The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 40

ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS. (_He drew fire from heaven and wrenched the sceptre from tyrants._) A genius pointing with his right hand to a lightning-rod attracting the electric spark, and with his left to a broken crown and sceptre at his feet. Exergue: SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT AUG. DUPRe ANNO MDCCLx.x.xIV. (_Sculpsit et dicavit Augustinus Dupre, anno 1784: Engraved and dedicated by Augustin Dupre, in the year 1784_).[56],[57]

[Footnote 56: See INTRODUCTION, pages x and xxiii.]

[Footnote 57: For original doc.u.ments, see No. 16, page 95.]

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was born in Boston, January 17, 1706. He began life as an apprentice to his brother, a printer; went to England to follow his trade, but ultimately settled in Philadelphia in 1726, where he edited the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and in 1732 began the publication of "Poor Richard's Almanac." He founded the first fire company in 1737, and soon afterward the first fire insurance company. In 1752 he discovered the ident.i.ty of lightning and the electric fluid, and invented the lightning-rod. In consideration of his brilliant services to science, the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the university of Oxford in 1762. Benjamin Franklin was a member of the Continental Congress, 1775-1776; a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the commissioners to France, 1776-1785. He signed the offensive and defensive treaty with France, in Paris, (p. 094) February 6, 1778; and the definitive treaty of peace with England, September 3, 1783. He was governor of Pennsylvania, 1786-1788; and died in Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. Congress ordered a mourning of four months, and the National a.s.sembly of France, on the proposal of Mirabeau, seconded by Monsieur de la Rochefoucauld and General de la Fayette, went into mourning for three days. Turgot composed in his honor the celebrated latin verse: _Eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrum que tyrannis_.

No. 16. (p. 095) PLATE XVI.

_1786._

Benj. Franklin natus Boston. XVII Jan. MDCCVI. [Rx]. Eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrum que tyrannis.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

BENJ. FRANKLIN NATUS BOSTON. XVII JAN. MDCCVI. (_Benjamin Franklin, natus Boston, 17 Januarii, 1706: Benjamin Franklin, born in Boston, January 17, 1706._) Bust of Franklin, facing the left. On edge of bust, DUPRe F. (_fecit_).

Within a crown of oak: ERIPUIT COELO FULMEN SCEPTRUM QUE TYRANNIS.

(_He drew fire from Heaven and wrenched the sceptre from tyrants_).

Exergue: SCULPSIT ET DICAVIT AUG. DUPRe ANNO MDCCLx.x.xVI. (_Sculpsit et dicavit Augustinus Dupre, anno 1786: Engraved and dedicated by Augustin Dupre, in the year 1786_).[58]

[Footnote 58: See INTRODUCTION, pages x and xxiii.]

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_William Short to Thomas Jefferson._

To the Honourable Thomas JEFFERSON, Paris, June the 14th, 1790.

Secretary of State.

Sir: On the news of Dr. Franklin's death being received here, the National a.s.sembly decreed that they would go in mourning for three days--and that the President should write to Congress to notify to them the part they take in the melancholy event. A kind of enthusiasm has spread also through the different parts of the capital--different societies and bodies have shown their adhesion to the sentiments of the National a.s.sembly in different ways.

I am, etc., Wm. SHORT.

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_Thomas Jefferson to the President of the National a.s.sembly of (p. 096) France._

To Philadelphia, March 8th, 1791.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL a.s.sEMBLY OF FRANCE.

Sir: I have it in charge from the President of the United States of America to communicate to the National a.s.sembly of France the peculiar sensibility of Congress to the tribute paid to the memory of Benjamin Franklin, by the enlightened and free Representatives of a great nation, in their decree of the 11th of June, 1790.

That the loss of such a citizen should be lamented by us, among whom he lived, whom he so long and eminently served, and who feel their country advanced and honoured by his birth, life and labours, was to be expected, but it remained for the National a.s.sembly of France to set the first example of the Representative of one nation doing homage by a public act to the private citizen of another, and by withdrawing arbitrary lines of separation, to reduce into one fraternity the good and the great, wherever they have lived or died.

That these separations may disappear between us in all times and circ.u.mstances, and that the union of sentiment, which mingles our sorrows on this occasion, may continue long to cement the friendship and the interests of our two nations is our constant prayer. With no one is it more sincere than with him, who in being charged with the honour of conveying a public sentiment, is permitted that of expressing the homage of profound respect and veneration with which he is,

Sir, your most obedient and humble servant, Th: JEFFERSON.

