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...
182From John Jay to George Washington, 4[–8] July 1788 (Jay 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...
183From 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...
184From John Jay to Ferdinand Grand, December 1785 (Jay Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your [ obli ?] friendly Letter of the 27 Aug t . and for the obliging attention you have paid to the Commission which I requested you to execute. I wish your Design of shipping ^ sending ^ the Glass by the Vessel which is to bring over Doct r Franklin’s Baggage may take place, for my windows are now ready to recieve it. If no opportunity should offer directly from...
185To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 24 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the 3d. November last I have been honored with your Favors of the 19th. 22d. and 24th. September, 8th. and 27th October, 3d and 7th November, 21st and 31st December and 5th. February last—all of which have been laid before Congress; but they have given me no Orders respecting the Subjects of them. The State of my Health was for a long Time such as to oblige me to omit some good...
186From John Jay to Floridablanca, 21 September 1785 (Jay Papers)
When Count de Galvez lately came to the Government of the Havanna, he found there several Americans who, during the Administration of his Predecessor, had experienced much Rigour, and been exposed to various and unusual Hardships. The Intelligence of these Transactions had reached Congress, and given them Concern, when shortly afterwards they were informed that Count de Galvez had pursued...
187To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 22 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The Packet being still here, I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed your Commission and Letter of Credence. Mr. Randall who goes as a Passenger in the Packet has my other Letters, and will be the Bearer of this. Permit me to recommend him to your Attention. I have the Honor to be &ca., FC ( DNA : PCC , No. 80); in clerk’s hand, signed by Jay. Entry in SJL of its receipt on 2...
188From James Duane, John Jay, and Robert R. Livingston to Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Jones, 9 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the agents appointed by the state of New York to manage their controversy with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts —it is agreed that a general retaining fee be given to Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Jones Esqrs. as Counsellors and Solicitors on the part of this State that the brief already prepared together with the necessary papers be put in their hands—That they compleat the...
189Franklin and John Jay to Thomas Mifflin, 16 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: National Archives; press copy of ALS : Library of Congress We duly received the Letters your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 14th of January by Colonel Harmar & Lieut. Col. David Franks, with the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty, the Proclamation, & the Recommendatory Resolves of Congress. On the Arrival of Col. Harmar, we immediately wrote to Mr Hartley,...
190From John Jay to Lafayette, 16 February 1787 (Jay Papers)
Congress being again convened, I have communicated to them the Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 28 Oct r last. The Paper ^ it ^ enclosed had been laid before M r Gardoqui, & made known to his court, but it seems the minister Count De Florida Blanca does not ^ consider ^ it in the same point of Light that he ^ we
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...
192From 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...
193To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 24 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Dispatches alluded to in my late Letters together with others of some importance are ready, and were intended to be conveyed to you by this Packet; but the Gentleman to whose care they were committed declining to go in her, they must pass to you by some other Route. An opinion prevails that hostilities have probably commenced between France and Britain, and such is its Impression that some...
Your Excellency’s ^ Letter ^ was delivered ^ to ^ me this morning. The interpretation of the Council appears to me to be right. I however regret that there was room for doubt; for in my opinion the command of American Vessels should be confined to American Citizens. I have the honor to be with great Respect & c . LbkC , DNA: Domestic Letters Domestic Letters of the Department of State,...
195From John Jay to Thomas Jefferson, 9 December 1785 (Jay Papers)
You will learn that a virulent att ^ From ^ the public papers which will go by the Packet you will percieve that a very indecent attack has been made upon me by a M r Littlepage who was formerly in my Family & from whom I merit better things— It has so happened however that almost all the Enemies ^ among ^ the few Enemies I have the far greater Part are men on whom I have conferred great...
196To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 10 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered to you by the Revd. Doctr. Samuel Wales, Professor in Yale College in Connecticut, who for the Recovery of his Health is advised by his Physicians to make a Voyage to Europe. This Gentleman is recommended to me in such strong and advantageous Terms, that I cannot forbear taking the Liberty of introducing him to you, and requesting the Favor of you to shew him those...
