1David Hartley to the American Peace Commissioners, 4 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and press copy of copy: National Archives; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, Public Record Office It is with the sincerest Pleasure that I congratulate you on the happy Event which took Place Yesterday, viz., the Signature of the Definitive Treaty between our two Countries. I consider it as the auspicious Presage of returning...
2To John Jay from Henry Laurens, 5 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
Upon my late arrival at Bath or a few days after, I recieved your Letter of the 8 th . July & the day before yesterday just as I was leaving that place I was honored by receipt of another of the 24 th Ult o . I thank you for both. had M r . Barclay delivered my dispatch of the 9 th . August before your last date, certainly you ^ would ^ have told me so. I have however some hope a Copy which I...
3To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 10 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have received a Letter from a very respectable Person in America, containing the following Words viz. “It is confidently reported, propagated and believed ^ by some ^ among us, that the Court of France was at bottom against our Obtaining the Fishery and Territory in that great Extent in which both are secured to us by the Treaty; that our Minister at that Court favoured, or did not oppose...
4To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 25 September 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have received your Letter of the twelfth of March by M r . Penn, sixth of April by M r . Redford, & twenty ninth of July by M r . Hunt, for all which I am to thank you. Let me also thank you for your Letter of the seventeenth of July. Personally, I shall be very happy to see you in the Spring, but I confess that I do not very clearly see how it can prove advantageous either to yourself or to...
5To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 16 October 1783 (Jay Papers)
As some american Gentlemen are going from here to London, I have taken the Liberty of troubleing them with a few lines for you. I hope you have had a Pleasant Journey, and that you have arrived at London, in better health and without having had an opportunity of trying Perrin’s ^ courage ^ — We are continually a wondering— One wonders whether you travelled all Night? another when you got to...
6To John Jay from Elias Boudinot, 1 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I was honored by your several private favours, recommending M r . Vaughan and some other Gentlemen, to whom I have endeavoured to pay every civility in my power— Also one enclosing my Nephew’s Letter from Madeira, for which I am much obliged to you. Congress has thought proper to appoint him their Commercial Agent at that Island. He is a deserving young American, who I doubt not will do honor...
7To John Jay from Benjamin Vaughan, 3 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I shall not sett off till tomorrow afternoon, by which time you may be better. If I should hear nothing farther from you, I shall without fail deliver your message at Bowood Park, which is near Calne in Wiltshire, on one of the two roads to Bath. I shall certainly, if living & well, be back before Tuesday, to get you & M r Bingham, & M r Adams & Son, into the House of Lords on the 11 th : inst...
8To John Jay from Robert Morris, 4 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Since the date of my last letter, I have received several of yours dated the 10 th of March, 21 st of April, 21 st of May, 10 th of June & 20 th . of July. The first of these was delivered by M r . Penn, a Young Gentleman whose Fate I lamented long before I saw him. I had always opposed both in my Public & private Character those unjust measures which have deprived him of so considerable a...
9To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 6 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
This Even g . M r . & Miss Laurens favor’d me w th . their Company, and as they set out tomorrow for England I could not suffer them to go without a little token of my remembrance, & that they might be ennabled to give you an account of y r . little girls I sent for them down, & was not a little flatter’d by Miss Maria’s behaviour—she does not yet speak, but she improves in her health & looks....
10To John Jay from Catharine W. Livingston, 9 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your letter my dear Sir announcing the birth of your little girl reached us ten days ago, the one to Pappa on the same subject has not yet been received— I think I may put in ^ a ^ claim now for my little god daughter—had she not had a Sister I should not have had the presumption to propose your commiting her to my care till her education requires another situation— We flatter ourselves that...
11To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 18 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Last saturday I was so happy as to receive y r . kind letter of the 10 th . & 11 th . instant—from the number, I perceive that not one has miscarried— I hope before this you’ve receiv’d a letter from me ^ that was ^ intended for the post, tho’ by mistake detain’d too long, which D r . De Butts has promised Peter to take charge of— In my letter, favor’d by M r . Laurens, you have Abbe’s...
12To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 20 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Young M r . Adams has informed me, that he never saw you look so well as you do at Present. I am glad to [he]ar it. Tho’ I long for your arrival, I hope you will not return before you are quite rid of all your Complaints: my aunt says the same. Is the Inflamation in your Throat, of the same kind as that, which gave you so much Pain and trouble some years ago?— As you say nothing of England in...
13To John Jay from William Livingston, 24 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
Since my letter to M rs Jay of the 20 th instant, I find myself favoured with yours of the 12 th September by M r Thaxter who is the bearer of the definitive Treaty. Finis coronat opus . The British have first & last given us a desp[er]ate deal of trouble, but who would have thought not long since that we should so soon have rose superior to it; & with so much glory? you are not an ambitious...
14To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 27 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I had not rec d . a letter from you of a later date than the 14 th . ins t . until last evening, when y r . two letters of the 18 th . & 21 st . were handed me; but if my anxiety at your silence was banished, my mortification was increased, as I found you had reason to suppose me inattentive— I wrote you on the 12 th ., & Doc tr . De Butts took charge of the letter, & on the 20 th . I sent...
15To John Jay from Robert Morris, 27 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I Congratulate you on the signing of the Definitive Treaty and on the evacuation of New York which took place on Tuesday our Friend Gouverneur Morris is there he has been gone about 18 Days and I expect him back very soon. he will then give you the Detail and inform you of such things as you may wish to know respecting any of your particular Friends.— I agree with the Sentiments expressed in...
