1From John Jay to John Lathrop, 3 March 1801 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for your obliging Letter of the 9 th ult: and the interesting Discourse w h . accompanied it. The 18 th Century has indeed been distinguished, as you observe, by great Events. There are some among them so [ illegible ] singular and apparently so ominous, that the present Century will probably not be less signal than the last: especially as whole Nations are suffering...
2Message to the New York State Assembly, 26 February 1801 (Jay Papers)
IT has generally and justly been considered as highly important to the security and duration of free States, that the different Departments and Officers of Government should exercise those powers only, which are constitutionally vested in them; and that all controversies between them, respecting the limits of their respective jurisdictions and authorities, be circumspectly and speedily...
3To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 15 February 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
At present I have not Leisure to mention more on the subject, than that the Gentleman who was thought of for a certain Employment, declines it—nor does he know of any Person who wd. probably be willing and also well qualified to execute what would be expected from him as necessary to ensure Success to the Plan. Yours ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In JCHW John C. Hamilton, ed.,...
4From John Jay to Cornelius Ray, Robert Troup, Richard Harison, Archibald Gracie, James Watson, William W. Woolsey, and … (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . the Letter w h you did me the Honor to write on the 15 th . Inst enclosing a Copy of a Resolution of the Federal Freeholders of the City of NYork of the 13 Instant. Permit me thru’ you to assure them of the high Sense I entertain of the honor they have done me by the Sentiments, respecting Services, which are expressed in that Resolution; and be pleased Gent n . to accept my...
5To John Adams from John Jay, 2 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 19th. ult: informing me that I had been nominated to fill the office of Chief Justice of the united States; and Yesterday I recd. the Commission—this nomination so strongly manifests your Esteem, that it affords me particular Satisfaction— Such was the Temper of the Times, that the Act to establish the judicial courts of the U.S., was in some...
6From John Jay to John Adams, 2 January 1801 (Jay Papers)
I have been honored with your Letter of the 19 th . ult: informing me that I had been nominated to fill the office of Chief Justice of the united States; and Yesterday I rec d . the Commission— this nomination so strongly manifests your Esteem, that it affords me particular Satisfaction— Such was the Temper of the Times, that the Act to establish the judicial courts of the U.S. was in some...
7From John Jay to John Marshall, 2 January 1801 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . Yesterday the polite Letter w h . you did me the Honor to write on the 22 d . Ult: enclosing a Commission whereby the Presid t ., with the advice and Consent of the Senate, has been pleased to appoint me ch. Justice of the United States. I am very Sensible of the Honor done ^me^ by this appointm t . but (independent of other Considerations) the Incompetency of my Health to the...
8From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 18 December 1800 (Jay Papers)
I was this Morning fav[ore] d . with yours of the 12 th . Instant. From your mentioning the Rec t . of mine to you of the 8 th , it may be inferred that no other Letters from me had reached you since the 27 Nov r . which is the Date of your last. Inform me whether any and what Letters of mine have come to your hands since the 27 nov r , that I may know whether any and which of them have...
9To John Adams from John Jay, 10 November 1800 (Adams 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 antifederal party succeeded at the last Election in the City of New York, and acquired a decided Majority in the assembly. Well knowing their Veiws and Temper it was not adviseable that the Speech should contain any Matter...
10From 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...
11From John Jay to Richard Hatfield, 8 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
Being engaged with company this evening, when the committee appointed by the respectable meeting of Citizens from various parts of the State, of which you was chairman, presented to me their address, I could only return them a verbal answer. But it appears to me proper to answer it in writing, as well as evince my respect, as that my Sentiments on the subject may be the better ascertained. In...
12From John Jay to Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr., 8 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
I do hereby give you notice that on the sixth Day of November instant you was, by the Senate and Assembly of this State, appointed one of the Electors in this State, for the Election of a President and Vice-President of the United States of America.— The Bearer of this Letter is an Express employed for the purpose of delivering it to you; and that I may be ascertained of his having done so, be...
13Address to the New York State Legislature, 4 November 1800 (Jay Papers)
THE great importance of the business which at stated periods, fixed by law, requires your convening at this early season, having heretofore been considered and experienced, it cannot be necessary to enumerate the various considerations which entitle it to serious attention. Connected with this is another topic, which need only to be mentioned to excite reflections, which, on such occasions,...
