Chapter 22

Be good enough therefore, Sir, to lend yourself to this (p. 123) arrangement, which the interested persons will most certainly not fail to acknowledge; your rights upon the making being besides only retarded, since a new die must be made.

I beg you therefore, Sir, to hand the medal to the bearer, so that I may present it to remedy, in some degree, the accident; and in case you think you ought to retain it, be kind enough to inform me thereof in writing, so that I may justify myself in every way to the interested parties.

I am, very truly, Sir, etc.

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_M. de Moustier to M. Dupré._

À Monsieur DUPRÉ, Graveur, place Dauphine, 10.

J'ai eû d'autant plus de regret, Monsieur, du retard qu'a éprouvé l'exécution de la médaille qui m'a été destinée par le gouvernement des États-Unis, que j'ai appris qu'il était dû à des causes qui ont dû vous contrarier. J'espère qu'une troisième opération aura un succès complet. Je le désire plus vivement depuis que j'ai vu par l'empreinte en métal qui est chez Mr. Short, combien cette médaille est agréable à produire par un François en pays étranger qui aime à y faire valoir ses compatriotes. Lorsqu'elle sera achevée, je vous serai fort obligé de vouloir bien me la remettre, puisque Mr. Short doit s'absenter.

J'ai l'honneur d'être très-parfaitement, Monsieur, votre très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur, F. DE MOUSTIER.

[Translation.]

To M. DUPRÉ, Engraver, Place Dauphine, 10.

I have had the more regret, Sir, at the delay which has happened to the execution of the medal destined for me by the Government of the United States, since I have learned that it was due to causes which have been annoying to you. I hope that a third trial will prove a complete success. I desire it the more ardently since I have seen by the impression in metal at Mr. Short's how gratifying its exhibition will be for a Frenchman abroad who loves to do honor to his compatriots. When it shall be finished I will be much obliged to you if you will please have it sent to me, since Mr. Short is about to leave.

I have the honor to be very truly, Sir, your most humble and very obedient servant, F. DE MOUSTIER.

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_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._ (p. 124)

To the Honourable Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, February 8th, 1792. Secretary of State.

Dear Sir: The diplomatic medals ordered so long ago and delayed so unexpectedly for the reasons already given to you have been at length completed and delivered with their chains, that for Mr. de la Luzerne to Mr. de Montmorin, and that for Mr. de Moustier to himself.

I inclose you copies of their prices--the originals with the receipts remain in my hands for your directions--they were paid for, together with 2,400 livres, to the engraver Dupré, by a draft on the bankers at Amsterdam, the whole amounting, as you will see, to 14,570 livres, the exchange, 32-1/2, made 3,946.1. The nominal price of the chains was more than 6 livres and 13 livres 10--gold having risen on account of the assignats, but the exchange having lowered in a greater proportion, the price is less in florins than it would otherwise have been. The gold employed in the chains was of 20 karats, the usual alloy, and weighed the first 4m. 5o. 4-1/2gr. 31d., and the second 1m. 6o. 4gr. The gold of the medals was finer, according to usage. I had only two golden medals struck. The six of bronze will await your orders.

Your obedient servant, Wm. SHORT.

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_M. Lagrange to William Short._

À Monsieur SHORT: Paris ce 31 Janvier 1792.

J'ai l'honneur de vous prévenir que les deux médailles et les étuis sont prêts. Je vous serais obligé de les faire retirer à la monnoye des médailles ainsi que les six médailles de bronze.

Les 2 médailles d'or pèsent 2m. 4on. 1gr. à 175_l._ l'once 3434_l._ 2 bélières en or à 6_l._ chaque 12 6 médailles de bronze à 7_l._ chaque 42 2 étuis de galuchet[68] 142 ---- Total 3630

J'ai l'honneur d'être Monsieur votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, LAGRANGE, Caissier de la Monnoye des Médailles.

[Footnote 68: Galuchet, prepared shark-skins.]

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Mémoire de deux grandes chaines d'or fournies à Monsieur Short par Auguste, orfèvre du Roi.

_Petite Chaine._ À l'époque où l'or était à 110_l._ l'once, (p. 125) chaque maillon de cette chaine devait coûter 6_l._, maintenant que l'or vaut 133_l._ 6-8. Ce qui est plus du 6ème en sus de son ancien prix, celui de chaque chainon revient à 7_l._, ce qui élève le total des

365 chainons à la somme de 2555_l._ L'anneau et l'S de cette chaine valeur 65 ---- 2620

_Grande Chaine._ Chaque maillon de la grande chaine qui par la même raison ne devait coûter que 13_l._ 10 revient au prix de 16_l._, ce qui fait pour le total des

365 chainons à la somme de 5840_l._ Pour l'anneau et l'S de cette chaine valeur 80 ---- 5920 ---- Total des deux chaines 8540_l._

[Translation.]