16To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 29 November 1783 (Jay Papers)
I am two letters in your debt & am conscious that I shall make an ill return for them in offering you this product of a midnight hour after a ^ day ^ spent in the fatigue of business & cerimony that our present situation exacts— But having just been informed by M r Plat that he sails tomorrow morning I can not permit him to go without offering you my congratulations on an event to which you...
17From John Adams to John Jay, 7 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
The night before last, Commodore Jones arrived, with Dispatches from Congress. Two Packets were directed to the “Ministers,” and one larger one to D r Franklin. The two first I opened. one of them contained nothing but News Papers,. The other contained, a private Letter from the President and a Sett of Instructions to the Ministers for Peace. These I copied, and Sent on the originals to Passy,...
18To John Jay from John Adams, 7 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
The night before last, Commodore Jones arrived, with Dispatches from Congress. Two Packets were directed to the Ministers, and one larger one to D r Franklin. The two first I opened. One of them contained nothing but News Papers, The other contained, a private Letter from the President and a Sett of Instructions to the Ministers for Peace. These I copied, and Sent on the originals to Passy,...
19To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 7 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
As I have written ^ wrote you three letters last week, I’ve ^ & having now ^ nothing ^ new to tell you, & therefore could ^ I might only ^
20To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 7 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
No change has happened in the Family since my Last except the return of Abegail. While she remained ^ was Confined ^ in the Common Prison together with numbers worse than herself she grew daily more hardened, but a disorder she is subject caused her removal to the infirmery It so happened that I went to see her the day after but was not admited. The coachman was There not finding any of the...
21To John Jay from Patience Lovell Wright, 8 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have the pleasure of Recving letter from My Friends in America—that Inform Me that My Son is apointed by Congress to Paint a likeness and also Moddel in Clay a Busto of General Washington—and he is to Send by the Next Ship (that Sails from Philadelphia) Copys of those likenesses for his Mother in London for to be Done in Wax— I have long wishd for that honour and now feal greatful for my...
22To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 11 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
The arrival of several posts without any letters from you, as seventeen days had elaps’d since the date of your last, had in spite of my endeavors to the contrary dejected my spirits; not that I thought you negligent, but because I feared some accident had prevented y r . writing: but last evening your letter of the 29 th . Ult. restored the tranquility of my mind, which had indeed been...
23To John Jay from Catharine W. Livingston, 30 December 1783 (Jay Papers)
Permit me my dear Sir to wish you and Sister, the Compliments of the season, and to assure you that no one more sincerely wishes the ensueing year may be propitious to your every wish than your friend who has now the pleasure of writing to you— The Church disputes far from subsideing, rage with more violence than ever. The Whigs finding the Moreans or in plain English the Tories the strongest...
24To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 4 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
a few minutes ago we had satisfaction of receiving your letter of the 22 ult. we are mortified that your business detains you so long from us, but rejoice to find your health ^ has ^ mended since your arrival at Bath. my aunt is very well and is at present writing to you; both of the Children are very sound ^ enjoy exceeding ^ good health. Nancy is remarkably quiet—by this time you must have...
25From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 6 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Marion Brawley, Oakley, South Carolina (1959); press copy of ALS , copy, and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of the 26th past, and immediately sent the inclosed to Mrs Jay, whom I saw a few days since with the Children, all perfectly well. It is a happy Thing that the little ones are so finely past the Small Pox, and I congratulate you upon it most...
26To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 10 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
I write to acknowledge your Letter of the twenty fourth of September— Being uncertain where you are, and consequently what Course this Letter may take, and thro what Hands it will pass, I shall not ^ say ^ so much as I other wise might. I will direct to the Care of Doctor Franklin. Your Attachment to America, when removed from it, is the old Story of Travellers; but when it comes from one in...
27To John Jay from Charles Thomson, 14 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your favour by M r Thaxter with the prints enclosed. We are at a loss what to think of this new invention, or what the curious will make of it if real. Time must determine whether it is only for the amusement of Children or may be improved to useful purposes. I sincerely congratulate you on the return of peace, and it is my most ardent prayer that the US may improve the opportunity...
28To John Jay from Charles Thomson, 15 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
Though I am sensible that lieut Col D. S. Franks, who is the bearer of this needs no introduction or recommendation to you, yet I cannot suffer him to go without a line from me. He is intrusted with a triplicate Ratification of the definitive treaty, which passed yesterday, the first time we have had nine States represented since Oct r . last, and which was done with the unanimous consent not...
29To John Jay from Robert R. Livingston, 25 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your Brother is just returned from Rie, & informs me that he left your Brother & sister there in health, & as comfortably situated as they could expect, tho not quite so well as they could wish. The season was too far advanced on their removal to admit of all the repairs that were necessary in the house. The quiet which in my last I mentioned to have prevail’d here, still continues with very...
30John Adams to John Jay, 13 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d a Letter from M r Gerry, at Phil a. 23 Nov. Thaxter arrived there the night before. I presume he has written by M r Reed, and that his Letter is gone to You, as he probably addressed his Letter to Us all. M r Morris has drawn afresh by this Vessell. Let me beg of you and the D r , to advise him to Stop his Hand. If I can possibly, save those already drawn, which however I still...