101The Committee of Secret Correspondence: Certificate for Silas Deane, [2 March 1776] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Connecticut Historical Society; DS : Library of Congress; copy: South Carolina Historical Society; copy: Yale University Library We the underwritten, being the Committee of Congress for secret Correspondence, do hereby certify whom it may concern, that the Bearer, the Honourable Silas Deane Esquire, one of the Delegates from the Colony of Connecticut, is appointed by us to go into France,...
102From John Jay to Silas Deane, 5 December 1781 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 26 Sept. did not reach me until the 29 ulto, altho’ you mention that it was to have been dispatched in a packet of Doctor Franklin’s the subsequent Saturday. From your long silence I suspected that you had not yet returned from the journey mentioned in your former letter. I am glad to find that I was mistaken, and that you still continue mindful of your friend. It gives me...
103From John Jay to Silas Deane, 22 February 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your letter of the 10th inst. was delivered to me a few days ago. The reason to which you ascribe my not having answered the other you wrote me was the true one, viz. that it was unnecessary. The time has been, when my writing to you would not have depended on such a circumstance, for you are not mistaken in supposing that I was once your friend. I really was, and should still have been so,...
104The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 2 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library; letterbook copy: National Archives We have this day received from the Honorable Congress of Delegates of the United States of America the important papers that accompany this letter being, These papers speak for themselves and need no Strictures or remarks from us, neither is it our business to make any. You will observe, that in case of the absence or...
105From John Jay to Silas Deane, 10 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of rec g yours of the 23 d Ult o . Much Time has elapsed since the Date of my last Letter advising you of the arrival of the Papers about which you enquire. It is true that I have in the Interim rec d . several long and acceptable Letters from you, and that I have not replied to any of them. I do not wonder that you thought my Silence very singular; I should have...
Your Favors of the 2 d . 8 th : & 10 June have been rec d . & Copies transmitted to the Committee. The Subject of them certainly Merits their Attention, and I hope your Advice will be litterally complied with. As I have not now the Honor of a Seat in Congress, having been called to an office which will confine me in this State, any Information I can give You will be far less satisfactory than...
107From John Jay to Silas Deane, 26 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
At Length your first Letter contrary to my Expectations, has arrived been deliverd to me ^ arrived ^ , and my Attentions to the object of it shall not be wanting— I have also rec d . your Favor of the 18 th : Sept r . since which more of my Letters than one have I hope reached you, this being the fourth— I have read considered and reconsidered the Facts & reflections you communicate, & am...
108The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 7 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Maine Historical Society; letterbook copy: National Archives The above is a Copy of our last, which went by the Dispatch Captain Parker. The Congress have since taken into consideration the heads of a Treaty to be proposed to France, but as they are not yet concluded upon, we cannot say more of them per this conveyance. You will see by the Newspapers which accompany this, that the...
109The Committee of Secret Correspondence: Instructions to Silas Deane, 2 March 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society; copy: Yale University Library; copy: South Carolina Historical Society These instructions, which were probably drafted by Franklin, are the first to an American agent in a foreign country. They mark an important step toward the assumption of sovereignty, and the committee of secret correspondence seems to have taken that step on its own initiative. The...
110The Committee of Secret Correspondence to [Silas Deane], 8 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The North American and United States Gazette (Philadelphia), October 12, 1855. With this you will receive the Declaration of the Congress for a final separation from Great Britain. It was the universal demand of the people, justly exasperated by the obstinate perseverance of the Crown in its tyrannical and destructive measures, and the Congress were very unanimous in complying...
111From John Jay to James De Lancey, 2 January 1778 (Jay Papers)
Notwithstanding the opposition of our Sentiments & Conduct relative to the present Contest, the Friendship which subsisted between us is not forgotten, nor will the good Offices ^ formerly ^ done me by yourself & Family cease to excite my Gratitude. How far your Situation may be comfortable & easy I know not. it is my Wish & shall be my Endeavour that it be as much so as may be consistant with...
112The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Samuel and J. H. Delap, 10 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: National Archives You will receive this by the Brigantine Dispatch Capt. Peter Parker and with it some letters for Silas Deane Esqr. which being of Considerable Consequence We beg you will cause them to be sent or delivered to him with the utmost Expedition and we make no doubt he has left his address with you shou’d he have left Bourdeaux. You will find herein an Invoice and...