No. 17. (p. 097) PLATE XVII.

_September 23, 1779._

Joanni Pavlo Jones cla.s.sis praefecto. Comitia Americana. [Rx].

Hostivm navibvs captis avt fvgatis.

CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES.

[_Capture of the Serapis._]

JOANNI PAVLO JONES CLa.s.sIS PRaeFECTO. COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to naval commander John Paul Jones_). Bust of Captain Jones, in uniform, facing the right. On edge of bust, DUPRe F. (_fecit_).

HOSTIVM NAVIBVS CAPTIS AVT FVGATIS. (_The enemy's vessels taken or put to flight._) Naval action between the United States frigate Bonhomme Richard, of forty guns, Captain John Paul Jones, and the British frigate Serapis, of forty-four guns, Captain Pearson. Both vessels are grappled, lying head and stern. The Bonhomme Richard is on fire, and her crew are boarding the Serapis. To the left, a third vessel.[59]

Exergue: AD ORAM SCOTIae (_sic_) XXIII SEPT. (_Septembris_) M.DCCLXXVIIII. (_Off the coast of Scotland, September 23, 1779._) DUPRe. F. (_fecit_).[60]

[Footnote 59: See Admiral Jones's curious observations on the position of the accessories on the reverse, in his letter to Jefferson, dated August 29,/September 9, 1788, page 112.]

[Footnote 60: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xix, xx, xxi, xxviii; D, xli; E, xliv; F, xlv; and H, xlvii.]

The legend on the reverse of the medal is the second of the two proposed by the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres. The first was, PRIMUS AMERICANORUM TRIUMPHUS NAVALIS.

The bust of John Paul Jones, on the obverse of this medal, is from a plaster cast by Houdon, the celebrated sculptor.

THE CHEVALIER JOHN PAUL JONES was born at Arbingland, in the (p. 098) parish of Kirkbean, in Scotland, July 6, 1747. He went to sea when young, and settled in Virginia in 1773. In 1775 he was appointed a lieutenant in the navy, through the recommendation of General Jones, of North Carolina, and in grat.i.tude to him, he added the name of Jones to his family name of Paul. He joined the Alfred, of thirty guns and three hundred men, and on her deck, October 10, 1776, when off Chestnut street wharf, Philadelphia, under a salute of thirteen guns, hoisted with his own hands the first American naval flag. This had thirteen stripes, but without the blue union, and bore across the field a rattlesnake with the motto "Don't tread on me." Appointed captain in October, 1776, he was soon afterward sent by Congress to France, to arrange certain naval matters with the American commissioners. Subsequently he carried terror along the coast of England, and on September 23, 1779, fought his famous action off Flamborough Head, near Scarborough, in which he took the Serapis, Captain Richard Pearson. He was enthusiastically received in France, and King Louis XVI. presented him with a sword of honor and with the cross of Military Merit. Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal, in 1787, and sent him to France, Denmark, and Sweden, as agent for prize money. The same year he entered the Russian service with the rank of rear-admiral, and received from the Empress Catherine II. the cross of St. Anne. He had a command in the squadron stationed in the Black Sea, where he greatly distinguished himself, but embittered by slanderous calumnies, he left the Russian service and settled in Paris, where he died in poverty, July 18, 1792. The National a.s.sembly of France, then in session, expressed their regret for him by wearing mourning, and sent a deputation to attend his funeral.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to the Chevalier John Paul Jones._

IN CONGRESS.

_Resolved unanimously_, That a medal of gold be struck and presented to the Chevalier John Paul Jones, in commemoration of the valour and brilliant services of that officer, in the command of a squadron of French and American ships, under the flag and commission of the United States, off the coast of Great Britain, in the late war; and that the Honourable Mr. Jefferson, (p. 099) Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, have the same executed, with the proper devices.

_Resolved_, That a letter be written to His Most Christian Majesty, informing him that the United States, in Congress a.s.sembled, have bestowed upon the Chevalier John Paul Jones, this medal, as well in consideration of the distinguished marks of approbation which His Majesty has pleased to confer upon that officer, as from a sense of his merit: And, that as it is his earnest desire to acquire greater knowledge in his profession, it would be acceptable to Congress, that His Majesty would be pleased to permit him to embark with his fleets of evolution, convinced that he can no where else so well acquire that knowledge which may hereafter render him more extensively useful.

_Ordered_, That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs prepare a letter for the above purpose, to be signed by the President, and that the Chevalier Jones be the bearer of the said letter.