To John Jay from the President of Congress (Samuel Huntington), 5 July 1781
From the President of Congress (Samuel Huntington)
Philadelphia July 5. 1781
Sir,
You will receive herewith enclosed, a Commission constituting yourself and the three other Gentlemen therein named, in Addition to Mr Adams, our Ministers for negotiating Peace
Also another Commission & Duplicate to the same Ministers, authorizing them to accept of the Mediation of the Emperor of Germany & Empress of Russia, in one of which you will observe the Emperor is first named & in the other the Empress. These are to be made Use of as Circumstances shall render expedient.
I have also enclosed Instructions (in Cyphers) for your Government in Addition to those formerly given to Mr Adams and now in his Possession, for negotiating Peace with Great Britain.1
Similar Dispatches are forwarded to Doctor Franklin & Mr J. Adams with Directions to give you the earliest Advice on their Arrival, which you may probably receive before this comes to Hand— I have the Honor to be, with the highest Regard Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant
Saml. Huntington President
LS, UkWC-A (EJ: 17). Endorsed.
1. The four commissioners in addition to Adams were JJ, elected on 13 June, and BF, Henry Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson, elected on 14 June. , 20: 638, 648. The texts of the two commissions and the accompanying instructions are printed above at 15 June 1781. For comments on the peace commission, see Gouverneur Morris to JJ, 17 June 1781, above.