From John Jay to George Clinton, 16 November[–11 December] 1781
To George Clinton
Madrid 16 Novr[–11 December] 1781
Dear Sir
The last, and indeed only Letter I have had the pleasure of recieving from you is dated the 6 April last. I wrote to you on the 26 Septr by Maj. Franks.1
If my Friends in your State knew how much pleasure it gives me to hear of, and recieve Letters from them, I flatter myself they would give me less Reason to complain of Inattention.
We have long been in [a very im?] kept in Suspence about the real State of our Affairs with you—having had no direct and certain Intelligence from america since July last. Various Reports of good and bad Fortune have in the mean Time spread thro’ this Country. At present we are told that Gen. Greene has defeated the Enemy to the Southward & captured the 19th. Regt.—2 that Lord Cornwallis’s Entrenchments have been carried by assault and himself killed.3 That Digby’s Squadron had fallen into the Hands of Monsr Barras, & consequently that Greaves cannot make Head against DGrasse.4 God grant that all this may be true, and that Victory may ever support the Standard of Justice and Liberty.
Fort St. Philip continues besieged by about 16′000 french and Spaniards. How long it may hold out is uncertain.5
The approaching winter will give occasion to6 various Speculations and Conjectures respecting the Probability and Terms of a general Peace. For my own part, I expect at least one more Campaign, unless our Successes in america should be much more decisive than I can yet flatter myself they will be, considering the advanced Season in which Count De Grasse arrived. To all appearance, Britain can only be delivered from her strong Delusions respecting America, by repeated Losses and Defeats.7
It gives me much pleasure to hear that G. Morris would probably be in your Delegation this Fall—8 independent of my Regard for him, it appears to me of great Importance to the State, that every valuable man in it should be preserved, and that it is particularly our Interest to cultivate cherish and support all such of our Citizens, especially young and rising ones, as are or promise to be able and honest Servants of the public—9
Mrs. Jay presents her Compts. to you & Mrs. Clinton—be pleased to add mine, and believe me to be Dear Sir, Your Friend & Servant
John Jay
P.S. Be so kind as to forward the enclosed And as I scarce ever hear from my Father’s Family you will oblige me by writing me now and then what you may know or hear of them.
Madrid 11 Decr. 1781
Dr. Sir
I congratulate You on the Surrender of Ld. Cornwallis, a most joyful & important Event.10 We are waiting with Impatience to hear what Effect it has on the british Court, & whether it will abate their Pride, or excite them to still more vigorous Efforts— I hope our Country will prepare for the latter— Adieu I am yours &c.
J. J.
ALS, marked “Duplicate”, NN: Emmet (EJ: 1062). Addressed: “(to be sunk in Case of capture) / His Excellency / George Clinton Esqr / Governor of the State of New York / Poughkeepsie”. ALS, lacking the note of 11 Dec., NNC (EJ: 13200). Endorsed. DftS, endorsed by JJ, NNC (EJ: 7624). , 2: 146–48, omits the 11 Dec. note.
1. Clinton to JJ, 6 Apr., ALS, NNC (EJ: 5524). JJ’s letter to Clinton was dated 28 Sept. 1781, ALS, NNC (EJ: 90303); Dft, NNC (EJ: 7623, 90302).
2. JJ’s information was inaccurate. The battle of Eutaw Springs (8 Sept.) was a technical victory for the British forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stuart (c. 1741–c. 1794), ending with General Greene’s withdrawal, but the Americans succeeded in driving the British back to the vicinity of Charleston, paving the way for the liberation of the South.
3. This is a reference to the French and American assault at Yorktown on Redoubts Nos. 9 and 10, led by Colonels William Deux-Ponts and Alexander Hamilton on 14 Oct.
4. A reference to the battle off the Chesapeake Capes, 5 Sept. 1781, when de Grasse inflicted severe damage on the British, while Barras, arriving with his convoy from Newport, slipped into the Chesapeake on 10 Sept. On 14 Sept., Graves abandoned the Virginia coast and sailed back to New York.
5. Fort Saint Philip on Minorca fell in early February 1782.
6. Here in the DftS, JJ excised “speculation Politicians to amuse themselves and other with.”
7. Here in the DftS, JJ excised the following passage: “The Obstinancy of the King and the [Imbecility?] of the nation will not permit them to make a merit of necessity and endeavor to make a [illegible] it is not in their [illegible] to render us their Slaves & Tributaries—”.
8. Gouverneur Morris did not return to Congress but continued as assistant to Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris; see JJ to Silas Deane, 16 June, above, note 5.
9. Here in the DftS, JJ excised the following passage: “Many The abilities of many useful Men have been [in Times past?] be lost to the state by the influence of Party and it is always wise to give genious & merit at least fair Play”.
10. The capitulation was signed on 18 Oct., and Cornwallis’s army laid down their arms the following day.