1To John Jay from Robert Morris, 20 April 1789 (Jay Papers)
I delivered your letter to Gen l Washington at Chester where I met him, and soon found that very prudential considerations had determined him against the Acceptance of the Invitations of his Friends, He gave much such reasons as indeed My own mind had Suggested before, and I acquiesced, so that He lodged at the City Tavern and I understand that M r Osgoods House is prepared for his Reception...
2From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 15 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since closing my letters which accompany this I have received an answer from London on the subject of the other volumes of Deane’s letters and accounts suggested to be still in his possession. This information renders it certain that none such are in his possession, and probable that no others exist but the two which I have purchased. I am in hopes therefore we may conclude that the recovery...
3To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1789 (Jay Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 1 st . instant through the post. I write the present incertain whether mr Nesbitt, the bearer of your last, will be the bearer of this, or whether it may not have to wait some other private occasion. they have re-established their packet-boats here indeed; but they are to go from Bordeaux, which being between four & five hundred miles from hence, is...
4From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 1st. instant through the post. I write the present, incertain whether Mr. Nesbitt, the bearer of your last, will be the bearer of this, or whether it may not have to wait some other private occasion. They have reestablished their packet-boats here indeed; but they are to go from Bordeaux, which being between four and five hundred miles from hence, is...
5From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters have been of the 11th. 14th. and 21st. of January. The present conveyance being thro’ the post to Havre from whence a vessel is to sail for New York, I avail myself of it principally to send you the newspapers. That of Leyden of the 24th. contains a note of the Chargé des affaires of France at Warsaw which is interesting. It shews a concert between France and Russia; it is a...
6To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 4 February 1789 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 25. by Gouverneur Morris is duly recieved. [I must beg you to take the trouble of decyphering yourself what follows, and to communicate it to no body but the President at least for the present. ] We had before understood thro different channels that the conduct of the Count de Moustier was politically and morally offensive. it was delicate for me to speak on the subject to...
7From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 4 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 25. by Gouverneur Morris is duly recieved. [I must beg you to take the trouble of decyphering yourself what follows, and to communicate it to nobody but the President, at least for the present. ] We had before understood thro’ different channels that the conduct of the Count de Moustier was politically and morally offensive . It was delicate for me to speak on the subject to...
8From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 21 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having had the honour of addressing you so lately as the 11th. and 14th. instant, I should not so soon have troubled you again but that since the departure of those letters I have received one from the Count de la Luzerne of which I now send a copy, together with another copy of the Arret of Dec. 7. lest the former should be longer getting to you. You will perceive that the Ministry press for...
9To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 14 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
In my letter of the 11 th . I have said nothing of the Arret explanatory of that of Sep. 28. on the subject of whale oils, which my letter of Nov. 19. gave you reason to expect. tho this explanatory arret has been passed so long ago as the 7 th . of December it has not been possible for me to obtain an authentic copy of it till last night. I now inclose that to you with a copy of a letter to...
10From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 11th I have said nothing of the Arret explanatory of that of Sep. 28. on the subject of whale oils, which my letter of Nov. 19. gave you reason to expect. Tho this explanatory arret has been passed so long ago as the 7th. of December it has not been possible for me to obtain an authentic copy of it till last night. I now inclose that to you with a copy of a letter to me...
11From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 11 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters have been of the 14th. 19th. and 29th. of November by the way of London. The present will go the same way through a private channel . All military operations in Europe seem to have been stopped by the excessive severity of the weather. In this country it is unparalleled in so early a part of the winter, and in duration, having continued since the middle of November, during...
12To John Jay from James Duane, 20 December 1788 (Jay Papers)
I set off in a hurry which alone prevented my calling upon you for which I had a variety of motives. One was to explain the reasons which induced me to transmit to you a State of facts on a subject which I thought somewhat interesting, and the more so as it ^had^ produced a Visit from three reverend Doctors the evening before I commenced my Journey— Their object was to prevent a flame which...
13To John Jay from Arthur St. Clair, 13[–15] December 1788 (Jay Papers)
I have received Information from Detroit, which I depend upon, that a certain Coll l . Conolly, who came to that place, from Quebec, last Winter, has not long ago set out for Louisville at the rapids of the Ohio— he is the Conolly that made himself pretty remarkable during the progress of the Revolution, and was appointed a Lieut t . Collonel in one of the Refugee Corps— he is upon the half...
