41To John Jay from John Adams, December 1785 (Jay Papers)
I am anxious to convey to you, if I can, in as Strong a light as that in which I see myself, the Impossibility of our doing any thing satisfactory with this Nation, especially under this Ministry, that the States may neither neglect nor delay any Measure, which they would judge necessary or expedient, upon the certainty that England will not alter her Conduct. In order to do this, I must be...
42From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 4 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving at Aix your letter of Feb. 9. and immediately wrote to the Count de Montmorin, explaining the delay of the answer of Congress to the king’s letter, and desired Mr. Short to deliver that answer with my letter to Monsieur de Montmorin , which he accordingly informs me he has done. My absence prevented my noting to you in the first moment the revolution which has...
43From George Washington to John Jay, 8 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
By the last Mail, I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 29th of May—and have now the satisfaction to congratulate you on the adoption of the Constitution by the Convention of South Carolina. I am sorry to learn there is a probability that the majority of members in the New York Convention will be Antifederalists. Still I hope that some event will turn up before they assemble, which...
44From John Adams to John Jay, 4 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday at the Ministers Levee, one of the foreign Ministers put into my hand a Leyden Gazette, in which I found announced to the Public, an Arret of the King of France of the 18 th. of September, in which a Bounty of Ten Livres per Quintal is promised to any French Merchants who shall import into the Markett of the French West India Islands, or of Spain Portugal or Italy any Fish, of the...
45To John Jay from James Duane, 20 December 1788 (Jay Papers)
I set off in a hurry which alone prevented my calling upon you for which I had a variety of motives. One was to explain the reasons which induced me to transmit to you a State of facts on a subject which I thought somewhat interesting, and the more so as it ^had^ produced a Visit from three reverend Doctors the evening before I commenced my Journey— Their object was to prevent a flame which...
46To John Jay from William Bingham, 10 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
I received your agreable Letter of the 22 d . Novem r & exceedingly regret your Speedy Intention of Speedily departing for America, more especially as it will deprive M rs Bingham & myself of the pleasure of personally assuring M rs Jay & you of our own affectionate Regards— We shall leave England in the Beginning of May, & Shall take Holland in our Route to Spa, where we intend to remain...
47From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 22 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The letters of which the inclosed are copies, are this moment received, and as there is a possibility that they may reach Havre before the packet sails, I have the honor of inclosing them to you. They contain a promise of reducing the duties on tar, pitch and turpentine, and that the government will interest itself with the city of Rouen to reduce the local duty on Potash. By this you will...
48To John Jay from John Adams, 16 December 1787 (Jay Papers)
Two Days ago, I received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the 16 of Oct r . with its Enclosures. The Approbation of my Conduct in Europe expressed in the Resolution of Congress of the fifth of October, does me honour, and demands my Acknowledgments. The Permission to return to America and the termination of my Commission in Holland, having removed all Difficulties, It is my...
49From John Adams to John Jay, 1 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter of the 29 th. Ult o. I inclosed Copies of the Letters which had passed between the secretary of State and myself—wherin this Day was fixed upon for my introduction to His Majesty—agreable to that arrangement the Master of Ceremonies waited on me at one and accompanied me to the secretary’s Office, from whence Lord Carmarthen accompanied me to the Palace— I was in a very short time...
50To John Jay from Samuel Shaw, 19 May 1785 (Jay Papers)
The first vessel that has been fitted out by the inhabitants of the United States of America, for essaying a commerce with those of the empire of China, being, by the favor of Heaven, safe returned to this Port, it becomes my Duty to communicate to you, for the information of the Fathers of the Country, an account of the reception their subjects have met with, and the respect with which their...
51To John Jay from George Washington, 10 March 1787 (Jay Papers)
I am indebted to you for two letters:—The first, introductory of M r . Anstey needed no apology— nor will any be necessary on future occasions.—The other, of the 7 th . of Jan y . is on a very interesting subject, deserving very particular attention.— How far the revision of the fœderal system, and giving more adequate powers to Congress may be productive of an efficient government, I will...
