felt at your Removal from among them; a very
general and sincere regret, and tempered only by the consolation
of your personal advancement which accompanied it. You will
receive, Sir, by order of the President of the United States, as
soon as it can be prepared, a Medal and chain of gold, of which
he desires your acceptance, in token of their Esteem and of the
sensibility 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 become the center of our common councils, the link which
connected our common operations.

In that position you laboured without ceasing, till all labours
were crowned with glory to your nation, Freedom to ours, and
Benefit to both. During the whole we had constant evidence (p. 119)
of your Zeal, your abilities, and your good Faith; and 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 honour to be,

Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
Thomas JEFFERSON.

_____

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable Paris, June the 14th, 1790.
Thomas JEFFERSON,
Secretary of State.

Dear Sir:
- - - - -

I received three days ago the first letters which have come to my
hands from you since