John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 27 April 1776

To Alexander McDougall

[Philad. 27 Ap. 1776]

Dear Collonel

Accept my Thanks for your friendly Letter of the 16th Inst. and its Inclosures, which contain useful as well as agreable Information. I am glad to see New York doing something in the naval Way, & think the Encouragement given by the Convention to the Manufacture of arms, Powder, Salt Petre and Sea Salt, does them Honor.

Many of the Reasons you alledge for delaying Taxation are weighty, & I confess did not occur to me. It is certainly unreasonable to impose on the City, in its present Circumstances, so great a Share of the public Expences.1

The late Election, so far as it respects yourself, has taken a Turn I did not expect, & am at a Loss to account for; except on the Principles of your holding a military Commission,2 or of that Mutability which from various Causes, often strongly marks popular Opinions of men & measures in Times like these. But whatever may have been the Reason, I am persuaded that the Zeal you have shewn3 & the Sacrifices you have made in this great Cause, will always afford You the most pleasing Reflections, and will one Day, not only merit, but recieve the Gratitude of your Fellow Citizens. Posterity you know always does Justice—Let no Circumstance of this Kind Diminish your Ardors but by persevering in a firm uniform Course of Conduct, silence Detraction & compel Approbation.

I am much obliged to You for your kind Attention to my House, & be assured that I shall omit no Opportunity of evincing the Esteem and Sincerity with which I am your Friend & h’ble Servt.

John Jay

ALS, NHi: McDougall (EJ: 741). Addressed: “To/Collonel Alexander McDougall/at/New York/Favd. by Mr./Clinton.” Endorsed. Dft, NNC (EJ: 6933). Tr, NN: Bancroft (EJ: 1089).

1“Burden” in Dft.

2“Office” in Dft. McDougall was defeated for a seat in the Third New York Provincial Congress in the elections of 16 Apr. 1776.

3In the Dft, “your own Reflections” was deleted and replaced by the phrase “the Zeal you have shewn.”

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