John Jay Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0267

From John Jay to John Temple, 2 October 1787

To John Temple

Office for foreign Affairs 2d. October 1787

Sir

I returned from Elizabeth Town Yesterday and this Morning received the enclosed Act of Congress on the Subject of your Letter of the 16th. August last.—1

As this Act is general, and makes no Distinctions or Discriminations affecting particular Nations or Persons, I flatter myself it will not only appear to you to be consonant to the Laws of Nations, but as being necessary to prevent those Abuses to which the Exemptions it mentions afford Temptations—Temptations which however ineffectual with Respect to you and others, appear from Experience to be too often irresistible not to merit the Attention or Government. I have the Honor to be with Sentiments of Consideration and Esteem Sir Your most obt. and hble: Servt.

John Jay

Sir John Temple.—

LS, MHi: Bowdoin-Temple (EJ: 4737); LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 285 (EJ: 2179).

1The resolution, passed 28 Sept. 1787, stated that no consuls of any nation were entitled to exemptions from legal imposts and duties on merchandise imported by them for their own use (JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 33: 549–52). See JJ to Temple, 15 Aug., and JJ’s Report Regarding the Exemption of Consuls from Import Duties, 25 Sept. 1787, above.

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