101To John Jay from Robert Morris, 12 January 1777 (Jay Papers)
I have been possessed of your obliging fav r . of the 2 d Ulto a considerable time, but being too much pressed with public & private business to permit my being a regular correspondent it is needless to apologize. You undoubtedly must have been well acquainted with the rapid progress made by our Enemies through the Jerseys and the danger to which this City has been exposed for some Weeks past,...
102From George Washington to John Jay, 29 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose your Excellency the Manifesto of His Most Catholic Majesty delivered at the Court of London by his Ambassador the Marquis D’Almadovar and the message of the British King there upon to the House of Commons, with some other articles of intilligence copied from a (borrowed) Boston paper of the 23d instant. As this paper has come on with a good deal of dispatch, this...
103From John Adams to John Jay, 13 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The public Papers announce Fitzherbert’s Comission to be, to treat “With the four Powers at War with Great-Britain” But whether they mean Hyder Aly, or the Marattas, is uncertain. I have obtained Intelligence of a Paper addressed lately from the Court of St. James’s to the Courts of Vienna and Petersbourg, as well as that of Paris, in which are the following words, vizt. Sa Majesté Britannique...
104To John Jay from George Washington, 22 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
As the Transmission of the inclosed paper through the usual Channel of the Department of forreign Affairs, would, on the present Occasion, probably be attended with great Delay—and recent Intelligence of Military Transactions, must be important to our Ministers in Europe, at the present period of Affairs:— I have tho’t it would be agreeable both to Congress and your Excellency, that the Matter...
105From John Adams to John Jay, 17 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The States General have chosen Mr Brantzen Minister to negotiate for Peace. Yesterday he did me the honour to dine with me. He is represented to me to be a good Man and well fixed in the true System. I have very authentic Information that his Instructions will be such as France and America as well as his own Country ought to wish them. I have Letters from Boston 17 June —grand Rejoicings on...
106To John Jay from John de Neufville & Son, 13 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
Never Letter could have been more welcome than the favor, your Exc y . honored us with of the 25 th of past month; as she expresses a true Concern about the Bills drawn on M r : Laurens and her approbation of our Conduct; as we from the beginning acted from Principle in the American cause & never will prevaricate; this is only from the same motive, but we must be sorry if we should not be...
107To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 3 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
You will doubtless be glad to hear News from this Quarter. Your Friends are all well. Our Army are hutted in the Vicinity of Morris Town except a Detachment consist. of the North Carolina & Virginia Troops who are on their March to the Southward three thousand — The Don on the Part of the Governor of havannah did lately propose to Congress to assist in the Reduction of Florida .— They have...
108From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [26 July 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point, July 26, 1779. On September 18, 1779, Jay wrote to Hamilton : “Your favors of the 25, 26, & 30 July & 12 Inst have thus long remained unanswered.” Letter of July 26 not found. ]
Since writing my Letter of the 6 th of October last (a Copy of which is enclosed) I have been honored with yours of July 10 th & September 16 th ; by the latter I am happy to find that we may expect soon to receive further & more particular Intelligence from you Congress, it is probable, will soon establish an Office for foreign Affairs, to be managed by an Officer stiled Secretary for foreign...
110To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 20 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
It gives me extreme pain not to have rec d a single line in answer to my public or private Letters to you tho’ no vessel has sailed from this or any of the nieghbouring ports for any part of Europe France or Spain ^ since Oct r . ^ without being charged with one or the other for you not because I infer therefrom the least neglect on your part I have too much confidence both in your punctuality...
111From George Washington to John Jay, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In the letter which I did myself the honor to write to Your Excellency the 25th of May, I mentioned the appearances which indicated that the enemy had some important enterprise in contemplation. These appearances have since increased ’till they seem to have arrived at a very interesting crisis. The inclosed extracts from the intelligence I have successively received will show their progress...
112To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 6 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have just now heard that you are upon the point of leaving us. I might have expected to have rec d . this intelligence from yourself rather than from loose report since there is scarse a transaction in the world in which I feel myself more interested. I rejoice at it as it advances your fortune & reputation. I lament it, as it adds to the Loses I have already felt in the course of this war...
113To John Jay from Nicholas Rogers, 4 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
I think it my duty to trouble you with these few lines concerning the papers that M r . Deane has committed to my Charge & which I promised to deliver into your hands, had I found you in the Congress as M r . Deane informed Me— You will use certain liquid (that M r . Deane told me you had) upon the Margin of the printed Sheets so as to make legible what M r . Deane has wrote; should it not...