_M. Lagrange to William Short._

To Mr. SHORT. Paris, January 31, 1792.

I have the honor to advise you that the two medals and the cases are ready. I would be obliged to you to have them taken from the Mint of Medals, as also the six medals in bronze.

The two gold medals weigh 2m. 4oz. 1gr.[69] At 175 livres[70] the ounce 3,434 livres 2 loop-rings in gold at 6 livres each 12 6 medals in bronze at 7 livres each 42 2 galuchet cases 142 ----- Total 3,630

I have the honor to be, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant, LAGRANGE, Cashier of the Mint of Medals.

[Footnote 69: Former weights of France: 1 livre = 2 marcs = 16 ounces = 128 gros = 384 deniers = 9,216 grains.]

[Footnote 70: Former moneys of France: 1 livre = 20 sous = 240 deniers or 48 liards. 1 livre = 0.9876 francs.]

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Account of the two large gold chains furnished to Mr. Short by Auguste, goldsmith to the king.

_Small Chain._ At the time when gold was worth 110 livres the ounce, each link of this chain was to cost 6 livres; now that gold is worth 133 livres, 6 sous, 8 deniers, which is more (p. 126) than one-sixth above its former price, that of each link comes to 7 livres, which increases the total of the

365 links to the sum of 2,555_l._ The ring and the S of this chain, cash 65_l._ ----- 2,620_l._

_Large Chain._ Each link of the large chain, which for the same reason was to cost only 13 livres, 10 sous, comes to 16 livres, which makes for the total of

365 links the sum of 5,840_l._ For the ring and the S of this chain, cash 80_l._ ----- 5,920_l._ ----- Total for both chains 8,540_l._

No. 20. (p. 127) PLATE XXI.

_March 4, 1797--March 4, 1801._

John Adams President of the U.S. A.D. 1797. [Rx]. Peace and friendship.

PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS.

[_Second President of the United States of America._]

JOHN ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. (_United States_) A. D. (_Anno Domini: The year of our Lord_) 1797. Bust of President John Adams, facing the right.

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and buttons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and a tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

JOHN ADAMS was born at Braintree, now Quincy, Massachusetts, October 19, 1735. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1755, studied law, and settled in Boston in 1768; he was a delegate to Congress, 1774-1778; serving on the Boards of Naval and of Foreign Affairs, and also on the Board of War; commissioner to France, 1778; to Holland, 1780; minister to Holland, 1782; to England, 1785-1788; vice-president of the United States, 1789-1793; President of the United States, 1797-1801. He retired to Quincy in 1801, and died there, July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Independence of the United States, and on the same day with Thomas Jefferson.

No. 21. (p. 128) PLATE XXII.

_February 2, 1800._

Patriæ. patres. filio. digno. Thomas Truxtun. [Rx]. United State frigate Constellation, of 38 guns, &c.

CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN.

[_Action with the Vengeance._]

PATRIÆ. PATRES. FILIO. DIGNO. THOMAS TRUXTUN. (_The fathers of the country to their worthy son, Thomas Truxtun._) Bust of Captain Truxtun, in uniform, facing the left.

UNITED STATES FRIGATE CONSTELLATION OF 38 GUNS PURSUES ATTACKS AND VANQUISHES THE FRENCH SHIP LA VENGEANCE OF 54 GUNS 1 FEBY. (_February_) 1800. Naval action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, Captain Truxtun, and the French frigate La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, Captain Pitot. The Constellation has lost her main mast. Exergue: BY VOTE OF CONGRESS, TO THOMAS TRUXTUN 29 MAR. (_March_) 1800.[71]

[Footnote 71: See INTRODUCTION, pages xxiii and xxxi.]

The engraving is an exact representation of the original gold medal, at present the property of Thomas Truxtun Houston, jr., of Washington, the great-grandson, in the female line, of Commodore Truxtun.

