101The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 18 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library You will receive herewith a Copy of our Letter of Yesterday by the Lexington, with its enclosures. This goes to Boston for a Passage from thence. An armed Vessel belonging to that State will carry the dispatches and will be governed by your directions respecting her Load back, and the Time of her return. Should you have failed in obtaining the Loan, or of...
102The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 19 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library; two copies: National Archives; draft: American Philosophical Society The events of war have not since our last furnished any thing decisive. The enemies Army still remains encamped upon the hills near Brunswick, and still our Troops continue to beat back and destroy their Convoys insomuch that we understand their Horses dye in numbers, and we have reason to...
103From John Jay to Susanna Philipse Robinson, 21 March 1777 (Jay Papers)
Mr. Robinson’s Letter directed to me as one of the late Committee at Fish Kills, was delivered to the Commissioners appointed for the like Purpose at the Place; from whom I have recieved a Copy of it. As I presume you cannot be unacquainted with its Contents, many Reasons conspire in persuading me to take the Liberty of troubling you with a few Remarks on that Subject. Among the various...
104From John Jay to William Livingston, 22 March 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Letters of the 18 th : Ulto. and 3 d . Inst. after passing thro’ various Hands & Places have ^ were ^ at Length arrived were delivered to me two Days ago— Your ^ elegant ^ Panegyrick on the amiable Character & benevolent of
105The Committee of Secret Correspondence to the American Commissioners, 25 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress We are commanded by Congress to transmit Copies of their Resolve of the 13 instant to all the Gentlemen abroad that hold correspondance with any of their Committees. The Necessity of Such a resolution and due attention to it, is fully evinced by the heavy expence america has been put to by many Gentlemen received into their...
Your Letter of the 26 Instant was this Evening delivered to me. When I was called last from Convention, a Clause in the Report of the form of Government had been by a [ illegible ] very great Majority agreed to, instituting a Council for the appointm t of military and many civil Officers, including Clerks of Courts ; and tho’ I publicly advocated and voted for that Clause, you express much...
107The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 9 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Johns Hopkins University Library; copies: American Philosophical Society, National Archives, Library of Congress, University of Virginia Library This letter is intended to be delivered you by John Paul Jones Esquire an Active and brave Commander in our Navy, who has already performed signal services in Vessels of little Force and in reward for his Zeal, we have directed him to go on board...
108From John Jay to Richard Morris, 10 May 1777 (Jay Papers)
The enclosed is a Copy of the Constitution of this State, which I am persuaded you will read with Pleasure. By the Section, the appointment of Clerks of Courts is vested in their respective chief Judges. The Convention having appointed me to the first Place on the Bench, affords me an opportunity of acknowledging the friendly Obligations you have often conferred on me; particularly the first...
109From John Jay to Abraham Yates Jr., 16 May 1777 (Jay Papers)
From the Intimations Information you was pleased to give me before you left this place, of a Design that it was intended ^ in your Count ^ ^ I w d be proposed in the County of Albany ^ to hold me up as a Candidate for the Office of Gov r
110John Jay, Charles De Witt, Zephaniah Platt, Matthew Cantine, and Christopher Tappen to Egbert Benson, 2 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
As Committees from the Counties of orange Ulster & Dutches are to meet at New Windsor tomorrow for the Important Purpose of agreeing on the men proper to fill the great offices of Government, we take the Liberty of communicating to you our Sentiments on that Subject in full confidence that should they concur with your own, you will exert yourself in giving them Influence. Gen. Schuyler arrived...
111From John Jay to Leonard Gansevoort, 5 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
M r . Cuyler informs me that some of my Friends in your County have done me the Honor of naming me among other Candidates for the office of Governor. Your [ illegible ] ^ In my opinion I can be more useful in ^ of the Office ^ Place ^ I now hold; and ^ therefore
112From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 6 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
I was extremely happy to be informed by Mr. Morris’ letter that you arrived safely at Troy. The length of the journey and the improbability of your having good accommodations on the road gave me no little anxiety. Elmendolph tells me the little boy behaved very well. I fear the bones of our little sister Kate were sore vexed, and that the memory of this jaunt will influence her to decline...
113From John Jay to John Ten Broeck, 6 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
Having understood that I was named as one of the candidates for the office of Governor, by some of my friends in Albany; and being desirous that as much unanimity as possible should prevail on this occasion, I take the liberty of informing you, that in my opinion it will be most for the common good that I should remain in the office I now hold. I am very sensible of the honor intended to be...