52From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Dec. 21. 1787. I had the honour of acknoleging the receipt of your two favours of July 27. 1787. which had come to my hands Dec. 19. and brought with them my full powers for treating on the subject of the Consular convention. Being then much engaged in getting forward the Arret which came out the 29th. of Dec. and willing to leave some interval between that act, and the...
53To John Jay from John Adams, 15 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
I venture to address myself to you as Minister of foreign Affairs, because I Sincerely hope that you have accepted that important office. The Emperor of Morocco, Sent an A[m]bassador last Winter to Holland to demand Materials for some Frigates, and as none of the great Maritime Powers, have the Courage or the Will to refuse Such Requisitions, obtained them, it now appears probable, that they...
54To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 15 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have just seen in the English Newspapers that you and your Family are safe arrived in New York, which gives me great Pleasure. I send you herewith some of our latest News Papers. M r Hartley is at length recalled, having remained here Six Months without doing or proposing any thing towards the Commercial Treaty. Mess rs . Adams & Jefferson are here, and we go on together very well. Permit me...
55To John Jay from John Adams, 6 December 1785 (Jay Papers)
If the Facts, which I have had the Honour to state to you in my preceeding Letters, are credited, I think it will appear, that the Connections of these Kingdoms with foreign Powers, every Idea of the Ballance of Europe, the Dominions of Great Britain in Asia and America, and all the Interests ^ Considerations ^ of Posterity, are Sacrificed, to a momentary Tranquility and Credit. From which...
56From John Adams to John Jay, 30 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Upon the Receipt of the first of the inclosed Letters from D r Wren and M r Mawbrey, by Express, I made Application to Government.— Lord Sidney was absent and Lord Carmarthen Sick: but M r Fraser the Under Secretary of State, took up the subject with Integrity and Politeness. He discovered a real desire to do every Thing that the Laws would permit, to crush in the Beginning this villainous...
57To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 18 September 1785 (Jay Papers)
Your favors of the 10 th June and 22 d August M r . Gansevoort delivered me on the 25 th ult: on the 28 th : I came to this place and as I had left your letter at Albany, I was obliged to send for It which has occassioned so long a delay of an answer. I perfectly agree with you my dear Sir that the reasons for quitting the services of those, who have so decide ^ d ^ ly evinced an attachment...
58American Commissioners to John Jay, 25 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
Soon after our meeting together in London, We had a Conference with the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, in which we communicated to him, the joint Commission of Congress, for negotiating a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain, and left an attested Copy of it in the hands of his Lordship. At the same time his Lordship was informed that as the Commission was limited to two years...
59To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 22 January 1785 (Jay Papers)
I was in hopes to have had a tete à tete with you at new york about this time but M rs . Schuylers indisposition has deprived me of that pleasure, nor can I hope It was as the winter is so far advanced, until Spring, unless you should take a ride and grace that fire side w[h]ere you will always be seen with the highest satisfaction— Benson & Hamilton advise me of your intention to build a good...
60From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Enclosure, 12 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter which I had the honor of writing you on the 26th. of Sep. I informed you that a Dutch company were making propositions to the Minister of finance here to purchase at a discount the debt due from the U.S. to this country. I have lately procured a copy of their memoir, which I now inclose. Should Congress think this subject worthy their attention, they have no time to lose, as the...
61From John Adams to John Jay, 22 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your private Letter of the twenty fifth of July is very friendly and obliging as usual. give yourself no concern about my Apprehensions of your Want of Attention. I know too well your constant and assidous Application to the Duties of your public offices, as well as to the just concerns of your private friends, ever to suspect you of failing in either.— I Shudder when I think of your next...
62From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Enclosure, 23 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote my letter of the 4th. inst. I had no reason to doubt that a packet would have sailed on the 10th. according to the established order. The passengers had all, except one, gone to Havre in this expectation. None however is sailed, and perhaps none will sail, as I think the suppression of the packets is one of the oeconomies in contemplation. An American merchant concerned in the...
63To 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;...
