Provided the dispute between Great Britain and Spain Should come to the decision of Arms, from a variety of circumstances (individually unimportant & inconclusive, but [ illegible ] very much the reverse when compared and combined) there is no doubt in my mind, that New Orleans & the Spanish Posts above it on the Mississipi will be among the first attempts of the former, and that the reduction...
182To John Jay from George Washington, 11 May 1789 (Jay Papers)
A few days ago I was conversing with you on the points contained in the enclosed queries, when a Gentleman coming in put an end to the conversation As it is my earnest wish to adopt such a line of conduct as shall be judged most likely to secure essentials without being exposed more than is unavoidable to the charge of too much reserve on the one hand, or too much familiarity on the other, I...
183From George Washington to John Jay, 21 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 16th instant, I had the honor to inform Congress of a successful attack upon the enemy’s post at Stoney Point, on the preceding night, by Brigadier General Wayne and the corps of light infantry under his command —The ulterior operations in which we have been engaged, have hitherto put it out of my power to transmit the particulars of this interesting event. They will now be found in the...
184From George Washington to John Jay, 7–9 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency the following Extract of a Letter from General Maxwell of the 5 Instt which I received last night. “My intelligence from the Enemy is, that 4000 Troops chiefly British are embarked for the West Indies or Georgia, though the latter is the most suspected. Generals Vaughan & Leslie are supposed to take the command—they were to embark this...
185From George Washington to John Jay, 19 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Mount Vernon Novr 19th 1790 The day is near, when Congress is to commence its third Session; and on Monday next—nothing intervening to prevent it—I shall set out to meet them at their new residence. If any thing in the Judiciary line—if any thing of a more general nature, proper for me to communicate to that body at the opening of the Session, has occurred to you, you...
186From George Washington to John Jay, 28 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 25th and its inclosures. You will perceive by the within resolution of the assembly of the State of Massachusetts, that there are several pieces of cannon (18 pounders) the property of the Continent, now in that state. General McDougall informs me that only two pieces out of the seven have been received. The defenceless situation of...
187To John Jay from George Washington, 28 April 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have been duly honord with your Excellency’s favor of the 25th and its inclosures. You will percieve by the within Resolution of the Assembly of the State of Massachusetts, that there are several pieces of cannon (18 pounders) the property of the Continent, now in that state. General M c Dougall informs me that only two pieces out of the seven have been recieved. The defenceless situation of...
188From George Washington to John Jay, 7 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
The current of intelligence from New York makes the late reinforcement under Arburthnot amount to about 3000 troops principally recruits and rather in an unhealthy situation. It also speaks of preparations for an expedition and some recent rumours point to the Southern States, though the enemy have thrown out menaces against this post. If the reinforcement does not exceed this estimate they...
189From George Washington to John Jay, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 9th which I had the honor of addressing to Your Excellency, I informed you of the proceedings and ravages of the Enemy on the Sound till that time, as far as I had been advised. I now take the liberty to transmit an Extract of a Letter of the 10th (No. 1) from Governor Trumbull—and of the same date (No. 2) from General parsons, by which Your Excellency will find, that they...
190From George Washington to John Jay, 18 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago, I had the pleasure to receive a letter of yours from Poughkeepsie—since which I have not obtained any authentic advices of the proceedings of your Convention. The clue you gave me, to penetrate into the principles & wishes of the four classes of men among you who are opposed to the Constitution, has opened a wide field for reflection & conjecture. The accession of ten States...
191From George Washington to John Jay, 11 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor some days ago to advise Your Excellency—that the Enemy had broke up their Camp at philips’s and retired below Kingsbridge. Since this I have used every means in my power to gain information of their designs and future operations, but as yet they remain intirely secret. It is certain, or at least the intelligence comes thro so many and such direct channels that it seems...
192From George Washington to John Jay, 3 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was duly honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 28th of last month, with its inclosures, to which proper attention shall be paid. I inclose you extracts from some letters lately received from General Schuyler, which are interesting in their nature, and require immediate direction. They are rather of a remote date, having been long in coming to hand. Congress will perceive, that some of...
193From George Washington to John Jay, 19–20 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th instant I had the honor of communicating two peices of intelligence respecting the fleet under the command of Admiral Count D’Estaing. Hearing that one of the Captains arrived at New London was a Man of intelligence and veracity, I dispatched Lt Lee of the 1st Connecticut Regt to gain a circumstantial account of the matter. The inclosed is a Copy of Capt. Leisters relation, which...
194From George Washington to John Jay, 14 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several favors of the 2d 3d and 28th of March, & 6th of April. I thank you for them all—but especially for the last, which I consider as a distinguishing mark of your confidence & friendship. Conscious that it is the aim of my actions to promote the public good, and that no part of my conduct is influenced by personal enmity to individuals, I cannot be insensible to the...
195From George Washington to John Jay, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor of transmitting to Your Excellency a Copy of a Report of a Board of General Officers in a dispute between the Captains in the pensilvania line and Captain prowell, who has been appointed to the majority in the 11th Regiment. If Congress approve the Report, they will be pleased to revoke Captain prowells Commission. They will see a Copy of the Memorial against his...
196From George Washington to John Jay, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 1st Instant I transmitted Your Excellency a copy of a Letter I had received from General Gates, advising that a number of Vessels with Troops, had left Newport and directed their course up the Sound. I had previously on the 27th from the intelligence obtained through different Channels that the Enemy intended to draw a part or the whole of their Troops from Rhode Island, requested him...
