1To John Adams from John Jay, 10 January 1792 (Adams Papers)
I cannot easily tell you how much I am pleased & obliged by your friendly Letter of the 4th. Instant:—were I to pursue my Inclinations, I should without Hesitation accept your kind Invitation—but our Inclinations even in things innocent must not always be gratified. my Visits to Philadelphia have ceased to be occasional, or I should certainly avail myself of those opportunities which your...
2To John Adams from John Jay, 21 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
From the Day of my appointment to this mission, my Attention has been much withdrawn from my friends, and confined to the Business which brought me here; & which has at last been terminated by a Treaty. In future I shall have more Leisure to attend to my Friends, and to my own affairs— Both your sons arrived here in good Health. I wrote to my friend John lately, but as yet have not had a...
3To John Adams from John Jay, 27 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
Docr. Edwards of Philada. will be so obliging as to take charge of this Letter. I regret that he & Mrs. Edwards leave this peace so soon—. You will find him a Gentleman of extensive Information.—He has visited the greater part of this Kingdom, and paid particular attention to the Husbandry of it.—Permit me to introduce him to You. I have heard, and wish it may be true, that your Son is...
4To John Adams from John Jay, 7 July 1795 (Adams Papers)
In Compliance with the Request of Sir John Sinclair I have the Pleasure of transmitting to you herewith enclosed a Book which I recd. from him two Days ago. As it is now probable that Col. Smith will meet with a greater number of opportunities of sending it than will occur to me, I shall take the Liberty of committing it to his care— Be pleased to present Mrs. Jay & my best Compts. to Mrs....
5To John Adams from John Jay, 4 January 1791 (Adams Papers)
a weeks absence on a visit to my friends at Rye, from whence I returned last Evening, prevented my having ’till then, the Pleasure of recieving your very obliging Letter of the 20 Dec r. — For the Invitation with which you honor me, be pleased to accept my cordial acknowledgements— It is conveyed in Terms which enhance the compliment, & I accept it with that Satisfaction which Politeness...
6From John Jay to John Adams, 24 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines last Week— This Morning I was favored with two Letters from your Son of the 14 & 20 th . of this Month— Parents are gratified by hearing of or from their children— The former Letter was Dated at the Hague— the latter at Amsterdam— He had been rec d . and acknowledged by the States General, and on the 14 th had “a gracious audience of the Stadtholder”.— In his last...
7To John Adams from John Jay, 2 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I was this morning favored with your obliging Letter of the 31 ult.—D’Ivernois is very industrious.—I hear no more of his plan of transplanting the University of Geneva into the united States. He is a sensible diligent man, and I suspect that his Correspondence with Mr Gallatin has done no Harm— It gives me pleasure to find that in your opinion no great mischief will be done by the combustable...
8To John Adams from John Jay, 24 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines last week—This Morning I was favored with two Letters from your Son of the 14 & 20th. of This Month—Parents are gratified by hearing of or from Their children—The former Letter was Dated at The Hague—The latter at amsterdam—He had been recd. and acknowledged by The States General, and on the 14th had “a gracious audience of The Stadtholder.”—In his last Letter there is...
9From John Jay to John Adams, 21 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
From the Day of my appointment to this mission, my Attention has been much withdrawn from my Friends, and confined to the Business which brought me here; & which has at last been terminated by a Treaty. In future I shall have more Leisure to attend to my Friends, and to my own affairs— Both your Sons arrived here in good Health— I wrote to my friend John lately, but as yet have not had a...
10To John Adams from John Jay, 23 March 1792 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment afternoon recd. the Letter wh. you did me the Honor to write on the 21 Inst— by & by which I am informed that the Trustees of the sinking fund are being equally divided in opinion respecting the Construction of their authority under the Act making Provision for the Reduction of the public Debt, my attendance had become necessary— [ crossed out: On considering the Act in...