113From John Jay to John Dickinson, 22 March 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your Election to a Seat in Congress is an Event for many Reasons pleasing to me. I have for some time past flattered myself with soon having the Pleasure of again seeing you in a Place which you formerly filled with advantage to your Country and Reputation to yourself. Permit me to hint that your State is unrepresented, & that were you apprized of the very important Affairs now under...
114From John Jay to James Duane, 14 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Favor by M r . Phelps it has remained thus long unanswered, because till to very lately I promised myself the Pleasure of seeing you, but that has now become very improbabl ly e as we expect to sail in a few Days— If I leave Congress with Regret and Your Reelection and ^ Consent to ^ Return to Congress are Circumstances which I consider as fortunate in the present Situation of...
115From John Jay to James Duane, 14 December 1777 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 2 d . Inst did not reach me till two Days ago. I am very sensible that Your Time must have been greatly engrossed at Congress, & the more so as the Treasury Department was I believe almost wholly under your particular Inspection. I ardently wish to see the Time when Matters of general Importance will cease to deny us Leisure for regular Correspondence; & be assured...
116From John Jay to James Duane, 29 May 1776 (Jay Papers)
Since my last I have had the Pleasure of recieving your Letter of the 25 th : Inst. and am obliged to you for the Intelligence contained in it. So great are the Inconveniences resulting from the present Mode of Government, that I believe our Convention will almost unanimously agree to institute a better, to continue till a Peace with Great Britain shall render it unnecessary. The Proceedings...
117From John Jay to James Duane, 6 January 1776 (Jay Papers)
As I intend to leave this City Tomorrow I take the Liberty of sending you the inclosed. I have just rec d a Letter from H.B. Livingston & his Brother John. Harry informs me that his Major has quitted the Service & that his Coll. has also resigned. These Places being vacant I think Harry sh d be made a Lieu t . Coll immediately, for as the Lieut. Coll. continues in the Service he certainly...
We have rec d. the Letter w h you did us the Honor to write on the 18 th. Inst, together with the Passports mentioned in it. His britannic Majesty’s Proclamation of the 14 th. Instant has our entire approbation, and we have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, a Declaration perfectly correspondent with it. It appears to us important to both Countries that a System be speedily...
119The American Peace Commissioners to Alleyne Fitzherbert, [20 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter wh you did us the Honor to write on the 18th. Inst, together with the Passports mentioned in it. His britannic Majesty’s Proclamation of the 14th. Instant has our entire approbation, and we have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, a Declaration perfectly correspondent with it. It appears to us important to...
120From John Jay to Floridablanca, 28 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
M r . Gardoqui informs me that his Majesty was pleased in the Month of March last to order “that when a prize taken by a French or Dutch Vessel should arrive in a Port of Spain, the Marine Judge of the District, should reduce to writing the Evidence of the Capture, and deliver it to the French or Dutch Consul (as the case might be) to be by him transmitted to the Admiralty from whence the...
121From John Jay to Floridablanca, 11 August 1780 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his respectful Compliments to his Excellency the Count D’Florida Blanca, and has the Honor of informing him, that since the Date of his last, Bills to the Amount of six thousand six hundred Dollars, have been presented to him for acceptance. M r Jay has prevailed upon the Holders of these Bills, to wait six or Eight Days for his Answer, on a Promise that the Time for their...
122From John Jay to Floridablanca, 16 August 1780 (Jay Papers)
The Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 12 th . Inst: was delivered to me Yesterday. The kind Concern you are pleased to express for the Delay, which suspends my recieving a positive Answer respecting the Bills, demands my Acknowledgements, and is an additional Proof of that generous Sensibility, which enduced your Excellency to tell me, “that your Friendship for...
123From John Jay to Floridablanca, 6 March 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 24 th . Ult., which did not come to my Hands ’till some time after its arrival. The Sentiments which his Majesty is pleased to entertain of me, together with the polite manner in which your Excellency has been so obliging as to express them, demand my warmest Acknowledgements; and give additional Force to the many motives, which render me...
124From John Jay to Floridablanca, 28 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys Request I have now the honor of again submitting to your Consideration a particular State of the Case of the unfortunate Americans, who after Capturing the Dover Cutter and bringing her safe to Santa Cruz in the Island of Teneriff the 15 th April 1780 have ^ not ^ as yet reaped the Fruits they expected from that successful tho’ dangerous Enterprize. Your...