197From George Washington to John Jay, 17 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your favour of the 15th with the inclosed papers. The fleet mentioned in Governor Johnson’s letter may contain the detachment, which lately sailed from New York, and the object may be, if not to rescue, at least to facilitate the desertion of The Convention troops—This is the prevailing opinion in New York ⟨counte⟩nanced among other circumstances by the Goodrich’s...
198From George Washington to John Jay, 1–4 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
On tuesday last I returned from my tour to the westward; on monday, Congress, by adjournment, are to meet; and on the day following, Mr Bayard, according to his present expectation, is to leave this city for London. Thus circumstanced (having so little time between my return, and the opening of the Session, to examine papers, and to prepare my communications for the legislature) you will...
199From George Washington to John Jay, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 9th in answer to Your Excellency’s of the 30th Ulto upon the subject of Doctor Morgan’s charge against Doctor Shippen—I informed Congress, that the situation of affairs would not permit his trial to be entered upon for some time—and that General Arnold’s would of course precede it, which had been and still was necessarily suspended. Since this I have been honoured with Your...
200From George Washington to John Jay, 30 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d of June from London (and duplicate) have both been received; and your safe arrival after so short a passage, gave sincere pleasure, as well on private as on public account, to all your friends in this Country; & to none in a greater degree, I can venture to assure you, than it did to myself. As you will receive letters from the Secretary of States Office giving an...
201To John Jay from George Washington, 18 July 1788 (Jay Papers)
A few days ago, I had the pleasure to receive a letter of yours from Poughkeepsie—since which I have not obtained any authentic advices of the proceedings of your Convention.— The clue you gave me, to penetrate into the principles & wishes of the four classes of men among you who are opposed to the Constitution, has opened a wide field for reflection & conjecture.— The accession of ten States...
202From George Washington to John Jay, 25 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 15th covering a Resolve confirming the arrangement of the Massachusetts line, and a printed Copy of a circular letter from Congress to their constituents. I sincerely hope, that the measures pointed out may be pursued, and that every good effect, to be wished for, may be the result. Since mine of the 19th I have recd several pieces of intelligence from my...
203From George Washington to John Jay, 17 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose your Excellency a list of Officers proposed after examination by General Du Portail for the Companies of sappers and Miners. If Congress approve the nomination I request they will be pleased to direct commissions to be sent as speedily as possible. They ought to be dated the second of August 79. By the Regulations for the corps of Engineers, the men to form these companies were for...
204From George Washington to John Jay, 6 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 3d I had the Honor to address Your Excellency from Middle Brook and Morris Town—and to transmit you all the intelligence I had then received, respecting the movements of the Enemy on the North River; and of the measures I had taken and was about to pursue in consequence. I am now to inform you, according to the advices I have obtained since, that on the 2d in the morning the Enemy...
205From George Washington to John Jay, 30 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the authority vested in me by Congress of “directing and superintending the military operations in these States,” I was led to make inquiry into the State of the Magazines to the Westward. From a late letter of Genl McIntosh’s to myself, and several to the Board of War, I find that he has been so much distressed for provision, that he has been obliged suddenly to disband all...
206From George Washington to John Jay, 31 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
You will have learnt from the public Gazettes, and through other more authentic channels, that all that rested with me to do to give ratification to the treaty between this country and Great Britain is already accomplished. Mr Pinckney’s absence from the Court of London; the information, and aids it was expected he would derive from Mr Shorts presence, and acquaintance with matters at that of...
207From George Washington to John Jay, 15 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have to thank you very sincerely for your interesting letter of the 27th of June, as well as for the other communications you had the goodness to make at the same time. I am sorry to be assured, of what indeed I had little doubt before, that we have been guilty of violating the treaty in some instances. What a misfortune it is the British should have so well grounded a pretext for their...
208From George Washington to John Jay, 7 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your obliging favors of the 25th & 31st of last month and thank you for them. It really appears impossible to reconcile the conduct Britain is pursuing, to any system of prudence or policy. For the reasons you assign, appearances are against her deriving aid from other powers; and if it is truly the case, that she has rejected the mediation of Spain, without having made allies,...
209From George Washington to John Jay, 15 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
In the letter which I had the honor of addressing to your Excellency the 6th instant I promised a state of facts to show that every thing in my power has been done to give success to the Western expedition. I am sorry to find in the appeal which Genl Sullivan ha⟨s⟩ made to Congress that he has misstated several particulars of importance, and that in providing for his own justification in case...
210From George Washington to John Jay, 24–27 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to your Excellency yesterday, I have been honored with your letter of the 18th instant with the papers mentioned in it. I am much indebted to your Excellency, for the Copy of your circular letter to the States, and I sincerely wish it may have the desired effect—or at least, that the Battalions, in consequence, may be made more respectable than they are at present. The Act of the...
211From George Washington to John Jay, 10 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for two letters: The first, introductory of Mr Anstey needed no apology—nor will any be necessary on future occasions. The other, of the 7th of Jany 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 not, under my...
212From George Washington to John Jay, 5 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the honor to transmit your Excellency three New York papers of the 28th & 29th of April and 1st of May—which I think are interesting. The last contains extracts from Lord Norths speech at opening the budget which seems to breathe a vigorous prosecution of the war: I have thought appearances for some time past wore this complexion. The English papers have frequently announced...
213From George Washington to John Jay, 23 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
In one of your former letters; you intimate, that a free communication of Sentiments will not be displeasing to you. If under this sanction, I should step beyond the line you would wish to draw—and suggest ideas or ask questions which are improper to be answered—you have only to pass them by, in silence. I wish you to be convinced, that I do not desire to pry into measures the knowledge of...