1From 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...
2From 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...
3From George Washington to John Jay, 19 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th instant from Albany, was duly received; but not before arrangements for many nominations (amongst which that for the Naval Office in New York was one) had been made. From the character of Mr Remson, I have a very good opinion of his abilities and worth; but as his name was not among those which had been handed to me for this office, and as there seemed to be a concurrent...
4From 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...
5To John Jay from Rufus King, 6 February 1797 (Jay Papers)
I thought it probable that the Directory after refusing to receive General Pinckney would have permitted him to remain at Paris till they should have received News from America of a date so late as to give the Result of the Election for President. I have been mistaken; whether the information already received on that Subject, which I presume has not been satisfactory, or the Elevation that has...
6From 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...
7To John Jay from Richard Lawrence, 27 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
Thine of 23 d ins t . forwarded by the Mayor I have just received, with the warrant for 1000 Dollars and a Copy of the Act, and in observing the Contents am induced to make the following remarks— I am Sensible of the propriety of thy observation on the necessity of economy in the distribution of this Money; and shall therefore carefully observe the same; and assure thee it is not an Object of...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10To John Jay from Timothy Pickering, 23 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
You will have seen the President’s message to Congress relative to French affairs. The letter to M r . Pinckney to which the President refers, I now do myself the honor to inclose. I have taken the liberty to use your name in the investigation of the French claims to our gratitude—and your sentiments also; sometimes quoting, but in other cases not distinguishing by the usual marks; the...
11From 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...
12To John Jay from Jedidiah Morse, 14 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
Soon after I had the honour of receiving your Letter wh[ic]h accompanied the Laws of N York, I wrote you by a vessel bound to N. York & accompanied my Letter with a Sett of the last Edit[io] n of my Geog[raph] y . in boards for your acceptance. It was as long ago as October last. I hope they reached you safely. The hint you dropped when I last saw you, relative to my undertaking to write the...
13To John Jay from Rufus King, 10 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
You probably will have heard before this Letter gives you the information, that the Directory have refused to receive General Pinckney, who on presenting his Letter of Credence was informed by La Croix in behalf of the Directory, “qu’il ne reconnoitra et ne recevra plus Ministre plenipotentiaire des Etats unis jusqu’apres le redressement des Griefs demandé au Gouvernment Americaine, et que la...
14From 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...
15To John Jay from John Trumbull, 16 December 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the 7 th Sept r by D r . Edwards, since when I have received none of yours. The Official communications of the American Commissioners conveyed by this Ship, state that Objections have been made on the part of this Government, by their Agent, to the Jurisdiction of the Board in certain cases:— And they explain the Nature and Extent of those Objections: as...
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...
17To John Jay from Dirck Ten Broeck, 14 December 1796 (Jay Papers)
I have the honor to acquaint your Excellency that I have procured two rooms in the house of M r . Rooseboom, for your accommodation in this place this winter, and am in hopes the exertions of the family will contribute much to your ease, and comfort, both M r . & M rs . Rooseboom asuring us that nothing shall be wanting on their part to make every ^thing^ agreeable to you. I shall be highly...
18To John Jay from Daniel Coxe, 30 November 1796 (Jay Papers)
I take the Opportunity of the Viscount d’Orleans sailing for New York, to acknowledge the receipt of your favor by M r . Gore, to whom, from having been out of Town the Summer, and but very lately returned to it, I have not yet been able to pay him all that attention which your introduction entitles him to,— that pleasure I expect soon to have. The stay of the Viscount d’Orleans will, I...
19To John Jay from Rufus King, 12 November 1796 (Jay Papers)
I take the Liberty to introduce to you M r . Macdonald and M r . Rich the british commissioners in the Debt Questions; the former is a Barrister of Eminence, and M r . Rich, who has for many years past resided in Holland, is a merchant of irreproachable Character— both are Esteemed to be men of fair & honorable Reputation— That such Characters are appointed on this Occasion may be considered...
20To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 11 November 1796 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 11 th ult which I received soon after its date, was mislaid, and It did not Occur to me until two days ago that I had not answered It— I believe the appointment of M r Smith to the Sheriffs Office in Washington was a prudent Measure, and will probably afford general satisfaction. From the best information I can procure, neither of the two characters, whom you mention, as...
21Address 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...
22To John Jay from Christopher Gore, 24 October 1796 (Jay Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you, that we have begun our operations, under the treaty with this country— It is impossible to prophecy, with any certainty, what will be the temper, and disposition, with which some points will be met. To decide causes, that have been determined by the Lords Commissioners of appeal, & perhaps reverse their decisions, will affect the sensibility of some men— To...
23From 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...
