1To George Washington from Supreme Court Justices, 8 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have considered the previous Question stated in a Letter written to us by your Direction, by the Secretary of State, on the 18th of last month. The Lines of Separation drawn by the Constitution between the three Departments of Government—their being in certain Respects checks on each other—and our being Judges of a court in the last Resort—are Considerations which afford strong arguments...
2Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between His Britannick Majesty, and the United States of America, by Their … (Jay Papers)
His Britannick Majesty and The United States of America, being desirous by a Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation, to terminate their differences in such a manner, as, without reference to the merits of their respective Complaints and Pretensions may be the best calculated to provide mutual satisfaction and good understanding: And also to regulate their Commerce and Navigation between their...
3To George Washington from the Supreme Court Justices, 20 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have taken into consideration the Letter written to us by your Direction, on the 18th Instant, by the Secretary of State. The Question “whether the public may with propriety be availed of the advice of the Judges, on the Questions alluded to?[”] appears to us to be of much Difficulty as well as Importance—as it affects the judicial Department, we feel a Reluctance to decide it, without the...
4To George Washington from John Jay, 11 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, a Packet which I received last Evening from Ab. Ogden Esqr. the Attorney of the united States for New Jersey District. It contains three papers. (1)A Letter from Mr Ogden to me, mentioning the apprehension of a Doctr Freeman, on a charge of forgery &ca and his offer of giving Evidence against others, on an assurance of Pardon. (2)...
5To John Adams from John Jay, 10 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
I cannot easily tell you how much I am pleased & obliged by your friendly Letter of the 4th. Instant:—were I to pursue my Inclinations, I should without Hesitation accept your kind Invitation—but our Inclinations even in things innocent must not always be gratified. my Visits to Philadelphia have ceased to be occasional, or I should certainly avail myself of those opportunities which your...
6To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 18 July[–5 August] 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for the printed paper you sent me, and for your Letter by Monsr. Cadignan. On maturely considering the latter I took an opportunity in an informal conversation with Ld. Grenville to communicate it to him. Still I am unable to say any thing decisive relative to the objects of my mission—appearances continue to be singularly favorable; but appearances merit only a certain degree of...
7From John Jay to Thomas Johnson, 12 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your’s of the 3 d . of last month, & regret the Indisposition which detained You from Philadelphia— I hope your Health has been since re-established. The then daily Expectation of an addition to my Family, and which soon after took place, prevented my attending the Sup. Court. Judge Cushing on his Return informed me that there had been a Conference on the Subject of...
8From John Jay to Edmund Randolph, 2 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
I had the Honor of writing to you on the 31 ult: That Letter was sent to Falmouth in Hopes it would reach Doct r . Edwards before he sailed from Hence for Boston. He went from here on Tuesday last. I enclose a copy— That Letter mentioned my having presented an official Representation to Lord Grenville on the Subject of Spoliations &c a . to which his Lordship had given me Reason to expect an...
On my Return from England I took the earliest opportunity of communi catinge d to M r Randolph the Memorandum ^w h ^ your Lordship had given me relative to your Estate in Virginia— he very readily understood ^promised^ to make the necessary Inquiries and to write to you Lordship respecting the Result of them— Thinking that the Business could not be in better Train, I omitted to take a Copy of...
10From John Jay to John Dumont, 27 February 1790 (Jay Papers)
I was favored with yours of the 28 th . Ult. just as I was preparing to go out of Town— it was not untill last Evening that I returned, or I should have taken an earlier opportunity of answering your Letter— Accept my Thanks for your friendly Congratulations. I am convinced of ^believe^ them Sincere ity and value them accordingly— It would give me great Pleasure to have opportunities of...
11From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 19 April 1794 (Jay Papers)
I refer you to the last two Letters which I wrote to you this Week — It was expected that the Senate would Yesterday have decided on the nomination of an Envoy to the Court of London; but measures respecting the Embargo occupied them thro’ the Day— To Day that Business is to be resumed; and you shall have the earliest Notice of the Result. So far as I am personally concerned, my feelings are...
12To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 16 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I am happy to find by a New York paper, that the Result of the late Inquiry into your official Conduct is perfectly consistant with the Expectations of your Friends. It is there represented as being voluminous, and in a variety of Respects interesting. Be so good as to send me a copy. I wrote to you lately a confidential Letter, under Cover to the President. My Dispatches to Mr Randolph were...
13From John Jay to George Washington, 26 January 1796 (Jay Papers)
The British Ratification of the Treaty not having arrived and consequently the time for appointing the Commissioners mentioned in it not being come, I have this long postponed replying to yours of 21 last month. It certainly is important that the Commissioners relative to the Debts, and also the Captures, be men the best qualified for those places. Probably it would be adviseable to appoint...
