1To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on the 7 th: of last Month, and also on the 18 th: of this enclosing some Papers respecting an american Vessel seized at Barbadoes by a british Man of War. I have been honored with yours of 16 th. 25 th. and 28 th. May and 6 th. June last, which with the Papers accompanying them were immediately laid before Congress.— The Situation in which the Want of an adequate Representation...
2From John Jay to John Temple, 15 August 1787 (Jay Papers)
I am sorry it is not yet in my Power to tell you any thing decisive and satisfactory respecting the Question between you & the collector. The want of a sufficient number of States in congress has prevented my asking & recieving their orders on the Subject. Your attention to the Rights of Office is certainly proper; and I assure you of my Disposition to secure to you the perfect & uninterupted...
3Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We received the Letter you did us the honour of writing to us the 10th. Inst, with the project of a Treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, & return herewith, having made a few small Additions or Changes of Words to be proposed, such as Citoyens for Sujets and the like, and intimated some Explanations as...
4John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. at present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. none of their more important...
5From John Jay to David Hartley, 22 February 1784, enclosing John Jay to Messrs. Smith, Wright, and Gray, 22 February … (Jay Papers)
In whatever Point of Light our two Countries may in future view each other, or whatever System of Politics may prevail in either, I always ^ shall ^ continue to consider you as one to whom who merits my Esteem as a public Man, and my acknowledgments as a Friend. I regret my leaving England without having seen ^ had an opportunity of bidding ^ you farewell, and the more ^ so ^ as it is not
6Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 29 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
We received the Letter you did us the honour of writing to us the 10 th. Inst, with the project of a Treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, & return herewith, having made a few small Additions or Changes of Words to be proposed, such as Citoyens for Sujets and the like, and intimated some Explanations as wanted in particular Paragraphs. The...
7To John Adams from John Jay, 3 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
In Obedience to the Orders of Congress I have the Honor of informing you, that Phineas Bond Esq r. has presented to Congress a Commission from his britannic Majesty, constituting him Commissary for all commercial Affairs within the United States, and another Commission constituting him Consul for the States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware and Maryland.— Congress being desirous...
8From John Jay to John Adams, 16 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
You will recieve this at a Moment, when you will again find yourself surrounded by your amiable Family— it is a pleasing Circumstance, and I congratulate you on the occasion. We are much obliged to M rs . Adams for having honored us tho for a little while with her Company— it has confirmed the Esteem which her Character had inspired.— If wishes were not vain, I should wish you all well settled...
9To John Adams from John Jay, 4 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter in which you mention M r Warren. Your opinion of that Gentleman, added to the Merits of his Family, cannot fail to operate powerfully in his Favor. I have communicated that Letter to M r King, an able & valuable Delegate from Massachusets; who I have Reason to think wishes well to you, and to all who like You, deserve well of their Country. our Friend Gerry...
10From John Jay to John Adams, 23 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
Having read in the Papers of to Day, an Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in France to one at Boston, mentioning an Edict excluding foreign whale oil, I waited on the minister of France to be informed whether he had rec d . official Information of it. He told me he had not.— we had much Conversation on the Subject, and from it I was led to conclude, that he did not think it improbable that...
11From John Jay to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your Fav r . of the 20 th . Inst. arrived last Evening— It is not in pursuance of a recent or hasty Resolution, that I am preparing to return: It has been long taken & maturely considered. The public accounts still detain me, for tho’ always kept by M r Carmichael, I do not chuse to leave them unsettled behind me— When that Obstacle ceases, which I expect will be very soon, I shall leave...
12To John Adams from John Jay, 3 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Still I am unable to give you satisfactory Information on the old and interesting Subject of your Return. My Report on it is not yet decided upon by Congress, altho’ some Progress has been made in it.— My Endeavors to forward it shall continue unremitted.— My last Letter to you was on the 4 th. Day of September, since which I have not had the Honor of receiving any Letter from you. Your Letter...
In my Negociations with M r . Gardoqui I experience certain difficulties which in my Opinion should be so managed, as that even the Existence of them should remain a Secret for the present. I take the Liberty therefore of submitting to the Consideration of Congress whether it might not be adviseable to appoint a Committee with power to instruct and direct me on every point and Subject relative...
14Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20 th: Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his Friendship as a desirable Object;...
15To 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...
16John 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...
17From 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...
18To 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.—...
19John Jay to John Adams, 18 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Packet not sailing until to morrow has put in my Power to get your Commission, Instructions and Letter of Credence completed. I also send You in another Parcel, of which M r. Randall is also to take Charge, the Journals printed since those with which I understand you have already been furnished.— With great Esteem & Regard / I am Dear Sir / Your most ob t. & hble. Serv t: RC and enclosure...