11From John Jay to John Adams, 10 January 1792 (Jay Papers)
I cannot easily tell you how much I am pleased & obliged by your friendly Letter of the 4 th . Inst:— were I to pursue my Inclinations, I should without Hesitation accept your kind Invitation— but our Inclinations even in things innocent must not always be gratified. My Visits to Philadelphia have ceased to be occasional, or I should certainly avail myself of those opportunities which your...
12From John Jay to John Quincy Adams, 24 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
I was this morning fav d . with yours of the 14 & 21 of this month, and congratulate you and your Brother on your arrival at the place of your Destination— On the 19 Inst. a Treaty between his Britannic Majesty and the united States was signed: whereby their Differences are terminated, & their Commerce regulated in a Way which I hope will prove satisfactory to both Parties— As this Treaty is...
13From John Jay to John Quincy Adams, 13 December 1794 (Jay Papers)
I am much obliged by your Letter of the 2 d . of this month— your Letter to M r . Randolph goes by the aurora to New York. we have had several late arrivals from thence & from Ph[iladelphi] a .— In the Adriana from the latter Place M r . Sam l . Bayard came passenger, He is appointed by the Governm t . to superintended the Prosecution of Claims & appeals in the Capture Causes.— The...
14From John Jay to Lady Elizabeth Amherst, 12 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his respectful comp ts . to Lady Amherst, and returns many thanks to her Ladyship for the prints which she did him the Honor to send. it was not untill last week that they came to his Hands. The Respect entertained in this Country for his Lordships Character & Services renders them ^very^ interesting. Among the agreable Hours ^moments^ which Mr Jay passed in London his...
15From John Jay to Lady Elizabeth Amherst, 20 February 1795 (Jay Papers)
Mr Jay presents his best Compliments and returns his many thanks for the Print of Lord Amherst which her Ladyship has done him the honor to send— it will be give pleasure to his Lordships numerous friends in America, and M r Jay will always regard it as a valuable and interesting addition to his little Collection as well from the high respect he entertains for ^L. Amherst^ her L as a mark of...
16From John Jay to Lord Jeffrey Amherst, 12 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
The Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 27 Sept r . last was ^here^ delivered to me a few weeks ago by M r Austin— He was He was unfortunate in his voyage, and yet happy in surviving the many disast erous occurrances ^[disast] ers^ he met with— He seems an amiable young man, and is now on his way to Canada— Our Legislature being in Session I have endeavoured but without Success to...
17From John Jay to Edward Bancroft, 30 October 1795 (Jay Papers)
On my Return two Days ago from a little Excursion into the Country I had the pleasure of recieving your Letter of the 24 of Aug t . last; and thank you very sincerely for the friendly congratulations and Sentiments expressed in it— Your Son soon after his arrival at Philadelphia, and also M r . J. Vaughan wrote to me relative to the object of his coming to this Country; but the State of the...
18From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 5 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
To Samuel Bayard Esq r . appointed by the President of the United States of America, Agent for Claims and Appeals &c &c &c It Having been made my Duty to give you Instructions relative to your Agency, I think it expedient to give you the following for the present, and will add to them as circumstances may require. Agreeable to the Advice which you have already received from me You will procure...
19From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 25 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had this afternoon the pleasure of recieving your obliging Letter of the 6 th . Jan y last, and am happy to learn from it that the Decrees in the Capture Cases will probably be satisfactory— This Information appeared to me to be interesting, and therefore I have communicated it to the President : altho I presume you have written fully to the Secretary of State about it, either by the packet...
20From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 5 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
Whereas the Secretary of State of the united States of america hath officially informed me that the President of the said united States has been pleased to appoint you agent to manage claims and appeals in Cases of irregular or illegal Captures or Condemnations of american Vessels or other Property under Colour of authority or Commissions from his britannic majesty and whereas it will be...
