271From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you was dated the 17th. of June. The present serves to cover some papers put into my hands by Capt. Paul Jones. They respect an antient matter which is shortly this. While Capt. Jones was hovering on the coast of England in the year 1779. a British pilot, John Jackson by name, came on board him supposing him to be British. Capt. Jones found it convenient to detain him as a...
272To 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...
273From 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...
274From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall sometimes ask your permission to write you letters, not official but private. The present is of this kind, and is occasioned by the question proposed in yours of June 14 ‘Whether it would be useful to us to carry all our own productions, or none?’ Were we perfectly free to decide this question, I should reason as follows. We have now lands enough to employ an infinite number of people...
The Count de Moustier, minister plenipotentiary from the court of Versailles to the United states, will have the honour of delivering you this. the connection of your offices will necessarily connect you in acquaintance: but I beg leave to present him to you on account of his personal as well as his public character. you will find him open, communicative, candid, simple in his manners, & a...
276From 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...
277To 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....
278From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 7 November 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter of the 2d. inst. from the Count de Moustier I perceive he is still at Brest. The wind has now been near a month in the South-Western quarter, and if it remains there a few days longer, my dispatches by the packet may reach you as soon as those by Monsr. de Moustier. This being the last post which can reach the packet, should she sail on the 10th. I avail myself of it to inform you...
279From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of June 18. signed by Dr. Franklin and myself is the last addressed to you from hence on the objects of the general commission. As circumstances rendered it necessary that the signature of the Prussian treaty whenever it should be in readiness, should be made separately, the intervention of a person of confidence between the Prussian plenipotentiary and us became also requisite. His...
280From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 22 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The duty has been imposed on me of making the following communication to Congress. It is necessary for me previously to observe, that tho’ the government of the United Netherlands have both an ordinary and extraordinary Ambassador here, yet the Patriotic party, now decisively possest of the powers of government, have sent hither a Rhingrave de Salm , as possessing their plenary confidence, to...