14To George Washington from John Jay, 14 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
apprehensive that my Letter to you (herewith enclosed) is not exactly such an one, as the Gentleman mentioned in it, may perhaps wish and expect it to be, I think it adviseable to send him a copy of it: and that you may have the more perfect and accurate Information, I enclose a copy of my Letter to him. I have lately received much Intelligence from several Quarters—some allowances are to be...
M r . Gardoqui, the plenipotentiary Encargado de negocios of his Catholic Majesty, informs me, that having obtained Permission to return to Spain, in order to attend for a while to his domestic affairs, he purposes to avail himself of the first good opportunity that may offer. The Papers accompanying this, will inform you of the negociations which were depending between Spain, and the United...
16From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 5 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
To Samuel Bayard Esq r . appointed by the President of the United States of America, Agent for Claims and Appeals &c &c &c It Having been made my Duty to give you Instructions relative to your Agency, I think it expedient to give you the following for the present, and will add to them as circumstances may require. Agreeable to the Advice which you have already received from me You will procure...
17To George Washington from John Jay, 21 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
In a Packet sent last Week to Mr Randolph, was enclosed directed to You a Book which the author, a Mr Miles of this City, requested me to forward to You. I was then so pressed for Time as not to have Leisure to write to you. You will receive herewith enclosed a Note or Memoir which Messrs Lameth and Duport have given me for the purpose of laying it before you. These Gentlemen express an...
18From John Jay to David Hartley, 8 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with your letter of the 5 th . Instant, stating the Case of M r . and M rs . Miniconi, who are in France, and requesting me to take measures to procure a Passport for them and their Servants— In my opinion I cannot better promote your wishes in this Respect, than by sending a Copy of Your Letter to M r . Munro at Paris, & requesting his friendly attention to the Subject of...
19From John Jay to Francis Ley, 26 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was by the last post favored with yours of the 23 d . ult mentioning that you purpose to publish, by Subscription, a work on the Subject of preserving Houses from external Fire, and the Means of removing Goods from such as may be in Danger from it. That you would bestow one half of the Subscription money on the Sufferers by the late Fire at Savannah, and that one Copy shall be sent to those...
20From John Jay to Loughborough, 9 October 1794 (Jay Papers)
The Expediency of the article hinted to me Suggested by your Lordship to facilitate the admission ^Introduction^ of Evidence from the one to the other of our Countries, has not ceased to engage my attention; and has been ^ since ^ delayed for no other Reason but I doubted the Propriety of giving your self Lordship any Trou Trouble on that Subject, while the ^there was less^ Probability of a...
21From John Jay to Richard Lawrence, 9 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with yours of the 27 of last month. I wish it was in our power and consistent with Prudence to ^we could^ give Relief to all who may be ^are^ in need of it— but if this State should attempt to provide for all the French Refugees without Distinction ; those who reside in other States where the like Provision is not made, who would remove to our City for the Purpose of...
22To George Washington from John Jay, 29 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your’s of the 5th of September. Want of Liesure constrains me to be concise. I am authorized by Lord Grenville to assure you in the most explicit Terms, that no Instructions to stimulate or promote Hostilities by the Indians against the united States have been sent to the Kings officers in Canada. I am preparing an official Representation to him on this Subject, and he...
23To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 10 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you Copies of a Letter of 3 Augt. from Jacob Cuyler, and of my answer of this Date. It is natural for men circumstanced as he is, to be anxious; and as adversity too often begets neglect, marks of attention are doubly acceptable to men in his Situation. I fear you will find it difficult to do much for his Son. A little will to him be much. At any Rate write to him, and let him percieve...
24From John Jay to Henry Lee, 11 July 1795 (Jay Papers)
Accept my cordial thanks for the friendly Congratulations expressed in your obliging Letter of the 30 of last month, which I rec d . Yesterday— It was obvious to me when I embarked on my late mission, that so many Circumstances combined to render pacific arrangements with Great Britain unwelcome to certain Politicians and their Partizans both here and elsewhere, that their approbation of any...
25To George Washington from John Jay, 4 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
private Since mine to you of Yesterday I have occasionally turned my Thoughts to the Subject of it. I presume that the Treaty is ratified agreable to the advice of the Senate—and that if Great Britain consents to the Suspension of the 12 art: (which I believe will be the Case) the Treaty will thereupon be ratified on her part and become final. of Consequence that the modification contemplated...
