To John Jay from William Churchill Houston, 17 June 1780
From William Churchill Houston
Philada 17 June 1780
His Excy John Jay Esqr
Sir,
You will receive with this the Journals of Congress for the present year as far as they are printed. A Plan is now before Congress for putting the Department of Foreign Affairs on a new and effectual Footing.1 When this is completed I hope you will have, what has been hitherto so much and so unjustifiably neglected, a regular Communication from this Side the Water I am Sir your obedt Servant
Wm Churchill Houston2
LS, NNC (EJ: 5685). Endorsed: “ . . . Recd 5 Novr 1780”.
1. On 15 May, Congress had appointed James Lovell, Houston, and James Duane to report a “proper arrangement” for the Department of Foreign Affairs. , 17: 428.
2. In a second letter of this date, ALS, NNC (EJ: 8606), Houston informed JJ that Charleston had fallen to the British but noted that the spirit and exertions this event had aroused might turn it to a “Benefit with respect to the general cause,” a view also expressed in William Bingham to JJ, 1 July, below.