From John Jay to the President of Congress (John Hancock), 6 July 1776
To the President of Congress (John Hancock)
[New York, 6 July 1776]
Sir
The enclosed Memorial was Yesterday given me by Mr Pell with a Request that I would transmit it to the Congress.1 He appears much hurt at being omitted in the Arrangement of officers intended for the Regiment lately ordered to be raised in this Colony; and I sincerely wish he had less Reason to think himself neglected.
He is a fine, spirited, young Gentleman; of one or two and twenty, of an ancient and once oppulent Family in this Colony. His Connections are extensive in the County, and he seems to possess that generous kind of Ambition so essential to the Character of a good officer. What renders his Case the more unfortunate is, that he is almost the only one of his Family, who has discovered any great Degree of Ardour in the american Cause. His Promotion would have contributed as much to increase their Zeal, as his being laid aside may tend to diminish it.
Nor is this the only Instance, in which that Arrangement has given Disgust. Among others, Mr. Cortlandt, whose Family is not only very numerous, but also respectable & wealthy, entered the Service Last Year as Lieutt. Colll.—he has done the like this Year, Mr. Du Bois entered the Service last Year as a Captain—And this Year, Capt. DuBois is made to command Lieutt. Collonel Cortlandt2
Appointments like these, pay ill Compliments to those who are thus (as they think unjustly) superseded; and therefore have an unhappy Tendency to drive them into a Sullen Indifference about congressional Measures—I am Sir with great Respect the Congress’s & your most odebt. Servt
John Jay
ALS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 13: 27–30 (EJ: 13142). Addressed: “The Hon’ble John Hancock Esqr.” Enclosure: memorial from Colonel Pell, not found.
1. Samuel Treadwell Pell (1755–86) served as a first lieutenant in the 4th New York Regiment in Canada in 1775 but was omitted from appointments of officers for the five New York regiments authorized by Congress in 1776.
2. Philip Van Cortlandt. See above, Alexander McDougall to JJ, 20 Mar. 1776 (first letter), and New York Convention to the President of Congress, 10 July 1776, below.