26From John Jay to the New York City Committee, [13 July 1792] (Jay Papers)
IT is far more pleasing to receive proofs of the confidence and attachment of my native city, than it is easy to express the sense which that confidence and that attachment inspire. When I reflect on the sacrifices and efforts in the cause of Liberty, which distinguished this state during the late war, my feelings are very sensibly affected by the favourable light in which you regard my...
27To George Washington from John Jay, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
private You can have very little Time for private Letters, and therefore I am the more obliged by the one you honored me with on the 31 of last month. I was not without apprehensions that on Enquiry it might not appear adviseable to gratify Mr Pickman’s wishes; for altho’ Integrity and amiable manners are great, yet they are not the only Qualifications for office. Your answer to the Call for...
28From John Jay to Grenville, 6 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay presents his respectful Compliments to Lord Grenville and encloses some Outlines for a Convention & Treaty of Commerce. Some of them appear to him questionable— more mature Reflection and the Light which usually springs from mutual Discussions may occasion alterations— Many of the common articles are omitted—& will be inserted of course. It is very desireable that it may be concluded...
29From John Jay to George Clinton, 10 March 1790 (Jay Papers)
The Marks of early and uniform Confidence with which I have been honored by the State, render me very reluctant to [ illegible ] ^retire from my Place at the Board of Regents of the University w h .^ has for its Object the Promotion of Science and useful Knowledge. [ illegible ] The Business ^of that Board must^ will increase as they become enabled by proper Funds to perform it; and to this...
30From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 20 April 1794 (Jay Papers)
I this moment rec d . yours by Gen. Schuyler— As yet I have not seen him— it found ^me^ alone and not a little pensive. your own Feelings will best suggest an Idea of mine— God’s will be done— to him I resign— in him I confide— do the like— any other Philosophy applicable to this occasion is delusive— away with it— Your Indisposition affects me— resist Despondency— hope for the best— When we...
31From John Jay to George Washington, 30 April 1794 (Jay Papers)
I was this day honored with your’s of yesterday. There is nothing I more ardently wish for than Retirement, and Liesure to attend to my Books and papers: but parental Duties not permitting it, I must acquiesce, & thank God for the many Blessings I enjoy. If the Judiciary was on its proper Footing, there is no public Station that I should prefer to the one in which you have placed me—it accords...
32From John Jay to John Lowell, 29 February 1796 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav[ore] d . with your’s of the 15 Inst: by Mr Parkman, and am much pleased with him and his fellow Traveller Mr. Coolidge. Their Representation of the State of Things in Massachusetts, corresponds with the Hints on that Head suggested in your Letter. There is too much Intelligence in the northern States to admit of their being greatly and long decieved and misled; and I hope the...
33To John Adams from John Jay, 21 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
From the Day of my appointment to this mission, my Attention has been much withdrawn from my friends, and confined to the Business which brought me here; & which has at last been terminated by a Treaty. In future I shall have more Leisure to attend to my Friends, and to my own affairs— Both your sons arrived here in good Health. I wrote to my friend John lately, but as yet have not had a...
34John Jay to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, [31 March 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
The Chief Justice of the United States, presents his compliments to the Attorney General, and requests the favor of him to lay before the Board of trustees, the opinion herewith enclosed, on the question stated in their act of the 26th instant; a copy of which the Chief Justice yesterday received, enclosed in the letter which the Attorney General did him the honor to write on the 29th instant....
35To George Washington from John Jay, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jay has the honor of informing the President of the United States, that yesterday afternoon he received a letter from Sir John Temple in the following words, vizt “New York 12th of October 1789, Sir. I beg leave to submit in the most respectful manner, the enclosed memorial to the consideration of the Government of the United States. The memorialist informs me he hath in his possession all...
36From John Jay to Grenville, 13 October 1794 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . last Evening, by a Vessel in 21 Days from New York, Dispatches from the Secretary of State. They contain much Information, respecting the then present State of affairs in the united States. Among other interesting circumstances, the Transaction of Governor Simcoe relative to an american Settlement at the Great Soders, is stated, and accompanied with Copies of the Papers respecting...
37To George Washington from John Jay, 19 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
A Letter which I wrote to you on the 29 Octr last contained the following Paragraph vizt. “I am authorized by Lord Grenville to assure you in the most explicit Terms, that no Instructions to stimulate or promote Hostilities by the Indians against the United States, have been sent to the Kings officers in Canada—I am preparing an official Representation to him on this Subject, and he will give...