14From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 29 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In the hurry of making up my letter of the 19th. inst. I omitted to inclose the printed paper on the subject of whale oil. That omission is now supplied by another conveiance by the way of London. The explanatory Arrêt is not yet come out. I still take for granted it will pass, tho’ there be an opposition to it in the council. In the mean time orders are given to receive our oils which may...
15To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 25 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated the 23d. September last. It mentioned my having received your Letters of 4th. 23d. and 30th. May. I have since been favored with four others, vizt. 29th. July and 3d. 10th. and 11th. August with the Papers mentioned to be enclosed. They have not been laid before Congress, although I transmitted them to the President for that Purpose; for a sufficient Number of Members...
16From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 19 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of Sep. 5. wherein I acknoleged Mr. Remsen’s favor of July 25. I have written those of Sep. 24. and of the 14th. inst. This last will accompany the present; both going by the way of London for want of a direct opportunity. But they go by a private hand . No late event worth notice has taken place between the Turks and Austrians. The former continue in the territories of the...
17From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Dec. 21. 1787. I had the honour of acknoleging the receipt of your two favours of July 27. 1787. which had come to my hands Dec. 19. and brought with them my full powers for treating on the subject of the Consular convention. Being then much engaged in getting forward the Arret which came out the 29th. of Dec. and willing to leave some interval between that act, and the...
18From John Adams to John Jay, 11 October 1788 (Adams Papers)
The multiplied Cares attending the Removal of a Family, from one Country to another; and beginning a new Course of Life or resuming an old one, after an interruption of fourteen years; must be my apology, if any apology is neccessary, for having omitted, till this time, to Solicit the final Settlement of my Accounts, with the United States.— As M r Barclay has, for many years, had the...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Understanding that the vessel is not yet sailed from Havre which is to carry my letters of the 3d. and 5th. instant, I am in hopes you will receive the present with them. The Russian accounts of their victories on the Black sea must have been greatly exaggerated. According to these the Captain Pacha’s fleet was annihilated. Yet themselves have lately brought him on the stage again with 15....
20To John Jay from Diego de Gardoqui, 19 September 1788 (Jay Papers)
Mui Señor mio. Mis ultimos achaques me han privado de contextar à la appreciable de V.S. de 5. del Corriente con la puntualidad que acostumbro, pero me aprovecho del primero Momento, para acusar su Rezivo con los Extractos No. 1. 2. 3. y 4., que se sirbe incluirme de Orden del Honorable Congreso. Tendrè particular cuidado de Remitirlos à S. M. por primera ocacion, como pruevas de la atencion...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 5 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 3d. instant, and have this day received Mr. Remsen’s favor of July 25 . written during your absence at Poughkeepsie, and inclosing the ratification of the loan of a million of florins for which Mr. Adams had executed bonds at Amsterdam in March last. The expediency of that loan resulting from an estimate made by Mr. Adams and myself, and that estimate having been laid before...
22From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 3 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
By Mrs. Barclay I had the honour of sending you letters of the 3d. 10th. and 11th. of August: since which I wrote you of the 20th. of the same month by a casual conveiance, as is the present. In my letter of the 20th. I informed you of the act of public bankruptcy which has taken place here. The effect of this would have been a forced loan of about 180. millions of livres in the course of the...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 20 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor to write to you on the 3d. 10th. and 11th. instant with a postscript of the 12th. all of which went by Mrs. Barclay. Since that date we receive an account of a third victory obtained by the Russians over the Turks on the Black sea, in which the Prince of Nassau with his gallies destroyed 2 frigates, 3 smaller vessels, and 6. gallies. The Turkish power on that sea is represented...
24From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 11 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the last night, written in the moment of Mrs. Barclay’s departure, I had the honour of mentioning to you that it was now pretty certain that the States general would be assembled in the next year, and probably in the month of May. This morning an Arret is published, announcing that their meeting is fixed at the first day of May next, of which I enclose you a copy by post, in...
25From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 10 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have waited till the last moment of Mrs. Barclay’s departure to write you the occurrences since my letter of the 3d. instant. We have received the Swedish account of an engagement between their fleet and the Russian on the Baltic, wherein they say they took one and burnt another Russian vessel with the loss of one on their side, and that the victory remained with them. They say at the same...
26From George Washington to John Jay, 3 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
The letters which you did me the favor of writing to me on the 17th & 23d of last Month from Poughkeepsie, came duly to hand, & claim my particular acknowledgments. With peculiar pleasure I now congratulate you on the success of your labours to obtain an unconditional ratification of the proposed Constitution in the Covention of your State; the acct of which, was brought to us by the mail of...