114From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 20 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
It would have given me Pleasure to have ^ sooner ^ acknowledged the Rec t of your Letters of the 10 & 14 Ins t . before they [ illegible ] I returned a few Days ago on Tuesday last from Fish Kill & postponed writing till I could make the Enquiries neceess collect the Materials necessary to pass Judgment of the Matter alluded to in your L
115From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 11 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
The Council have directed me to transmit to you by Express the enclosed Extracts of a Letter from General Schuyler. They think it of Importance that you should from time to time be apprized of the Situation of Affairs in the Northern Department, & will omit no opportunity of communicating to you whatever Intelligence they may recieve from that Quarter— The Evacuation of Ticonderogah appears to...
116From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
The Situation of Tryon County is both shameful & deplorable Such abject Dejection & Despondency as mark the Letters we have rec d . from thence disgrace human Nature. God knows what to do with or for them. Were they alone interested in their Fate, I should be for leaving their Cart in the Slough till they w d . put their Shoulders to the Wheel. Be more cautious in your Letters to the Council....
117From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 21 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 14. Inst. came safe to hand— I am happy to see so much Cheerfulness Diffused thro it. I hope your sweet smiling Genius ^ [ in margin ] won’t play the Coquette with you . The confidential part of your Letter shall remain secret. Putnams answer was cautious—he believed there was a fault somewhere—but neither excused or accused any Body— I suspect from this that nor did he take...
118From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 26 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 24 Inst covering a Letter from Gen: S t . Clair was delivered to me this Evening. I have sent the latter to the Press. It will be printed entire— Extracts might be followed by Suspicions The malicious might remark that Parts were concealed which if made known would probably give a different Colour to the whole. A Number of Holts Papers shall be sent you; & Care taken to...
119From John Jay to Arthur St. Clair, 28 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 25 th. : July Inst. which does no less Honour to your Candor, than Reputation Justice to the Reputation of General Schuyler, was very acceptable. Agreable to what I apprehend to have been your Intention, I have sent it to the Press, and flatter myself the Purposes for which it was written will be fully answered. The Evacuation of Tyconderogah was an Event very unexpected as...
120From John Jay to Robert Morris, 23 August 1777 (Jay Papers)
M r . Deane in a Letter of the 28 May last, after recommending an attack on the Greenland Fishery & Hudsons Bay Trade, desired me to communicate the following Plan to Congress viz t . “To send three Frigates loaded with Tobacco to Nantz or Bordeaux, equipped in the best Manner and on their arrival hide the chief of their Guns and appear as Cruzers. Intelligence may be had every week what the...
121Charge to the Grand Jury of Ulster County, 9 September 1777 (Jay Papers)
It affords me very sensible pleasure to congratulate you on the dawn of that free, mild, and equal government which now begins to rise and break from amidst those clouds of anarchy, confusion, and licentiousness, which the arbitrary and violent domination of the King of Great-Britain had spread, in greater or lesser degrees throughout this and the other American States. And it gives me...
122From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 12 September 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your Letters should not have remained so long unanswered, had I not daily expected the Pleasure of seeing you here but Coll Renselaer a few Days ago informed me that the Business of the Public would detain you sometime longer yet at Albany The several Copies of Orders &c a ., I rec d . on the Way from Philadelphia, & immediately inclosed them together with Your Letter to M r Duane. It was...
123From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 11 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your very friendly Letter of the 6 th : Ult. was this Moment delivered. In what careless Hands it has lain so long I cannot concieve. An Expectation of being speedily sent to Albany induced me to defer answering your Favor of the 17 Ult. ^ Oct r ^ till I should have the Pleasure of a personal Interview. Our wise ones however for certain Reasons have suffered the Constitution to lay dormant,...
124From John Jay to James Duane, 14 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 2 d . Inst did not reach me till two Days ago. I am very sensible that Your Time must have been greatly engrossed at Congress, & the more so as the Treasury Department was I believe almost wholly under your particular Inspection. I ardently wish to see the Time when Matters of general Importance will cease to deny us Leisure for regular Correspondence; & be assured...
125From John Jay to Robert Morris, 26 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
About a Fortnight ago I rec d . three Letters from France, one dated at Dunkirk the 2 d June, another at Passy near Paris the 8 th . June, and the third at Havre the 10 th . June, 1777— All of the same Import & nearly in the same words; an exact Copy of the first is enclosed for the Committee. I should have immediately on the Rec t . of them have sent you Copies, but the necessary Materials...
