1From John Jay to the New York State Chancellor (Robert R. Livingston), Chief Justice (John Lansing Jr.), and Associate … (Jay Papers)
To secure the Liberties of the People and the legitimate Rights of their Government, against Encroachment and usurpation, it has from Experience been found necessary to divide the powers of Government into three distinct and independent Departments— aggregately considered, they possess all the power of Government; and are always in Capacity to defend their respective authorities against...
2From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 7 April 1783 (Jay Papers)
After the Preliminaries had been settled and ratified, the Spanish Embassador informed me that his Court was ready to recieve me not only in Form, but “tres honnêtemont”. He then expected full Instructions relative to the proposed Treaty. The Marq s . de la Fayette in his Journey thro’ Madrid manifested great Zeal to serve us there. A Copy of a Letter from him to the Minister will be sent you...
3From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 22 April 1783 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you so lately by M r Mason and there is such a Dearth of news that I now write less to give you Information, than as a mark of Attention. There are several of your Letters which on acc t . of their Length, the Importance of their Subjects, and the Manner in which those Subjects were treated, demanded of me more minute answers than my Situation admitted of. M r Hartley is not yet...
4From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 13 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
Almost ever since my arrival here I have had and still have a sick Family. The epidemic Disorder which has spread throughout the northern parts of Europe, has been severe upon us. I am free from it at present, but it has taken from me some Flesh & much Strength. M rs Jay has frequent attacks of an intermitting Fever, and our little Girl is not yet quite wholly out of Danger. Your Letter of the...
5From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 2 April 1765 (Jay Papers)
After we parted last Saturday Evening I retired to my Room, and spent the remaining part of it in reflecting upon the Transactions of the Day, particularly such of them as emediately related to our present and future Connection. I always find myself greatly embarrassed, when I attempt to speak my Sentiments on a Subject that very nearly concerns me; it was this which prevented me from saying...
6From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 6 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the Minister of State sent me Yesterday Morning your Favor of the 13 th . December last marked N o . 3. accompanied by a Duplicate of your Letter of 28 th . November marked N o . 2. Copy of a Resolution of Congress of 30 th . Oct r . & 2 d . November, . . . stating Quotas of Money. . . . of 23
7From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 1 May 1765 (Jay Papers)
Studious to avoid every Suspicion that m[ torn ] ous to the good opinion which you say you [ torn ] of my Sincerity, I pass over the usual Formality of [my wr]iting, till I received a Letter from you, and now pay that Debt to Friendship, which tho’ before due I had not an Opportunity of discharging— By your Letter to me (expressed in very general Terms) you seemed to distrust the Reality of...
8From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 13 October 1782 (Jay Papers)
I hope my Letter to you of the 18 th September, of which I also sent a Duplicate, has come safe to hand, for it contained important Matter— namely a Copy of a Letter from Marbois to the Count de Vergennes against our sharing in the Fishery This Court advised and persuaded us to treat with Oswald under his first Commission, I positively refused Aranda will not or can not exchange powers with...
9From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 25 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your very friendly Letter— It recalled to my Mind many Circumstances on which it always dwells with Pleasure. I should have been happy in a personal Interview before my Departure, but since that has become impossible, let us endeavour to supply it by a regular and constant correspondence. To render this the more useful & satisfactory a Cypher will be necessary— There are...
10From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 30 May 1783 (Jay Papers)
It cannot in my opinion be long before Congress will think it expedient to name a minister to the Court of London. Perhaps my Friends may wish to add me to the number of Candidates for that office— If that should be the Case I request the Favor of you to declare in the most explicit Terms that I view the Expectations of M r Adams on that head, as founded in Equity & Reason, & that I will not...