301From John Jay to John Trumbull, 27 October 1797 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . three Days ago by the post, your Letter of the 7 August, in which was a Copy of the one you had written on the 20 July, and the original of which I had recieved and read with Pleasure. The Difficulty and Delicacy of your Task my good Friend! are obvious, and ^but^ I flatter myself the Reputation to be derived from it, will soften the Trouble & anxiety it gives You. It was not to be...
302From John Jay to Oliver Wolcott, 20 October 1797 (Jay Papers)
It was not untill Yesterday that I recieved (under cover from Col. Talmadge) the Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 19 th . of last Month, with the one addressed to you by several Gentlemen of Litchfield requesting your Interposition with ^me^ for the Pardon of Israel Stone, who is now under Sentence of confinement for Life on Conviction of Forgery—. To your...
303From John Jay to Richard Varick, 5 October 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have received a Petition from Peter Heaton, stating that he had been convicted of Larceny, at a Court of Quarter Sessions held in the City of New York on the 10 th . July last and sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment at hard Labor in Bridewell— The prayers for a Pardon and his Petition is supported by a number of very respectable Subscribers— Be so good as to converse with the Recorder on...
304From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was this morning fav d . with yours of the 9 Inst. and have just finished reading your answer to the Chevaliers indiscreet & improper Letter— If no Faction hostile to the true Interests of this Country existed in it, I presume that the proper way to treat that Gentleman would be to insist on his Recall and to refuse to do Business with him— under present Circumstances, Prudence requires that...
305From John Jay to John Drayton, 6 September 1797 (Jay Papers)
on reading The Letter which you was so obliging as to write to me on the 21 July 1795, it appeared however prudent to delay excited no other Surprize than that certain Gentlemen had forgotten the Respect which they owed both to themselves and ^as well as^ to me It was foreseen that any Treaty with Great Britain would be violently opposed by the Debtors to that Country, by the Enemies of the...
306From John Jay to Benjamin Vaughan, 31 August 1797 (Jay Papers)
I had this afternoon the pleasure of recieving your favor of the 18 Inst.— M rs . Jay joins with me in sincerely congratulating you & your amiable Family on your arrival in this Country— May your Expectations of Happiness in it be perfectly realized. The Reasons which have determined you to settle on the Kennebeck, I can easily concieve are cogent; but I flatter myself you will sometimes find...
307From John Jay to Jeremy Belknap, 17 August 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with yours of the 24 June. It gives me pleasure to find that your biographical work advances. If it does not proceed too fast, it will be very interesting— especially as it will have the ^an^ advantage which all works of that kind cannot boast, viz t . of judicious selection and candor. I wish I could comply with your Request in a full & satisfactory manner— but the History...
308From John Jay to John Vaughan, 31 July 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with yours of the 11 th . Instant, in which you mention having rec d . from your Brother for me a Portrait of the late President, engraved from a painting of Stewart; and that You had sent it to the Care of M r . Constable— I have since rec d . it and am much obliged by this mark of your Brothers attention, as well as by your Care respecting it. When next you write to your...
309From John Jay to James Sullivan, 28 July 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your’s of the 30 th . of last month, informing me of the necessity of my being at Boston on the 14 th . of august next, to give Testimony to the Commissioners appointed to determine what River was intended, by the River S t . Croix in the Treaty of Peace. If on further Consideration my personal attendance should be judged indispensable, I shall certainly think it my...
310From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 15 July 1797 (Jay Papers)
I herewith return the Book which you was so obliging as to send me. Whether the Convention of armed Neutrality was limited in its Duration to that of the war then subsisting, or remained in force after the Return of Peace? is a question to which the inaccurate manner in which the 11 th . article is expressed, appears to have given occasion.— The original (which is not translated with perfect...
311From John Jay to John Sinclair, 12 July 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was Yesterday fav d . with yours of 29 March last enclosing three Copies of your account of the origin &c a . of the Board of agriculture—for w h accept my Thanks This Publication is in many Respects interesting— It shews how much may be accomplished by the Talents Zeal & Perseverance of patriotic Individuals; and how much ^greatly^ the Success of the best Institutions depends of on the...
312From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 8 June 1797 (Jay Papers)
Read the enclosed Letter first To understand this Letter it will be necessary to r first to read the enclosed, this being a sequel to that— which I for ward now because ^which was intended for this mornings post but^ the mail was closed when my Sec y brought the enclosed ^it^ to the Post office— The Cap t . Clarke in Question is well known in this City— During the late War he served in the...