20To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
accept my thanks for your Letter mentioning the Marriage of your Daughter, and my cordial Congratulations on that pleasing Event.— they who best know the Col l: speake of him as brave and honorable; and Strangers to the Lady draw the most favorable Inferences from her Parentage, and from the attention and Example of a Mother whose charater is very estimable. I sincerely wish my dear Friend...
21From John Jay to John Adams, 4 July 1788 (Jay Papers)
I congratulate you my dear Sir! most cordially on your Return to your native Country, and am greatly pleased with the Reception you have met with— You deserve well of your country, and I am happy to find that the acknowledgment of your Services is not left solely to Posterity. our Convention is still sitting. The opposers of the Constitution have proposed many amendments. As yet we proceed...
22To John Adams from John Jay, 18 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, a Copy of a Report on the Case of the Brig Jane and Elizabeth of Portsmouth in New Hampshire seized by a british man of War at Barbadoes; together with Copies of the Papers on that Subject annexed to it.— The Conduct of the Captain of the Boreas as stated in these Papers appears very exceptionable, but unfortunately for the Brig, her...
23John Jay to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Fav r. of the 20 th. Inst. arrived last Evening— It is not in pursuance of a recent or hasty Resolution, that I am preparing to return: It has been long taken & maturely considered. the public Accounts still detain me, for ’tho’ always kept by M r Carmichael, I do not chuse to leave them unsettled behind me— when that Obstacle ceases, which I expect will be very soon, I shall leave Paris....
24From John Jay to John Vaughan, 1 December 1787 (Jay Papers)
I thank You for your obliging Letter of the 24 th . Ult:, inclosing a Paragraph respecting me in M r Oswalds Paper of the same Date— You have my authority to deny the Change of Sentiments it imputes to me, & to declare that in my opinion, it is adviseable for the People of America to adopt the Constitution proposed by the late Convention—If you should think it expedient to publish this Letter,...
25John Jay to John Adams, 31 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, a certified Copy of an Act of Congress of the 21 st. Instant, instructing you to communicate to M r. S t. Saphorin, the high Sense, the United States in Congress assembled, entertain of the liberal Decision made by his Danish Majesty, on the Question proposed to his Minister by You, respecting the Ordination of american Candidates for...
26From John Jay to Gilbert Stuart, 22 February 1784, enclosing John Jay to Messrs. Smith, Wright, and Gray, 22 February … (Jay Papers)
In the Price I paid you for my Picture & the Copy to be paid made of ^ of it ^ for M r Bingham, I find on Recoll n that no Provision was made for the Frame of the Latter ^ To supply that omission ^ I now therefore enclose
27From John Jay to John Marsden Pintard, 18 August 1787 (Jay Papers)
In my late tour to Boston I engaged with Mess rs Joseph Barrell, Crowel Hatch of Boston and M r . John Derby of Salem on a Voyage to the Northwest coast of America on discoveries and for which we are preparing two Vessels, the Ship Columbia about 220 Tons burthen, and the Sloop Lady Washington of about 90 Tons burthen, under the Command and direction of Captain John Kendrick. As there is the...
28From John Jay to John Adams, 4 May 1786 (first letter) (Jay Papers)
on recieving yours of the 4 Jan y last, I immediately communicated it to the Chief of the episcopalian clergy in this City, viz t . the Rev d . M r Provoost, the Rector of Trinity Church. He is greatly pleased with the Manner in which you attended to their application, as well as with the Reception it met with from the archbishop. The next Convention of the Clergy will doubtless present their...
29From John Jay to John Adams, 4 May 1786 (third letter) (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter in which you mention M r Warren. Your opinion of that Gentleman, added to the Merits of his Family, cannot fail to operate powerfully in his Favor. I have communicated that Letter to M r King, an able & valuable Delegate from Massachusetts; who I have Reason to think wishes well to you, and to all who like You, deserve well of their Country. Our Friend...
30To John Adams from John Jay, 13 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor of writing to you on the 15 th: March last mentioning your Appointment to the Court of London; on the 18 th: of the same Month enclosing your Commission, Instructions and Letter of Credence and sending with it the Journals of Congress necessary to compleat your Set; and on the 31 st: March I wrote you another Letter with an Act of Congress directing you to communicate to M r. S...
31To John Adams from John Jay, 4 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you my dear Sir! most cordially on your Return to your native Country, and am greatly pleased with the Reception you have met with— You deserve well of your country, and I am happy to find that the acknowledgment of your Services is not left solely to Posterity. our convention is still sitting. The opposers of the Constitution have proposed many amendments. As yet we proceed...
32John Jay to John Adams, 8 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I thank You for your obliging Letter of the 2 d. Inst—& congratulate you on the Recovery of your Health, as well as on the Success of your measures for preserving our Credit, for which you certainly merit the Acknowledgm ts. of the United States in general, and of their Financier in particular. It seems to me that this Climate would be at least as propitious to your Health as that of Holland;...
