1The American Commissioners to John Jay, 18 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
We received by the last Packet the favor of your letter of Jan ry. 14. in which we have the agreeable information of your having accepted the appointment of Secretary for foreign Affairs. Besides the general interest we feel in this event as members of the Union which is to availed of your services, we are particularly happy that a channel of communication is opened for us with Congress in...
2Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 August 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honoured with your favor of June 19. informing me that permission is given me to make a short visit to my native country, for which indulgence I beg leave to return my thanks to the President, and to yourself, Sir, for the expedition with which you were so good as to forward it after it was obtained. Being advised that October is the best month of the autumn for a passage to America, I...
I shall sometimes ask your permission to write you letters, not official but private. the present is of this kind, and is occasioned by the question proposed in yours of June 14 ‘Whether it would be useful to us to carry all our own productions, or none?’ were we perfectly free to decide this question, I should reason as follows. we have now lands enough to employ an infinite number of people...
4To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1786 (Jay Papers)
I received on the 18 th . instant your private favor of Dec. 9. and thank you for the confidence you are so good as to repose in me, of which that communication is a proof: as such it is a gratification to me, because it meets the esteem I have ever borne you. But nothing was needed to keep my mind right on that subject, and I believe I may say the public mind here. the sentiments entertained...
Soon after the arrival of M r . J. in London, we had a conference with the Ambassador of Tripoli, at his House The amount of all the information we can obtain from him was that a perpetual peace was in all respects the most advisable, because a temporary treaty would leave room for increasing demands, upon every renewal of it, and a stipulation for annual payments would be liable to failures...
6To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 23 May 1786 (Jay Papers)
Letters received both from Madrid & Algiers while I was in London having suggested that Treaties with the states of Barbary would be much facilitated by a previous one with the Ottoman porte, it was agreed between mr Adams and myself that on my return I should consult on this subject the Count de Vergennes, whose long residence at Constantinople rendered him the best judge of it’s expediency....
I had the honor of writing you on the 19 th . of Sep. twice on the 22 d . & again on the 24 th . the two first went by the packet, the 3 d by a vessel bound to Philadelphia. I have not yet learned by what occasion the last went. in these several letters I communicated to you the occurrences of Europe as far as they were then known. Not withstanding the advantage which the emperor seemed to...
The Count de Moustier, minister plenipotentiary from the court of Versailles to the United states, will have the honour of delivering you this. the connection of your offices will necessarily connect you in acquaintance: but I beg leave to present him to you on account of his personal as well as his public character. you will find him open, communicative, candid, simple in his manners, & a...
9To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 3 November 1787 (Jay Papers)
My last letters to you were of the 8 th . & 27 th . of October. in the former I mentioned to you the declaration of this country that they would interpose with force if the Prussian troops entered Holland, the entry of those troops into Holland, the declaration of England that if France did oppose force they would consider it as an act of war, the naval armaments on both sides, nomination of...
10To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson (private), 3 November 1787 (Jay Papers)
I shall take the liberty of confiding sometimes to a private letter such details of the small history of the court or cabinet as may be worthy of being known, and yet not proper to be publicly communicated. I doubt whether the administration is yet in a permanent form. the Count de Monmorin & Baron de Breteuil are I believe firm enough in their places. it was doubted whether they would wait...
11To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 31 December 1787 (Jay Papers)
Since the receipt of the letter of Monsieur de Calonne of Octob. 22. 1786. I have several times had the honour of mentioning to you that I was endeavouring to get the substance of that letter reduced into an arrêt, which, instead of being revocable by a simple letter of ^ a ^ comptroller general, would require an arrêt to repeal or alter it, and of course must be discussed in full council and...
12To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 16 March 1788 (Jay Papers)
In a letter of the 13 th inst which I had the honor of addressing you from this place, I mentioned in general terms the object of my journey hither & that I should enter into more particular details by the confidential conveiance which would occur thro’ mr Adams & Col o . Smith. The board of Treasury had in the month of December, given notice to our bankers here that it would be altogether...