14From John Jay to Henry Van Schaack, 23 September 1800 (Jay Papers)
Mr Beers has ^ at ^ ^in Compliance with^ ^your Request has^ delivered to me the ^an^ Extract from the Albany Register, which you [ illegible ] for that purpose ^of the 15 of last month—^ which contains the following erroneous Statement of the Expences incurred by the United States for negociating the Treaty with Great Britain, viz t . Dol rs . “Mr. Jay for his outfit to make the Treaty 18000...
15To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 22 September 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
On my Return to this place on Friday last, I was favored with yours of the 3d. Instant. It seems that contradictory Reports still prevail respecting our negociations at Paris. I am not yet persuaded that Buonaparte has adopted in all its Extent, the System of Domination which the preceding Rulers of France attempted to execute; and therefore I presume that a Treaty of peace with America on...
16From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 22 September 1800 (Jay Papers)
On my Return to this place on Friday last, I was favored with yours of the 3 d . Instant— It seems that contradictory Reports still prevail respecting our negociations at Paris— I am not yet persuaded that Buonaparte has adopted in all its Extent, the System of Domination which the preceeding Rulers of France attempted to execute; and therefore I presume that a Treaty of peace with america on...
17To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 27 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I recd. and answered your Letter of the 19 Inst: on Monday. Yesterday I found the Instructions, & immediately wrote to you a Letter containing a Copy of the Paragraph in question. My search for the Letter of which I made the use you mention, was fruitless until this morning, when I found it, and now enclose a Copy —It does not quite answer your Expectation as to the opinion—But I know and am...
18From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 27 August 1800 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . and answered your Letter of the 19 Inst: on Monday— Yesterday I found the Instructions, & immediately wrote to you a Letter containing a Copy of the Paragraph in question. My Search for the Letter of which I made the use you mention, was fruitless until this morning, when I found it, and now enclose a Copy— It does not quite answer your Expectation as to the Opinion— But I know and...
19To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 26 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday I recd. and answd. yours of the 19 Instant. I have found a Copy of the Instructions, made by Wm. T. Franklin who was our Secy. They contain the following, verbatim —vizt. “You are to make the most candid and confidential communications upon all Subjects, to the ministers of our generous ally the King of France, to undertake nothing in the negociation for peace or Truce without their...
20From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 26 August 1800 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday I rec d . and answ d . yours of the 19 Instant. I have found a Copy of the Instructions, made by W m . T. Franklin who was our Sec y — They contain the following, verbatim —viz t . “You are to make the most candid and confidential Communications upon all Subjects to the Ministers of our generous ally the King of France, to undertake nothing in the Negociations for peace or Truce...
21To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 25 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I was this moment favd. with yours of the 19th Instant; requesting Copies of the Instruction, and of the Letter mentioned in it. I shall without Delay look for these papers. I presume that I have preserved them, but am not certain. When I removed from my House in the Broadway to the Govt. House, all such of my papers as were not in use, or which did not respect Property, were packed up with...
22From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 25 August 1800 (Jay Papers)
I was this moment fav d . with yours of the 19 th Instant; requesting Copies of the Instructions, and of the Letter mentioned in it. I shall without Delay look for those papers. I presume that I have preserved them, but am not certain. When I removed from my House in the Broadway to the Gov t . House, all such of my Papers as were not in use or which did not respect Property, were packed up...
23From John Jay to Joshua Mersereau, 6 August 1800 (Jay Papers)
M r . Matthews yesterday delivered to me your very friendly Letter of the 15 th . of last month, for which accept my Thanks— The Repairs and addition making to the House on my farm in west Chester County, have, with other Circumstances, naturally led to the opinion you mention; that I was preparing to retire to private Life. The operation of this opinion renders it expedient that my Intentions...
24From John Jay to Theophilus Parsons, 1 July 1800 (Jay Papers)
On my Return from New York; on Friday last, your obliging [letter of] the 5 th. of May, which arrived here during my absence, was delivered to me. [I am] much gratified by the Information it contains, & thank you for it.—[Serio]us apprehensions were entertained that antifœderalism had [gained] considerable Ground in Massachusetts; but I am happy to find [from the] Facts you state, that...
25From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 19 June 1800 (Jay Papers)
I have just had the pleasure of recieving from M r . Williams your Letter of the 17 Instant. Had the weather been fair, I should now have been on the Road to Albany, and I shall set out the Moment it changes. M r . Williams tells me that he and M r Putnam purpose to go there by Water— they will probably arrive before me, as I shall travel leisurely, & pass a few Days at my Farm in WestChester....