64From John Adams to John Jay, 26 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
By the Ninth Article of the Confederation, the United States in Congress assembled have the sole and exclusive right and Power of entering into Treaties and Alliances, Provided, that no Treaty of Commerce Shall be made, whereby the Legislative Power of the respective States Shall be restrained from imposing such Imposts and Duties on Foreigners, as their own People are Subjected to or from...
65From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 5 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of Dec. 12. which Mr. Remsen did me the favor to write me during your indisposition has been duly received; and I shall be happy to hear that the cause is removed which deprived me at that moment of the pleasure of hearing from you. My last were of the 21st. and 31st. of December. I am afraid that my intelligence may have appeared sometimes to come late to hand. My letters by the...
66From John Adams to John Jay, 28 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
An Agent from South America, was not long Since arrested, at Rouen in France, and has not Since been heard of.— another Agent, who was his Associate, as I have been told is here, and has applied to Government, for Aid. Government, not in a condition to go to War with Spain declines having any Thing to do with the Business. but if Application Should be made to rich Individuals, and profitable...
67To John Jay from Pieter J. van Berckel, 18 December 1787 (Jay Papers)
Je me trouve indispensablement obligé de Vous informer, que ce matin un certain John Wessel Se qualifiant huissier de Justice (Constable) a taché de Saisir, enlever, et emprisonner un de mes domestiques; ce qu’il disoit faire en vertu de une prise de Corps donnée et Signée contre lui par John Wiley Alderman de New York. Cet Attentat sur les droits et prerogatives des Ministres Etrangeres a eté...
68The American Commissioners to John Jay, 27 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
We had the honour of transmitting to Congress, Copies of the Commission and Instructions, which in pursuance of the Authority delegated to us, were given to Mr. Barclay, to conduct a negotiation with Morocco. Mr. Barclay has conducted that Business to a happy Conclusion, and has brought with him Testimonials of his prudent Conduct, from the Emperor of Morocco and his Minister, so clear and...
69To John Jay from Edward Rutledge, 27 March 1787 (Jay Papers)
I am exceedingly obliged to you my dear Friend for the Horses which you sent me by Tincker: & am only afraid, from their answering my Purpose so well, that M rs : Jay has sustained much inconvenience in parting with them. When you assure me that such is not the Case, we will drive them with more Pleasure. That Circumstance alone is wanting to make them perfectly to my Mind. They arrived in...
70The American Commissioners to John Jay, 13 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
Our letter to you the 18 th day of March with those preceding that period which had been addressed to the President of Congress have conveyed exact details of our transactions till that time. Since the making out of that dispatch the following proceedings have taken place. The letter N o 1. from M r. Carmichaels to D r Franklin dated Feb y. 27. 1784 (instead of 1785) will apprize you that...
71From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 31 December 1787 (Jefferson 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 so...
72To John Jay from William Carmichael, 9[–26] December 1785 (Jay Papers)
On the 7 th . Ult o . I had the Honor to write you,—Since which I have had an Opportunity of procuring very essential Information with respect to the negotiation between this Court & the Regency of Algiers.—Prudence dictates that I should not trust to this mode of Conveyance the means by which I have been able to obtain this Intelligence. I shall however not hesitate to inform you that all the...
73To John Jay from William Bingham, 16 October 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have just heard that a French Packet is on the Point of departure for New York— I cannot permit it to Sail, without forwarding a few Lines, expressive of the Pleasure I received, on hearing of your Safe Arrival The Services you have been enabled to render your Country, will naturally Secure you a very welcome Reception;—the only Circumstance that can be productive of disagreable Sensations,...
74To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 20 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Young M r . Adams has informed me, that he never saw you look so well as you do at Present. I am glad to [he]ar it. Tho’ I long for your arrival, I hope you will not return before you are quite rid of all your Complaints: my aunt says the same. Is the Inflamation in your Throat, of the same kind as that, which gave you so much Pain and trouble some years ago?— As you say nothing of England in...
75To John Jay from Robert Morris, 27 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I Congratulate you on the signing of the Definitive Treaty and on the evacuation of New York which took place on Tuesday our Friend Gouverneur Morris is there he has been gone about 18 Days and I expect him back very soon. he will then give you the Detail and inform you of such things as you may wish to know respecting any of your particular Friends.— I agree with the Sentiments expressed in...