33To John Adams from John Jay, 1 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
{It is the pleasure of Congress that you protract your negotiations with the Court of great Britain respecting the posts which should have been before this surrendered to the United States, and other infractions of the said Treaty by that power—so as to avoid demanding a categorical Answer respecting the same untill the further orders of Congress—} I have the Honor to be with great Respect / D...
34From John Jay to John Temple, 2 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
I returned from Elizabeth Town Yesterday and this Morning received the enclosed Act of Congress on the Subject of your Letter of the 16 th . August last.— As this Act is general, and makes no Distinctions or Discriminations affecting particular Nations or Persons, I flatter myself it will not only appear to you to be consonant to the Laws of Nations, but as being necessary to prevent those...
35To John Adams from John Jay, 23 January 1789 (Adams Papers)
Having read in the Papers of to Day, an Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in France to one at Boston, mentioning an Edict excluding foreign whale Oil, I waited on the minister of France to be informed whether he had rec d. official Information of it. He told me he had not.— We had much Conversation on the subject, and from it I was led to conclude, that he did not think it improbable that...
36To John Adams from John Jay, 14 February 1788 (Adams Papers)
As this Letter will go by the way of Ireland, and may be exposed to accidents in the Course of its Route, I decline entering into Particulars; but as the long Recess of Congress who are now again convened, makes it necessary that the enclosed Letters of Recall should be transmitted without Delay, I think it best to send one set by this Conveyance, & to forward Duplicates by another vessel...
37To John Adams from John Jay, 2 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you of 25 th. February I have not been favored with any Letters from you.— Congress have made some Progress in my Report on your Letter of 4 th. March 1786 and the Papers that accompanied it— they lately passed the Resolutions of which you will find a Copy herewith enclosed. Having been ever since and still being too much indisposed to prepare Instructions for you on these...
38From John Jay to John Adams, 2 February 1786 (Jay Papers)
I lately wrote you a few hasty Lines just as the Vessel which carried them was departing; and inclosed a Pamphlet containing my Correspondence with a M r Littlepage, who was formerly in my Family. The attack which produced that Pamphlet, was not only countenanced but stimulated by some of the Subjects of our good allies here. It is no Secret either to You or me that I am no favorite with them:...
39From 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...
40John 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...
41Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 28 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society We had the honor of receiving your Favour of the 20th. Inst, and are persuaded that the Communication of the Friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty made to you by the Baron de Thuilemeyer will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impress’d the United States, early induced them to consider his...
42To John Adams from John Jay, 7 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I lately sent you five or six copies of the last Edition of my Pamphlet. I then supposed it to be correct, but have since discovered in it the Errors mentioned in the inclosed note— be pleased to correct it accordingly. we are well tho not officially informed that all the States have granted the Impost to Congress, except new York, in whose Legislature there is a strong Party against it. You...
43From John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. At present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. None of their more important...
44To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed Letter from President Lee to you (of the Subject and Contents of which I am informed) will explain to you the Design of the Letters and papers which accompany this. The one to the archbishops of York and Canterbury are left open for your Information; and that you may the more easily determine with yourself either to deliver it in Person, or merely to forward it by a proper...
45From John Jay to John Temple, 7 April 1786 (Jay Papers)
The Letters you did me the Honor to write on the 25 th . Feb y . & 17 th March last together with the Papers they inclosed were immediately communicated to Congress Altho I am not ^ yet ^ directed to say any thing officially on the Subject, yet wishing that the Irritation left in both ^ our ^ Countries by the War, may not be increased by mistakes and ^ mis ^ apprehensions I take the Liberty of...
46To John Adams from John Jay, 6 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Congress at length begins to do Business—seven States are represented, and Gen l: S t: Clair was three Days ago chosen President.— Since my last to you of 17 th: Ul t: I have not had the Pleasure of receiving any Letters from you.— You will herewith receive a Letter from Congress to the Queen of Portugal, which you will be pleased to transmit in the Manner suggested in my Report, of which you...
47To John Adams from John Jay, 1 November 1785 (Adams 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 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 the...
48From John Jay to John Adams, 21 February 1787 (Jay Papers)
I had the Pleasure of re[ceivin] g two Days ago your Letter of the 30 Nov r . by M r Mitchel—it was the next Morning laid before Congress. Nine States are now represented, but as yet little progress has been made in the Business before them. My Report on the Infractions of the Treaty complained of by Britain, has been referred to a new Committee and I think a very good one;—various Opinions...
49From John Jay to John Adams, 4 May 1786 (second letter) (Jay Papers)
Since the 22 d . February which was the Date of my last Letter to You, I have been honored with yours of the 4. 5. and 11 Novem r . and 2. 6. 9. 12. and 15 and one of Decem r . last and also of 4 th . 21. and 26. January 1786. All of them have been laid before Congress, from whom I have no Instructions to say any thing more on the Subjects of them than what you will find in my Letter to you of...
50To John Adams from John Jay, 4 July 1787 (Adams 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 known...