John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Charles Thomson, 29 July 1784

From Charles Thomson

Philadelphia July 29. 1784

Dear Sir,

Being informed of your safe arrival at New York I embrace the earliest opportunity of Congratulating you on that event and hope Mrs. Jay and your little family are all well. On the 18 of June I wrote to inform you that I had received your letter of 7 April and to thank you for the attention you paid to my letter in favour of Mr I. Norris.1 As the post sets out sooner than I expected I shall just transcribe the last paragraphs of that letter as follows “I have the pleasure to inform you that on the 7th. of May Congress elected you secretary for foreign affairs.[”]2 I do not know how you will be pleased with the appointment, but this I am sure of that your country stands in need of your abilities in that Office. I feel sensibly that it is not only time but highly necessary for us to think and act like a sovereign as well as a free people and I wish this sentiment to be more deeply impressed on the members of every state in the Union. The Opportunities you will have of corresponding not only with the executives but with the several legislatures, in discharging the duties of your Office, will I trust greatly contribute to raise and promote this Spirit; And this is a reason, why I wish you were here to enter on the business. On the Same day that you were elected to the Office for foreign Affairs Congress appointed Mr Jefferson in addition to Mr J Adams and Mr B Franklin for the purpose of negotiating commercial treaties with the powers of Europe.3

“Mrs. T.4 joins in Compliments to Mrs Jay We most heartily wish you a prosperous voyage and happy return to your native Country” With sincere esteem I am Dear Sir, yours Affectionately

Cha Thomson

ALS, UkWC-A (EJ: 41). Addressed: “The Honble / J. Jay.” Endorsed: “ . . . ansd. 12 Aug. 1784”. Cs, DLC: Thomson (EJ: 12591); NNC (EJ: 7679).

2JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 26: 355.

3JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 26: 356.

4Hannah Harrison Thomson.

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