101From 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...
102From 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...
103From 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,...
104From 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...
105From 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...
106From 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, &...
107From 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...
108From 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...
109From 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...
110From 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...
111From John Jay to Elbridge Gerry, 19 February 1784 (Jay Papers)
It was not until the last week that your Fav r . of the 24 Nov r . last reached me. I was ^ am glad to ^ find it dated at Ph a ., as that Circumstance leads me to suppose that you was again serving our Country in Congress— It is of the last Importance that our federal Head should constantly possess both Wisdom & Power
112From 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
113From 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
114From John Jay to Silas Deane, 23 February 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your letter of 21 st , January was delivered to me this morning. It is painful to say disagreeable things to any person, and especially to those with whom one has lived in habits of friendship; but candor on this occasion forbids reserve. You was of the number of those who possessed my esteem, and to whom I was attached. To me personally you have never given offense; but, on the contrary, I am...
115From John Jay to Robert Morris, 25 February 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 4 Nov r . last found me in England; where tho I suffered much Sickness, I left the Pain in my Breast; but a sore throat I caught there, still remains obstinate & troublesome. The Resolution of Congress of 1 st . Oct r . last did not reach me until in December on my Return here last Month, I wrote in Pursuance of it, to M r Carmichael to come here without Delay, with the Books...
116From John Jay to Richard Oswald, 5 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
Had your Favor of the 27 th . Ult. been delivered to me a little sooner, an answer to it might have gone by this ^ to- ^ Days post; but that not having been the Case, this Letter will remain some Days in the Office. I am much obliged to you for communicating what passed between you and M r Stephens respecting the Letter he suppo sed ^ ses ^ to have rec d
117Conditional Manumission of Benoît, 21 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
To all to whom these Presents shall come or may concern, I John Jay Esq formerly of the City of New ^ York ^ in America, ^ Esq r . ^ but ^ but ^ now residing at Chaillot near Paris in France Send Greeting Whereas in the month of Dec r
M r . Carm. was 9 days going from Madrid to Bayonne, from whence he wrote to me on 12 March & arrived at Paris 27 March 1784 — Mr Barclay arr d ^ Sunday ^ 11 Ap. 1784— I gave Notice of it same Day to M r Carmich l .— — Monday 12 ap— M r Carm. call d on me in his Way to passy where he dines—is to see Barclay, & call in the Ev
119Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to David Hartley, 31 March 1784 (Jay Papers)
We have now the Pleasure of acquainting you, that the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty is arrived here by an Express from Congress. You have already been informed that the Severity of the Winter in America, which hindered Travelling had occasioned a delay in the assembling of the States. As soon as a sufficient Number were got together, the Treaty was taken into Consideration, and the...
120From John Jay to Henry Laurens, 5 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
A Letter in Sec y Thompson’s Hand writing directed to the American Ministers for Peace, & [ illegible ] ^ & hinting ^ the Expediency of of an Article for extending the Term assigned by the Treaty for the Exchange of Ratifications, arrived last Month & was communicated to me by D r . Franklin— shortly afterwards we were both confined, he by the Gout & I by the Rheumatism— on at the first ^...
121From John Jay to John Witherspoon, 6 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
I had last Evening the Pleasure of recieving your Favor of the 27 th . Ult— I congratulate You on your safe arrival, & sincerely wish that the same good Fortune may attend your Return. While our Country remained part of the british Empire, there was no Impropriety in solliciting the Aid of our distant Brethren and fellow Subjects, for any liberal and public purpose. it was natural that the...
122From John Jay to Charles Thomson, 7 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
On the 5 th . Inst. M r Norris gave me your obliging letter of the 26 Sept r . last. I regret that he did not come here sooner, for it will always give me Pleasure to have opportunities of evincing my Esteem & Regard for you, by attentions to those who possess yours. M r Carmichael whom I had long expected with the public accounts did not arrive until the 27 th . ult—when M r Ridley had just...
123From 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...
124From John Jay to Frederick Jay, 27 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
M r . P. Van Schaack informs me by a Letter dated the 12 Inst. at Bristol that M rs . Peloquins Ex rs . “have at length agreed to recognize the Powers of Att y . & to pay the Legacies”— The one however to our Father they will not pay until his will be proved in Eng & Letters of Adm n . taken out in England. I have desired M r . Johnson of London to talk with Cap t . Coupar ab t
125From John Jay to Lafayette, 8 May 1784 (Jay Papers)
I was surprized to see you pass in your Carriage two Days ago, havg understood that you was gone into the Country Tell me when you will be at Home I want to call upon you & talk over two or three Matters— Will Tomorrow morning suit You? I have found a New York Ship that will take me ^ us ^ on board at Dover, & so that you will no longer be exposed to the Inconveniences w h . your polite offer...