114To John Jay from John Marsden Pintard, 19 April 1783 (Jay Papers)
Having been directed by my worthy uncle Elias Boudinot Esq r (now Presid t . of Congress) to appeal in Behalf of, and render every assistance to americans who by the Fortune of War were brought to this Place, I accordingly on every occasion, when any of my unfortunate Countrymen were brought in here, assisted them, not only with my advice but likewise my Purse; particularly in the Case of Cap...
115To John Jay from Bernardo del Campo, 3 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r . del Campo fait bien ses compliments á M r . Jay, et a l’honneur de lui addresser plusieurs Paquets de Lettres qu’on vient de recevoir. Il est mortifie de devoir lui signifier que M r . le Comte, par l’Etat delicat de sa santé, et par D’autres obstacles n’a pas pu encore regler les Instructions dont il s’agit. M. del Campo has the honor to address his compliments to Mr. Jay, and to...
116To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your public & private Letters have remained long unanswered, owing to the stagnation of commerce here on the prospect of peace, & the delay occasioned by M r . Jeffersons disappointment who was charged with both for you. I have now before me your Letters of the 13 th . Aug t (which M r Wright did ^ not ^ deliver till about a fortnight ago) & the 7 th . & 14 th Dec r . I immediatly wrote to...
117To John Jay from Floridablanca, 14 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
Sensible á l’opinion avantageuse que vous avez de ma façon d’agir autant comme Ministre que comme Particulier, J’avais l’honneur de vous assurer que dans toute occasion vous ne trouverez que franchise et honnêtete de ma part. Puisque mes principes sont invariables sur ces deux points je suis dans la certitude de suivre en cela l’example et les bonnes intentions du Roi mon Maitre. La...
118To John Jay from Jonathan Trumbull, 22 June 1779 (Jay Papers)
The General Assembly of this State, at its sessions in Jan y last, ordered taxes to be levied to collect their Quota assigned for the 15,000,000 Dollars requested by Congress in their Resolve of 5 th Jan y . last— At their May Session further Taxes are granted to collect the Quota assigned this State of 45,000,000 Dollars— They are payable at different Periods—none exceed the 1st Jan y . next...
119To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 20 March 1776 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you this morning pretty fully. I then forgot to inform you, that I got M r . Nichol’s provided for, in the Second Company of first Regiment; I wish he may retrieve his Character. There is great want of Artillery officers and men in Canad; none are Yet gone to that important Service. A Captain Momain, who speaks French, is appointed to an Artillery Company in the Continental Service,...
120To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 16 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
We are at Length fairly setting about our Finances and our foreign Affairs. For the latter particularly I much wish you were here. Many Persons whom you know are very liberal of Illiberality— Your Friend Deane who hath rendered the most essential Services stands as one accused. The Storm increases and I think some one of the tall Trees must be torn up by the Roots. I have not heard from you in...
Your Letter of the 6 th of November last detailing your Proceedings from the twenty sixth of May down to that Period, has been received by the United States in Congress assembled; at the same Time was received your Letter of the 30 th of November with the several Papers therein referred to. It is with Pleasure, Sir, I obey the Direction of Congress to inform you that throughout the whole...
122To John Jay from William Bingham, 14[–15] August 1782 (Jay Papers)
Major Franks, on his Arrival here, the 1 st Instant, delivered me your Letter of the 8 th Septem r ., in which I find You do not acknowledge the Receipt of several that I had wrote You, which renders your Precaution very necessary— It is the prevailing Opinion in America that Negociations are on the Tapis for a general peace & y r . Departure from Madrid, to hold a conference (as is said) with...
123George Washington to John Jay, 17 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 17, 1779 . Speculates on destination of the British detachment that sailed from New York. Estimates number of British troops that sailed and number that remains. Mentions possibility of surprise attack on New York. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
124From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], 16 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On August 15, Richard Oswald informed Franklin (at Passy) and John Jay (in Paris) that the official copy of his commission to treat for peace had arrived. It was identical in wording to the preliminary version that Shelburne had sent a week earlier. Jay had vigorously objected to that preliminary version on the grounds that it did not explicitly acknowledge...
