John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to John Adams, 3 October 1787

To John Adams

Office for for: Affairs 3d. Octr. 1787

Dr Sr.

Still I am unable to give you satisfactory Information on the Subject you must wish to have old & interesting Subject of your Return. My Report on it has been is not yet decided upon by Congress, altho some Progress has been made in it—My Endeavours to forward it shall continue unremitted.1

My last ^letter^ to you was on the 4th. Day of Septemr., since which I have not had the honor of recg any Letters from you. Your Letter of the   Day of   last, which with the Report it enclosed2 ^any Letter from you^ ^Your letter of the 16 June last which with the Paper it enclosed^ were immediately laid before Congress; and I hope soon to be enabled to send you the Ratification you mention, for I flatter myself there will be no Difficulties on that Head.3

I enclose a Copy of the fœderal Govt. recommended by the Convention, and which has already passed from Congress to the States. What will be its Fate in some of them is a little uncertain; for altho generally approved, an opposition is to be expected, and in some places will certainly be made to its adoption.4

There are now but nine States represented in Congress, and it is to be apprehended ^unless^ that number will shd. continue there for some weeks, much Business, and particularly in the Dept of foreign affairs, will remain unfinished.5 There is much to be done, but ^&^ I am apprehensive that much will be left too long undone, for the Expectation of a new Govt. will probably relax the attention & Exertions of the present with great & sincere Esteem & Regard I have the Honor to be Dr Sr your most obt. & hble Servt

The Honb. J. A. Esqr Minr &c:

Dft, NNC (EJ: 7465); LbkC, DNA, Foreign Letters, 280–81 (EJ: 2515); E, DLC (EJ: 10160).

1. On 5 Oct., JJ again submitted a request for JA’s return and replacement, but the former was postponed and the question was lost on the latter. JA’s recall was finally resolved on 12 Feb. 1788. See the editorial note “Anglo-American Relations,” above; JJ to JA, 14 Feb. 1788, below; and 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 32: 174 and n., 403 and n., 415–18; 33: 611–15.

2. Spaces left blank in manuscript.

3. JJ to JA, 4 Sept. 1787, wherein he acknowledged receipt of JA’s letter of 16 June and predicted continued low attendance in Congress, LbkC, DNA: Foreign Letters description begins Foreign Letters of the Continental Congress and Department of State, 1785–1790, RG 59, item 121, National Archives (M61). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 277–78 (EJ: 2513); DC, description begins William A. Weaver, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, 10th September, 1783, to the Adoption of the Constitution, March 4, 1789 (7 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1833–34) description ends 5: 309. In his of 16 June, ALS, DNA: PCC, item 84, 6: 501–2, 504 (EJ: 11950); Duplicate LS, DNA: PCC, item 145, 225–27 (EJ: 12581); DNA: PCC, item 145, 229–30; LbkC, item 104, 6: 329–30; 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 33: 555n1, JA requested ratification of the enclosed 1 June 1787 one million guilders Dutch loan contract, which JJ had transmitted to Congress on 30 Aug., LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 3: 301 (EJ: 301); 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: 271 (EJ: 2166). The letters and document were read on 20 Sept., as was the new Constitution. Congress ratified the loan on 11 Oct. See 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 33: 488–503, 506 and n., 555n. 649); and the editorial note “John Jay and Dutch Affairs,” above.

4. See the editorial note “Supporting a Strengthened Constitutional Structure,” above.

5. Rhode Island was absent, and one member only was present from each of the three states, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Georgia. 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 33: 588.

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    Jay Papers
    Title
    From John Jay to John Adams, 3 October 1787
    Author
    Jay, John
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    3 October 1787

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From John Jay to John Adams, 3 October 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0269. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 4, 1785–1788, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015, pp. 552–553.]

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