121To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 23 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated the 9th. June, since which I have been honored with yours of the 4th. 23d. and 30th. May last, which with the Papers that accompanied them were communicated to Congress. Two Copies of the Ratification of Mr. Adams last Contract have been transmitted to you, under Cover to Messrs. Willinks and Van Staphorsts, by Vessels bound to Amsterdam. A Triplicate will be enclosed...
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency five Petitions complaining of Actions at Law contrary as is said to the Treaty of Peace. I suspect that on examining the Records of these Actions, the Petitioners will appear to have less Cause of Complaint than seems to be the Case from their Representations.— I have the Honor to be with great Respect & Esteem, Your Excellency’s Most ob t ....
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Ex y herewith enclosed an Extract of a Letter of the 15 ^ of 15 July last ^ I have just rec d from the Honorable John Adams Esq r .; from which your Excellency will percieve that the Conduct ^ Behaviour ^ of Cap
124From John Jay to George Washington, 17 [i.e., 18] July 1788 (Jay Papers)
Since my arrival here I have written you two or three hasty Letters— being constantly involved in Business or Company from w h . it would not be here very practicable or perhaps prudent to retreat. I have been able to write but very little— The Convention this moment adjourned and I am now writing in their Chamber. a Question being about to be put on the mode of adoption which you have seen,...
125To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 14 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I understand that a Visit will be paid you by a Gentleman who is to be married to a Lady in this Town, and her Friends request the Favor of me to mention him in my Letters to you. The Gentleman’s Name is John Josh. Bauer a Lieutenant in his Imperial Majesty’s Navy, and late Captain of the imperial East India Company’s Ships Count de Cobensel and Count Belgioioso. I have not the pleasure of...
It appears to me important both to Congress and their officers, that the Duties & Rights of the latter, be ascertained with Precision. Until that be done, the greatest Circumspection cannot preserve their Conduct from Error, nor their Feelings from being sometimes unintentionally hurt.— I have some Reason Sir! to apprehend, that I have come into the office of Secretary for foreign Affairs,...
127To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 13 December 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL (draft): Columbia University Library The Marqs. de la Fayette is so obliging as to take Charge of this Letter. He has seen much of our Country since his Arrival, and, having had many Opportunities of knowing our true Situation, will be able to give you full Information on the Subject. I think he is (and has Reason to be) convinced that the Attachment of America to him, has not been...
128Report on John Adams’s Letter on Commerce, 8 May 1786 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred a Letter from the Honble M r . Adams of 11 th . November last—Reports That the Facts and Observations contained in this Letter appear to your Secretary ^ to be ^ well founded.— That Congress for want of Power to regulate Trade by their own Acts, can make no other Use of this Letter than to publish it,...
129Benjamin 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...
130From 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...
131To George Washington from John Jay, 4–8 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you my dear Sir! on the adoption of the constitution by Virginia. That Event has disappointed the Expectations of opposition here, which nevertheless continues pertinacious. The unanimity of the southern District, and their apparent Determination to continue under the wings of the union, operates powerfully on the minds of the opposite Party. The constitution constantly gains...
132To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 1 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The Frigate called the South Carolina, belonging to that State, assisted Spain at the Reduction of Providence and the Bahama Islands. To obtain Compensation for which Congress, at the Instance of the State, have directed Application to be made to the Court of Madrid. The Prince of Luxemburgh is it seems interested in the Frigate, and in the expected Compensation. The Delegates of South...
133From John Jay to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 March 1789 (Jay Papers)
Among other Letters w h . I have had the pleasure of rec g . from you, there is one of the 27 th Aug t . Aug last, in which at the Request of the Chargé des affaires of the Court palatine and of Bavaria, you inclosed a Memorial & Contract to be conveyed to Congress, & thro’ them to the Governm t . of Pennsylvania, in order to obtain Justice for a palatine Subject from a Person settled at...