21From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 5 March 1795 (Jay Papers)
I was this Even g fav d . with your’s of to Day, enclosing a memorial presented to the Lords Commissioners on the 14 th . Ult. and a proposed Letter to M r . Falkener urging an answ a to it—informing me that the Lords had not met since, but are to meet on Saturday next; & requesting my advice whether that Letter could with propriety be deliv d . before the Lords have had an opportunity of...
22From John Jay to William Bayard, 24 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
I am greatly obliged by y r . kind Letter of the 16 of this month; and your friendly Invitation to my Son to pass some time with you at y r . Seat. It is a Maxim with me my dr. Sir, that young Folks should be employed, and in such a regular Manner, as that they may have something to do every Day at fixed Hours— Early Habits of order and Punctuality you know, have an Influence on a Man’s...
23From John Jay to Egbert Benson, 31 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have had the pleasure of seeing Sen r . Ceracchi, & his model of a monument in Honor of the Revolution. The Design appears to me to be a noble one—worthy of the attention of the U.S., and honorable to the Taste & Talents of the artist.— It cannot fail of being interesting to all who contributed to the Revolution, and to that glorious Triumph of Liberty which it exhibited, and which well...
24From John Jay to Egbert Benson, 27 June 1795 (Jay Papers)
[ illegible ] ^[ illegible ]^ after my Return from Ph a ., and just as I was about setting out for Rye ^from whence I returned last Ev g ^ your Letter of the 13 Inst, which had been sent on to Ph a ., was delivered to me— It gave me pleasure to recieve it, but I should have been ^more^ pleased to have seen the writer. God only knows, [ illegible ] whether my Removal from the Bench to my...
25From John Jay to John Blanchard, 3 October 1795 (Jay Papers)
I was this moment fav[ore] d . with your’s of the first of this month; & very sincerely thank You for your friendly offer to accommodate my Family, in Case the Disorder prevailing here should make it adviseable to remove them. As the Disorder seems to abate I flatter myself that measure will not be necessary. our Situation affords us considerable Security against the Disorder, and I think it...
26From John Jay to Phineas Bond, 26 August 1789 (Jay Papers)
In Compliance with your Request, I have now the Pleasure of communicating to you the Reasons which Influenced the Decision of the late Congress, relative to your Commission of Commissary viz t . That Congress, not having received any Commissaries for commercial Affairs, thought it most prudent not to receive them from any Nation , until their Powers should have been previously ascertained by...
27From John Jay to Joseph Brant, 1 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
I was favored the Day before Yesterday with your Letter of the 24 th . June respecting Compensation from this State for Lands Claimed by the Mohawks— Not possessing sufficient Information I cannot at present form a Judgment of the Merits of those claims, whatever they may be I think it would be advisable for the Claimants to unite in appointing and sending here at the next Session of the...
28From John Jay to Edmund Burke, 12 December 1795 (Jay Papers)
The last time I had the pleasure of seeing you we conversed among other things, and spea^eing of the apples of this Country I promised to send you a few ^some apple^ Trees of some of the best Sorts — Fifty Trees have been put ^of five different Sorts are now^ on Board the Rosanna Cap t . John Pollard, whose Rec[eip] t . for them you will find herewith enclosed Ten of these Trees are in the New...
29From John Jay to William Carmichael, 2 October 1789 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with your Letters of the 5. 8. & 28 of Nov r . & 2 d Dec r . in the last year, and of the 6 May in this— My two Letters of the 9 Sept r . and the 24 Novem r . 1788 covered Papers of Importance, and as yet I am uninformed whether they have come safe to your Hands. The long period ^Time^ before their Dissolution, during which the late Congress had not
30From John Jay to John Charlton, 22 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing a Plan of a Lazaretto shown by D r . Bard with his Letters to me on the subject— Be so obliging as the lay them before the Medical Society, and request them to favor me without delay with their opinion and Plan of such a Building as they may judge the best calculated for the purpose; in case the one offered by D r . Bard should be thought defective.— This is a...
