John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from George Washington, 31 March 1796

From George Washington

Philadelphia 31st. Mar 1796

Accept, my dear Sir, my thanks for your note of the 25th. Instant— enclosing a copy of Mr. Bayards letter to you.—1 The purport of it is pleasing; but the conduct of the British armed Vessels in the West Indies, is intolerable beyond all forbearance.

My answer, given yesterday, to the House of Representatives’ request of Papers, will, I expect, set a host of Scribblers to work:—but I shall proceed steadily on, in all the measures which depend on the Executive, to carry the British Treaty into effect.—2

This reminds me of the name of Pickman,3 who, sometime ago you mentioned as a Commissioner;4—but upon enquiry of his countrymen, it was found he was unfit—& Mr Benson declines.—5 Let me pray you to send the enclosed to Colo. Hamilton6—& be assured of the Affecte. Regard of

Go: Washington

His Excelly Jno. Jay

ALS, NNC (EJ: 07261). Endorsed. PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 19: 641–42; WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends , 2: 267; HP], 4: 206–7.

2GW to the House of Representatives, 30 Mar. 1796, PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 19: 635–38. The address was printed in Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, and the Philadelphia Gazette (both Philadelphia) of 31 Mar., and the Argus, Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser (New York), on 2 Apr., and subsequently in many other newspapers. On the resolution of 24 Mar. from the House of Representatives requesting copies of JJ’s instructions and correspondence regarding the Jay Treaty and GW’s refusal to submit the records of the Jay Treaty negotiations, see PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series (17 vols.; Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–91) description ends , 16: 254–63, 290–301; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 20, 64–69, 103–4, and the editorial note “Aftermath of the Jay Treaty: Responses, Ratification, and Implementation,” above.

3On JJ’s recommendation of Pickman, see Pickman to JJ, 7 July, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07168), and 27 Nov. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07169); JJ to Pickman, 14 Dec. 1795, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08949); JJ to GW, 14 Dec. 1795, ALS, DLS: Washington (EJ: 10654); Dft, NNC (EJ: 08461); GW to JJ, 21 Dec. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07260); Dft, DLC: Washington (EJ: 10656). Benjamin Pickman Sr. (1740–1819), a Salem merchant who suffered heavy losses by underwriting ships that were captured, was seeking appointment as one of the American commissioners to settle British debts. The name “Pickman” is excised from the texts of the WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends and HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends volumes.

4The following sentence is excised from the WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends and HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends volumes.

5JJ had recommended Benson as one of the commissioners to consider British debt claims in his letter to GW of 26 Jan. 1796, above.

6GW to AH, 31 Mar. 1796, PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 19: 640–41; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 20: 103–5.

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