To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 October 1794
From Edmund Randolph
Philadelphia
October 13. 1794 ½ past 9 o’clock a.m.
Sir
In concurrence with general Knox, I have the honor of submitting to you the notes for the different communications to congress. My object has been, merely to give the summary idea, without contemplating precise language in any respect. As soon as you shall have signified your sense upon the matter, the form and dress can be easily thrown over it.
The William Penn and Caroline have arrived from London; but bring no intelligence, so late as that, which we have already received. Two letters from Mr Jay, of the 8th and 9th of August contain but a few words. In the former of them, he says that his present prospects are not discouraging, and that Lord Grenville had promised to write to the government at Halifax to prevent any thing improper taking place there with respect to one of our Indiamen, which was captured and sent in thither. In the latter was inclosed a duplicate order of the King in council.1 I have the honor to be, sir with the highest respect yr mo. ob. serv.
Edm: Randolph
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
1. John Jay’s two letters to Randolph and the order in council of 6 Aug. are in DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Great Britain. The order took note that from a variety of “impediments” Americans had been unable to pursue appeals of verdicts against their ships and goods in the admiralty courts of the West Indies. It also directed “that the said Parties shall be admitted to their respective appeals, notwithstanding the ordinary times for entering and prosecuting the same may have elapsed; Provided the same are entered and prosecuted in a reasonable time to be approved of by the Lords Commissioners of Appeals in Prize Causes.” For the case of the Indiaman sent to Halifax, see Jay to GW, 5 Aug., and n.3.