ibility with
which they will ever recall your legation to their memory.

But as this compliment may hereafter be rendered to other missions, from
which yours was distinguished by eminent circumstances, the President
of the United States wishes to pay you the distinguished tribute of an
express acknowledgment of your services, and our sense of them. You came
to us, Sir, through all the perils which encompassed us on all sides.
You found us struggling and suffering under difficulties, as singular
and trying as our situation was new and unprecedented. Your magnanimous
nation had taken side with us in the conflict, and yourself became
the centre of our common councils, the link which connected our common
operations. In that position you labored without ceasing, till all our
labors were crowned with glory to your nation, freedom to ours, and
benefit to both. During the whole, we had constant evidence of your
zeal, your abilities, and your good faith. We desire to convey this
testimony of it home to your own breast, and to that of your sovereign,
our best and greatest friend; and this I do, Sir, in the name, and by
the express instruction of the President of the United States.

I feel how flattering it is to me, Sir, to be the organ of the public
sense on this occasion, and to be justified, by that office, in adding
to theirs, the homage of those sentiments of respect and esteem, with
which I have the honor to be your Excellency's most obedient and most
humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XXIX.--TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 30, 1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT.

New York, April 30, 1790.

Dear Sir,

My last letter to you was of the 6th instant, acknowledging the receipt
of your favors of the 2nd and 6th of January. Since that, Mr. Jay has
put into my hands yours of the 12th of January, and I have received your
note of February the 10th, accompanying some newspapers.

Mine of the 6th covered the President's letter to the King for my
recall, and my letters of leave for myself and of credence to you,
for the Count de Montmorin, with copies of them for your information.
Duplicates of all these accompany the present; and an original
commission for you as _charge des affaires_, signed by the President.
At the date of my former letters, I had not had time to examine with
minuteness the proper form of credentials under our new constitution: I
governed myself, therefore, by foreign precedents, according to which a
_charge des