1The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 5 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Public Record Office, William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives; press copy of copy: National Archives; copies of draft: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter which you did us the Honour to write yesterday. Your friendly Congratulations on the signature of the definitive Treaty, meet...
2From John Jay to Joshua Johnson, 5 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have been fav d . with Your’s of the 22 Ult.— The Day before Yesterday, the definitive Treaties were signed—our’s is in the words of the provisional Articles, so that commercial Regulations remain yet to be formed. The Account you give me respecting a certain Scheme shall be transmitted—and I hope Care will be taken to put a Stop to such practices for the future— I think ^ & feel ^ exactly...
3The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 7 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachussetts Historical Society, Library of Congress We have the honour of transmitting herewith enclosed an Extract of a Resolution of Congress of the 1. May last, which we have Just recd. You will perceive from it that we may daily expect a Commission in due Form, for the Purposes mentioned in it, and we assure you of our Readiness to enter upon the Business, whenever you may think...
4The American Peace Commissioners to Elias Boudinot, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS and press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society On the third Instant, Definitive Treaties were concluded, between all the late belligerent Powers, except the Dutch, who the Day before settled and signed Preliminary Articles of Peace with Britain. We most sincerely & cordially congratulate Congress and our Country in general, on this...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 11 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Columbia University Library I have been favored with your Letter of Yesterday, & will answer it explicitly— I have no Reason whatever to believe that you was averse to our obtaining the full Extent of Boundary & Fishery secured to us by the Treaty.— Your Conduct respecting them throughout the Negociation indicated a strong & steady attachment to both those objects, & in my opinion...
6From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 11 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of Yesterday, and will answer it explicitly. I have never been witness to any Action or Conversation of yours which indicated a Reluctance ^ [ illegible ] ^ ^ have no Reason whatever to believe that you was averse ^ to our obtaining the full Extent of Boundary & Fishery secured to us by the Treaty.— ^ but your Conduct respecting them throughout the...
7From 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
8From John Jay to Robert Morris, 12 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
The Definitive Treaty is concluded, and we are now thank God in the full Possession of Peace & Independence—if we are not a happy People now it will be our own Fault. We daily expect the Commission for a Treaty of Commerce. I wish ^ that ^ the Sentiments of our Country on that important Subject may ^ be ^ fully stated in the Instructions w h . will accompany it. I think all our Treaties of...
9From 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...
M r . Thaxter, who returns unspoiled, is the Bearer of the definitive Treaty, and will deliver you this. M r Hartley expects soon to confer with us about Commerce, & says he is persuaded that Britain will be liberal. I should not doubt it, if it was certain that the United States could and would act like one Nation— I think all our commercial Treaties should observe exact Reciprocity— M r...
11From 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...
12To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 28 September 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Carter lately delivered to me your friendly letter of the 25 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 and remain...
13From 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...
14From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 26 October 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of recieving your Letters of the 15 & 17 th . Instant, & thank You for them. Since my arrival here I have written twice to You—one of those Letters informed You of my having been taken ill of a Dysentery, & of my being then far recovered.— All Remains of that Disorder are now removed; and I find myself as well as when I left You. I have consulted Doct r . Warren (the...
15From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 26 October 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d ., and am pleased with, your Letter of the 16 Instant—it is well written as to Matter and Stile, and tolerably as to hand writing and spelling—in both of which however—there is still Room for Improvement. You will learn from my Letters to your Aunt, that I have been sick, and that I am recovered. As you say nothing of your own Health, I presume it is good, and you have my best...
16From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 28 October 1783 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was dated the 26 Inst. and committed to the Care of Col. Wadsworth who set out for Paris this Morning—as it enclosed one for Peter I omit writing to him at present. Yesterday M r Adams delivered to me your Favor of the 19 Inst. enclosing Locks of Your own and our Children’s Hair, which I shall endeavour to have wrought in the best Manner. As yet I have seen so little of London...
