501To John Jay from Grenville, 17 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
I cannot let M r Liston go without taking the occasion of his departure to recommend him to you, and to express my hope that his character & conduct will be found well calculated to continue & promote that harmony which it was the object of our labours to establish. I have, since you left us, taken one occasion to renew to you my assurances of the sincere esteem & friendship with which your...
502From John Jay to George Washington, 25 March 1796, enclosing Samuel Bayard to John Jay, 6 January 1796 (Jay Papers)
Gov r . Jay presents his respectful Compliments to the President of the United States, & takes the Liberty of sending the enclosed Copy of a Letter which he this Day rec d . from M r S. Bayard. I am honored with your favour of the 11 Nov r . for which I beg you will accept my acknowledg ts : the one enclosed for Col: Trumbull I sent immediately to Mr. Deas, who has almost daily opportunities...
503From John Jay to Samuel Bayard, 25 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had this afternoon the pleasure of recieving your obliging Letter of the 6 th . Jan y last, and am happy to learn from it that the Decrees in the Capture Cases will probably be satisfactory— This Information appeared to me to be interesting, and therefore I have communicated it to the President : altho I presume you have written fully to the Secretary of State about it, either by the packet...
504To John Jay from George Washington, 31 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
Accept, my dear Sir, my thanks for your note of the 25 th . Instant— enclosing a copy of M r . Bayards letter to you.— 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...
505From John Jay to Daniel Coxe, 4 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
On the 28 of last month ^Ult:^ I had the pleasure of rec g your friendly Letter of the 14 of Nov r . last by M r Bewsher who arrived at Norfolk on the 16 of last Month & from thence sent it to me by post— on his arrival here it will give me pleasure to manifest my Respect for your Recommend [atio] n . by attentions to him— The Letter that you enclosed for General Schuyler was immediately deliv...
506From John Jay to Lady Elizabeth Amherst, 12 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his respectful comp ts . to Lady Amherst, and returns many thanks to her Ladyship for the prints which she did him the Honor to send. it was not untill last week that they came to his Hands. The Respect entertained in this Country for his Lordships Character & Services renders them ^very^ interesting. Among the agreable Hours ^moments^ which Mr Jay passed in London his...
507From John Jay to Lord Jeffrey Amherst, 12 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
The Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 27 Sept r . last was ^here^ delivered to me a few weeks ago by M r Austin— He was He was unfortunate in his voyage, and yet happy in surviving the many disast erous occurrances ^[disast] ers^ he met with— He seems an amiable young man, and is now on his way to Canada— Our Legislature being in Session I have endeavoured but without Success to...
508From John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 12 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
In pursuance of what passed between us the Day before Yesterday, I now enclose the Boundaries of the Tract granted to L d . amherst. It has been so long neglected, that I sh d . not be surprized if a number of Intruders have settled on it. I think with You that the best Way of obtaining correct Information will be to employ a Surveyor to visit it, and to instruct him to ascertain and report...
509From John Jay to James McHenry, 13 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
The Letter which You did me the Honor to write, respecting the claim of the S t . Regis Indians to Lands in this State together with the Report of the Secretary of State on that Subject were immediately laid before the Legislature; and give occasion to a Concurrent Resolution of which the enclosed is a Copy. But as the Chiefs of those Indians who were with You have represented to me that they...
510From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
An Act of the Legislature of this State to prevent the bringing in and spreading of infectious Diseases in this State, authorizes the Governor to assign the Stations where vessels made subject to Quarantine shall come to Anchor and remain, until visited by the Health Officer and reported to be free from Infection. As difficulties and embarrassments of a delicate nature would arise in case it...
511To John Jay from Walter Robertson, 15 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
Mr Walter Robertson presents his respects to the Governor & begs leave to inform him that he is very desirous of having his portrait, for the purpose of being engraved as a comparison to two prints of the President and Co l . Hamilton. M r Robertson has already sketched the Governors features from an unfinished portrait of M r Stewart’s and now takes the liberty of requesting to know at what...
512From John Jay to Walter Robertson, 15 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
The Gov r presents his Comp ts . to M r Robertson & would with great pleasure comply with his Request, and is so far constantly engaged but the Session being just concluded so many public affairs remain to be dispatched that he fears it he will not for some time yet be sufficiently at Leisure— The Gov r . has two Portraits drawn by Stewart, one of which is finished, and M r Robertson may at...
513From John Jay to George Washington, 18 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
John Jay, by Ellen Sharples (probably after James Sharples), c. 1795. Pencil on paper. (£ Bristol Culture/Bristol Museum & Art Gallery) 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 Inquiry it might not appear adviseable to gratify M r Pickman’s wishes, for...
514From 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...
515From 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...
516From 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...
517From 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...
518From 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...
519From 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...
520To 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...
521To 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...
522To 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...
523From 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...
524From 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...
525From 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...
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...
527To 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...
528To 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...
529To 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...
530From 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...
531To 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...
532From 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...
533From 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...
534To 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,...
535From 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...
536From 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...
537To 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...
538To 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...
539From 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...
540To 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...
541From 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 ....
542From 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—...
543To 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...
544From 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...
545To 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...
546Address 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...
547To 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...
548To 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...
549To 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...
550To 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...