Committee for Foreign Affairs to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 11 July 1780

Committee for Foreign Affairs to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay

In Comittee of Foreign Affairs
Philada. 11 July 1780

The Honble John Jay—
Sir—

Congress having appointed the Honble Henry Laurens to solicit a Loan of Money in the United Provinces of the Low Countries, in Order to facilitate his Success the enclosed Resolution has been passed.1 We need say Nothing to explain or urge it, except that it is thought a Mark of Attention and Confidence due to those Powers; that their Interest, if the State of Politicks incline them to exert it, will have a good Effect; and that the Want of Money makes the Loan a very capital Object to the United States. You will, we are assured, give Mr. Laurens every Assistance in your Power, and solicit the Countenance of the Court where you reside to forward his Negociations.

Till Mr. Laurens shall arrive, Mr Adams is comissioned and empowered to undertake that Business; and in Case of his Disability, Mr. Dana is in like Manner comissioned and empowered. We are, Sir your very obedt hble Servts

James Lovell2
Wm Churchill Houston

ALS, in the hand of William Churchill Houston, DNDAR (EJ: 6467). ALS, marked “copy” in the hand of James Lovell, ScHi (EJ: 2598). Addressed: “Honorable / John Jay Esq. / Minister Plenip. / of the United States of / America / Madrid”. C, MHi: Adams. LbkCs, addressed to both BF and JJ, DNA: PCC, item 79, 1: 266–67 (EJ: 9932); app.: 129–30 (EJ: 13502).

1. Probably the resolution of 8 Nov. 1779 assigning a committee to prepare a letter directing the American ministers to France and Spain to solicit French and Spanish support for Henry Laurens’s mission to seek a loan in the United Provinces (Netherlands). See LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 15: 427–28; and JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 15: 1250.

2. See also Lovell’s private letter to JJ of this date, below.

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Source Project: Jay Papers
Title: Committee for Foreign Affairs to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 11 July 1780
Authors: Lovell, James
Houston, William Churchill
Recipients: Franklin, Benjamin
Jay, John
Date: 11 July 1780

Reference

Cite as: “Committee for Foreign Affairs to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 11 July 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-02-02-0076. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 2, 1780–1782, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012, pp. 197–198.]