To John Adams from John Jay, 2 April 1787
From John Jay
New York 2d. April 1787
Dr. Sir
Since my last to you of 25th. February I have not been favored with any Letters from you.—1
Congress have made some Progress in my Report on your Letter of 4th. March 1786 and the Papers that accompanied it—2 they lately passed the Resolutions of which you will find a Copy herewith enclosed.3 Having been ever since and still being too much indisposed to prepare Instructions for you on these Subjects in Time for their being reported and agreed to by Congress and transmitted by this Opportunity, I send this Copy merely for your Information— perhaps it might be well to communicate it informally to the Minister. I think it would have a good Effect, and tend to abate the Irritation which long Delays & Silence may have occasioned.—
The Morocco Treaty has not yet arrived; and we are still in Suspence about the Fate of the one with Portugal.
What Good will result from the Convention to be convened in pursuance of the Resolution of which I also enclose a Copy is uncertain.4 Something is very necessary to be done; for our Difficulties encrease Day by Day. I am too unwell to write much at this Time, nor do I expect to recover a tolerable Degree of Health until the Season admits of my taking Exercise. Although exceedingly temperate my Digestion is bad, and a lingering Fever hangs about me.5
I am Dear Sir / Your affe. friend & Servt
John Jay—
RC and enclosures (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Honorable / John Adams Esqr.”
1. Probably an inadvertence, since Jay’s last extant letter to JA was of 21 Feb., above.
2. With his 4 March 1786 letter, JA enclosed copies of his [30 Nov. 1785] memorial to the Marquis of Carmarthen, requesting that the British evacuate American frontier posts, as well as Carmarthen’s 28 Feb. 1786 reply and enclosures, which outlined the state laws, proclamations, and acts preventing British creditors from collecting prewar debts. In his 13 Oct. report to Congress, Jay included copies of JA’s memorial, along with Carmarthen’s reply and enclosures. Jay acknowledged that Carmarthen was correct that state governments had violated Arts. 4 and 6 of the Anglo-American peace treaty (vol. 18:190–192).
3. Jay enclosed three congressional resolutions, all of 21 March 1787, made in response to his 13 Oct. 1786 report. The first resolution declared that the states could not pass acts that violated the Anglo-American peace treaty, and the additional resolutions stipulated that any such acts were to be repealed (vol. 18:503–504). JA presented these resolutions to Carmarthen on 10 May 1787, reporting that the British minister was “Sincerely and highly pleased” (to John Jay, 14 May, below).
4. With this letter, Jay also enclosed a copy of Congress’ 21 Feb. resolution, for which see Jay’s letter of 21 Feb., and note 3, above.
5. On 9 May, Jay requested a formal leave of absence, informing Congress that his ill health required “an Excursion into the Country for ten Days or a Fortnight,” which it approved the same day (PCC, No. 80, III, f. 245; No. 122, I, f. 93). Jay returned to Congress in mid-July.