38From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 28 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav[ore] d . with yours of the 14 ult. and also with the one which accompanied the Set of your Geography, for which be pleased to accept my Thanks.— It gives me Pleasure to learn that you will endeavour at least to prepare for a History of the American Revolution. To obtain competent and exact Information on the Subject, is not the least arduous part of the Task— it will require...
39From John Jay to George Washington, 13 March 1791 (Jay Papers)
Percieving that Col. Smith you have been pleased to appoint Col. Smith a Supervisor for this District, I conclude that on his acceptance of that place, another the office of Marshall will be conferred on some other person. It is probable that Several Candidates, will offer, and [ illegible ] I take the Liberty of availing myself of your [ Permission ?] to communicating my Sentiments respecting...
40From John Jay to the Indians of St. Regis, 10 August 1795 (Jay Papers)
Brothers I send you this Message to fulfil the Promise which the Agents for the State who met you in this City last Winter then made to you. Brothers This promise was that we would meet You on the Business of the Lands which you say belong to You. Brothers I now inform you that we will meet you and hold the proposed Treaty at Fort George at the South end of Lake George on the Eighteenth day of...
41From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 8 September 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have conferred with M r King on the Subject of your Letter of the 3 d . Inst.— we concur in opinion that neither a Proclamation nor a particular charge by the court to the G[rand]. Jury would be adviseable at present. To us it appears more prudent that this Business be opened by the Presid ts . Speech at the ensuing Session of Congress— their address will manifest the Sense of the House, &...
42From John Jay to George Washington, 5 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
On the 2 d . Inst: I wrote to M r . Randolph, and sent him Copies of my Representation relative to Captures, and of the answer to it. I am this moment returned from a long Conference with Lord Grenville— our Prospects become more and more promising as we advance in the Business— The Compensation Cases (as described in the answer) and the amount of Damages, will I have Reason to hope be...
43From John Jay to George Washington, 11 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
The Letter herewith enclosed from M r . Wangenheim came to me enclosed from him, requesting me to transmit it to You— it was and now is, without a cover— of this Gentleman I have no Knowledge or information but from these Letters. I have written to him, that the Issue of his application to You could not be foreseen; but that as the united States interposed no Impediments to Emigrants, so on...
44From John Jay to Richard Law, 10 March 1790 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 24 of last month, and am much obliged to You for the polite attention manifested in it.— On recieving your Letter, I conversed with the Engraver whom the Clerk of the Sup Court had employed to cut Seals for the Circuit Courts— The one for Connecticut was not yet begun— I pressed him to prepare it without Delay; not concieving myself at Liberty to deviate...
The Charge of Chief Justice Jay to The Grand Juries on the Eastern circuit— at the Circuit Courts held in the Districts, of New York on the 4 th .— of Connecticut on the 22 Day of april, of Massachusets on the 4 th . and of New Hampshire on the 20 Day of may 1790.— Whether any People can long govern themselves in an equal uniform & orderly manner, is a Question which the advocates for free...
46From John Jay to Rufus King, 3 May 1794 (Jay Papers)
I was this morning fav[ore] d . with your’s of Yesterday, and regret the obstacles you mention. a Report is prevailing here that the chancellor is contemplated for France— M rs . Montgomery is said to have mentioned it—on what authority I know not. Your Question deserves mature Consideration— unsuccessful opposition gives strength, especially in the Cases where the it may be ascribed with a...
Whereas the Honorable the House of Assembly now in Session were pleased on the tenth day of this month to declare and resolve in the words following, to wit, [“]Whereas the Deliberations of this House were interrupted by the tumultous Shouts and clamors of People within the Bar of the same on the ninth day of March instant. And Whereas an Attempt to controul the proceedings of the...
48From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 25 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had this afternoon the pleasure of recieving your obliging Letter of the 6 th . Jan y last, and am happy to learn from it that the Decrees in the Capture Cases will probably be satisfactory— This Information appeared to me to be interesting, and therefore I have communicated it to the President : altho I presume you have written fully to the Secretary of State about it, either by the packet...
49From John Jay to Edmund Randolph, 2 February 1795 (Jay Papers)
It occurs to me that I have omitted to inform you that after signing the Treaty, I took the three first opportunities which offered of writing to our Minister at Paris, “that it contained an express declaration that nothing contained in it, should be construed or operate against existing Treaties between the United and other powers.[”] The following are Copies of those Letters— It gives me...
50To George Washington from John Jay, 29 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed contains my Resignation of the office of chief Justice —I cannot quit it, without again expressing to You my acknowledgments for the Honor you conferred upon me by that appointment; and for the repeated marks of confidence & attention for which I am indebted to You. It gives me pleasure to recollect and reflect on these circumstances—to endulge the most sincere wishes for your...