24To John Jay from Christopher Gore, 26 September 1796 (Jay Papers)
Since my arrival in this country, your letters have procured me many civilities & attentions— From the Lord Chancellor I have received very markt & pleasing attention— And both he, & Lady Loughborough are very particular, in their enquiries after your health & happiness— You will have learnt before this reaches you, that your late Secretary is the fifth commissioner— After it was understood...
25To 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...
26From 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 ....
27From 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—...
28To John Jay from John Trumbull, 7 September 1796 (Jay Papers)
I returned to this Country a few days since, from an Excursion which was protracted to a much greater length than I at first intended or foresaw:— It will I am sure, give you pleasure to know that there is every probability of my being tolerably rewarded for the trouble I have had. On my Arrival here, I had the pleasure to find, among many Letters from my friends, your several favors of the 10...
29From 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...
30To John Jay from Thomas Pinckney, 25 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
In compliance with the request contained in your favor of the 18 th . of June by M r King I inclose an acknowledgement of my having received from you the sum of £1185..16.0 towards the fund for prosecuting the claims of our Citizens in cases of capture. I have likewise to acknowledge the receipt of your favor by M r . Gore; & while I express my satisfaction in the appointments which have...
31To John Jay from Rufus King, 25 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
All that I have yet seen here, corresponds with the information you gave ^us^ respecting the temper and inclinations of this Government— My own experience authorises no conclusions— The Commissioners on the part of G[reat]. B[ritain]. in the Capture Questions are as unexceptionable as we could have expected— they are both esteemed enlightened, candid, and honorable, men— our Commissioners are...
32From 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...
33From 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...
34To John Jay from Benjamin Rush, 2 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
Permit me to request your Acceptance of a Copy of a medical Work which I have just published. It contains some new proofs of the domestic Origin of the yellow fever in our Country, and of Course cannot fail of being interesting to the first Citizen of the state of New York. Until the domestic Origin of the yellow fever in the United States be admitted, we shall always hold, the health,...
35From 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...
36From 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...
37To John Jay from John Trumbull, 21 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 12 th . December, is the last I have had the Honour to receive from you, this I received and answered on the 6 th . March;— I have since received a number of Letters from America, through M r Pinckney, which convince me that I have not been so entirely forgotten by my friends as I supposed. I embark this Afternoon for the North, having terminated the Business which has kept...
38From 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...
39To John Jay from Timothy Pickering, 16 July 1796, enclosing Timothy Pickering to Alexander Hamilton, 16 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
Some doubts having arisen on the mode of executing the 5th article of the British treaty, relative to the river S t . Croix, I wrote this morning a letter to Colonel Hamilton on the Subject, and requested him to converse with you. But he may chance to be absent; and as M r . Howell will in the course of two or three days be returning to Rhode Island through your city, I thought it expedient to...
40To John Jay from Benjamin Rush, 9 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
The bearer of this letter is Caleb Lownes—a respectable Merchant of our city, and a gentleman to whom the science of Morals, and humanity owe great obligations.— He visits your city in Order to impart to the Commissioners for building your penitentiary house, the result of his experience in the Construction and government of our own. Your station, but what are more, your principles & feelings...
41To John Jay from William Henry Clinton, 20 June 1796 (Jay Papers)
From the ill state of my Fathers Health, (whom I have since had the Misfortune to lose) I was introduced by Colonel Stevenson to M r Pinckney to state to him some Claims of my Father for Property in the State of New York, & which was said to be confiscated by that State. I gave to M r Pinckney some Memorandums, which he obligingly promised me he would communicate to your Excellency, as you was...
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...
43From 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...
44From 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...
45From 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...
46To John Jay from Timothy Pickering, 4 June 1796 (Jay Papers)
In the last Article of the British Treaty, concluded between you and Lord Grenville on the 19 th : of November 1794, it is agreed that there shall be added to it other Articles which for want of time and other circumstances could not then be perfected. As it is intended to authorize M r . King to enter into further negotiations with Great Britain, I shall feel myself greatly obliged by your...
47To John Jay from Samuel Bayard, 16 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
Your favour of the 25. March reached me on saturday last (the 14 th . ins t .). It came I presume by the packet—or it would probably have been accompanied by the “printed papers” you were so obliging as to propose sending me— Every information from the U. States is exceedingly interesting at all times—but peculiarly so when our national affairs are in so critical a posture as they were when at...
48To John Jay from John H. Remsen, 14 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
When You appointed me your Private Secretary You honored me very unexpectedly, & altho’ it was a flattering distinction, I sincerely confess it was not without some reluctance, for the reason hereafter mentioned, that I accepted the Appointment. Shortly before, the Directors of the Bank of the United States committed to my Charge their Law and Notarial Business, the duties of which combined...
49From 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...
50From 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...