1. The enclosed copies of Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler’s letter to Jay of 27 Jan. and its enclosure, a copy of James Deane’s letter to Schuyler of 18 Jan., are in DLC:GW. For Congress’s order of 8 Feb. directing that these copies be sent to GW, see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:151. Writing to Schuyler from Fort Schuyler, N.Y., Deane reports in his letter on a council meeting of the pro-American Oneida and Tuscarora tribes that occurred at the fort in mid-January and the Oneidas’ efforts to persuade the Onondagas, who were divided in their support of the British and Americans, to come live with them. In his letter to Jay, Schuyler comments on the information in Deane’s letter, writing: “Should the Onondagas persevere in their resolution to separate from those of their nation [the Six Nations] who continue hostile to us, it may be expected that happy consequences will result from it, as it may in a great measure prevent the Senecas & Causugas from continuing their depredations on our frontiers.

“I cannot however think that it will be proper to join with the Oneidas in an invitation to the Onandagas to come & reside with the former, lest it should impress them with an idea that we consider them of great importance—perhaps it may be sufficient to intimate to the Oneidas that if the others incline to reside with them they will share our protection in common with themselves—this I shall direct Mr Deane to do.”

2. Caesar Rodney, the president of Delaware, had written Jay on 4 Feb. informing him that the general assembly had authorized the state’s delegates to Congress to ratify the Articles of Confederation (see Ryden, Rodney Letters description begins George Herbert Ryden, ed. Letters to and from Caesar Rodney, 1756–1784. Philadelphia, 1933. description ends , 293–95; see also Jay to Rodney, 8 Feb., in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 12:35).