121To John Jay from Silas Deane, 6 October 1777 (Jay Papers)
I am sorry to find by your Letter by Cap t Young the only Letter I have rec d . from you since I left America that you are not in Congress— I doubt not you are wanted in other Departments, but can no where be of greater Service to your Country than in that Body at this critical period; you will undoubtedly be acquainted with the substance of what we write Jointly, will not therefore venture on...
122To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 6 November 1777 (Jay Papers)
When I did myself the pleasure to write you on the 17 th ult., I was not apprized of the enemy’s progress up Hudson’s River, nor of the barbarous devastation they have been guilty of committing at Kingston, and other places in the vicinity. It is no consolation to me that I have so many fellow-sufferers; I feel, however, a very sensible one, in the fate which has attended General Burgoyne. Is...
It is with very great pleasure I announce to you, the recovery of your little Boy from the Small Pox;—please to accept of the Congratulations of the Family on the happy event:— No person ever was more favor’d in that disorder, he had only one pustle, & scarce a days illness— The D r . bid me tell you that he ^ had ^ behaved Manfully thro the whole— He intends sharing the Thousand pounds with...
124To John Jay from James Duane, 2 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
I have had so much Publick Business on my hands that I have been unavoidably deprived of paying that Attention to my Friends which always gives me Pleasure. As one of the Number I have the Honour of considering yourself; & of you I have not been entirely unmindful— At the same time that I cannot boast of much Encouragement: or any great Merit. To the Governour and Council of Safety I have...
125To John Jay from Marinus Willett, 17 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
Hitherto hath the Lord helped us, is an acknowledgment as honorable as it is ancient, but never more properly adapted to the situation of any people then it is at present to the inhabitants of this Continent, for never where a people more remarkable blessed with signal interpositions of divine favour; how suddenly, have we beheld our most gloomy prospects to brighten? And how conspicuous has...
126To John Jay from James Duane, 23 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
I did not receive your very obliging Favour of the 14 th . Untill this morning. which It gave a Double pleasure as we have your promise of a Visit at the Manshion. M r . Livingston, & indeed the whole Family, Join me in requesting that M rs . Jay will be so kind as to accompany you. When the Legislature assembles you will be confind, & by that Time I shall be calld on Business to Albany, with...
127To John Jay from James De Lancey, 14 January 1778 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your kind Letter of the 2 d . Inst. with 100 Dollars from M r. Sam l . Broome which with the many other Obligations I am under to you will never be forgot as I have had a plentifull supply of money from home returned it M r. Broome— The Gentlemen of the Army particularly Gen l. Parsons & some of the Inhabitants of this place have been very Civle to me. the Gen l. has made application...
128To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 1 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
Congress have sent me here in Conjunction with some other Gentlemen to regulate their Army and in Truth not a little Regulation hath become necessary. Our Quarter Master and Commissary Departments are in the most lamentable Situation. Opportunities have been neglected last Campaign which were truly Golden ones but omnipotent Fatality had it seems determined that the american Capital should...
129To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 1 February 1778 (Jay Papers)
It is whispered here that an Expedition into Canada is to take place under the Command of the Marquis Fayette, Gen l . Conway & Gen: Starke with 3000 Men. Entre nous I may venture my Opinion, which Is that the body is Insufficient should they be able to penetrate Into Canada, which I much doubt, as nothing (as far as I can learn) has been prepared: the men are In want of the proper Cloathing...
130To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 28 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
This Letter is to be handed to you by Gen l . Gates. Let me recommend him to your particular Attention. Vermont you will say prevents this. Policy may have induced him to flatter those People when he wanted their Assistance. Let us take it up on that Ground. In his present Command he will want the Assistance of our State the cordial Assistance of its Rulers. I have promised this. I write to...
131To John Jay from George Clinton, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
A few Days since M r . Benson enclosed Lord Norths famous Speech (in the English House of Commons) to M r . McKesson for the perusal of the Court & I now enclose you Copies of the two Bills aluded to therein. His Lordship is two years too late with this political Maneuvre— This at the Time of his former Conciliatory Proposition (as he calls it) woud have divided & ruined us. At this Day it...
132To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
I won’t dispute who has written most. I have written more than twice what you acknowlege to have received but this is of no Consequence. I am sorry for your Session but I wish you had marked out what Taxes have been laid what Salaries given & a few more striking outlines of Legislation These with what I know of your Men would have enabled me to imagine proper Lights & Shades. My arithmetical...
133To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 3 May 1778 (Jay Papers)
I shall plague you with very few Words. I congratulate you on our Alliance with France for Particulars I refer you to our Friend Robert. I enclose you a News Paper containing a Report I drew on North’s Bills which were sent us by the Gen l . I have marked in the Margin two Clauses inserted by the House you may find perhaps some Difficulty to discover how they shew the Wickedness or Insincerity...
134To John Jay from Robert Troup, 29 June 1778 (Jay Papers)
By a Letter rec d ., a few Hours ago, from Major Armstrong, we learn that our Army were, the Night before last, at English Town, in New-Jersey between six & seven Miles from Monmouth Court House, where the main Body of the Enemy were posted—that they were then marching, it is presumed, in Order to cut off their Communication entirely with South Amboy & the other possible Places of...
