151To John Adams from John Jay, 9 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last night I rec d. your obliging Favor of the 7 Inst. & the Letters mentioned to be enclosed with it— The one for M r Laurens was immediately sent to his Lodgings. The Circumstances you mention are interesting, and will afford matter for Deliberation & Comments when we meet. My Return to London will depend on one of two Things Viz t. on being satisfied that I am to expect little or no Benefit...
I have rec d . a Letter from Mess rs . Van Staphorst of the 24 Nov r . last. This Letter of is of such a nature that the Delicacy ^ with ^ which I wish to conduct all such of the affairs of this Departm t . as may affect the Officers of the others, induces me to communicate this Letter to you in the first Instance. It is too long to be soon copied, and being an official paper ought not to be...
153Report on a Proposed Response to Moustier’s Speech at His Reception by Congress, 21 February 1788 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs having received a copy of the Speech which Count de Moustier purposed to make on Tuesday the 26 th . February instant, reported the following answer to it Viz t . It will always give us pleasure to acknowledge the friendship and important good Offices which we have experienced from his most christian Majesty, and your...
154From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 26 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
Since we parted I have been so much & so long indisposed as that (except short letters to M rs . Jay) I have denied myself the Pleasure of writing to my Friends. The Kindness you have shewn us both, has nevertheless not been forgotten, nor has my Disposition to acknowledge and be influenced by it in the least abated. We have lately had a Report here that you was very ill with the Stone, and...
155From John Jay to Joel Bordwell, 9 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for y r . friendly Letter by Cap t . Pratt, and be assured that it will always give me Pleasure to hear of your Welfare and that of your Family. I remember with Satisfaction & with Gratitude the hospitable Retreat ^ Reception ^ you afforded us ^ you gave us ^ [ upon the operations of our last Enemies adversary ?] in the late war, and regret that you did not by accompanying Cap
156From John Jay to Egbert Benson, 12 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
Is it not almost Time for me to expect a Letter from ^ You? ^ —the one enclosing Letters of Att y was the last of yours that have reached me . M rs. Jay gave me another Daughter last Month, & you are its ^ her ^ Godfather— I hope next Summer to introduce her to You.— Do my dear Friend
157Report on the Longchamps Affair, 16 February 1785 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom on the 14 th . Instant was referred the Requisition of the Chargé des Affaires of France, that a certain Charles Julian De Longchamps, now in Custody at Philadelphia, in Pursuance of the Judgement of a Court of Law against him, be delivered up to his most Christian Majesty—Reports thereupon as his Opinion.— That...
158From John Jay to Lafayette, 16 June 1786 (Jay Papers)
During your Absence from France I omitt ing d being so regular in my Correspondence, as I should ^ otherwise ^ have been. I have been honored with your Letters of the 18 th . April & 6 Sept r in the last Year, ^ & ^ with one of 11 Feb y last—They were all communicated to Congress. The account of your german Excursion is concise and interesting—The Sentiments & opinions respecting the United...
159Extract from John McKesson’s Notes of Debates, 23 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay— One or two Remarks have not been mentioned— It is agreed that a Strong energetic Fœderal Gov t . is necessary— Hence we are [to] believe that it believed such a Gov t . is practicable. Yet a Gent[leman] has given us to understand that a Strong energetic federal Gov t . extending so far as this does is impracticable and the Country inadequate for it— If this Gov t . must have the...
160To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Columbia University Library Since we parted I have been so much & so long indisposed as that (except short Letters to Mrs. Jay) I have denied myself the Pleasure of writing to my Friends. The Kindness you have shewn us both, has nevertheless not been forgotten, nor has my Disposition to acknowledge and be influenced by it in the least abated....
161To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 27 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
You will herewith receive another Letter from me of this Date together with the Commission mentioned in it; both of them are in Pursuance of the Ideas suggested in your Letter of the 9th. January last. If the whole Subject should be reconsidered, and a new Convention formed, it is the Pleasure of Congress that the Duties, Powers and Privileges of Consuls, Vice Consuls, Agents and Commissaries...
162From John Jay to George Washington, 27 June 1786 (Jay Papers)
Being deputed by the Church Convention of New York, to attend a general one convened here, I brought with me your obliging Letter of the 18 Ult. that I might devote the first Leisure Hour to the Pleasure of answering it. Congress having freed the Papers of which the enclosed are Copies from Injunctions of Secrecy, and permitted the Delegates to make and send Extracts from them to their...
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred that Part of M r . Jefferson’s Letter of the 9 th . January last which relates to the Consular Convention, Viz t . “I will certainly do the best I can for the Reformation of the Consular Convention, being persuaded that our States would be very unwilling to conform their Laws either to the Convention...
