to testify to you the regret which the people and government of the United States 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 they 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 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,