125To John Jay from Silas Talbot, 4 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
Your Excellency will find by the date hereof that it comes from a prisoner, and which is the cause of my present address, theirfore on the Confidence of your favour, beg leave to inform you, that in October last being then in, and having the Command, of the Arm’d Ship of war, called the Genl. Washington, in which Vessel had the Misfortune to be Captured by his Brittannick Majesty’s Ship...
126To John Jay from Jacques, Louis, and Laurent Le Couteulx and Company, 3 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
Our Supplies for the American Sailors amount to this Day to R le p. 1978 12 L We will continue to render them every Service in our Power, but will confess you ingenuously, that if you don’t furnish us with an order from Congress, by which you impower us to oblige all American Captains who come here to take a certain quantity of People, Vizt. In proportion to their bulk, frank of passage, and...
127From George Washington to John Jay, 27 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your Excellency’s favor of the 25th—and with the papers to which it referred—which shall have my attention. You will be pleased to receive Two New York Gazettes. I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect & esteem Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt sert Df , in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
128From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 13 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Columbia University Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress; two copies: Library of Congress It was a Mistake of a figure in my Letter that occasion’d you the Trouble of writing yours of the 28th. April. I find you charg’d only with 2564 Livres, 18.10 and not with 4564.18.10. l.t. That Bill is paid, as also another drawn since for 3596. livres, 13. Sols. 0 dated March 20. In setting...
129To John Jay from Robert Morris, 26 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
M r . Darby & M r . Grigby have severally delivered your introductory letters of the 8 th of April and I flatter my self that they will think themselves obliged to you. they are very deserving young Gentl n . & make an agreable addition to our Circle of Society, this how ever will be of short duration as their own pursuits will very soon seperate us. M r & M rs . Carter, & Col o . Wadsworth...
130From George Washington to John Jay, 31 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing Congress some time since on the subject of General Du Portail and the Gentlemen with him —He informs me that his affair has not yet been decided and is extremely anxious that it should be in some way or other—He assigns many powerfull reasons to show that it is very interesting to him, if he is not to continue in our service, to return to france as speedily as...
131To John Jay from the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 12 July 1780, enclosing Descriptions and Secret Checks for Bills of … (Jay Papers)
Enclosed you have Description of the Bills of exchange concerning which we have written you. The secret checks accompany it. They are just furnished us by the Treasury-board, and we are sorry that the paper is so indifferent, but hope it will answer the purpose of information— We are assured the copy is exact; it is however necessary to observe that unless the impression of the Bills is very...
132To John Jay from Floridablanca, 8 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
Le Comte de Florida Blanca fait bien ses complimens à Mr. de Jay, et a l’honneur de lui assurer que les informations qu’il a eu de l’affaire du Corsaire le Cicero, selon qu’elles sont detaillées dans sa Lettre du 6 de ce mois, ne sont pas exactes. Le Comte en ayant reçu des tres sures, de la part des personnes de consideration, et tres dignes de Foy. Il est donc indispensable qu’on donne...
133From John Adams to John Jay, 28 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour to write you, on the 26 instant by the Post, a Conveyance which I am determined to try, untill I am certainly informed of its Infidelity, in which Case, I will ask the favour of the French or Spanish Ambassador, to inclose my dispatches. I received by the last Post, a Duplicate of Dispatches from Congress the originals of which I received Sometime ago. I presume you have recd...
134From George Washington to John Jay, 14 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday Evening I was honoured with Your Excellency’s favor of the 7th Instant and with the papers to which it refers. The intelligence from Carolina is very interesting as related, and I should hope from it’s coming through so many channels & from its being told so circumstantially, that it is not destitute of foundation. I have nothing to communicate to your Excellency respecting the...
135To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 3 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
The pleasure I felt from your Letter of the 13 th Ult: which I just now rec d : was great in proportion to the pain I experienced from your neglect, and your friendly penitance has disarmed my resentment, & convinced me that there is no impropriety in supposing (at least if Angels resemble men) that there may be “more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner, than over 99 just that need no...
136To John Jay from William Churchill Houston, 7 February 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is not simply from being a Member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs that I take the Liberty of troubling you; my Curiosity to have Access to all the Sources of Knowledge in publick Affairs, is a further Apology. For this I confess I have a boundless Thirst and Eagerness. A Vessel, lately arrived to the Eastward, reports to have spoken with the Confederacy on the Coast of France, and I...