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred a Letter of the 8 th . Instant from his Excellency the Governor of Massachusetts, to the Delegates of that Commonwealth in Congress—Reports That in his Opinion the Answer of the Governor to Captain Stanhope’s first Letter was perfectly proper, that the Captain’s Reply was highly disrespectful and...
proposition of Yesterday read Jay rises—not to debate— yesterday gave the fullest Assurances that they meant to go hand in hand with us—& produces draft [of] a letter intended to be sent to the several states—… Jay— not very anctious—is willing to have it expressed as strongly as possible— even expressly reserving all the rights not granted in the constitution— AD , N : Gilbert Livingston ( EJ...
166Report on Thomas Barclay’s Arrest, 12 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred a Letter of 21 st . June last from M r . Jefferson, respecting the arrest of the american Consul General in France, the proposed Post-Office Convention, and the Claims of certain Individuals against South Carolina. Reports.— That his Report of the 26 th . September last on the Petition of Mess rs ....
167From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 12 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
At your Farm, with your Family, in Peace, and in Plenty, how happy is your Situation! I wish you may not have retired too soon. It is certain you may do much good where you are, & perhaps in few Things more; than in impressing by Precept Influence and Example the indispensable necessity of rendering the continental and State Governments more vigorous and orderly— Europe hears much, and wishes...
168Report on Richard Soderstrom, 2 March 1785 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs has the Honor of transmitting to Congress a Letter to him of the 23 d . February 1785 from Sears & Smith of the City of New York Merchants, together with a Representation of Rich d . Soderstrom’s Conduct towards them, and a printed Proclamation of the Governor of Massachusetts dated the 13 th . February 1785 declaring...
169From John Jay to Edward Rutledge, 12 December 1786 (Jay Papers)
The malcontents of Massachusetts will probably cause much trouble to that state and perhaps to others, especially if, as is apprehended they are encouraged from abroad. The present severe season is unfriendly to tumults and Insurrections, and therefore the winter may possibly pass over tolerably quiet, but I cannot persuade myself that the conciliatary measures of Government will produce...
170From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 28 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
M r . Carter lately delivered to me your friendly letter of the 25 th July last. You was always of the Number of those whom I esteemed, and your Correspondence would have been both interesting & agreable. I had heard of ^ your ^ marriage, and it gave me Pleasure, as well because it added to your Happiness, as because it tended to fix your residence in a State, of which I long wished you to be...
171John Jay to John Adams, 15 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Extracts from the Journal of Congress will inform you of your Appointment to go as Minister to the Court of London, and of M r. Smith’s being elected Secretary to the Legation. I congratulate you on this Event. It argues the Confidence reposed in you by the United States, and I am persuaded will redound to their Advantage as well as to your Reputation.— The necessary Papers are...
172Protestant Episcopal Church Convention Proceedings, 25 June 1786 (Jay Papers)
The Hon. Mr. Jay, a Delegate from New York, attended, and took his seat in Convention. Some objections having been made to the draft of an answer to the letter from the Archbishops and Bishops of England, the same was recommitted. On motion made and seconded, Mr. Jay and Mr. Hopkinson were added to this Committee. Adjourned to 11 o’clock to-morrow. Journals of General Conventions of the...
173Extracts from Francis Childs’s Debates, 25 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
[Samuel Jones moves to amend Art. I, sec. 4, concerning the time, place, and manner of elections of Senators and Representatives. JJ defends the Constitutional provision giving Congress the power to make or alter regulations by the state legislatures and to “prevent the dissolution of the Union.”] The honorable Mr. Jay said that as far as he understood the ideas of the gentleman [Samuel...
I find that Congress were pleased on the 22 d . Ult: to order me, “to transmit to the Executives of the States, Abstracts of the Numbers, Names and Owners of Negroes carried away by the British in contravention to the late Treaty of Peace, and which were the Property of the Citizens of such States respectively.”— I suspect that Congress were not apprized of the Length of this Account. A very...
175From John Jay to John Vaughan, 27 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
I have considered the Hint suggested in your Letter of the my long, and I may say habitual respect for the Sentiments of D r . Franklin, at first inclined me to adopt them relative to the Subject in Question. Further Consideration induced me to suspect that he has estimated the Influence of my opinions beyond their Value— If the Reasoning in the Pamphlet you allude to is just, it will have...
