From John Jay to William Livingston, 19 July 1783
To William Livingston
Passy 19 July 1783
Dear Sir
On the 1st. Instant I had the Pleasure of seeing ^recg.^ your Favor of the 21 May Ma last, but have neither seen nor heard any thing of Doctor Wearing whom you mention as the Bearer of it— Should he come this Way, I shall certainly pay him all the Attention wh. you or Presidt Boudinott could wish—1
I am happy to hear that the provisional Articles meet with general approbation— The Tories will doubtless give Trouble ^cause some Difficulty but^ that they have always done, and as this is the last ^will probably^ be last Time that the Refugees will plague us, we must keep our Temper and Patience ^make the best of it^. A universal undiscriminating Condemnation ^& Expulsion^ of those People will ^wd.^ not redound to our Honour, because it wd too nearly resemble anhasty^ Effort of blind ^so harsh a Measure cd. only result ^wd partake more of^ Vengeance, ever to be ascribed to that considerate Regard to Justice and Humanity whic is ^than of^ Justice. For my part I wish ^that^ all except the faithless and the cruel may be forgiven—that Exception will include but ^wd indeed extend to^ very few, but ^even^ if it applied to the Case of one or two only, that one ought in my Opinion to be pardoned saved—2
A Letter presusd. to be written in New York & published in an English paper mentions your having been inat^ New York, & that you there said “a Gallows ought to be erected in every street to hang the Tories on”3
The Reluctance with wh. the States in general pay the necessary Taxes is much to be regretted—it injures ^both^ their Reputation in Europe ^& Interest abroad as well as at Home^ and tends to cherish the Hopes and Speculations of those who wish we may always be ^always become & remain^ an unimportant divided People. The Rising power of Am. is a serious object of Apprehension to more than one Nation, and every Event that may retard it will give them ^be agreable^ to them. A continental national Spirit shd. therefore pervade our Country—^& Congress^ shd. shd. be enabled by a Grant of the necessary powers, to regulate the Commerce & general Concerns of the Confederacy,4 and we shd. remember that we to be constantly prepared for War is the only Way to have Peace. The Swiss on the one Hand & the Dutch on the other give ^bear^ Testimony to the Truth of this Remark—I
The General & the Army5 have by their late Moderation done themselves infinite Honor, and it is to be hoped that the States will not only be just but generous to those brave and virtuous Citizens— America is at present held in a very respectable point of View, but as the Eyes of the World is upon her, the continuance of that Consideration ^will^ depend on the Dignity & wisdom of her Conduct.
I mean to return next Spring—my Health is some what better— Sally will increase my ^our^ Family next Month—6 I am Dr Sir, Your afft. & hble Servt.
Dft, NNC (EJ: 90225). Endorsed: “ . . . in Ansr to 21 May last / by Capt. Barney”.
1. See Livingston’s letter of 21 May, above.
2. For concerns about article 5 of the provisional treaty of 30 Nov. 1782, see Livingston’s letter of 21 May, and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the American Peace Commissioners of 25 Mar. 1783, both above.
3. “Extract of a letter from a Gentleman of character in New-York, dated May 26, 1783,” Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser, 5 July 1783.
4. For further discussion of a national system of commerce, see Edward Bancroft to JJ, 12 Aug. 1783, below.
5. A reference to Washington’s success in preventing the Newburgh Affair from developing into a serious challenge to congressional authority. JJ was not yet aware of the army mutinies which occurred when troops were disbanded with little or no pay, the most significant of which was the Philadelphia Mutiny at the end of June, in the course of which mutinous units of the Pennsylvania line surrounded the State House where both Congress and the Pennsylvania legislature met. Dissatisfied with the state’s response, Congress sought refuge in Princeton, New Jersey. These events, which suggested serious instability, had an adverse effect on American credit and standing in Europe. See Edward Bancroft to JJ, 12 Aug., below; the American Peace Commissioners to the President of Congress, 10 Sept. 1783, below; and , 7: 592–93, 8: 187–89; 215–38.