134To George Washington from John Jay, 20 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 3d Ult. gave me great Pleasure, and I thank you for the friendly offers contained in it. Some Gentlemen here and in Jersey have it in Contemplation to form a Society to promote the Breeding of good Horses and mules—in that Case we will endeavour to introduce some Jennies, of which we have none at present, and send them to your Jack. The Constitution still continues to cause...
135From John Jay to Yranda, 12 October 1786 (Jay Papers)
It was not until the first Day of Sepm r ^ Sep t ^ last ^ month ^ that I had the Pleasure of rec g the Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 8 Day of March last. I remember at what Period I was in Spain, & at what Period it was that you gave unequivocal ^ me
136From 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—
137From 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...
138To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 13 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received a Letter from Mr. Morris in which he requests my Attention to the Case stated in the Papers herewith enclosed. There is reason to apprehend that Justice is at least unnecessarily delayed if intended. The Circumstances of the Persons interested have Claims on the Humanity and good Offices of those in whose Power it may be to promote their obtaining Justice. I therefore readily...
139From John Jay to George Washington, 14 April 1789 (Jay Papers)
On my Return last Evening from a Fortnight’s Absence in the Country, I was informed that proper arrangements for your immediate accommodation were not yet made. Permit me therefore to take the Liberty of requesting the Favor of you to be with me in the mean Time; and if M rs . Washington should accompany you, we should be still more happy. As the Measures that were in contemplation on this...
140From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 21 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
A Gentleman now in Town, and who will set out for New York in about an Hour, gives me an opportunity of writing you a few Lines. The Convention assembled with unusual Punctuality. There ^are^ not more than two Members, that I recollect, absent, and the ^House^ have entered on the Business with great assiduity & Regularity. As yet their Proceedings and Debates have been temperate, and...
141From 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...
On Friday last M r . DeMarbois called upon me to enquire whether Congress had as yet directed any Answers to be given to his Memorials under their Consideration. In the course of Conversation he mentioned the Affair of Longchamps and informed me that his Court would not persist in their Demand of him. He proposed that the Paper containing that Demand together with those that accompanied it...
I have rec d . a Letter from Mess rs . Van Staphorst of the 24 Nov r . last. This Letter of is of such a nature that the Delicacy ^ with ^ which I wish to conduct all such of the affairs of this Departm t . as may affect the Officers of the others, induces me to communicate this Letter to you in the first Instance. It is too long to be soon copied, and being an official paper ought not to be...
144From 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...
145From John Jay to Joel Bordwell, 9 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for y r . friendly Letter by Cap t . Pratt, and be assured that it will always give me Pleasure to hear of your Welfare and that of your Family. I remember with Satisfaction & with Gratitude the hospitable Retreat ^ Reception ^ you afforded us ^ you gave us ^ [ upon the operations of our last Enemies adversary ?] in the late war, and regret that you did not by accompanying Cap
146From 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
147Extract from John McKesson’s Notes of Debates, 23 June 1788 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay— One or two Remarks have not been mentioned— It is agreed that a Strong energetic Fœderal Gov t . is necessary— Hence we are [to] believe that it believed such a Gov t . is practicable. Yet a Gent[leman] has given us to understand that a Strong energetic federal Gov t . extending so far as this does is impracticable and the Country inadequate for it— If this Gov t . must have the...
148To 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....
149To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 27 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
You will herewith receive another Letter from me of this Date together with the Commission mentioned in it; both of them are in Pursuance of the Ideas suggested in your Letter of the 9th. January last. If the whole Subject should be reconsidered, and a new Convention formed, it is the Pleasure of Congress that the Duties, Powers and Privileges of Consuls, Vice Consuls, Agents and Commissaries...
150From John Jay to Edward Rutledge, 12 December 1786 (Jay Papers)
The malcontents of Massachusetts will probably cause much trouble to that state and perhaps to others, especially if, as is apprehended they are encouraged from abroad. The present severe season is unfriendly to tumults and Insurrections, and therefore the winter may possibly pass over tolerably quiet, but I cannot persuade myself that the conciliatary measures of Government will produce...