26From John Jay to Rufus King, 16 June 1800 (Jay Papers)
Altho I could write to you a long Letter, and on interesting Subjects, yet the Liberties often taken with Letters on the ocean make Reserve and Caution necessary— we are impatient to learn whether and what great Events have as yet marked the present campaign in Europe; and whether it is probable that the Expectations which seem ed to be formed from it will be realized—as yet the Question...
27From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 6 June 1800 (Jay Papers)
My Letter to you by the last post informed you, that the Doct r’s . Medicine was producing its Effect, and that part of the little Tumor had separate and come out— the remaining part, which the Doct r . thinks the most important, still continues; but he expects it will be discharged in the course of a few Days more— all the Symptoms he says are favorable— Not long after sending that Letter to...
28From John Jay to John Trumbull, 6 June 1800 (Jay Papers)
From not having rec d . any Letters from you for a considerable Time past, I suspect that mine to You have miscarried. Your last being at Albany I cannot mention their Dates; but I think the last was the one which accompanied the Reports you sent me, and which I read with pleasure. Since that Period Affairs both in Europe and in this Country have undergone great changes; and the most sagacious...
29From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 24 April 1800 (Jay Papers)
Several Affairs more interesting to others than to me, have for some months past so pressed upon me, as together with official Business, to leave me little Leisure to attend to my own Concerns— Hence I have been constrained into Delays respecting my correspondents, which could not have been less agreable to their Feelings than to my own— Accept my Thanks for several Communications with which...
30To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 11 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Benjn. Cornwell and John Coles both of Schoharie, privates in capt. Andrew Whites Compy. of the 12 Regt. have just been with me, and with much Indignation complain of their officers. Cornwell says that he was enlisted by Lt. Tobias B. Cuyler or Schuyler (I am not certain which) about last new Year—that he was promised 12 Dollrs. Bounty on arriving at the place of Rendevous, Stillwater—that he...
The REGENTS of the University respectfully report— THAT during the last Year the annual Provision ceased, which had subsisted by law since the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, for the support of additional professorships in Columbia College, and in consequence thereof three of the Professorships have, for the present, ceased, and several others are diminishing in activity, from...
32To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 13 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Coleman, who was yesterday appointed Clk of the NYork circuits, will be the Bearer of this. Mr. Skinner was first nominated—for where character and qualifications for office are admitted, the candidate who has age Standing and prior public Services on his Side, should I think take the lead; unless perhaps in Cases peculiarly circumstanced. Mr. Skinner did not succeed. Mr Coleman was then...
33From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 13 March 1800 (Jay Papers)
M r Coleman, who was Yesterday appointed Cl[er] k . of the NYork Circuits, will be the Bearer of this. M r . Skinner was first nominated, for where Character and qualifications for office are admitted, the Candidate who has age Standing and prior public Services on his Side, should I think take the lead; unless perhaps in Cases peculiarly circumstanced— M r . Skinner did not succeed. M r...
34To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 10 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, March 10, 1800. Jay’s endorsement on Hamilton’s letter to him of March 4, 1800, reads: “4 March and. 10 1800.” Letter not found. ]
35From John Jay to Samuel Miller, 28 February 1800 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for the Sermon on the Death of General Washington, which you was so obliging as to send me. In my opinion it abounds in excellent sentiments, well arranged and expressed. writing thus freely, I think it candid to observe, that in some instances Ideas are conveyed, which do not appear to me to be correct. such for instance, as “our glorious Emancipation from Britain.[”] The...
36To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 7 February 1800. (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, February 7, 1800. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from Mr. Jay …” to H, Columbia University Libraries.
37Message to the New York State Senate, 29 January 1800 (Jay Papers)
At a Court of Oyer and Terminer held in and for the County of Washington, in the month of June last, a certain Benjamin Holmes was convicted of murder, and sentenced to be executed on the fifth Day of August last— At a Court of Oyer and Terminer held in and for the City and County of New York, in the month of November last, a certain John Pastano was convicted of murder, and sentenced to be...
38Address to the New York State Legislature, 28 January 1800 (Jay Papers)
You will I am persuaded join with me in deeply regretting, that the Topic which naturally rises first into view on this occasion, is the afflicting & unexpected Death of that virtuous and great man, who both in the Field and in the cabinet, in public and in private Life, attracted such an uncommon Degree of merited Esteem Confidence and admiration. His memory will be cherished by the wise and...