THOMAS TRUXTON was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, February 15, 1755. He served as lieutenant and captain of privateers during the War of Independence. In 1782, while engaged in carrying Mr. Thomas Barclay, United States consul-general, to France, he beat off a (p. 129) British frigate of thirty-two guns. After the war he commanded East Indiamen, but in 1794, on the creation of the American Navy, he received a commission as captain, and was appointed to the Constellation, of thirty-eight guns. In 1799, he captured l'Insurgente, a French frigate of thirty-six guns, Captain Barreault. His celebrated engagement with La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns, Captain Pitot, took place February 2, 1800, and for this exploit Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He afterward commanded the President, of forty-four guns. In 1802, Mr. Smith, secretary of the Navy under President Jefferson, having interpreted as a resignation Truxtun's refusal to accept the command of the Mediterranean squadron, unless a flag captain was given him, the country was deprived of this gallant officer's services. He retired to New Jersey, and afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he was high-sheriff of the city and county from 1816 to 1819, and where he died, May 5, 1822.

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting a Medal to Captain Truxtun, etc._

_Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Thomas Truxtun a golden medal, emblematical of the late action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, and the French ship of war La Vengeance, of fifty-four, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in the above engagement, wherein an example was exhibited by the Captain, officers, sailors, and marines, honourable to the American name, and instructive to its rising navy.

_Resolved_: That the conduct of James Jarvis, a midshipman in said frigate, who gloriously preferred certain death to an abandonment of his post, is deserving of the highest praise, and that the loss of so promising an officer is a subject of national regret.

Approved March 29, 1800.

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_Captain Thomas Truxtun to the Secretary of the Navy._ (p. 130)

To Benjamin STODDART, Esq., United States ship Constellation, Secretary of the Navy. At sea, February 3, 1800.

Sir: On the 30th ult. I left St. Christopher's, with the Constellation, in excellent trim, and stood to windward in order to gain the station for myself before the road of Guadaloupe; and at half-past seven in the morning of the day following I discovered a sail to the south-east, to which I gave chase, and for the further particulars of that chase, and the action after it, I must beg to refer to the extracts from my journal, herewith, as being the best mode of exhibiting a just and candid account of all our transactions in the late business, which has ended in the almost entire dismantlement of the Constellation, though, I trust, to the high reputation of the American flag.

I have the honour to be, &c., Thos. TRUXTUN.

_Occurrences on board the United States ship Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, under my command, February 1, 1800_:

Throughout these twenty-four hours very unsettled weather; kept on our tacks, beating up under Guadaloupe, and at half-past seven in the morning, the road of Basseterre bearing east, five leagues distant, saw a sail in the south-east standing to the south-west, which, from her situation, I at first took for a large ship from Martinique, and hoisted English colours in giving chase, by way of inducement for her to come down and speak me, which would have saved us a long chase to leeward off my intended cruising ground; but finding she did not attempt to alter her course, I examined her more minutely, as we approached her, and discovered that she was a heavy French frigate, mounting at least fifty-four guns. I immediately gave orders for the yards to be slung with chains, top-sail sheets, &c., stoppered, and the ship cleared, and everything prepared for action, and hauled down the English colours. At noon the wind became light, and I observed the chase that we had before been gaining fast on held way with us, but I was determined to continue the pursuit, though the running to leeward, I was convinced, would be attended with many serious disadvantages, especially if the object of my wishes were not gratified.

Passed two schooners standing to the northward, one of these showed American colours, and was a merchant vessel, and the other I supposed to be of the same description.

February 2d, at one P.M., the wind being somewhat fresher than at the noon preceding, and an appearance of its continuance, our prospect of bringing the enemy to action began to brighten, as I perceived we were coming up with the chase fast, and every inch of canvas being set that could be of service, except the bog reefs which I kept in the topsails, in case of the chase, finding an escape from our thunder impracticable, should haul on a wind and give us fair battle. But this did not prove to be her commander's intention. I, however, got within hail of him at 8 P.M., hoisted our ensign, and had the candles in the battle (p. 131) lanterns all lighted, and the large trumpet in the lee-gangway ready to speak him, and to demand the surrender of his ship to the United States of America; but he, at that instant, commenced a fire from his stern and quarter guns, directed at our rigging and spars. No parley being then necessary, I sent my principal aid-de-camp, Mr. Vandyke, to the different officers commanding divisions on the main battery, to repeat strictly my orders, before given, not to throw away a single charge of powder, but to take good aim and fire directly into the hull of the enemy, and load principally with two round shot, and now and then with a round shot and stand of grape, &c., to encourage the men at their quarters; to cause or suffer no noise or confusion whatever; but to load and fire as fast as possible when it could be done with certain effect. These orders being given, in a few moments I gained a position on his weather quarter that enabled us to return, effectually, his salute; and thus a close and as sharp an action as ever was fought between two frigates, commenced and continued until within a few minutes of 1 A.M., when the enemy's fire was completely silenced, and he was again sheering off.