176Report on an Equestrian Statue, 2 November 1785 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred his Letter of 29 th . Ult. to his Excellency the President mentioning the Arrival here of M r . Houdon, a celebrated Statuary, and hinting the Propriety of employing him to make the Equestrian Statue of General Washington voted by Congress— Reports— That he Yesterday conferred with M r . Houdon on the...
177To John Adams from John Jay, 26 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Congress on Wednesday last made a House and chose M r. Hancock President but he being absent they appointed M r. Ramsay of South Carolina to fill the Chair for the present.— A considerable Time had elapsed during which a sufficient Number of States to proceed on Business were not represented— In this Interval I had the Pleasure of receiving your Letters of 25 th: 28 th: 29 th: 30 th: & 31 st:...
178To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 9 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you of the 14th. December I have been honored with yours of the 26th. September last, which with the Papers that it enclosed have been laid before Congress, but neither on that nor any of your late Letters have any Orders as yet been made. The annual Election produces much Delay in Affairs. From that Time to this scarcely any Thing has been done. It was not until last Week...
179From John Jay to John Adams, 4 July 1787 (Jay Papers)
I have been honored with your Letters of the 10 th . 19. & 30 April and 1 st . May last. Since the sitting of the Convention a sufficient number of States for the Dispatch of Business have not been represented in Congress, so that it has neither been in my Power officially to communicate your Letters to them, nor to write on several Subjects on which it is proper that Congress should make...
180From John Jay to Richard Price, 24 August 1785 (Jay Papers)
Having since my coming into office, found it necessary to apply very closely to the Business of it, which from its having been long vacant, had greatly accumulated; I was obliged to suspend that attention & Punctuality, which I observe in my private Correspondences, whenever my private whenever a due Regard to public Business, will admit of sufficient Leisure for the Purpose— Hence it happened...
181To George Washington from John Jay, 24 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
It occurs to me that you would probably be glad to know when and in what manner the Letters you sent to me to be forwarded were sent on. The large Packet for the Marqs de la Fayette was committed to the Care of the french minister, who was so obliging as to take Charge of it. Those for Count de Rochambeau, Countess d’Essarts, Gen: Duplessis, Mesdames Van Winter Van Merken &c: Monsr de Bourden,...
182To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 15 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, an Extract from the Journal of Congress respecting your Appointment to represent the United States at the Court of Versailles as their Minister. On which be pleased to accept my sincere Congratulations. The next Packet will bring you a Letter of Credence, and such other Papers as this Appointment may in the Opinion of Congress render...
183Draft of The Federalist 64 [II] [before 5 March 1788] (Jay Papers)
Altho the People at large may sometimes by Negligence or [ that Im ?] other Causes be led to into imp indiscreet appointments yet Experience tells us that the State Legislatures very seldom lose Sight of their ^ obvious ^ Interests, and or commit their management to men in whom they have ^ little or ^ no Confidence—It is natural therefore to presume that in chusing their Senators they will...
184To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 7 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The last Letter I have had the Pleasure of receiving from you is dated the 14th. August last. My last to you is dated the 2d. Ult: by Mr. Houdon who I hope has by this Time safely arrived. Nothing of importance has since occurred except the Arrival of Mr. Temple, respecting whom I enclose the Copy of an Act of Congress of 2d. Instant. With great Esteem & Regard I have the Honor to be &ca., You...
185VII: James Jay’s Copy of His Letter to the Governors of North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, c.20 … (Washington Papers)
If the Plan be adopted, it will give us an opportunity of getting over, with the other Setlers, a number of good manufacturers in any branch of manufactury we please: and of course it will enable us to introduce and establish such manufacturies among us, as the circumstances of our Country will admit of doing with success and advantage. It is an obvious Truth, that a Nation, in order to be...
186From John Jay to John Adams, 1 November 1785 (second letter) (Jay Papers)
My last to you was of the 14 th . Ult: by the Ship Betsey Cap t . Thomas Watson—since that time, I have had the Pleasure of receiving and laying before Congress your Dispatches of the 6 th . 8 th . & 10 th . August last.— We concur so perfectly in Sentiment respecting public Affairs and what ought to be done, that I find no Occasion to enlarge on those Heads.— In a late Report I have called...
To the People of the State of New-York. WHEN the people of America reflect that they are now called upon to decide a question, which, in its consequences, must prove one of the most important, that ever engaged their attention, the propriety of their taking a very comprehensive, as well as a very serious view of it, will be evident. Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of...
188From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 24 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
The Sight of y r friendly Letter of the 25 of July last, an of & of those it recommends, gave me much Pleasure. Marks of Remembrance from old Acquaintances, & the Society of [ deserving ?] fellow fellow Citizens in a foreign country, excite agreable Sensations. I have as yet met with neither men nor things on this Side ^ of the water ^ which abate my Prediliction or if you please my Prejudices...
