erest.

The original documents have been given in the belief that the reader
would prefer them to a mere recital of the events of which they treat.
Many of these are now printed for the first time.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Jefferson, as early as 1789,
entertained the idea of publishing an account of all the (p. xxxiii)
American medals struck up to that time, as will be seen from the
following letter;

To
M. DUPRE,
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. Dupre,
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].

[Footnote 17: The original of this letter, which is
in French, and which was communicated to me in
Paris by M. Narcisse Dupre, is undoubtedly in the
handwriting of Mr. Jefferson. I have sought in vain
for the document mentioned in it. See I, page 1.]

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 (p. xxxiv)

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