of forwarding the medals to you.  I must beg leave, through you, to ask the pleasure of Congress as to the number they would choose to have struck.  Perhaps they might be willing to deposite one of each person in every college of the United States.  Perhaps they might choose to give a series of them to each of the crowned heads of Europe, which would be an acceptable present to them.  They will be pleased to decide.  In the mean time I have sealed up the die, and shall retain it till I am honored with their orders as to this medal, and the others also when they shall be finished.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect,

Sir, your most obedient

and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LI.—­TO JOHN JAY, February 23, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, February 23, 1787.

Sir,

The Assemblee des Notables being an event in the history of this country which excites notice, I have supposed it would not be disagreeable to you to learn its immediate objects, though no way connected with our interests.  The Assembly met yesterday:  the King, in a short but affectionate speech, informed them of his wish to consult with them on the plans he had digested, and on the general good of his people, and his desire to imitate the head of his family, Henry IV., whose memory is so dear to the nation.  The Garde des Sceaux then spoke about twenty minutes, chiefly in compliment to the orders present.  The Comptroller General, in a speech of about an hour, opened the budget, and enlarged on the several subjects which will be under their deliberation.  He explained the situation of the finances at his accession to office, the expenses which their arrangement had rendered necessary, their present state with the improvements made in them, the several plans which had been proposed for their further improvement, a change in the form of some of their taxes, the removal of the interior Custom-houses to the frontiers, and the institution of Provincial Assemblies.  The Assembly was then divided into committees, with a prince of the blood at the head of each.  In this form they are to discuss separately the subjects which will be submitted to them.  Their decision will be reported by two members to the minister, who, on view of the separate decisions of all the committees, will make such changes in his plans, as will best accommodate them to their views, without too much departing from his own, and will then submit them to the vote (but I believe not to the debate) of the General Assembly, which will be convened for this purpose one day in every week, and will vote individually.

The event (C)f the Count de Vergennes’death, of which I had the honor to inform you in a letter of the 14th instant, the appointment of the Count Montmorin, and the propriety of my attending at his first audience, which will be on the 27th, have retarded the journey I had proposed a few days.