The President, in a letter to the King, has expressed his sense of your merit, and his entire approbation of your conduct while here, and has charged me to convey to yourself the same sentiments on his part.
Had you returned to your station with us, you would have received new and continued marks of the esteem inspired by the general worth of your character, as well as by the particular dispositions you manifested towards this country.
Amidst the regrets excited by so early a loss of you, it will be a consolation, if your new situation shall contribute to advance your own happiness.
As a testimony of these sentiments, we ask the acceptance of a medal and chain of gold, with which Mr. Short is instructed to present you on the part of the United States.
To this general tribute, permit me to add my own, with sincere wishes for your constant happiness, and assurances of the respect and esteem with which
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson to William Short.
Philadelphia, March 8th, 1791.
To
William Short, Esquire.
Dear Sir: You are directed to have a medal struck from the diplomatic die, formerly ordered, and to present it with a chain of gold to the Count de Moustier, who is notified that this will be done by you. I formerly informed you that we proposed to vary the worth of the present by varying the size of the links of the chain, which are fixed at 365 in number. Let each in the present instance contain six livres worth of gold, and let it be made of plain wire, so that the value may be in the metal and not at all in the workmanship. I shall hope to receive the dies themselves when a safe conveyance presents itself.