It was at this moment that I considered him as my prize, and was trimming, in the best manner I could, my much shattered sails, when I found the mainmast was totally unsupported by rigging, every shroud being shot away, and some of them in several places, that even stoppers were useless, and could not be applied with effect. I then gave orders for the officers to send the men up the gun-deck to endeavour to secure it, in order that we might get alongside of the enemy again as soon as possible; but every effort was in vain, for the mainmast went over the side a few minutes after, and carried with it the top-men, among whom was an amiable young gentleman who commanded the maintop, Mr. James Jarvis, son of James Jarvis, Esq., of New York. It seems that this young gentleman was apprized of the mast going in a few minutes by an old seaman, but he had already so much of the principle of an officer ingrafted on his mind, not to leave his quarters on any account, that he told the men if the mast went they must go with it, which was the case, and only one of them was saved.

I regret much his loss, as a promising young officer and amiable young man, as well as on account of a long intimacy that has subsisted between his father and myself; but have great satisfaction in finding that I have lost no other, and only two or three slightly wounded, out of thirty-nine killed and wounded--fourteen of the former, and twenty-five of the latter.

As soon as the mainmast went every effort was made to clear the wreck from the ship as soon as possible, which was effected in about an hour. It being impossible to pursue the enemy, and as her security was the great object, I immediately bore away for Jamaica, for repairs, etc., finding it impossible to reach a friendly port in any of the islands to windward.

I should be wanting in common justice were I to omit here to journalize the steady attention to order, and the great exertion and bravery of all my officers, seamen and marines, in this action, many of whom I had sufficiently tried before, on a similar occasion, and all their names are recorded in the muster-roll I sent to the Secretary of the Navy, dated the nineteenth of December last, signed by myself.

All hands employed at repairing the damages sustained in the (p. 132) action, so far as to get the ship into Jamaica as soon as possible.

Thomas TRUXTUN.

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_President John Adams to the Secretary of the Navy._

To B. STODDART, Philadelphia, March 31, 1800. Secretary of the Navy.

The President of the United States requests the Secretary of the Navy to take immediate measures for carrying into execution the resolution of Congress of the 29th, for presenting to Captain Thomas Truxtun a gold medal, emblematical of the late action between the United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, and the French ship-of-war La Vengeance, of fifty-four, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in the above engagement, wherein an example was exhibited by the captain, officers, sailors and marines, honourable to the American name, and instructive to its rising navy.

John ADAMS.

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_John Adams to Captain Thomas Truxtun._

To CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTUN, U.S.N. Quincy, November 30th, 1802.

Sir: I have many apologies to make for omitting so long to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging favour of the 10th of July. The copy you have done me the honour to present me, of the medal voted by Congress, and executed according to my directions to the Secretary of the Navy, I accept with great pleasure, not only from my personal regard to the giver, but because I esteem every laurel conferred upon you, for the glorious action of the 1st of March, 1800, as an honour done to our beloved country. From both of these motives I have been highly gratified with the honour the gentlemen of Lloyd's Coffee House have done themselves in the handsome acknowledgment they have made of their obligations to you. I regret that the artist had not completed the medal in season, that I might have had the satisfaction of presenting it to an officer who has so greatly deserved it; and I lament still more that I had not the power of promoting merit to its just rank in the navy, that of an admiral.

The counsel which Themistocles gave to Athens, Pompey to Rome, Cromwell to England, De Witt to Holland, and Colbert to France, I have always given and shall continue to give to my countrymen, that, as the great questions of commerce and power between nations and empires must be decided by a military marine, and war and peace are determined at sea, all reasonable encouragement should be given to the navy. The trident of Neptune is the sceptre of the world.

I am, Sir, etc., John ADAMS.

No. 22. (p. 133) PLATE XXIII.

_March 4, 1801--March 4, 1809._

Th. Jefferson President of the U.S. A.D. 1801. [Rx]. Peace and friendship.

PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON.

[_Third President of the United States of America._]

TH. (_Thomas_) JEFFERSON PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. (_United States_) A.D. (_Anno Domini: The year of our Lord_) 1801. Bust of President Jefferson, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. Two hands clasped in token of amity: on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes and as many buttons; on the other, the American eagle; above the hands, a calumet and a tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.[72]