197From John Jay to William Livingston, 6 September 1787 (Jay Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 28 of last Month enclosing a letter for M r Kempe, which I have forwarded by the Packet. It is with Pleasure we learn that the Convention will probably rise next week—Their Session has been of sufficient Duration to give their Proceedings the advantage of every argument that can be drawn from due Time spent in maturing them— M rs . Jay & our little Folks...
I have received from the Chargé des Affaires of France a Letter dated the 28 th . Instant, which I herewith enclose.— He called upon me and spoke on a variety of Subjects. It appeared to me prudent to request the favor of him to reduce his Communications to writing, in a summary way. He did so, but prefered doing it in an unformal manner, and therefore did not sign it.— I think it my duty to...
199To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 9 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the thirteenth Day of September nine States have not been represented in Congress, and since the tenth Day of October last a sufficient Number for ordinary Business have not convened. No Progress therefore could be made in the Affairs of this Department, and that will continue to be the Case unless the Government shall be organized. Many Members of the new Congress are now here, but not...
200To George Washington from John Jay, 16 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
Under the same cover with my Letter to You of 2 Instant, I transmitted a Pamphlet, in which I have since remarked the Errors mentioned in the inclosed printed Paper. altho’ you have wisely retired from public Employments, and calmly view from the Temple of Fame, the various Exertions of the Sovereignty and Independence which Providence has enabled You to be so greatly & gloriously instrumental...
201From 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...
202From 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...
203From John Jay to James Duane, 30 September 1785 (Jay Papers)
Permit me to request the Favor of you to obtain a Decision this Evening respecting the proposed Regulations of New Street and the Broad Way—The Season will now admit of digging Cellars & preparing Foundations for Houses; and nothing prevents my beginning with mine, but the want of Information respecting the Intention of the Corporation to make or not to make the proposed Amendments to those...
204To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 5 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept my cordial thanks for your very friendly Letter of 25 Jany. last, in answer to mine of the preceding month. Your Reflections on the Subject of that Letter are perfectly just. The Liberty of the Press is certainly too important to the public, to be restrained for the sake of personal Considerations; especially as it is in every man’s power to frustrate Calumny, by not deserving censure;...
205From John Jay to James Duane, [11 October 1785] (Jay Papers)
Before your Return I agreed in thinking with the Agents of Massachusetts ^ that such Letters ^ should be written to the Judges as you will find herewith enclosed. We have on both Sides vacant places to fill up, and in my opinion a little Delay will not hurt us, for we expect important papers from England, and tho they will doubtless arrive this fall, yet the exact Time when cannot be...
206From John Jay to Benjamin Rush, 23 January 1789 (Jay Papers)
Your Recommendation adds to increases the number of considerations which induce me to wish well to D r . Rodgers, for your Judgment relative to him as a Man and as a Physician cannot fail to have great Influence and will cooperate with my Regard for his worthy father to do him friendly offices. It will I assure you give me pleasure to cultivate the ^an^ acquaintance with your amiable friend M...
207From John Jay to George Washington, 1 March 1789 (Jay Papers)
Reflecting that our Wishes to see you here, would probably soon be gratified, it occurred to me that if you inclined to have of the spanish Breed of Horses, it would be but little Trouble for one of your Servants to bring up some mares to put to my Horse— I take the Liberty therefore of mentioning this Circumstance— The mares on arriving here, shall be immediately sent to my Farm, where proper...
208From John Jay to George Washington, 29 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I was two Days ago favored with yours of the 15 th . Instant—it gives me Pleasure to find that the Probability of Virginia’s adopting the proposed Constitution rather encreases—such an Event would undoubtedly disarm the opposition. It appears by recent advices from Charleston that we may count on South Carolina, and the New Hampshire Delegates assure me that their State will come into the...
The City and County of New York have elected me one of their Deputies to the State Convention, which is to meet on the 17 th . instant at Poughkeepsie to consider and decide on the proposed fœderal Constitution. If it be agreeable to Congress I will attend, if not I will decline the Appointment. Permit me therefore to request their Directions on the Subject. I have the Honor to be with great...
210From 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 ^...