27To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 3 August 1788 (Jay Papers)
My last letters to you were of the 4 th . and 23 d . of May, with a postscript of the 27 th . since that I have been honoured with yours of Apr. 24. May 16. & June 9. The most remarkeable internal occurrences since my last are these. The Noblesse of Bretagne, who had received with so much warmth the late innovations in the government, assembled & drew up a memorial to the king and chose 12....
28To John Jay from George Washington, 3 August 1788 (Jay Papers)
The letters which you did me the favor of writing to me on the 17 th . & 23 d . of last Month from Poughkeepsie, came duly to hand, & claim my particular acknowledgments.— With peculiar pleasure I now congratulate you on the success of your labours to obtain an unconditional ratification of the proposed Constitution in the Convention of your State; the acc t . of which, was brought to us by...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 3 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters to you were of the 4th. and 23d. of May, with a postscript of the 27th. Since that I have been honoured with yours of Apr. 24. May 16. and June 9. The most remarkeable internal occurrences since my last are these. The Noblesse of Bretagne, who had received with so much warmth the late innovations in the government, assembled and drew up a memorial to the king and chose 12....
30From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 29 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received the inclosed letter from Julien Laurent claiming his wages as Volunteer on board the Bonhomme Richard, I have the honour of forwarding it to you, supposing it will of course be referred to the proper office to take order on. I have the honour to be with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect Sir Your most obedient & most humble servt., RC ( DNA : PCC , No. 87, ii )....
31From John Adams to John Jay, 18 July 1788 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of the 4. of July and thank you for your friendly Congratulations on my Arrival. The Decision of the Convention at Poughkeepsie, is of very great Importance to this Nation, perhaps to Some others.— I am extreamly anxious, that, as the new Constitution has already proceeded to far, it Should be adopted kindly and cordially, by all the three that remain. a little...
32From George Washington to John Jay, 18 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago, I had the pleasure to receive a letter of yours from Poughkeepsie—since which I have not obtained any authentic advices of the proceedings of your Convention. The clue you gave me, to penetrate into the principles & wishes of the four classes of men among you who are opposed to the Constitution, has opened a wide field for reflection & conjecture. The accession of ten States...
33To John Jay from George Washington, 18 July 1788 (Jay Papers)
A few days ago, I had the pleasure to receive a letter of yours from Poughkeepsie—since which I have not obtained any authentic advices of the proceedings of your Convention.— The clue you gave me, to penetrate into the principles & wishes of the four classes of men among you who are opposed to the Constitution, has opened a wide field for reflection & conjecture.— The accession of ten States...
34To John Jay from John Vaughan, [before 27 June] 1788 (Jay Papers)
I have perused with Singular pleasure some thoughts on the Constitution addressed to the State of NYk & was expressing my Sentiments to our good friend D r Franklin—who observed that if you was the Author (as Said) he thought it incumbent upon you to put your name to it—to give it additional Weight at this awful Crisis I call it awful because a rejection in your State would be productive of...
35To John Jay from Edward Rutledge, 20 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
A gentleman for whom I have a considerable share of esteem has informed that he is on the Wing for New York, & tho’ I am much indisposed with a large Share of Fatigue that public & professional Business have oppressed me with from day to day since the 12 th : of the last Month, I could not forgo his requesting being made known to one whose Character he very much respects. He is himself a...
36To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 19 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
The morning we left you, we arriv’d at Eliz. Town after a pleasant passage and found our Parents in good health—the Children continue very well and I am myself much better than when I left N: York. By this time I suppose you have arrived at Poughkeepsie & arranged your affairs so as to be tollerably settled—the ride I flatter myself has been beneficial to you & hope to find from your letters...
37From George Washington to John Jay, 8 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
By the last Mail, I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 29th of May—and have now the satisfaction to congratulate you on the adoption of the Constitution by the Convention of South Carolina. I am sorry to learn there is a probability that the majority of members in the New York Convention will be Antifederalists. Still I hope that some event will turn up before they assemble, which...
38To John Jay from George Washington, 8 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
By the last Mail, I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 29 th . of May—and have now the satisfaction to congratulate you on the adoption of the Constitution by the Convention of South Carolina.— I am sorry to learn there is a probability that the Majority of members in the New York Convention will be Antifederalists.—Still I hope that some event will turn up before they assemble,...