13To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 4 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you in two letters of the 13 th . & 16 th . of March from Amsterdam, and have since received mr Remsen’s of Feb. 20. I staid at Amsterdam about 10. or 12 days after the departure of mr Adams in hopes of seeing the million of the last year filled up. this however could not be accomplished on the spot. but the prospect was so good as to have dissipated all fears;...
14To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 3 August 1788 (Jay Papers)
My last letters to you were of the 4 th . and 23 d . of May, with a postscript of the 27 th . since that I have been honoured with yours of Apr. 24. May 16. & June 9. The most remarkeable internal occurrences since my last are these. The Noblesse of Bretagne, who had received with so much warmth the late innovations in the government, assembled & drew up a memorial to the king and chose 12....
15To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 14 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
In my letter of the 11 th . I have said nothing of the Arret explanatory of that of Sep. 28. on the subject of whale oils, which my letter of Nov. 19. gave you reason to expect. tho this explanatory arret has been passed so long ago as the 7 th . of December it has not been possible for me to obtain an authentic copy of it till last night. I now inclose that to you with a copy of a letter to...
16To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 4 February 1789 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 25. by Gouverneur Morris is duly recieved. [I must beg you to take the trouble of decyphering yourself what follows, and to communicate it to no body but the President at least for the present. ] We had before understood thro different channels that the conduct of the Count de Moustier was politically and morally offensive. it was delicate for me to speak on the subject to...
17To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1789 (Jay Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 1 st . instant through the post. I write the present incertain whether mr Nesbitt, the bearer of your last, will be the bearer of this, or whether it may not have to wait some other private occasion. they have re-established their packet-boats here indeed; but they are to go from Bordeaux, which being between four & five hundred miles from hence, is...
18To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 23 November 1789 (Jay Papers)
I think it my duty to inform you that I am this day arrived here after a passage of 26. days from land to land. by the Montgomery, cap t Bunyan, which sailed from Cowes at the same time with us, I had the honor of addressing you and of sending you the Letter book & account book of Silas Deane, which I put into the hands of mr. Trumbul, who I presume is arrived at New York. according to what I...
19To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1793 (Jay Papers)
The President of the United States, being desirous of asking the advice of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, on certain matters of great public concern, requests your attendance at this place on Thursday the 18 th . instant. It is on his particular charge that I have the honor of informing you of this. I have that of being with sentiments of great respect and esteem, Sir,...
20From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 19 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Our delegates by the last post informed us that we might now obtain blank letters of marque for want of which our people have long and exceedingly suffered. I have taken the liberty therefore of desiring them to apply for fifty, and transmit them by a safe conveyance. The inclosed order being in it’s nature important and generally interesting, I thought it my duty to lay it before Congress as...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 25 September 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The various calamities which during the present year have befallen our crops of wheat, have reduced them so very low as to leave us little more than seed for the ensuing year, were it to be solely applied to that purpose. This country is therefore unable to furnish the necessary supplies of flour for the Convention troops, without lessening by so much as should be purchased, the sowing for...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, to John Adams, and to John Jay, 5 October 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Colo. James Monroe who served some time as an officer in the American army and as such distinguished himself in the affair of Princetown as well as on other occasions, having resumed his studies, comes to Europe to complete them. Being a citizen of this state, of abilities, merit and fortune, and my particular friend, I take the liberty of making him known to you, that should...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 3 January 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Having arrived here a few days ago in order to proceed to Europe, I had hoped to have been able to accompany the Generals Rochambaud and Chastellux, the latter of whom is so kind as to undertake the delivery of this. But their vessel sails before I can be ready. I shall follow however in a very few days and may perhaps have the pleasure of being with you as soon as this will. Had I joined you...
24From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 11 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter which I did myself the honor of writing you by the Chevalr. de Chastellux I informed you of my being at this place with an intention of joining you in Paris. But the uncommon vigilance of the enemy’s cruisers immediately after the departure of the French fleet deterred every vessel from attempting to go out. The arrival of the preliminaries soon after shewed the impropriety of my...