17From John Jay to William Temple Franklin, 11 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your obliging Letter of the 27 Ult. which I should have answered last post, but was then much indisposed—unfortunately I have not had a well Day since my arrival—for I had no sooner recovered of a Dysentery, than a sore Throat succeeded. I suspect that abby’s Elopem t . was not resolved upon in a sober moment—it was a Measure for which I cannot concieve of a Motive— I had...
18From John Jay to Charles Thomson, 14 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have been here a month, & well only two Days—first a bloody flux, & now a sore throat— I came in Quest of health, but seek & you shall find does not it seems always extend to that of the Body. The Parliam t . is sitting. The Kings Speech & its Echos, you will see in the papers— in my opin I have not had any Conversation on politics with either of the ministers—in my opinion no plan or System...
19From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 14 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
However my Letters may be short and unentertaining, you will I am sure give me Credit for Punctuality, especially if you recieve as many from the Post office as I send to it— The last I had the Pleasure of recieving from You was dated the 4 th . Inst— As M r Johnson lives at the Distance of three miles from me, I think it w d . be best to direct your Letters to me at M r . Binghams N o . 30,...
20From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 23 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you by the last Post, and also by M r Barry, who set out for Paris Yesterday— Those Letters express my concern at your Silence, & therefore will perhaps excite some unpleasant Emotions— M r Laurens gave me your kind & agreable Letter of the 6 th . Inst. Yesterday— I sincerely thank You for it— M r Laurens was detained above a Week at Calais, waiting for proper weather & c :— Similar...
21To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, [28 November 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bath, England, November 28, 1783. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from Mr. Jay …” to H, Columbia University Libraries. Jay had gone to Europe in January, 1780, as Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain. In June, 1782, he went to Paris to serve as one of the commissioners to negotiate peace with Great Britain. The definitive peace treaty was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, and in...
22To 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...
23From John Jay to John Adams, 9 December 1783 (Jay 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...
24From John Jay to Egbert Benson, 15–18 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
I arrived here from Bath Yesterday afternoon, for the Purpose of settling affairs with the Ex[ecuto] rs of M rs . Peloquin. as I have not yet seen those Gentlemen, I cannot at present say any Thing on that Subject. Sometime ago I rec d from Fred k . an Instrument of writing appointing Persons to appraise the Farm at Rye; I executed it, and sent it to S r . Jam s ., that he might do the like, &...
25To 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....
26From 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...
27From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 26 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
The number of this Letter will convince you that the long Interval in which you rec d . no Letters from me, is to be ascribed to causes not in my Power to obviate. Your Favors of the 11 and 14 th . Inst. were delivered to me Yesterday, together with two from Peter, to whom I already owed two Letters— My approbation of your Proposal to inoculate the Children, was conveyed in three different...
28From John Jay to William Carmichael, 28 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your letter of the 12 th . October: was delivered to me in England at a time when I was so ill, as to write only to M rs . Jay— That Circumstance and the Constant Expectation of receiving the Letter you intended to write when the Appraisement you was making of my Effects should be finished, but which I have not yet rec d ., are the Causes which have delayed my writing to you since.— It is not...
29John Jay to John Adams, 6 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
D r. Franklin informs me, that in your Passage from England to Holland, you experienced many more difficulties than are common even at this rigid Season. Mine from Dover to Calais, was far from being short or pleasant. Neptune however was less uncivil to me than to You— Neither of us have enjoyed much of his favor: but I will forgive him with all my Heart, if he will let me pass once more in...
30From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 10 February 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 25 Sep. came to my Hands in England on the 8 Dec r last, and since my Return I have rec d yours that of the 7 Nov. w h . tho containing only three Lines I prefer to most of y r . others Letters —perhaps you have forgot it “It is now within three minutes of the Time when the mail is made up & sent of[f]. I cannot therefore do more than just to assure you of the Continuance of...