1To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 16 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Office for Foreign Affairs [ New York ], 16 May 1788 . Since his last of 24 Apr. 1788, has received no letters from TJ, and there has been no event of importance “except the Accession of Maryland to the Number of the States which have adopted the proposed Constitution. Until that business is concluded I apprehend that our national Affairs will continue much at a Stand.” Barlow brings this and...
2[To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 30 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ New York, 30 Dec. 1785. Recorded in SJL as received 18 Oct. 1786, “by Wagner.” Not found; this letter is not in Jay’s Journal of Foreign Affairs (DNA: PCC, No. 127).]
3To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 15 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 15 Dec. 1788. Introduces the bearer, “Mr. Johnston, a citizen of this state, and a Member of a worthy and respectable Family in it,” who is sailing to Lisbon, “and ‘tho not determined to go on from thence to France, thinks it probable that he may visit it before his Return. My Respect for his Family, and good opinion with which his Character has impressed me, induce me to recommend...
4[To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 14 June 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ New York, 14 June 1785 . Recorded in SJL as received 22 July 1785 “by Mr. Mazzei.” Not found.]
5[To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 30 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ New York, 30 May 1785 . Recorded in SJL as received 2 Nov. 1785 by “Dr. Rogers.” Not found.]
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 3 November 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the Date of my last which was the 24th. Ult., Congress has been pleased to pass an Act of which the enclosed is a Copy. It contains Instructions to you relative to the Demands of the United States against the Court of Denmark. As they are express and particular, Remarks upon them would be unnecessary. I am persuaded that the Manner in which the Business will be conducted and concluded,...
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 13 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since closing my Dispatches to you of the 1st. Inst. I learn from the Consul of France, that the Prince of Luxemburgh was only the ostensible owner of the South Carolina Frigate, and that she in reality belonged to the King of France, who was entitled to a fourth of her Prizes and Profits. This Information induces me to think, that it would be adviseable to converse on the Subject with the...
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 12 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you of the 18 Augt.———I have received and laid before Congress the Letters you did me the Honor to write on the 18 . July last. I have some Dispatches of Importance ready for you, but I prefer sending them by a Conveyance that will offer about ten Days hence. I enclose a certified copy of an Act of Congress for recalling Mr. Lamb, another Copy has been sent to Mr. Adams. As...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 15 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, an Extract from the Journal of Congress respecting your Appointment to represent the United States at the Court of Versailles as their Minister. On which be pleased to accept my sincere Congratulations. The next Packet will bring you a Letter of Credence, and such other Papers as this Appointment may in the Opinion of Congress render...
15To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 7 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The last Letter I have had the Pleasure of receiving from you is dated the 14th. August last. My last to you is dated the 2d. Ult: by Mr. Houdon who I hope has by this Time safely arrived. Nothing of importance has since occurred except the Arrival of Mr. Temple, respecting whom I enclose the Copy of an Act of Congress of 2d. Instant. With great Esteem & Regard I have the Honor to be &ca., You...
16To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 9 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
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 Mr. Littlepage, who was formerly in my family, and from whom I merit better things. It has so happened, however among the few Enemies I have the far greater Part are men on whom I have conferred essential Benefits. This young man does not stand single. I have no Reason to...
17To 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...
18To 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...
19To 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...
20From 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...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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;...
24To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 15 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the Honor of receiving the joint Letters from Mr. Adams, Dr. Franklin and yourself with their several Enclosures of December [15] 1784, and 9th. February, 18th. March and 13th. April 1785. At present I am not charged with communicating to you any Instructions of Congress on the Subjects of them, tho it is probable they may give Occasion to some. I have now the Honor of transmitting...
25To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 13 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Since mine to you of the 15th. June last which mentioned the Receipt of such of your Letters as had then come to Hand, I have not been favored with any from you. Those Letters were immediately laid before Congress, and are still under their Consideration. Whether any and what further Resolutions or Instructions will result from their Deliberations is as yet uncertain and therefore lest their...
26To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 15 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randall who sailed in the last french Packet was charged with Dispatches for you, and our other Ministers. Among them were your Commission &ca. to succeed Doctr. Franklin at the Court of Versailles. The probability of your now being in England renders it less necessary and perhaps expedient, that I should not go into minute Details especially as this Letter would in that Case doubtless...
27To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 2 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 15th. September, since which I have been honored with yours of the 12th. July by Doctr. Franklin. He arrived at Philadelphia in as good Health as when he left France; but travelling by Land being painful to him, we have not had the Pleasure of seeing him here. We have been for some Time past looking in vain for a french Packet. Late Advices of the Algerines having...
28To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 16 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you of the 4th. Ult. I have been honored with yours of the 2d. January and 5th. and 12th. of March last. I have also received a joint Letter from You and Mr. Adams of 28th. March; all of them have been laid before Congress, who as yet have not given me any Orders respecting the Contents of either. The first of these Letters vizt. that of 2d. January strikes me as very...
29To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines by the last french Packet mentioning the Letters I had received from you, and that by another Conveyance you would receive particular and important Dispatches from me. Those Dispatches relate to the Consular Convention; they begin with a Letter from me of the 3d. Inst. which, among other Matters, enumerates the Number of Papers annexed to it. After those Dispatches were...
30To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 24 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the 8 Ult. when I last wrote to you, I have been favored with your Letters of the 6 and 15 Augt. last, which together with the Papers mentioned in the first of them, were immediately laid before Congress. Altho the Opinion of the most judicious and well informed seems to be that France and Britain will avoid War, and unite their Councils and their Efforts to preserve Peace, yet as great...