11To John Adams from John Jay, 21 November 1794 (Adams Papers)
From the Day of my appointment to this mission, my Attention has been much withdrawn from my friends, and confined to the Business which brought me here; & which has at last been terminated by a Treaty. In future I shall have more Leisure to attend to my Friends, and to my own affairs— Both your sons arrived here in good Health. I wrote to my friend John lately, but as yet have not had a...
12To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
My last to you was of the 14 th: Ult: by the Ship Betsey Cap t. Thomas Watson—since that time, I have had the Pleasure of receiving and laying before Congress your Dispatches of 6 th , 8 th , & 10 th: August last.— We concur so perfectly in Sentiment respecting public Affairs and what ought to be done, that I find no Occasion to enlarge on those Heads.— In a late Report I have called the...
13From John Jay to John Adams, 17 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
On the 4 June last I had the Pleasure of writing you a Letter acknowleging the Reciept of yours of the 15 May —since which none of your Favors have reached me. I have just been reading the Capitulation of Charles Town. I suspect they wanted Provisions. The Reputation of the Garrison will suffer till the Reasons of their Conduct are explained. I wish a good one may be in their Power. They are...
14From John Jay to John Adams, 21 February 1787 (Jay Papers)
I had the Pleasure of re[ceivin] g two Days ago your Letter of the 30 Nov r . by M r Mitchel—it was the next Morning laid before Congress. Nine States are now represented, but as yet little progress has been made in the Business before them. My Report on the Infractions of the Treaty complained of by Britain, has been referred to a new Committee and I think a very good one;—various Opinions...
15To John Adams from John Jay, 18 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of recg your favor of the 28 ult. a few Days ago. I congratulate You sincerely on the accession of Friesland and the flattering Prospect there is that the Example of that Province will be followed by that of Holland and the others. It would give me great Satisfaction to be able to transmit you In telligence equally agreable, but that is not the Case. Prudence forbids me to...
16To John Adams from John Jay, 3 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
In Obedience to the Orders of Congress I have the Honor of informing you, that Phineas Bond Esq r. has presented to Congress a Commission from his britannic Majesty, constituting him Commissary for all commercial Affairs within the United States, and another Commission constituting him Consul for the States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware and Maryland.— Congress being desirous...
17To John Adams from John Jay, 27 July 1794 (Adams Papers)
Docr. Edwards of Philada. will be so obliging as to take charge of this Letter. I regret that he & Mrs. Edwards leave this peace so soon—. You will find him a Gentleman of extensive Information.—He has visited the greater part of this Kingdom, and paid particular attention to the Husbandry of it.—Permit me to introduce him to You. I have heard, and wish it may be true, that your Son is...
18From John Jay to John Adams, 4 May 1786 (second letter) (Jay Papers)
Since the 22 d . February which was the Date of my last Letter to You, I have been honored with yours of the 4. 5. and 11 Novem r . and 2. 6. 9. 12. and 15 and one of Decem r . last and also of 4 th . 21. and 26. January 1786. All of them have been laid before Congress, from whom I have no Instructions to say any thing more on the Subjects of them than what you will find in my Letter to you of...
19To John Adams from John Jay, 4 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have been honored with your Letters of the 10 th. 19. & 30 April and 1 st: May last. Since the sitting of the Convention a sufficient number of States for the Dispatch of Business have not been represented in Congress, so that it has neither been in my Power officially to communicate your Letters to them, nor to write on several Subjects on which it is proper that Congress should make known...
20To John Adams from John Jay, 4 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is a Destinction between Ceremony and Attention which is not always observed tho often useful. I Of the latter former I hope there will be little of V between us, of the latter much. Public as well as personal Considerations dictate this Conduct, on my Part, and I am happy to find by your favor of the 15 Inst. Ultimo, that you approve it in the same Light mean not to be punctilious. The...
21To John Adams from John Jay, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have at Length had the Pleasure of recieving your very friendly Letter of the 22d. Feby. last. It has been very long on the Road. Accept my Thanks for your kind Congratulations; and permit me to assure you that I sincerely rejoice in your having safely reached the Place of your Destination on a Business which declares the Confidence of America, and for an Object, in the Attainment of which,...
22From John Jay to John Adams, 1 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I am this Moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter, and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it. My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing. We have told M r Oswald so, & he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet rec d ....
23To John Adams from John Jay, 7 July 1795 (Adams Papers)
In Compliance with the Request of Sir John Sinclair I have the Pleasure of transmitting to you herewith enclosed a Book which I recd. from him two Days ago. As it is now probable that Col. Smith will meet with a greater number of opportunities of sending it than will occur to me, I shall take the Liberty of committing it to his care— Be pleased to present Mrs. Jay & my best Compts. to Mrs....
24From John Jay to John Adams, 16 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
You will recieve this at a Moment, when you will again find yourself surrounded by your amiable Family— it is a pleasing Circumstance, and I congratulate you on the occasion. We are much obliged to M rs . Adams for having honored us tho for a little while with her Company— it has confirmed the Esteem which her Character had inspired.— If wishes were not vain, I should wish you all well settled...
25From John Jay to John Adams (private), 10 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
Still pressed by public Business occasioned by the late Session, I take up my pen to write you a few Lines before the Mail closes. It very unexpectedly happened that the Antifœderal party succeeded at the last Election in the City of New York, and acquired a decided majority in the assembly. Well knowing their Views & Temper it was not adviseable that the Speech should contain any Matter...