313From John Jay to Grenville, 4 June 1797 (Jay Papers)
A long Interval has passed between the Date of my last Letter, and that of this— they would have been more frequent, had they been exposed to less Risque of Interception. My Respect and Esteem for your Lordship remain unabated; and I yet flatter myself with the pleasure of becoming a better Correspondent. It will give you satisfaction to know that Letters I have rec d . from M r . King and M r...
314Proclamation regarding Quarantine, 27 April 1797 (Jay Papers)
Whereas by an Act of the Legislature of this State Entitled “An Act to prevent the bringing in and spreading of infectious Diseases in this State” passed the first Day of April 1796, it is among other things enacted, “That all Vessels arriving in the Port of New York from Ports beyond the Sea, having on board forty Passengers— All Vessels arriving in the said Port, having on board a Person...
315From John Jay to Peter Thacher, 25 April 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was this morning fav d . with yours of the 19 th . Inst: stating the Reasons which render it doubtful whether the Society in Scotland ought in future ^ would ^^will^^ think it adviseable^ to be at the Expence of continuing ^a^ mission at at Oneida if among the Oneida Indians; and suggesting the Propriety of maintaining one ^ at the Expense of this state ^ in that Tribe at the Expense of this...
316From John Jay to the Public, 25 April 1797 (Jay Papers)
In Greenleaf’s paper printed at New-York in March last there was a publication of which the following is an extract, viz. “It is curious to estimate the expences which the British Treaty has cost the United States. The account may be stated as follows. Dolls. Ct. “1794 7 th May—The United States advanced for Mr. Jay’s outfit.[”] 18,000 “Of this Mr. Jay must have saved the whole, as his...
317From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 19 April 1797 (Jay Papers)
I enclose one of Greenleafs Papers, printed the 15 of last month. You will find in it some Statements and Remarks on the Expences of the british Treaty— Some Gentlemen on whose Judgments I rely, and among them Col. Hamilton, think it adviseable that some notice be taken of this publication — a certain Description of People make a Handle of it— I enclose a Paper on the Subject, which I think...
318From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 10 March 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was this afternoon fav d . with yours of the 5 th . Instant, enclosing the mes Letter from mentioned but omitted in your last. my last to you was written on the 5 th of this month. in it I informed You that I had rec d . yours of the 25 th . Ult: For two Days past we have had severe cold weather— no Water to be seen in Streets— all hard frozen— so that unless much Rain should speedily fall,...
REPORT of the REGENTS of the UNIVERSITY, made to the Legislature, the 9th of March, ult. and entered on the Journals of both Houses. To the HONORABLE the LEGISLATURE, The Regents of the University Respectfully report, That during the year past, Columbia and Union Colleges, and Erasmus-Hall, Johnstown, Cooperstown, Canandarqua, Oxford, Hamilton-Oneida, Cherry Valley, Union in Stone Arabia,...
320From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 28 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav[ore] d . with yours of the 14 ult. and also with the one which accompanied the Set of your Geography, for which be pleased to accept my Thanks.— It gives me Pleasure to learn that you will endeavour at least to prepare for a History of the American Revolution. To obtain competent and exact Information on the Subject, is not the least arduous part of the Task— it will require...
321From John Jay to John Williams, 24 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your Letters of the 15 and 17 Instant, which together with a Copy of the Report of the Committee respecting the Fortifications of Ports & Harbours, I rec[eive]d. this morning. It appears to me probable that no measures very effectual will be taken on this Subject by the present Congress—but it is to be hoped that the succeeding one will attend to it. The Nation will have...
322From John Jay to Richard Lawrence, 9 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with yours of the 27 of last month. I wish it was in our power and consistent with Prudence to ^we could^ give Relief to all who may be ^are^ in need of it— but if this State should attempt to provide for all the French Refugees without Distinction ; those who reside in other States where the like Provision is not made, who would remove to our City for the Purpose of...
323From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your obliging Favor of the 23 d . Instant, enclosing a Copy of your interesting Letter to M r . Pinckney, which is read here with great avidity and satisfaction— it enables our Citizens to form a correct Judgment of the Conduct Claims and Complaints of France, relative to this Country; and to appreciate the wisdom, abilities and virtue with which our Govern t is...
324From John Jay to Francis Ley, 26 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was by the last post favored with yours of the 23 d . ult mentioning that you purpose to publish, by Subscription, a work on the Subject of preserving Houses from external Fire, and the Means of removing Goods from such as may be in Danger from it. That you would bestow one half of the Subscription money on the Sufferers by the late Fire at Savannah, and that one Copy shall be sent to those...