25[From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 9 February 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 9 Feb. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “John Jay. The Marq. Fay. gives us hopes he will accept Sec. F. A.—war and peace doubtful—Bav. and Austr. neth.—Prussia and Dantzic settled—distractions of Holld. continue. Hastings and E.I. affairs difficult for Brit. parliament—have forgot us—we must urge them as to separate articles—expect by packet which sails in Feb. to receive orders about...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 11 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured on the 2d. instant with the receipt of your favor of Mar. 15. inclosing the resolution of Congress of the 10th. of the same month appointing me their Minister plenipotentiary at this court; and also of your second letter of Mar. 22. covering the commission and letter of credence for that appointment. I beg permission through you, Sir, to testify to Congress my gratitude for this...
27From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 11 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
As it frequently happens that we cannot meet with passengers going hence to the packet to whom we may commit our letters, and it may be often necessary to write to you on subjects improper for the inspection of this government to which the letters by post are subject, I have made out a cypher which I now inclose and deliver to young Mr. Adams who will have the honor of delivering you this. The...
28From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 17 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 11th. of the last month by young Mr. Adams who sailed in the packet of that month. That of the present is likely to be retarded to the first of July if not longer. On the 14th. of May I communicated to the Count de Vergennes my appointment as minister plenipotentiary to this court and on the 17th. delivered my letter of credence to the king at a...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you was dated the 17th. of June. The present serves to cover some papers put into my hands by Capt. Paul Jones. They respect an antient matter which is shortly this. While Capt. Jones was hovering on the coast of England in the year 1779. a British pilot, John Jackson by name, came on board him supposing him to be British. Capt. Jones found it convenient to detain him as a...
30From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured on the 22d. Ult. with the receipt of your letter of June 15. and delivered the letter therein inclosed from the President of Congress to the king. I took an opportunity of asking the Count de Vergennes whether the Chevalier Luzerne proposed to return to America? He answered me that he did, and that he was here, for a time only, to arrange his private affairs. Of course this...
31From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of June 18. signed by Dr. Franklin and myself is the last addressed to you from hence on the objects of the general commission. As circumstances rendered it necessary that the signature of the Prussian treaty whenever it should be in readiness, should be made separately, the intervention of a person of confidence between the Prussian plenipotentiary and us became also requisite. His...
32From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall sometimes ask your permission to write you letters, not official but private. The present is of this kind, and is occasioned by the question proposed in yours of June 14 ‘Whether it would be useful to us to carry all our own productions, or none?’ Were we perfectly free to decide this question, I should reason as follows. We have now lands enough to employ an infinite number of people...
33From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 30 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the 14th. inst. by a Mr. Cannon of Connecticut who was to sail in the packet. Since that date yours of July 13. is come to hand. The times for the sailing of the packets being somewhat deranged, I avail myself of a conveiance of the present by the Mr. Fitzhughs of Virginia who expect to land at Philadelphia. I inclose you a correspondence which has taken...
34From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 6 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of Aug. 30. acknowleged the receipt of yours of July 13. Since that I have received your letter of Aug. 13. inclosing a correspondence between the M. de la Fayette and Monsr. de Calonne, and another of the same date inclosing the papers in Fortin’s case. I immediately wrote to Mr. Limozin at Havre desiring he would send me a state of the case, and inform me what were the difficulties...
35From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 11 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Aug. 14. I had the honor of expressing to you the uneasiness I felt at the delay of the instructions on the subject of the Barbary treaties of which Mr. Lamb was the bearer, and of informing you that I had proposed to Mr. Adams that if he did not arrive either in the French or English packets then expected, we should send some person to negotiate these treaties. As he did not...
36From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you, which were dated the 6th. and 11th. of October, I have been honoured with yours of the 1st. 14th. and 15th. of September . Since the departure of the Mr. Fitzhughs, who carried my last, no confidential opportunity of writing has offered. The present I send by the way of London, and being to pass thro’ the post offices of both countries, shall mention in it nothing but...
37From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Report on Conversations with Vergennes, 2 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Several Conferences and Letters having passed between the Count de Vergennes and myself on the Subject of the Commerce of this Country with the U.S. I think them sufficiently interesting to be communicated to Congress. They are stated in the Form of a Report and are herein inclosed. The Length of this Despatch perhaps needs Apology. Yet I have not been able to abridge it without omitting...