31From John Jay to Giuseppe Chiappe, 1 December 1789 (Jay Papers)
Since the Conclusion of the Treaty between his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Morocco and the United States of America, a great Revolution and Change in their Government, has peaceably and with general Consent, been made and established. While these important Measures were preparing and under Consideration, the Attention of the United States to their foreign Affairs necessarily became...
32From John Jay to Matthew Clarkson, Richard Varick, and the Commissioners for Fortifying the Port and City of New York, 4 … (Jay Papers)
I received Yesterday a letter from General Van Cortlandt of the 26 ult with a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 16 ult. appointing a Committee relative to Fortifications of which the enclosed are Copies—. You will perceive from these Papers the Importance of conveying to the Committee accurate Information respecting the State of our Fortifications and the Expediency of...
33From John Jay to George Clinton, 10 March 1790 (Jay Papers)
The Marks of early and uniform Confidence with which I have been honored by the State, render me very reluctant to [ illegible ] ^retire from my Place at the Board of Regents of the University w h .^ has for its Object the Promotion of Science and useful Knowledge. [ illegible ] The Business ^of that Board must^ will increase as they become enabled by proper Funds to perform it; and to this...
34From John Jay to William Henry Clinton, 19 September 1796 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . Yesterday the Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 20 th . of June last, relative to Lands held by the late Sir Henry Clinton in this State, and which during the late War were confiscated by an act of the Legislature. At that Time I was in Europe, and have little Information respecting the Principles on which several of the Persons affected by that act, were named in it—...
35John Jay to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, [31 March 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
The Chief Justice of the United States, presents his compliments to the Attorney General, and requests the favor of him to lay before the Board of trustees, the opinion herewith enclosed, on the question stated in their act of the 26th instant; a copy of which the Chief Justice yesterday received, enclosed in the letter which the Attorney General did him the honor to write on the 29th instant....
36Report to Congress, 25 July 1789 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign affairs under the former Congress, in pursuance of the following Resolution viz t . “In Senate 22 d July 1789” “Whereas a Convention referred this day to the Senate, bears reference to a Convention pending between the most Christian King and the United States, previous to the adoption of our present Constitution.” “Resolved, that...
37From John Jay to the Consul of the French Republic ( Jean Antoine Bernard de Rozier), 19 September 1795 (Jay Papers)
The Governor is very sensible of the polite attention which induced the consul of the French Republic, and the French Citizens to invite him to their “republican Entertainment” on Tuesday next. He would with great Pleasure dine with them on that Day, but while general anxiety Distress & alarm pervade his native City, it will not be in his power to command that Degree of Hilarity which becomes...
It hav g . become necessary that Streets be laid out thro’ my Ground near ^adjoining^ the Ruins of the Sea Water Works, I think it better that it sh d . be done by the corporation than by me. They only can form & execute a general & consistant Plan relative to ^ new ^ Streets in that part of the Town and thereby avoid the Inconveniences w h . usually result from the particular Taste or Views...
39From John Jay to Daniel Coxe, 4 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
On the 28 of last month ^Ult:^ I had the pleasure of rec g your friendly Letter of the 14 of Nov r . last by M r Bewsher who arrived at Norfolk on the 16 of last Month & from thence sent it to me by post— on his arrival here it will give me pleasure to manifest my Respect for your Recommend [atio] n . by attentions to him— The Letter that you enclosed for General Schuyler was immediately deliv...
40From John Jay to Tench Coxe, 6 January 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . and read with pleasure and Proffit the enlarged copy of the Examination of L d . Sheffields Publications, and the Report of the ^yesterday I was fav d . with^ Secretary ^Hamilton’s interesting & able Report^ on the Subject of manufactures—for both of which accept my thanks— No better Way can in my opinion be devised for negociating Treaties of Commerce than that of augmenting...
