John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Robert Morris, 27 November 1783

From Robert Morris

Philadelphia November 27th 1783

My Dear Sir,

I Congratulate you on the signing of the Definitive Treaty and on the evacuation of New York which took place on Tuesday our Friend Gouverneur Morris is there he has been gone about 18 Days and I expect him back very soon. he will then give you the Detail and inform you of such things as you may wish to know respecting any of your particular Friends.—1

I agree with the Sentiments expressed in your letter of the 12th September Treaties of Commerce are dangerous rather than other wise, and if all Governments were to agree that Commerce should be as free as Air I believe they would then place it on the most advantageous footing for every Country & for all mankind; The restrictions which Great Britain is aiming at will in the end work for our Good, if we can work good out of any thing; which in the present State of things seems doubtful If Great Britain persists in refusing admittance to our Ships in their Islands, they will probably have great cause to repent for I shall not be surprized to see a general Prohibition to the admittance of theirs into our Ports, and if such a measure is once adopted they may find it very difficult to obtain any alteration and in that Case, the advantages of carrying will be much against them. Should the court of France pursue the same Policy we shall fall in with the Dutch & probably have more Connections in Commerce with them than with any other People.2

I have received the prints of the Rise & fall of the Balloon Pray cannot they contrive to send Passengers with a Man to steer the course, so as to make them the means of conveyance for Dispatches from one Country to another or must they only be sent for intelligence to the Moon & Clouds.—3

Congress are now collecting at annapolis but I think will not make a House untill towards the end of next week, Gen2 Mifflin accepts the presidents chair

We are dismissing the remains of our Army and getting rid of expence so that I hope to see the end of my engagements before next May, but I doubt whether it will be in my power to observe that punctuality in performing them which I wish and have constantly aimed at.—

I rejoice at the encrease of your family because I consider it as an increase of happiness to Mrs. Jay & yourself Mrs. Morris and myself beg to be affectionately remembered to her, Our Boys and their Tutor Monsr. Basseville have given us great satisfaction by their last letters and I think they are in a good way.—

I am sending some Ships to China4 in order to encourage others in the adventurous pursuits of Commerce and I wish to see a foundation laid for an American Navy. I am Dr Sir Your Affectionate Friend & Humble Servant,

Robt. Morris

His Excellency John Jay Esquire Paris—

LS, marked “Copy”, in Morris’s hand, NNC (EJ: 7019). Endorsed twice: “Recd. 6 Ap. 1784” and “ . . . Recd. 67 Ap. 1784”. Major omissions in 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: 138–39; HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends , 3: 96–97; and RDC description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1889) description ends , 6: 735.

1Under the direction of Sir Guy Carleton, the British completed the evacuation of New York City on 25 Nov. 1783. No detailed report on the New York scene by Gouverneur Morris has been found; his next extant letter to JJ is dated 10 Jan. 1784.

2See JJ to Robert Morris, 12 Sept., above; and, for further discussions on commerce, the editorial note “Negotiating a Trade Agreement” on pp. 373–86; and Gouverneur Morris to JJ, 25 Sept. 1783, above.

3On the balloon prints, see JJ to Robert Morris, 12 Sept., above.

4Although Morris originally sought to send several vessels to China at this time, only one, the Empress of China, set out in February 1784. On this venture, see PRM description begins E. James Ferguson et al., eds., The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781–1784 (9 vols.; Pittsburgh, Pa., 1973–99) description ends , 8: 857–82.

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