51To John Jay from James Duane, 18 May 1776 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you, my dear Sir, a hasty Scrawl by the post on a most important Subject—you know the Maryland Instructions and those of Pensylvania— I am greatly in doubt whether either of their Assemblies or Conventions will listen to a Recommendation the preamble of which so openly avows Independence & Seperation—The lower Counties will probably adhere to Pensylvania—New Jersey you can form a good...
52To George Washington from James Duane, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I shou’d not so long have restrained the Expressions of a Heart flowing with the most affectionate and respectful Attachment if Care had not been taken to communicate our Intelligence officially. In the mean time I have never found it so necessary to devote my Attention to the publick business. Amidst pressing distresses it will give your Excellency pleasure to be assured that Congress have...
53To George Washington from James Duane, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour of writing to you last by our Friend the Marquiss de la fayette intending before this to have followed it by some Information on the Subject of cloathing for the Army. I have taken pains to investigate it fully And you have the best Right to the fruites of my Enquiry: It does not appear that there has been any Inattention in the Body of Congress to this essential Article: that...
54To George Washington from James Duane, 9 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I Judge of your Excellency’s Anxiety for the Fate of Charles Town by my own. When we have much at Stake Events, tho’ not very important, are interesting: I shall not therefore fail to give you every Intelligence which comes well authenticated from that Quarter tho’ it may probably often happen to be no more than a Repetition of your official Information. The President yesterday receivd...
55To John Jay from James Duane, 3 August 1777 (Jay Papers)
I enclose you a Letter from France for yourself and another to M r . Platt which ^ last ^ you’l be pleased to forward with my respectful Compliments. General Howe and his grand fleet to the utter Astonishment and Vexation of the People here have disappeard as every necessary preparation for his Reception was made. He has left us to guess at his next Attempt— General Schuyler to humour the...
56New York Delegates to George Clinton, 3 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
Major General Arnold has it in Contemplation to establish a Settlement of Officers and Soldiers who have served with him in the present War, and to lay the necessary Foundation without Loss of Time. From a Desire to become a Citizen of New York he gives our State the Preferrence and now visits your Excellency to make the necessary Enquiries, it being out of our Power to give him any...
When our common Liberties are invaded, our dearest Rights in Danger, and a whole Continent loudly called upon to defend and secure themselves against high handed Oppression: the Confidence reposed in us as Delegates of your respectable County is a distinguished Honour, which excites our most affectionate Esteem and demands our most grateful Acknowledgments. While we lament that our Talents are...
The Undersigned, Agents of the State of New York on the one and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the other Part, having mutually agreed under the Direction of Congress that the Honorable Robert Hanson Harrison of the State of Maryland Esqr., the honorable John Rutledge of the State of South Carolina Esqr., the Honorable George Wythe, the honorable William Grayson, the honorable James...
59To John Jay from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York, 2 October 1784 (Jay Papers)
To the honorable John Jay Esquire late ^ one of the ^ Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for negociating a Peace.— Sir Be pleased to accept the Congratulations of the Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York on your safe Return to the Place of your Nativity. The Revolution, which hath secured our Liberties and Independence, will not be more celebrated for...
60Notes on Speech regarding Vermont Lands, 6 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS (New-York Historical Society). In James Duane’s hand. Mr. Maddison . Expressed his surprize that the Motion shoud be represented as unfair or indirect. That he intended it to bring the true Question before Congress; for that if the District in Question was comprehended within the Jurisdiction of one or more of the United States, it must necessarily follow, that the Inhabitants coud have no...
61New York Delegates to Alexander McDougall, 20 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
We had the Pleasure of receiving your Favor by M r Barclay of the 11 th Instant and beg you to be assurd that we shall always be ready to facilitate your Command and support your applications for Assistance. The Commander in Chief has spent some time here with a Committee of Conference. He is vested with the fullest power to take every Department & Detachment of the Army, under his own...
The polite and respectful terms in which you are pleased to communicate your approbation of our conduct, in an important office, demand our most sincere and grateful acknowledgments. Honoured by the united suffrages of our fellow-citizens, and animated by a sense of duty, and the most cordial affection for our oppressed country, however unequal to the delicate and arduous task, we undertook it...
63Journal of the Proceedings of the New York Agents for Negotiating the New York–Massachusetts Lands Dispute, 4–9 December … (Jay Papers)
Journal of Proceedings in Execution of the Law appointing James Duane John Jay Rob t . R. Livingston Egbert Benson and Walter Livingston to be Agents for vindicating the State of New York against the claims of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1784 Saturday 4 th . December, Congress having assigned the 6 th . Instant for the appearance of the Agents from the States of New York and...