325From John Jay to Richard Lawrence, 23 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
It gives me pleasure to inform you that the Legislature has been pleased to appropriate 2500 Dollars for the Relief of the French Refugees in our City, whose complicated Distresses recommend them so strongly to our Beneficence & humane Attentions. You will find herewith enclosed a Warrant on the Treasurer for 1000 Doll s . and a Copy of the Act lately passed on this Subject. The Directions and...
326From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 21 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
I was Yesterday favored with your’s of the 14 th . of this month. I congratulate you and M rs . Munro on the Addition lately made to your Family, and am happy to learn that her Health is re-establishing so fast. The Demeanour of a certain Person was probably assumed for the Purposes you allude to— He sometimes calculates with more Reliance on Probabilities than they warrant. Affairs here go on...
327From John Jay to Matthew Clarkson, Richard Varick, and the Commissioners for Fortifying the Port and City of New York, 4 … (Jay Papers)
I received Yesterday a letter from General Van Cortlandt of the 26 ult with a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 16 ult. appointing a Committee relative to Fortifications of which the enclosed are Copies—. You will perceive from these Papers the Importance of conveying to the Committee accurate Information respecting the State of our Fortifications and the Expediency of...
By His Excellency John Jay Governor of the State of New York & ca & ca To all & every the Sheriffs Constables & other Ministerial officers of Justice within the said State— Whereas pursuant to a Statute of the Congress of the U.S.: in such case made and provided, his Excell cy Thomas Mifflin Governor of the Commonw[ealt] h . of Penns[ylvani] a . has transmitted to me an Affidavit made by Sarah...
329Address to the New York State Legislature, 1 November 1796 (Jay Papers)
When it is considered how greatly the Happiness of of every Nation depends on the Wisdom with which their Government is administered, the occasion which has called you together at this early Season, cannot but be regarded as unusually important. The Period fixed for the Election of a President of the United States is approaching, and the Measures preparatory to it in this State, are now to be...
330From John Jay to Henry Glen, 11 October 1796 (Jay Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of recieving your Letter of the 5 th . ult: mentioning that the British Garrisons had retired from Oswego and Niagara, and that our Troops were in Possession of those Posts— I am happy to learn that this Business was conducted in a manner so satisfactory to both Parties— The officers on both Sides deserve Credit for the Decorum & Propriety which they observed on the...
331To George Washington from John Jay, 19 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
It occurs to me that it may not be perfectly prudent to say that we are never to expect Favors from a nation, for that assertion seems to imply that nations always are , or always ought to be moved only by interested motives. It is true that disinterested Favors are so rare, that on that account they are not to be expected between nations; and if that Sentiment turned on that Reason vizt their...
332From John Jay to George Washington, 19 September 1796 (Jay Papers)
It occurs to me that it may not be perfectly prudent to say that we are never to expect Favors from a Nation, for that assertion seems to imply that Nations always are , or always ought to be moved only by interested motives. It is true that disinterested Favors are so rare, that on that account they are not to be expected between nations; and if that Sentiment turned on that Reason viz t ....
333From John Jay to William Henry Clinton, 19 September 1796 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . Yesterday the Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 20 th . of June last, relative to Lands held by the late Sir Henry Clinton in this State, and which during the late War were confiscated by an act of the Legislature. At that Time I was in Europe, and have little Information respecting the Principles on which several of the Persons affected by that act, were named in it—...
334From John Jay to Thomas Mifflin, 6 September 1796 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your Excellency’s Letter of 27 th July containing a number of Papers respecting certain Intruders on the Lands of Pennsylvania, and intimating a wish that such measures may be taken as our Law should warrant to restrain and punish their assembling in or retreating to this State — I should have written to you sooner but waited for the Result of certain Enquiries which...
335From John Jay to John Lowell, 24 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 1 st . Instant was last Week left at my House—presuming from that Circumstance that your Son was in town, I sent my Son to enquire for him at our principal Lodging Houses, and at other Places—but without Success. I regret ^my^ not having had the Pleasure of seeing him, and evincing by friendly attentions my Esteem and Regard both for You and for him— It is happy for the...
336From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 4 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines some Days ago— M rs . Danbery will be the Bearer of them; but I understand she is still here, & will not set out untill Tomorrow or the next Day— M rs . Ridley has also written by her, and sent you one or two umbrellas Your kind Letters of the 27 & 28 of last Month have come to Hand, and I thank you for them very sincerely— It gives me pleasure to assure You that the...
337From John Jay to Joseph Brant, 1 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
I was favored the Day before Yesterday with your Letter of the 24 th . June respecting Compensation from this State for Lands Claimed by the Mohawks— Not possessing sufficient Information I cannot at present form a Judgment of the Merits of those claims, whatever they may be I think it would be advisable for the Claimants to unite in appointing and sending here at the next Session of the...