137To John Jay from William Bingham, 17 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
Above is Copy of my last Respects, since writing of which the Continental Frigate the Deane, & the armed Brigantine the General Gates have arrived here, in order to careen & refit. I am sensible I shall expose myself to innumerable Difficulties in undertaking to supply these Vessels with what they stand in need of. Nothing but the Pain I must feel at seeing the Service suffer, could induce me...
138To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 27 November 1775 (Jay Papers)
I am now on the borders of lake George where we have been detained this day & part of yesterday by a head wind & extream severe wheather. It is almost impossible to conceive the difference we found in the climate in half a miles riding After we got over the mountains, within the reach of the winds that blew from the lake it was like leaping from Oct r . to Dec r .—we hope to leave this...
Congress having since their Instructions to you of the 29 th of September 1779 and the 4 th of October 1780, relative to the Claim of the United States to the free Navigation of the river Mississippi, and to a free Port or Ports below the 31 st Degree of North Latitude, resumed the Consideration of that Subject, and being desirous to manifest to all the World, and particularly to his Catholic...
140George Washington to John Jay, 3 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 3, 1779 . Advises that peace be made with only a part of the Indians. Thinks that Indians should be severely punished for past behavior. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
141To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 23 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
I wrote a few Lines to you from Passy to go by the Post of this Day, pressing you to come hither as soon as possible. I have just mention’d it to M de Vergennes, who is of Opinion it will be proper to leave M r . Carmichael there, that it may not seem as if we abandon’d that Court. As I understand, a Courier is just setting out from hence for Madrid, I add this Line, to inform you of this...
142From George Washington to John Jay, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing Your Excellency this morning, I received the inclosed papers, by which You will perceive that the Troops & fleet lately employed in Chesepeak bay have returned to New York. I have not received any advices respecting the Enemy since those transmitted in the morning. I have the Honor to be with sentiments of the most perfect respect & esteem Yr Excellency’s...
143To John Jay from Alexander Hamilton, 2 June 1777 (Jay Papers)
I received your favour per express, and as the absence of my former respectable correspondents has made a change necessary, I am happy that you have been substituted in their room.— Except a body of Militia at and about Pumpton, and a few detachments of observation, our whole army is now collected at two points;—the main body here and a division under General Sullivan at Princeton. Though this...
144From George Washington to John Jay, 11 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Your Excellency copies of letters and papers, which have passed on the subject of a late remonstrance from the officers of the 1st Jersey Regiment, to the Assembly of their state. This is an affair which Congress will no doubt view in a very serious light. To me it appears truly alarming. It shows what is to be apprehended, if some adequate provision is not...
145To John Jay from Edmund Pendleton, 11 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
As I conjectured so it happen’d that your esteem’d Fav r . of the 21 st . past made a visit to Williamsburg & found me on it’s return, your next I suppose is now on the same route, as it is not yet come to hand. I beleive Count D’Estang amongst the beneficial things he has done for America in General, has effected a most important purpose for Virginia, in stopping a larger embarkation from...
By the treaties subsisting between his most Christian Majesty and the United States of America, a power is reserved to his Catholic Majesty to accede to the said treaties and to participate in their stipulations at such time as he shall judge proper, it being well understood nevertheless, that if any of the stipulations of the said treaties are not agreeable to the King of Spain, his Catholic...
147To John Jay from Nathanael Greene, 24 June 1779 (Jay Papers)
A late law has been passed by the legislature of the state of New Jersey, for the express purpose of taxing the Assistant and Deputy Quarter Masters General, which I am afraid will be productive of the most disagreeable consequences— This law appears so arbitrary and unprecedented upon any free principles of taxation, that I am surprized it ever had the sanction of a deliberative body— Such a...
148To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 20 August 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have before me several of your late letters, which tho’ not formally , have been substantially answered, by the Payment of your Bills. I got our Banker to examine the Marquis’s Account, who explained it to me, and satisfy’d me that it was right. There are Intricacies in the Affair of Exchange, which neither you nor I well understand, and we are therefore under a Necessity of placing...
149From George Washington to John Jay, 23 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to John Jay, 23 Feb. 1779 . Jay wrote GW on 2 March (first letter): “accept my thanks for your obliging Favor of the 23 Ult.”
150From George Washington to John Jay, 11 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowlege the honor of your Excellencys favors of the 4th and 5th, and shall apply the Inclosures to their several intentions. The Baron Steuben transmitted me his proposed plan of regulations for the Infantry of the American army. I have returned it to the Baron, with such observations as occurred on different objects of the work, and my general approbation of the whole. If the plan...