126From John Jay to Vergennes, 8 May 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . & thank your Exy. for, the Passport inclos d . in y r . obliging Letter of the 5 Instant, & have now the Honor of transmitting the Acc t . necessary to compleat the order respecting my Baggage. There is a N York Vessel at London, in w h . I have engaged a passage. The Cap t . offers to take us i on board at Dover—but to avoid Embarrassments I at the Custom House there, I have...
Having waited until the Settlemt. of the public accounts was compleated, I left Paris the 16 May last, and on the 1 June embarked with my Family at Dover on board the Ship Edward Cap t . Coupar, in which we arrived here Yesterday. M r . Barclay has transmitted, or will soon transmit, to M r Morris, a State of the above mentioned accounts; and as it will thence appear that some of the Bills...
128From John Jay to Charles Thomson, 12 August 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 29 July reached me two Days ago —accept my thanks for your friendly Congratulations on my arrival, and those paid Mr s . the Terms of approbation in which you mention my appointment is among the number of the ^ make one of the ^ very few Compliments ^ on ^ which I value. The acceptance of it ^ that Place
129From John Jay to Benjamin Lincoln, 17 August 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have just been honored with a Letter from General Knox of the 29 Ult, requesting to be informed “Whose map of the River S t Croix was used as an authority by the ministers who negociated the Peace” and desiring me to address my answer to You. This Letter arrived during my absence in the Country, from whence I returned the Day before Yesterday. The Map which the Ministers used, and on which...
130From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 18 August 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your kind Letter of the 30 Ult. was delivered to me Yesterday by M r Lewis. I thank you very sincerely for your friendly Congratulations on my Return, and assure you that among the Pleasures I have long promised myself from it, that of renewing our former Intercourse & Correspondence is not the least. I lament the unfortunate accident which has happened to your eldest Daughter; and which has...
131From John Jay to Benjamin Vaughan, 2 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
The far greater part of our ^ my ^ Time since our ^ my ^ arrival has been passed in the Country so that several Vessels have lately gone to Europe without Letters from us ^ me ^ to our Friends there. During my Absence your Family passed thro here on their way to Albany—they carried ^
132From John Jay to Matthew Ridley, 3 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
At Length my good Friend I am arrived at the Land of my nativity, and I bless God that it is also the Land of Light Liberty & Plenty. My Emotions on the occasion need ^ can ^ not be described—you are susceptible of similar ones, and I hope you will soon experience and enjoy them. I have not been to Philadelphia, nor further in Jersey than Eliz. Town where we found the Family well— Kitty indeed...
133From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 3 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your favor of the 21 June last— Doctor Drummond may perhaps have an internal Sense of the Propriety of his Doubts & Scruples but on every other Principle they appear ^ to ^ me very extraordinary unaccountable. Above a Week has been employed here in Discussions between [ Brother Fœdy & myself on the one hand and ?] ^ with ^ our infallible Knight
134From John Jay to Edward Livingston, 5 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of rec g . y r . Favor of the 26 th . aug t . and thank You for the friendly Congratulations and Sentiments expressed in it. Whether or not I shall continue to reside in this City, or whether and when I shall resume the Business of my Profession, are Matters respecting w h . I have deferred coming to any Determination for the Present. My long neglected private...
135From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 5 September 1784 (Jay Papers)
On the 17 Aug t . I rec d . from M r . Lewis your Favor of the 30 July, and on the 18 Aug t . I answered it. The Day before Yesterday Your’s of the 26 Ult. reached me, and I am mortified to learn from it that mine to you had not come to Hand—it went by the Post, and was put into the office with my own Hands. I flatter myself that You have since rec d . it— As to the Letters rec d . from You...
136From John Jay to Henry Oothoudt, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, and Christopher Yates, Commissioners of Forfeitures for the … (Jay Papers)
I observe by the news Paper that ^ you have advertized ^ the Interest of Henry White Esq r . in the Township of Whiteborough is to be sold at public auction next month— It is therefore necessary that you should be informed of the following Facts respecting my Claim ^ Right ^ to a 1000 acres of his Share in that Grant— The britsh Instruction to their Gov rs . to ^
137From John Jay to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York, [4 October 1784] (Jay Papers)
To the worshipful the Mayor Alderman & Commonalty of the City of NYork Gent accept my warmest Thanks for your affect e . Congratulation and ^ on ^ my Return to my native Country, and ^ for ^ the particular mark of approbation with w h . you have honored my Endeavours to do my Duty in promoting its Welfare. I consider the Day on w h . I again landed on these Shores, as one of
138From John Jay to George Clinton, 18 October 1784 (Jay Papers)
You may remember that Peter V Schaack Esq r . was among those [ illegible ] to whom the Com rs . charged with the Execution of ^ the ^ act respecting Persons of doubtful political Characters tendered the Oath prescribed by it, and which he declined taking— He apprehends that his Return to this Country is opposed by that Circumstance and fears that the obstacle arising from it cannot be...