26To John Adams from John Jay, 4 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter in which you mention M r Warren. Your opinion of that Gentleman, added to the Merits of his Family, cannot fail to operate powerfully in his Favor. I have communicated that Letter to M r King, an able & valuable Delegate from Massachusets; who I have Reason to think wishes well to you, and to all who like You, deserve well of their Country. our Friend Gerry...
27To John Adams from John Jay, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
My last to you was of the 26 th: Ultimo, in which I mentioned the Dates of the Letters with which you had honored me, and the Receipt of which then remained unacknowledged—none from you have since arrived.— I have now the Honor of transmitting to You herewith enclosed a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 18 th: Ultimo— it contains a Correspondence between the Governor of Massachusetts and Cap...
28From John Jay to John Adams, 23 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
Having read in the Papers of to Day, an Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in France to one at Boston, mentioning an Edict excluding foreign whale oil, I waited on the minister of France to be informed whether he had rec d . official Information of it. He told me he had not.— we had much Conversation on the Subject, and from it I was led to conclude, that he did not think it improbable that...
29To John Adams from John Jay, 1 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r. Fitzherbert has just been with me. He will give passports for american merchantmen, on our doing the like for british ones. He informed me that Doct r. Franklin is preparing a number of these Passports, in his own name. As this Business appears to both of us to appertain rather to the american Commissioners for peace, than to the residentiary minister at this or any other Court; would it...
30From John Jay to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your Fav r . of the 20 th . Inst. arrived last Evening— It is not in pursuance of a recent or hasty Resolution, that I am preparing to return: It has been long taken & maturely considered. The public accounts still detain me, for tho’ always kept by M r Carmichael, I do not chuse to leave them unsettled behind me— When that Obstacle ceases, which I expect will be very soon, I shall leave...
31To John Adams from John Jay, 31 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you of the 4 th. Instant I have been honored with yours of the 8 th. 14 th. & 23 d. of May last, which have been communicated to Congress.— I have now the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed certified Copies of sundry Acts of Congress, Viz t. of the 21 st. March and 13 th. April last relative to our Treaty with Britain; also an Act of the 20 th. July Instant...
32To John Adams from John Jay, 2 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I lately wrote you a few hasty Lines just as the vessel which carried them was departing; and enclosed a Pamphlet containing my Correspondence with a M r Littlepage, who was formerly in my Family. The attack which produced that Pamphlet, was not only countenanced but stimulated by some of the Subjects of our good allies here. It is no Secret either to You or me that I am no favorite with them:...
33To John Adams from John Jay, 12 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of writing you a few Lines on the 2 d. of last Month, since which I have received and communicated to Congress your Letters of 9 th. 24 th. and 27 th. January and 3 d. & 24 th. February last.— My Health continues much deranged, and I purpose in a few Days to make an Excursion into the Country for about a fortnight.— A Motion has lately been made in Congress to remove to...
34From John Jay to John Adams, 3 January 1799 (Jay Papers)
I this morning laid before the Legislature of this State, your answer to their address: for the kind and honorable mention made of me in it, be pleased to accept my warmest acknowledgments. To be thus laudato Homine laudari, and to recieve such spontaneous and decided manifestations of sincere and cordial Esteem and Friendship, are Events too interesting & pleasing not to excite correspondent...
35From John Jay to John Adams, 1 February 1783 (Jay Papers)
M r . Fitzherbert has just been with me— He will give passports for american merchantmen, on our doing the like for british ones. He informed me that Doct r . Franklin is preparing a number of these Passports, in his own name. As this Business appears to both ^ of ^ us to appertain rather to the american Commissioners for peace, than to the residentiary Minister at this or any other Court;...
36To John Adams from John Jay, 3 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Still I am unable to give you satisfactory Information on the old and interesting Subject of your Return. My Report on it is not yet decided upon by Congress, altho’ some Progress has been made in it.— My Endeavors to forward it shall continue unremitted.— My last Letter to you was on the 4 th. Day of September, since which I have not had the Honor of receiving any Letter from you. Your Letter...
37To John Adams from John Jay, 31 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
I recd. your Letter of the 9th. by the Mail which arrived here on the 24 Instant on the Return of Mr. Son and his Sisters from their Tour thro’ the Eastern States, it gave me pleasure to learn from them, that they had paid their Respects to you—that they found you and Mrs. Adams in good Health, and that I might expect a Letter from you—that expectation induced me to postpone expressing to you...
38To John Adams from John Jay, 11 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you of the 7th. Ult. I have recieved your’s of the 30th. of April, and 13th. of May. As in the latter (which came to hand on the 19 May) you approved of an application to Mr. Duane for copies of what he calls our Journals, I did apply to him accordingly, by a Letter of which the following is a copy—vizt. “Bedford—Westchester County—N. York—22d. May 1821—” “Sir On the 24th. of...
39Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20 th: Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his Friendship as a desirable Object;...
40To John Adams from John Jay, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
On the 4 June last I had the Pleasure of writing you a Letter acknowledging the Reciept of yours of the 15 May—since which none of your Favors have reached me. I have just been reading the Capitulation of Charles Town. I suspect they wanted Provisions. The Reputation of the Garrison will suffer till the Reasons of their Conduct are explained. I wish a good one may be in their Power. They are...