76To John Jay from George Washington, 27 September 1785 (Jay Papers)
M r . Taylor presented me the honor of your ^ favor ^ of the 25 th . Ultim o — and gave me the pleasure of hearing that M rs . Jay & yourself were well, when he left New York. Upon your safe return to your native Country, after a long absence, & the important services you have rendered it in many interesting negotiations—I very sincerely congratulate you, and your Lady— It gave me great...
77To John Jay from John Adams, 22 September 1787 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday, I was honoured with yours of the thirty first of July, and the Instructions of Congress and other Papers enumerated in it. This Packet comes at a very fortunate Moment: and altho there is no Act of the great States of Virginia and South Carolina in consequence of the circular Letter of Congress of the thirteenth of April, there are Proceedings of so many others as to furnish...
78From George Washington to John Jay, 20 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your goodness upon a former occasion, accompanied with assurances of forwarding any dispatches I might have for Europe in future, is the cause of my troubling you with the letters herewith sent. The one for the Marquis de la Fayette contains a vocabulary of the Delaware and Shawanese languages for the Empress of Russia. I beg leave therefore to recommend it to your particular care. To send it...
79From John Adams to John Jay, 4 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
The day before Yesterday I received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the Eighteenth of March, inclosing a Commission, Instructions and Letter of Credence to the Court of Great Britain, and a duplicate of your Letter of February 11. with the Ratification of the Loan in Holland The Appointment to the Court of Great Britain demands my most grateful Acknowledgments to Congress and...
80From 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...
81To 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...
82From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The assemblée des Notables being an event in the history of this country which excites notice, I have supposed it would not be disagreeable to you to learn it’s immediate objects, tho no ways connected with our interests. The assembly met yesterday; the king in a short but affectionate speech informed them of his wish to consult with them on the plans he had digested, and on the general good...
83To 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....
84To John Jay from Henry Laurens, 11 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
I am this morning honored by receipt of your favor of the 5 th . Inst. & return thanks for the Contents. Doctor Franklin had in due course advised me of M r . Secretary Thomson’s Letter apologizing for the delay of the Ratification & also of the subsequent arrival of that & other Papers from Congress in the hands of Colonel Harmar, adding his expectation of duplicates by Major Franks, in both...
85To 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...
86From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The times are now so critical that every day brings something new and important, not known the day before. Observing the wind still unfavorable, I am in hopes that the packet may not sail tomorrow, and that this letter may be at Havre in time for that conveiance. Mr. Eden has waited on Count Montmorin to inform him officially that England must consider it’s convention with France relative to...
87To John Jay from John Adams, 26 June 1785 (Jay Papers)
By the Ninth Article of the Confederation, the United States in Congress assembled have the sole and exclusive right and Power of entering in Treaties and Alliances, Provided, that no Treaty of Commerce shall be made, whereby the Legislative Power of the respective States Shall be restrained from imposing such Imposts and Duties on Foreigners, as their own People are Subjected to or from...
88The American Commissioners to John Jay, 11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to transmit to Congress, by M r Fitzhughs, the Treaty between the United States and the King of Prussia, Signed Seperately by your Ministers at the Several Places of their Residence, and by the Baron De Thulemeier at the Hague, in English and French and exchanged at the Hague in Presence of M r Short and M r Dumas. As this Treaty may be of considerable Importance to the...
89To John Jay from Henry Knox, 3 October 1786 (Jay Papers)
You will have heard the issue of the late serious insurrection at this place. M r Stagg the bearer will give you particulars—Government has lost ground. Faction desperate faction gains strength hourly—They speak of a military government and embodying troops ^ against the constitution. ^ —The number which appeared against government ^ is opposed to Law ^ were great. had all the parties which...
90From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In the letter of the 8th. instant which I had the honour of writing you, I informed you that the Count de Vergennes was dangerously ill. He died yesterday morning, and the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor. Your personal knowlege of this gentleman renders it unnecessary for me to say any thing of him. Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals and swords...