338From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 25 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
I hope this Letter will find you at Lebanon in better Health than when you left us— The Passage, the Journey, Change of air, and Leisure will all aid the Waters in the Recovery of your Health— While I was from Home this morning M rs . Ridley was informed of a Sloop just about to sail for Kinderhook and in Haste wrote you a few Lines. It is said that another will sail this Evening and by her...
339From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had last Evening a Conversation with Col. Hamilton on the Subject of your Letter to him of the 16 th . Instant—a Copy of which was enclosed in yours to me of the same Date— He will I presume state to you particularly our opinions on the three Questions mentioned in it— It appears to me adviseable that, prior to the Nomination by either Party of a third Commissioner, M r Howell should...
On my Return from England I took the earliest opportunity of communi catinge d to M r Randolph the Memorandum ^w h ^ your Lordship had given me relative to your Estate in Virginia— he very readily understood ^promised^ to make the necessary Inquiries and to write to you Lordship respecting the Result of them— Thinking that the Business could not be in better Train, I omitted to take a Copy of...
341From John Jay to Ann Jay, 8 June 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had this moment the Pleasure of recieving your Letter of the 5 th . of this month. Your Mama and Brother have lately written to You, and a little Bundle was sent at the same Time— You will probably recieve them before this Letter will come to your Hands. Your apprehensions relative to a Fever prevailing here are not well founded. I have no Information nor Reason to beleive, that any Credit...
342From John Jay to Richard Varick, 7 June 1796 (Jay Papers)
Considering the Works erected on Governors Island and the obvious objections to having a Lazaretto near a Garrison I am solicitous to procure some other place for that purpose You are apprized of the difficulty or rather impossibility of purchasing from individuals any ground in a convenient situation for a Lazaretto on account of the popular prejudices against having such an establishment in...
343From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 6 June 1796 (Jay Papers)
I was this Moment favored with your’s of the 4 Instant. under the last article any further arrangements which might become desireable or mutually beneficial may be made in an easy & convenient Manner— it enables the parties to bring into negociation any Propositions of that kind which they may think proper. You will observe that the 3 d article admits us to navigate in small vessels trading...
344From John Jay to John H. Remsen, 12 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
As I see you every Day, it may seem singular that I sh d communicate to you by Letter any thing w h I might with more Ease be mentioned to you in Conversation. In times when it is so common for Men and Measures to be misrepresented, more than ordinary Caution is adviseable; and that Consideration induces me to commit to paper, what I sh d otherwise say to you personally in conversation on the...
345From John Jay to the Tammany Society, 11 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
The Governor has taken into Consideration the request signified to him by a Committee of the Tammany Society in this City “That he would order the Flags on Governor’s Island, and also on the Battery, to be hoisted on the day of their Anniversary, viz t . the 12 May Instant.”— It appears to him that if such a Compliment be paid to the Tammany, it ought not to be refused to any other of the...
346From John Jay to Robert Liston, 6 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
The Gov r . presents his Comp ts . to M r Liston— The enclosed affidavit of Rich d . Van Dyke respecting certain Americans whom he mentions to have been impressed, and to be now detained on Board the Assistance , was delivered to the Governor last night. M r Liston will readily percieve the Influence w h . such Complaints never fail to have on public opinion and Sensibility, and how strongly...
347From John Jay to Grenville, 1 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
The great Questions which have agitated this Country since my arrival, may I think be considered as determined: I will therefore no longer postpone thanking your Lordship for the Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 11 th . of may last; respecting which I shall omit saying any thing further by this opportunity. The Treaty will go into operation, and be supported by a great...
348From John Jay to James McHenry, 28 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
I have been honored with Yours of the 25 th . Instant— The Chiefs have just left me— They insist on their having plenary powers, & seem much to regret that the Instrument expressing those powers cannot be found— The Interpreter as well as the Chiefs are certain that it was presented to the President. For my own part I perceive no reason to doubt, but on the contrary I beleive that they are...
349From John Jay to John Charlton, 22 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
I take the liberty of enclosing a Plan of a Lazaretto shown by D r . Bard with his Letters to me on the subject— Be so obliging as the lay them before the Medical Society, and request them to favor me without delay with their opinion and Plan of such a Building as they may judge the best calculated for the purpose; in case the one offered by D r . Bard should be thought defective.— This is a...
350To George Washington from John Jay, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
private You can have very little Time for private Letters, and therefore I am the more obliged by the one you honored me with on the 31 of last month. I was not without apprehensions that on Enquiry it might not appear adviseable to gratify Mr Pickman’s wishes; for altho’ Integrity and amiable manners are great, yet they are not the only Qualifications for office. Your answer to the Call for...