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. Dupre._

Monsieur:[67]

Comme je n