On the 7 th . of May 1784 Congress was pleased to resolve “that Treaties of Amity and Commerce be entered into with Morocco, and the Regencies of Tunis, Algiers and Tripoli, to continue for the Term of ten Years or for a Term as much longer as can be procured.”— They also resolved “that their Ministers to be commissioned for treating with foreign Nations, make it known to the Emperor of...
190From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 18 December 1786 (Jay Papers)
The inclosed are Copies of Papers I rec d . from the Presid t . of the Council of Maryland. Expecting the pleasure of seeing you here, I delayed my answer ’till Yesterday, when I wrote to the Presid t . that I would be an arbitrator in the Case mentioned in his Letter, if the Matter could be settled here. As he will be anxious to recieve your answer also, the sooner you write the more he will...
191From John Jay to Benjamin Rush, 24 March 1785 (Jay Papers)
Such has been the State of my official Business, & of that which arose from my long neglected private affairs, that ever since the Removal of Congress to this Place, I have been obliged to trespass on my usual Punctuality in private Correspondences. Hence it happened that I have so long denied myself the Pleasure of replying to your friendly Letter of the 16 Jan y .— Accept my warmest...
192From John Jay to William Carmichael, 4 January 1787 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was written on the 24 November & together with the was committed to the Care of M r Rendon, who then expected to sail from Philad a . ^ take his passage in ^ a spanish Frigate which was then soon to sail from Philadelphia. But the weather becoming so severe as to freeze the Delaware, he has Returned to this Place an in order to go in a Merchant Vessel, that will leave this port...
193From John Jay to Henry Remsen Jr., 27 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of rec gv . your Favor of the 18 Inst. with the news Papers. Let S r . John have the enclosed Letter without Delay. I leave it open for your Information, and that you may make a Copy to enter in the Book of Letters. Our Affairs here go on slowly but with more Temper than I expected. The Issue however appears so uncertain as that no very probable Conjectures respecting...
194From John Jay to John Temple, 5 July 1786 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . and laid before Congress the Letter You did me the Honor to write on the 7 Ultimo— on returning to Town from Philadelphia last Saturday I found that this Letter had during my absence been referred to me to report and I shall without Delay report upon it as soon as some preceding References shall be dispatched— Forgery of every kind are ^ is ^ doubtless unjustifiable, doubtless...
195Extract from Francis Childs’s Debates, 1 July 1788 (Jay Papers)
The hon. Mr. Jay rose, and said that he would confine himself to a few remarks, as the question had been pretty fully debated. He begun with a description of the general characteristics of a government proper for the United States. It had, he said, been justly laid down, that a government, which was to accomplish national purposes, should command the national resources. Here a question had...
196To George Washington from John Jay, 6 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Letter of the 2d Inst., inclosing one for Commodore Jones, which was immediately conveyed to him. New York entertained Hopes of seeing you here, and wishd for such an occasion of giving you fresh Proofs of Esteem & attachment, for your consenting to take a Seat in the Convention has given your Country fresh Reasons for both. You will oblige me by putting it in...
197From John Jay to Taher Ben Abdelhack Fennish, 24 July 1787 (Jay Papers)
I am this moment employed in transmitting a Letter from Congress to his Majesty the Emperor of Morocco with a Ratification of the Treaty concluded by him between him & the United States. It gives me great Pleasure ^ to obey ^ ^ in obedience to ^ the Orders of Congress to take this opportunity of assuring ^ of informing ^ you that they are much pleased with and will remember the
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed, a Memorial and Petition of Pierre du Calvet of Montreal and a Letter of 14 th . June last from D r . Franklin recommending him to me.— He presented to me the Account mentioned in it and the Vouchers he has to authenticate it—But as both the one and the other must be referred to the proper Department to report, I advised him...
199To John Adams from John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Rev d. Doctor Provost is so obliging as to take Charge of this Letter together with other Dispatches which he will deliver to you.— This Gentleman being elected by the Convention of episcopal Congregations in this State, and having the most express Recommendations from that Body, as well as from a general Convention lately held at Wilmington, is going over to be consecrated a Bishop.—...
200Report on Relations with Portugal, 12 March 1788 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs, to whom was referred a Letter from Col l . Smith of the 12 th Septem r last with the Papers that accompanied it, Reports.— That they contain a Detail of Occurrences and Observations in the Journey he made to Lisbon, to deliver the Letter of Congress to the Queen of Portugal. It appears from them that he was well received...