126From John Jay to James De Lancey, 2 January 1778 (Jay Papers)
Notwithstanding the opposition of our Sentiments & Conduct relative to the present Contest, the Friendship which subsisted between us is not forgotten, nor will the good Offices ^ formerly ^ done me by yourself & Family cease to excite my Gratitude. How far your Situation may be comfortable & easy I know not. it is my Wish & shall be my Endeavour that it be as much so as may be consistant with...
127John Jay to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your favors of the 2d. 8th: and 10 June last have been recd. and Copies transmitted to the Committee. The subject of them certainly merits their Attention, and I hope your Advice will be litterally complied with. As I have not now the Honor of a Seat in Congress, having been called to an office which will confine me in this State, any Information I can...
Your Favors of the 2 d . 8 th : & 10 June have been rec d . & Copies transmitted to the Committee. The Subject of them certainly Merits their Attention, and I hope your Advice will be litterally complied with. As I have not now the Honor of a Seat in Congress, having been called to an office which will confine me in this State, any Information I can give You will be far less satisfactory than...
129From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 6 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favors of the 26 Ul t . & 1 st . Inst have reached me. M r Yates has delivered to me the Loan Office Bill— accept my Thanks for your Attention to it. The Council ^ of ^ Revision & the Indisposition of my Father forbid my being at a greater Distance from FishKill at present. God knows how long the latter Reason may exist or in what Manner cease. Of all Evils those of the domestic kind give...
130From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 12 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
The assembly are preparing a Tax Bill & Debates run high on the Question whether unimproved located Lands shall be taxed. They have ordered a separate Bill for that Purpose to be prepared, and seem determined that it shall proceed pari Passu with the other. I hope you will seriously determine to serve your Country, at least in a legislative Capacity. Class yourself with those great Men of...
131From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 26 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
As an opportunity of my going will probab of going to Albany will not probably be given me during the Session of the Legislature, & as I have too long kept you in Suspense relative to the farm you was so kind as to offer me, I must ought now to inform ^ acquaint ^ You that I am under a Necessity of declining denying myself the Pleasure of being your Neighbour. My Fathers Infirmities Health ill...
132From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 17 March 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 1 st . Feb y came to Hand last week. It gives me Pleasure to hear you was then at H d Q rtrs . especially on Business so important & perplexed. It is Time that Inquiries and I may add ^ as well as ^ Punishments sh d . become more frequent. I wish better, or rather more use was made of Courts Martial. Why is the the Inquiry directed to be made into the Causes to which
133From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 14 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 16 Ult o . was delivered to me two Days ago by Maj r . Morris— it makes the third I have had the Pleasure of recieving from you since your Departure, altho the Letters I have written to you amount to double that Number. The Session of the Legislature is at an End, a weak perplexed wrangling one it has been. No Wonder—little application within or without Doors but you know...
134From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 18 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Fav r of the 15 Inst came to Hand last Evening. I feel very sensibly for your unfortunate ^ am fully impressed with a sense of ^ your unfortunate Situation and should be very happy were it in my Power to alleviate the Pain & Anxiety it must give You. I delivered your Petition & read your Letter to me, to his Ex y the Gov r . this Morning His [ illegible ] He regrets the Necessity which...
135From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was written ab t a Week ago— I am now engaged in the most disagreable part of my Duty—trying Criminals— They multiply exceedingly. Robberies become Frequent. The Woods afford them Shelter & the Tories Food. Punishments must of Course become certain, & Mercy dormant—a harsh System repugnant to my Feelings, but nevertheless necessary. In such Circumstances Lenity would be Cruelty,...
136To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 8 May 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
An opinion of your Benevolence leads me to address this Letter to you. Accident has introduced me to Monsr Lewis de Celoron, we happen to lodge in the same House. His modesty & decent manners made an impression upon me, and induced me to make some inquiries into his History and Character. The Gentlemen of this Place say handsome things of him. He is the son of a Major General who fell last war...
On this Day the Commission for holding a Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery in and for the County of Albany expires. At this Court the following persons have been convicted of capital offences. They will have this Day Judgment of Death and we have agreed to order their execution on fryday the fifth day of June next. David Dick Robbery. On Sufficient Evidence. James Esmond Robert...
138From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 20 May 1778 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for the last letter I received from you, and the papers inclosed in it. The report of Congress on the subject of Lord North’s Bills was too strikingly marked with Morris not to be known by his friends to have been produced by his pen. Your history of that business gives me pleasure, as it acquits you of certain paragraphs which I could not understand the propriety of,...