139From John Jay to Charles Thomson, 20 October 1784 (Jay Papers)
I cannot let M r . Remsen depart, without acknowledging the Rec t . of your friendly Letter of 18 Ult. a Fever has long kept one of my Children in a precarious Situation; and while Doubts of her Recovery remained, I could not prevail on myself to be far distant. She still lingers on, but if she holds out ’till frosty weather, I hope all will be well. The Time for the Meeting of Congress being...
140From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 21 November 1784 (Jay Papers)
In order to reduce to a Certainty the Substance of our ^ my ^ Conversations with Gov r Clinton on your Subject & thereby prevent misunderstandings about the Matter in Case of his Death, I w ^ r ^ ote him a Letter (the Draft of w h . I accidentally left with my Papers in Jersey) to which I rec d . a few Days ago the following answer— Insert his Letter of 8 Nov r . 1784—
141From John Jay to Benjamin Vaughan, 30 November 1784 (Jay Papers)
A sufficient N o . of members to form a Congress not having arrived at Trenton, I passed on to this place ten Days ago to visit my old Friends. I found your Family well and am happy in this opportunity of cultivating their acquaintance. They seem not yet to have concluded on entirely on the Place of their Residence, and therefore I have ob there is still Room for me to hope it may be not be...
142John Jay’s Draft Letter to the King of France, 10 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
The various, reiterated and important Acts of Friendship done by your majesty to these States, have inspired them ^ with ^ strong Attachment to your Person, & with firm Confidence in your friendly Disposition towards them. Both these Considerations unite in urging us to ^ recommend to ^ your Majesty’s particular Attention and Favor, ^ The Marquis de la Fayette ^ a nobleman, who has ably...
Whereas the military Talents of the Marq s . De la Fayette has during the late war discovered great Military talents, having on various occasions given high proofs of able management, [ illegible ] ^ skill ^ , activity & Bravery, particularly while [ illegible ] by keeping a superior Ene Force in C ^
144From 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...
145From John Jay to Benjamin Franklin, 13 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
The Marq s . Dela Fayette is so obliging as to take Charge of this Letter— He has seen much of our Country since his Arrival, & having had many opportunities of knowing our true Situation, he will be able to give you a full and fair State of Information on the Subject. I think he ^ is ^ ( ^ & ^ has Reason to be) convinced that the attachm t . of America to him has not been abated by the Peace,...
146From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 13 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
The Letter you favored me with gave me great Pleasure; it was well written, and well spelt; and you said, what you had to say, in an easy familiar manner. I should have written to you before, but as Pleasure should always give Way to Business, I was obliged on that account, to postpone it till now. Your Mama writes me that the Schoolmaster, who was at Eliz. Town, is removed; so that you will...
Resolved ^ Unanimously ^ . Eight States only being represented that his Ex y the President inform the Minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of France that it is the Desire but not the Instruction of Congress that in Case the Convention proposed for regulating and ascertaining the Powers and Priviledges of Consuls sh d . not be already signed, that he delay signing it until...
By The United States in Congress Assembled— May 7th, 1784. Congress proceeded to the election,& being this day informed by a Letter of the 9 th March last from the Hon Doctor Franklin that M r . J. Jay proposed to embark for America in the month of April and this information corresponding with the intelligence communicated to Congress by Mr. Jay himself in his Letters of last year, Mr. Jay was...
149From John Jay to François de Barbé-Marbois, 22 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
Having accepted the Place of Secy for foreign Affairs, it becomes my duty to inform You that Congress will adjourn Tomorrow to meet at the City of NYork on Tuesday the 11 Day of Jan y . next. I have the Honor to be Sir Your most ob t . & hble Serv t Dft , NNC ( EJ : 5704 ; 90227 ); LbkC , DNA: PCC , item 120, 1: 1 (
The Undersigned, Agents of the State of New York on the one and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the other Part, having mutually agreed under the Direction of Congress that the Honorable Robert Hanson Harrison of the State of Maryland Esqr., the honorable John Rutledge of the State of South Carolina Esqr., the Honorable George Wythe, the honorable William Grayson, the honorable James...