John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to the President of Congress (Nathaniel Gorham), 3 July 1786

To the President of Congress (Nathaniel Gorham)

Office for foreign Affairs 3d. July 1786

Sir

I find that Congress were pleased on the 22d. Ult: to order me, “to transmit to the Executives of the States, Abstracts of the Numbers, Names and Owners of Negroes carried away by the British in contravention to the late Treaty of Peace, and which were the Property of the Citizens of such States respectively.”—1

I suspect that Congress were not apprized of the Length of this Account. A very diligent and good Clerk in this Office was employed six Weeks in making a Copy of it for Mr. Adams—The Number of Clerks now in the Office are barely sufficient for the ordinary Business of it—If therefore thirteen manuscript Copies are to be made, with any tolerable Degree of Expedition, it will be necessary for me to employ a large additional Number.—The Expence will be considerable, and the Means of defraying it being rendered uncertain by the present State of the Treasury which is now in arrear, even to the stated Clerks, creates Difficulties which merit consideration.—

This Account does not appear to me capable of Abridgement; and I am inclined to think that the wages of extra Clerks would exceed the Price for which it might be printed.—

That Congress may judge of these Circumstances with greater Precision, I herewith transmit the Book in which this Account is entered.—

Whatever may be their Orders on this or any other Subject it will always give me Pleasure to execute them with Punctuality and Expedition.—I have the Honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s Most obt. and hble: Servt.

John Jay

His Excellency The President of Congress

LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 3: 21–24 (EJ: 235). Endorsed, by CT: “Letter 3 July 1786 / Secy for fo Affairs—/ Read 5 1786 / respecting the list of Negroes / Referred to / Mr Pinkney / Mr Grayson / Mr Bloodworth / acted on Augt. 9th. 1786”. LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 2: 389–90.

1. JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 30: 353–54. JJ’s letter was read on 5 July 1786 and referred to Charles Pinckney, William Grayson, and Timothy Bloodworth whose report was read on 6 July (JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 30: 387–89). Contrary to JJ’s opinion, Congress resolved on 9 Aug. that separate lists be made and sent to the executives of each of the states. JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 31: 508. JJ complied on 23 Oct. 1786 in his circular letter to “the Governors of the different States (New Hampshire excepted)”. See JJ to George Clinton (New York), LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 2: 474 (EJ: 2054); to Samuel Huntington (Connecticut), LS, MWA (EJ: 2769); and to John Collins (Rhode Island), RPB (EJ: 5272), all 23 Oct. 1786; OFA Journal description begins Daily Journals, Office of Foreign Affairs, 1784–1790, 2 vols., Papers of the Continental Congress, RG 360, item 127, National Archives (M247). Accessed Fold3.com. description ends , 2: 30 (EJ: 3768). For the governor of Delaware’s reply, see Thomas Collins to JJ, 27 Nov. 1786, LS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 6: 319; LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 114. On the preparation of the list, see GW to JJ, 27 Sept. 1785, above.

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    Jay Papers
    Title
    From John Jay to the President of Congress (Nathaniel Gorham), 3 July 1786
    Author
    Jay, John
    Recipients
    President of Congress
    Gorham, Nathaniel
    Date
    3 July 1786

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From John Jay to the President of Congress (Nathaniel Gorham), 3 July 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0172. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 4, 1785–1788, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015, pp. 357–358.]