39From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 2 January 1800 (Jay Papers)
On Monday morning last, (being post Day) I recieved from the Post office some news papers, but no Letters. Yesterday Mr. Beers being ^happening to call^ at the post office on Business , recieved ^from^ ^the post master a Letter for me which had been brought by the Monday’s post, and which it seems had escaped his notice —. It was yours of the 25 ult. Having in several Instances had Reason to...
40From John Jay to Robert Troup, 28 December 1799 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with your’s of the 23 Inst: and with the one mentioned in it. The subject of them both is indeed an affecting one. I perfectly concur in the sentiment, that we should transmit to posterity the most honourable Proofs of the veneration in which we hold the character and memory of that singularly virtuous and great man, whose Death we lament. The idea of the corporation...
I feel myself gratified by the frank & friendly Letter of the 4 ult. w[hic] h . accompanied your official Communication of the Resolutions of your Legislature for amiably settling the Gore Controversy. Every Consideration both of a personal and public nature, will always urge me to promote the best understanding between your State and this; and to discourage whatever might give just Cause of...
42From John Jay to Isaac Tichenor, 21 October 1799 (Jay Papers)
I was informed by M r . Kelly shortly before his Death, and by other Gentlemen since, that the Legislature of Vermont had been pleased to pass certain Resolutions authorizing a Grant to me of as much Land as remained necessary to satisfy ^supply^ the Deficiency in the former one. A Hope and Expectation of being at Bennington before Winter, induced me to postpone taking any Measures on the...
43From John Jay to John Eliot, 8 October 1799 (Jay Papers)
On reading the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society for the Year 1798, which you was so obliging as to send me, I observe a mistake, which I will take the Liberty of mentioning. The Report of a Committee of the Board of Correspondents of the Scots Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, who visited the Oneida and Mohekunuk Indians in 1796, is one of the Papers published in...
44From John Jay to Matthew Clarkson, 13 September 1799 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . a Letter of the 6 th . Inst. from M r . C. Sands of Flatbush. After informing me of the Death of M r . Lefferts the Surrogate for Kings County, he proceeds in strong Terms to recommend one W m . Livingston to succeed him. M r Willson the professor in Columbia College has heretofore written to me on the Subject of some place for W m ., & assured me of his Reformation—hitherto...
45From John Jay to Richard Peters, 11 September 1799 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with your’s of the 23 Ult: and have conversed fully with the Comptroller on the Subject of the Claim of the State to quit Rent on your Land; and on the Reasons why you should be considered as a bona fide purchasor of the State, and therefore not liable to pay it. From his Statement it would seem that the State did no more relative to the Land than aid you in obtaining the...
46From John Jay to William Wilberforce, 3 September 1799 (Jay Papers)
It was not untill the last week that I had the pleasure of receiving your from M r Naylor your obliging and very friendly Letter of the 24 Feb. 1798. Accept my thanks for it. He left Town the next Day, and isnt expected, soon to return M r Naylor and every other Gent”. whom you may be pleased to recommend will give me pleasure by opportunities of shewing them friendly attentions, and doing...
47To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 3 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I was this morning favored with yours of the 29 ulto. requesting to be informed, whether the Sum appropriated by the Legislature of this State, will come in aid of the completion of the works in the vicinity of New York? The act passed the 3d. of april last, for the paymt. of certain officers of governmt. and other contingent Expences, contains the following clause—it is the third from the End...
48To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 23 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Such was your Recommendation of Mr. Inglis for the place of a notary, that it is proper to mention to you the Reasons why he was not appointed. I think the number of officers should be regulated in general by the occasion or necessity there may be for them. In the City of New York there are at least Twenty public notaries; and that number being in my opinion more than sufficient, it does not...
49From John Jay to Matthew Clarkson, 18 April 1799 (Jay Papers)
The enclosed is an extract from a letter which M r . King wrote to me on the 7 th . Day of dec r . last, but which I did not recieve untill last month, in answer to one from me, requesting him to procure and ship three thousand musquets and bayonets for the Use of this State and promising to make him the necessary remittances. You will perceive from his answer, that, not being able to obtain...
50From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 12 April 1799 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 4 March —April was doubtless the month— From the Information it contains relative to the apple Tree Boards, which I am glad to find have been taken proper Care of, it appears that you have rec d . the Letter from me on that Subject— I hope the others have also reached you. Your attention in writing to the Maj r . about the House, gives me pleasure— I wish the...