135To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 23 July 1778 (Jay Papers)
I received yours of the 4 th some Days ago but I was in so unsettled a Situation that I could not answer it. At present I must be short for I have Company waiting. I have no Apprehension that these Money Matters can affect me . I have not taken nor would I on any Consideration have taken the Agency of the Business. Duer I trust will do what is right.— Your Caution however is useful and proper...
136To 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...
137To John Jay from Robert Troup, 16 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
Our Army is still encamped on the Heights near the White Plains— We shall move as soon as the Event of the R. Island Expedition is known— The last Accounts from that Quarter are—that General Sullivan had landed his whole Force on the Island, and was making regular Approaches towards the Enemy’s Works—that Lord Howe, with his Fleet, appeared off the Harbour last Monday—that the Count Destaing...
138To John Jay from James Duane, 22–24 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
I have the Pleasure to acquaint you that M rs . Duane is in a great Degree restord to her Health; or rather that she has got the better of her nervous Complaint which entaild upon her Weakness & Lowness of Spirits and called for my utmost Care and Attention to prevent its ill Effects. That greatness of Mind and disinterested Love of her Country—to you I will boast—which have enabled her to...
139Enclosure: Ralph Izard to President of the Congress, 12 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Melasses business would certainly have proved the source of continual disputes, if it had not been altered; but the mischief which might have been expected from that is beyond doubt comparison less than what is pointed out in my letter to Mr. Lee of 18th. May. My apprehensions on this subject were communicated to the Commissioners at this Court; but I am sorry to say that they made no...
140To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 8 October 1778 (Jay Papers)
I should have been with you some days ago but for a continued fever with very short intermissions accompanied with violent sickness at the stomach & headache which totally unfit me for business & oblige me to spend one third of the day in bed— I yesterday had a consultation with the two Jones’s & Doc r . Cooper, they agree in orders: regular diet, & exercise, & a suspension of all business...
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...
142From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 7th I have been honored with your favors of the 5th 6th and 8th instants with their inclosures, to which the proper attention shall be paid. I have made the Report of the Committee on Canada Affairs the subject of a particular letter which I have the honor of transmitting by this conveyance. I am with the greatest Respect Yr Excellency’s most obt Servt P.S. Lieut. Colonels...
143From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a letter which I had the honor of receiving from Congress dated the 2d instant was inclosed the Copy of one from Lt Colo. Fleury, upon the subject of which the president desired me to express “my Sentiments, as also of the Merits of Mr Fleury during his services in the Army.” I do not conceive that Congress should request a renewal of Colo. Fleury’s Furlough from the French Minister...
144From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
It has not been in my power to return an answer to your favor of the 6th Instt till now. The letter met me on the road, seperated from my papers, and I did not reach this place till late on the 11th; since which I have been much employed, in attending to the disposition for hutting the Army; but in the mean time the objects of the dispatch have engaged my utmost consideration. The earnest...
145From George Washington to John Jay, 16 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing you on the 13th the Gentlemen appointed to meet Commissioners from Sir Henry Clinton have returned to Camp. Your Excellency will find by a Copy of their Report No. 7, which, with the other papers respecting the meeting, is inclosed, that an Exchange of prisoners has not taken place. As an exchange has not been effected, and Sir Henry Clinton has called for...
146From George Washington to John Jay, 18 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
On Wednesday I had the Honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th Instant, with the Inclosures. I very sincerely congratulate you, sir, on the honorable and important station you are chosen to fill. The opinion I entertain of your public character concurs with every personal consideration to make the choice pleasing to me. At the same time, that my warmest acknowledgements are due...
147To John Jay from Egbert Benson, 23 December 1778 (Jay Papers)
I embrace this Opportunity by M r : Sands of writing to You with respect to a Matter which I conceive extremely important and interesting— In Loudon’s last Paper we have M r . Deane’s Letter to the Public, which, as it is extracted from the Philadelphia Gasette You have undoubtedly seen— Altho I sincerely lament the Occasion which rendered this Publication necessary, yet from other...
148To John Jay from Edward Rutledge, 25 December 1778 (Jay Papers)
It is a long Time since we have had any Correspondence, but I see no Reason why it should be longer, when we have any Thing to say & Leisure to say it in. Such is just my Situation, for it is Christmas Day, & all the World, (i:e: my Clients) being either at their Devotion, or their Amusements, I have Time to tell you that, I fear & with some Reason, (as it comes North about) that a damned,...
149To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 28–30 December 1778 (Jay Papers)
I should have troubled you a second time, & ^ have wrote you ^ by the last Post had I not entertained the hope that it would not be long before I should have the pleasure of acknowledging at least one favor from you. I have been disappointed, ’tis true, but still I will not relinquish the pleasing idea of being affectionately remembered by my beloved friend— To prevent future mortifications of...
150George Washington to John Jay, 31 December 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] December 31, 1778 . Asks if Congress is going to continue to employ Brigadier General Du Portail and if it intends to adopt Du Portail’s plan of defense. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Henry Laurens had resigned as President of the Continental Congress on December 9, 1778, and John Jay was elected to that position on the following day.