who died a month after his inauguration);
but it should be borne in mind that these are mere Indian peace
tokens, struck only for distribution as presents to friendly chiefs.

I have called in question the discernment of some of the Federal
administrations in their choice of engravers; unfortunately, I have
also to d