139From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 3 June 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your two letters of the 28 th . April were delivered a few days ago on my return from Albany—another of the 23 d . of May came to hand last night. On the future conduct of a certain General towards this State, will depend the countenance he may meet with in it. My endeavours shall not be wanting to render his situation as happy and agreeable as his behaviour may merit; and I am with you of...
140From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 26 June 1778 (Jay Papers)
It is but three Days since your Favor of the 3 d . Inst. was delivered to me. A fair wind, good Company, the Prospect of a short Passage, and thereby avoiding the Fatigue & Inconvenience of a Journey by Land, induced me to return from Albany by Water. The Letter you mention to have written on the Subject of a Pass &c. has never come to Hand. on conversing with the Governor Yesterday on that...
141From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 16 th . instant was delivered to me yesterday. I am well apprized of the situation of the gentleman you mention, and sincerely hope that his conduct may, on inquiry, be found such as to justify the opinion which I have long entertained of him. I wish for many reasons to have a personal interview with him. It will probably be long before the duties of my office will...
142From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 13 September 1778 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was from the White Plains and was dated the 29 th . August. I know not who was the bearer, and consequently cannot conjecture whether you have received it. It was in answer to yours of the 16 th . of the same month. Inform me from time to time of the dates of such of my letters as you receive, I shall do the like. The resolution of Congress on the report of inquiry respecting...
143From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 October 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your favors of the 8 th ., 22 d & 27 th . of September and last of all, of the 26 th . Aug st . by Doct r . M c Knight are come to hand. While the far greater part of mankind derive pleasure from discord between friends, you derive credit from feeling and acting differently. What your information may have been, or from whom received I cannot conjecture. It was not entirely well or ill founded....
144To George Washington from John Jay, 19 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Bedlow of this Place (whom I have long known to be an exceeding good Man) tells me, that Coll Freer near Poughkeepsie lately assured him that Morris Hazard, of that Place had purchased of him, for public use expresly, a Quantity of Flour, which in a few Days afterwards he sold at an advance of between four and five hundred Pounds. Capt. Bedlow further tells me that Coll Palmer of...
145To George Washington from John Jay, 19 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered by my Brother, who will communicate & explain to your Excellency a mode of Correspondence, which may be of use, provided proper agents can be obtained. I have experienced its Efficacy by a three Years Trial. We shall remain absolutely silent on the Subject. I have the Honor to be with the highest Esteem & Respect Your Excellencys most obedient Servant ALS , DLC:GW ....
146From John Jay to George Washington, 19 November 1778 (Jay Papers)
This will be delivered by my Brother, who will communicate & explain to your Excellency a mode of Correspondence, which may be of use, provided proper agents can be obtained. I have experienced its Efficacy by a three Years Trial. We shall remain absolutely silent on the Subject. I have the Honor to be with the highest Esteem & Respect Your Excellencys most obedient Servant His Excellency...
Inclosed is a Letter which was sent to me, two Days ago, by M r . Samuel Nicoll, who lately returned from England to New-York. He informs me that “it contains mercantile Matters of some Consequence tho of an old Date.” M r . Nicoll is a Brother of your old Acquaintance, Ned Nicoll, & went to Edingburgh, in the Beginning of the War, to perfect himself in the Knowlege of Physick. The more I...
148From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 8 December 1778 (Jay Papers)
Delayed by several unavoidable accidents I did not arrive here till Sunday last. I was happy to find your Acquittal confirmed by Congress, and most sincerely congratulate you on that important as well as pleasing Event. What is next to be done is a Question which I flatter myself you will determine in a Manner most conducive to the Interest of that great Cause of which you have been an able &...
149To George Washington from John Jay, 12 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Among the various Duties incident to the Appointment with which Congress has been pleased to honor me, that of corresponding with those public Characters whom I most esteem, will be particularly agreable. This Consideration, added to those of a public Nature, will constantly press my Attention to every Thing which may respect your Excellency; and permit me to assure you of my Endeavour, to...
150To George Washington from John Jay, 18 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s three Letters of the 13th Inst. have been laid before Congress, & the two respecting a certain Expedition & Colonel Fleury are committed. The Idea of an Interview prevails and there is reason to expect that this useful Measure will be adopted. I have the Honor of transmitting the Inclosed Act of Congress of the 16th Inst. & am with the greatest Respect & Esteem, Your...