39To John Jay from Matthew Ridley, 3 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
It is with singular pleasure I advise you that Kitty was safely delivered of a fine little Girl the 25 th . Ult o .— Both Mother & Child are bravely—Kitty I think remarkably so, considering her delicate Habit— I received your kind Letter of the 4 th . January. It had been a Circuit someway other; for it was long out of course.—The public Papers will have informed you the proceedings of this...
40To John Jay from Lafayette, 30 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I Have, With Heartfelt Satisfaction, Received Your favour By the late Packet, and will Refer Myself to Mr. Jefferson for Intelligences from this Quarter. The Politics of Europe are threatening, but the storm Has Hitherto Kept far to the Eastward—The defense of the turks Has More Good luck than was Reported, and the Emperor, as Usual, is More Remarkable for His plans ^ designs ^ than His...
41From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 30 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A further delay of Mr. Warville enables me to acknolege the receipt of your letter of April 24. by Mr. Paradise. Nothing new has occurred since the date of my other letters which go by this conveiance: except that about one third of the Baillages have accepted their appointments. If the others pretty generally should do the same, and the Chatelet be brought over it will place government pretty...
42From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Enclosure, 23 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote my letter of the 4th. inst. I had no reason to doubt that a packet would have sailed on the 10th. according to the established order. The passengers had all, except one, gone to Havre in this expectation. None however is sailed, and perhaps none will sail, as I think the suppression of the packets is one of the oeconomies in contemplation. An American merchant concerned in the...
43From George Washington to John Jay, 15 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for your favors of the 20th & 24th Ult. and thank you for your care of my foreign letters. I do the same for the Pamphlet you were so obliging as to send me. The good sense, forceable observations, temper and moderation with which it is written cannot fail, I should think, of making a serious impression even upon the antifœderal mind where it is not under the influence of...
44To John Jay from George Washington, 15 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I am indebted to you for your favors of the 20 th . & 24 th . Ult and thank you for your care of my foreign letters.— I do the same for the Pamphlet you were so obliging as to send me.—The good sense, forceable observations, temper and moderation with which it is written cannot fail, I should think, of making a serious impression even upon the anti fœderal mind where it is not under the...
45From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 15 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The change which is likely to take place in the form of our government seems to render it proper that during the existence of the present government, an article should be mentioned which concerns me personally. Incertain however how far Congress may have decided to do business, when so near the close of their administration, less capable than those on the spot, of foreseeing the character of...
46To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 4 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you in two letters of the 13 th . & 16 th . of March from Amsterdam, and have since received mr Remsen’s of Feb. 20. I staid at Amsterdam about 10. or 12 days after the departure of mr Adams in hopes of seeing the million of the last year filled up. this however could not be accomplished on the spot. but the prospect was so good as to have dissipated all fears;...
47From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 4 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you in two letters of the 13th. and 16th. of March from Amsterdam, and have since received Mr. Remsen’s of Feb. 20. I staid at Amsterdam about 10. or 12. days after the departure of Mr. Adams in hopes of seeing the million of the last year filled up. This however could not be accomplished on the spot. But the prospect was so good as to have dissipated all fears;...
48Granville Sharp to the President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the New-York Manumission Society, 1 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
We recieved your favour of the 28 th of Feb y last which afforded us much satisfaction & we have now the pleasure of informing you that our Cause is daily gaining ground in this Country Our Opponents have long urged the supposed incapacity of the Black People to enjoy the Blessings of Freedom & Civilization, as a plea for Slavery; but they now seem to be sensible of its futility.—Their...
49To John Jay from William Carmichael, 29 April 1788 (Jay Papers)
On the 23 d instant I came to this place & on the 26 th had an opportunity of speaking to his Ex cy the C t de Florida Blanca on the subject of the reports which have been assiduously circulated for sometime past among the Corps Diplomatique & in the Capital of hostilities having been commenced by the Inhabitants on the Western Waters against Louisiana which hostilities were said to be...
50To John Jay from George Washington, 15 April 1788 (Jay Papers)
Your Card of the 24 th . Ult, and first Vol. of the Fœderalist came safe, for which I pray you to accept my thanks, and assurances of the sincere esteem & regard with which I am, Dear Sir, Y r . most Obed t . and Affect e . H ble Serv t ALS , ICN : Ruggles ( EJ : 13397