38From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 25 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received on the 18th. instant your private favor of Dec. 9. and thank you for the confidence you are so good as to repose in me, of which that communication is a proof. As such it is a gratification to me, because it meets the esteem I have ever borne you. But nothing was needed to keep my mind right on that subject, and I believe I may say the public mind here. The sentiments entertained of...
39From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you by the way of London on the 2d. instant. Since that your’s of Dec. 7. has come to hand. I have now the pleasure to inform you that Mr. Barclay, having settled as far as depended on him the accounts of Monsieur de Beaumarchais, left Paris on the 15th. instant to proceed to Marocco. Business obliged him to go by the way of l’Orient and Bourdeaux, but he told me...
40From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 5 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The several commissions, to which Congress were pleased to appoint Colo. Humphreys Secretary of legation, being shortly to expire, and a French packet offering him a convenient passage in the month of April, he proposes to avail himself of that occasion of returning to his own country and of there presenting his respects and thanks to Congress. As a member of the several commissions with which...
41From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The date of a letter from London will doubtless be as unexpected to you as it was unforeseen by myself a few days ago. On the 27th. of the last month Colo. Smith arrived in Paris with a letter from Mr. Adams informing me that there was at this place a minister from Tripoli, having general powers to enter into treaties on behalf of his state, and with whom it was possible we might do something...
42From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Mar. 12. I had the honour of explaining to you the motives which had brought me to this place. A joint letter from Mr. Adams and myself, sent by the last packet, informed you of the result of our conferences with the Tripoline minister. The conferences with the minister of Portugal have been drawn to a greater length than I expected. However, every thing is now agreed and the...
43From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In another letter of this day I stated to you what has passed with public characters since my arrival here. Conversations with private individuals I thought it best not to mingle with the contents of that letter. Yet as some have taken place which relate to matters within our instructions, and with persons whose opinions deserve to have some weight, I will take the liberty of stating them. In...
44From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The last letters I had the honour of addressing you from this place were of the 2d. and 27. of January. Those from London were of the 12th. of March and 23. of April. In the month of February the Baron de Blome, minister plenipotentiary at this court from Denmark informed me that he was instructed by his court to take notice to the Ministers from the U.S. appointed to negotiate a treaty of...
45From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 22 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The duty has been imposed on me of making the following communication to Congress. It is necessary for me previously to observe, that tho’ the government of the United Netherlands have both an ordinary and extraordinary Ambassador here, yet the Patriotic party, now decisively possest of the powers of government, have sent hither a Rhingrave de Salm , as possessing their plenary confidence, to...
46From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
[Letters received both from Madrid and Algiers while I was in London having suggested that treaties with the states of Barbary would be much facilitated by a previous one with the Ottoman porte, it was agreed between Mr. Adams and myself that on my return I should consult on this subject the Count de Vergennes, whose long residence at Constantinople rendered him the best judge of it’s...
47From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Enclosure, 27 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of January 2. I had the honour of stating to you what had passed here on the subject of the commerciable articles between this country and the United States. I beg leave now to resume that subject. I therein informed you that this government had agreed to receive our fish oils on the footing on which they receive those of the Hanseatic towns, which gave us a reduction of duty from...
48From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 12th. inst. which goes by the same packet, but was delivered to a private hand, I had the honour of inclosing to you letters from Mr. Carmichael, Mr. Barclay and Mr. Lambe on the Barbary affairs. Others came to hand last night which are now copying, and will be inclosed to you by the post of this day as far as they can be copied. The whole cannot possibly be in readiness...
49From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 31 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A safe opportunity occurring by the way of London, I have it now in my power to transmit you the sequel of the papers relative to Algiers which could not be in readiness to go with my letter of the 27th. inst. by the French packet, which I expect will sail from l’Orient tomorrow. I am enabled at the same time to send you a copy of the resolutions of the Committee on the subject of the tobacco...
50From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 8 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters to you by the last French packet were dated May 12. 22, 23. 27. and I sent by the way of London one dated May 31. Since this I have been honoured with yours of May 5. The letter therein inclosed for Mr. Dumas has been duly forwarded; and the report on the subject of the Consular convention I delivered to the Count de Vergennes the first levee day after the return of the king, who...