Only two of these Diplomatic medals have thus far been awarded, one to the Marquis de la Luzerne and the other to the Count de Moustier.

César Anne de la Luzerne was born in Paris in 1741. He was graduated at the Chevau-légers school, became aide-de-camp to the Duke de Broglie; was appointed major-general of cavalry in 1762; and colonel of the French grenadiers in 1776. Quitting the army, he entered the diplomatic service, and was envoy to the court of Maximilian Joseph, Elector of Bavaria, in 1766, and minister to the United States in 1779-1784. He contracted, under his own responsibility, a loan to relieve the distress of the American army in 1780; received from Harvard College the degree of LL.D. in 1781, and the same from Dartmouth College in 1782. He was appointed ambassador to England in January, 1788. Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of State, wrote to him, April 30, 1790, by order of President Washington, conveying to him an express acknowledgment of his services, and of the high appreciation of them by the government and people of America, informing him also that, by order of the President of the United States, a medal and a chain of gold would be prepared and delivered to him by the chargé d'affaires of the United States at the court of France. The Marquis de la Luzerne died in London, September 14, 1791, before the medal was finished.

Éléonore François Élie, Count, afterward Marquis, De Moustier, was born in Paris, March 15, 1751. He entered the army when but fourteen years of age, and at sixteen was sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navarre cavalry; captain in the Dauphin dragoons 1771; mestre-de-camp, 1777, and soon after maréchal-de-camp; and lieutenant-general, 1816. Entering the diplomatic service in 1771, he first served as gentilhomme d'ambassade in Lisbon, then as conseiller d'ambassade in London, 1772; was chargé d'affaires at Naples, and in 1777, minister to the court of Treves, He was sent on a special mission to England in 1783, and as minister to the United States in 1787. In 1790 he declined the mission to the court of St. James, and went as ambassador to Berlin. Thomas Jefferson, then secretary of State, informed him, March 2, 1791, by order of President Washington, that a medal and a chain of gold would be presented to him by Mr. Short, in the name of the United States of America. In September, 1791, he declined the ministry of Foreign Affairs, emigrated in 1792, and came back to France with Louis XVIII. in 1814. The Marquis de Moustier died at Bailli, near Versailles, February 1, 1816.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

John Adams to the President of Congress.

Braintree, August 3, 1779.
To His Excellency
John Jay,
President of Congress.

Sir: The Chevalier de la Luzerne is a Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of an ancient and noble family, connected by blood with many characters of principal name in the kingdom; a grandson of the celebrated Chancellor de la Moignon; a nephew of Monsieur Malesherbes, perhaps still more famous as first President of the Court of Aids, and as Minister of State, a brother of the Comte de la Luzerne, and of the Bishop of Langres, one of the three Dukes and Peers who had the honour to assist in the consecration of the King; a near relative of the Marshal de Broglie, and the Comte his brother, and of many other important personages in that country; nor is his personal character less respectable than his connections. As he is possessed of much useful information of all kinds, and particularly of the political system of Europe, obtained in his late Embassy in Bavaria; and of the justest sentiments of the mutual interests of his country and ours, and of the utility to both of that alliance which so happily unites them, and at the same time divested of all personal and party attachments and aversions, Congress and their constituents, I flatter myself, will have much satisfaction in his negotiations, as well as in those of the Secretary to the Embassy, Monsieur Marbois, who was also Secretary to the Embassy in Bavaria, and is a Counsellor of the Parliament of Metz, a gentleman whose abilities, application and disposition cannot fail to make him useful in this momentous office he sustains.

I have the honour to be with great respect, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
John Adams.