41From John Jay to William Cushing, 9 January 1793 (Jay Papers)
I was Yesterday fav[ore] d . with yours of the 6 th . Inst:— it gives pleasure to learn that your Circuit has been agreable, and that you & M rs . Cushing have arrived in good Health at Philad a .— be pleased to present M rs . Jays and my best Comp[liment] s . to her. I still feel the Effects of my late Illness, but have much Reason to thank God that I am as well as I am. It is my Intention to...
42From John Jay to William Cushing, 13 September 1790 (Jay Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith inclosed, the Draft I have prepared of the proposed Letter from us to the President. Be pleased to return it with such Alterations & Corrections as You may think it requires. I shall send Copies of it to the other Judges, with the like Request; and on recieving them again, will incorporate such additions and make such other alterations as ^we^...
43From John Jay to William Cushing, 7 December 1789 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your’s of the 18 th . of last month, and I participate very sincerely in the general Satisfaction which your appointment has given. Your attendance at the Time mentioned in your Letter will in my opinion be sufficiently early. It gives me Pleasure to learn that writs from your District Courts will be in the Name of “the President of the united States,” and that you...
44From John Jay to William Cushing, 19 March 1792, enclosing a copy of John Jay to James Iredell, 19 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
I subjoin a copy of a Letter which I have just written to Judge Iredell, in answer to one which I two Days ago rec d . from him. Be pleased to present M rs . Jays & my Comp ts . to M rs . Cushing and to M r & M rs . Phillips. — with great Esteem & Regard I am D r Sir your aff te . & hble Serv t
45From John Jay to William Cushing, 6 August 1793 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with your’s of the 22 d of last month— This morning we assigned the Eastern Circuit to Judge Blair, with whom Judge Wilson is to attend the Courts at Connecticut, R. Island & New Hampshire — the Middle Circuit to Judge Paterson (by agreem t . between him and Judge Wilson)—and the Southern Circuit to You— The latter I think ought first to have been assigned to Judge Wilson—...
46From John Jay to William Cushing, 27 January 1793 (Jay Papers)
I am prepared and purpose to set out for Ph[iladelphi] a . Tomorrow if the Weather should prove fair . for altho I have regained more Health than I had Reason to expect to have done so soon; yet I find it delicate, and not sufficiently confirmed to admit of my travelling in bad weather. I mention this that in Case the ensuing Week should be stormy, my Absence from you may not appear singular—...
47From John Jay to Abraham Cuyler, 13 November 1795 (Jay Papers)
I was this morning favored with your’s of the 5 th . of this month, mentioning M r . Harison’s opinion that the Debts in question were not recoverable by Virtue either of the Treaty of Peace, or of the Treaty of amity between the United States and Great Britain— As to M r . Harison’s opinion, I do not hesitate to say that I concur in it— But whether the Subjects of it were or were not...
48From John Jay to John Dalrymple, 14 February 1795 (Jay Papers)
The Letter w h . you did me the Honor to write on the first Day of this month, came to Hand as I was ab t . making an Excursion into the Country or it sh d . have been answ d . immediately. I return d . this afternoon— accept my thanks for these interesting Communications — I have read with pleasure the printed paper that was enclosed, and agreable to y r . Request, sh d . without Delay...
49From John Jay to Francis Dana, 16 February 1793 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . the Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 19th. Dec r . last , and on the first Day of the present Term communicated it to the other Judges. Such marks of Delicacy and Respect cannot fail of making correspondent Impressions; and it gives me pleasure to assure You that nothing on our parts shall be wanting to cultivate on all occasions that Harmony & mutual Confidence...
50From John Jay to John C. Dongan, 27 February 1792 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for your obliging letter of this morning, which I this moment received. My answer to the gentleman who applied to me was, that if my fellow-citizens did me the honor to elect me, I would with pleasure serve them; but that I conceived it would be improper for me to make any efforts to obtain suffrages. They approved of this line of conduct, and in conformity to it I made it a...