125From John Jay to Floridablanca, 22 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have received the Note which your Excellency did me the honor to write on the 20 th Instant, and I take ^ the ^ earliest opportunity of expressing my thanks for your Excellencys permission to accept the bills mentioned in it, which I have accordingly done. Agreable to your Excellencys recommendation in the first conference, I have turned my thoughts very seriously to the objects which were...
126From John Jay to Floridablanca, 2 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r Gardoqui informed me yesterday that he had recieved an order to pay to M r Cabarrus on my acc t . 26000 Dollars, being somewhat more than the Ballance due on the 150.000; and for which be pleased to accept my thanks and acknowledgments. As the Residue of the Bills drawn upon me by Congress does not amount to a great sum, and as M r Cabarrus had generously offered to furnish it, provided...
127From John Jay to Floridablanca, 20 June 1780, enclosing the Humble Petition of Thomas Shuker Native of New Hampshire, 27 … (Jay Papers)
M r : Jay has the Honor of representing to his Excellency the Count D’ Florida Blanca, that Thomas Shuker a Native of the State of New Hampshire, and Captain of an american armed vessel, was captured by the Enemy in September last, and finally carried to England. That in January last he shipped himself on Board the Dover Cutter of London, then lying in Yarmouth Road. That on the 13 th . of...
128From John Jay to Floridablanca, 22 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting herewith enclosed the propositions requested by Your Exe y . on Wednesday Evening last I have endeavoured to render them as short & simple as possible & I flatter myself that the unreserved frankness with which they are written will be no less agreeable to your Exey than I am sure it is consistent with the desire & disposition of my Constituents As the issue of...
129From John Jay to Floridablanca, 14 September 1780 (Jay Papers)
The information I received yesterday from your Excellency, by M r Gardoqui, has drawn the affair of the Bills of Exchange to a conclusion. He told me that the Exigencies of the State would not permit his Majesty to provide for the payment of more of those bills than were already accepted, amounting to about 14′000 dollars. As it is important that every Nation at war should know exactly the...
130From John Jay to Floridablanca, 28 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed a Copy of an Act of the State of Connecticut just come to Hand, in which are recited certain Resolutions of Congress passed the 18 th March last. These Resolutions are calculated to put the american Finances on a permanent Footing. They direct, among other Things, that Bills be issued, redeemable in Specie with Interest, at...
131From John Jay to Floridablanca, 9 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
The Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 8 th Instant, arrived this Morning. I consider myself much obliged by the Communication of the Facts mentioned in it, especially as it affords me an opportunity of manifesting to his majesty and to Congress, my attention to his Rights, and to their orders. I perfectly agree in Sentiment with your Excellency respecting the...
132From John Jay to Floridablanca, 11 December 1780 (Jay Papers)
Some of the Bills drawn on me, will probably become due, before M r Cabarrus’s operations can be brought to an Issue. So far as their Failure would injure the Credit, and relax the operations of a People actually at War with the Enemies of his Catholic Majesty, & opposing those Enemies in the very neighbourhood of his Dominions; it may certainly be considered as a matter interesting to Spain....
133From John Jay to Floridablanca, 29 April 1780 (Jay Papers)
By the address of Congress to their Constituents, on the Subject of their Finances, which I had the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency, you have doubtless observed, that in September last Congress came to a Resolution of emitting no more Bills, than with those already emitted and in Circulation, would amount to 200′000′000 of Dollars. That about the same Time they called upon their...
134From John Jay to Floridablanca, 12 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is with the utmost Reluctance that I can prevail upon myself, to draw your Excellency’s Attention from the great objects that perpetually engage ^ it. ^ —but the Liberality, Frankness, and Candor which distinguished your Conduct towards me the last Evening has impressed me with such correspondent Sentiments of Delicacy, as to place me in a most disagreable Situation. Deeply sensible of the...
135From John Jay to Floridablanca, 11 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his respectful Complements to his Excellency the Count D FloridaBlanca, and has the Honor of informing him that Don Carlos Maria Marraci of this Place has presented to him for acceptance Bills amounting in the whole to 1665 Dollars. The Mess rs . Joyce consent to having their Bills payable at Bilboa, but have acquainted M r . Jay that the Name of the House there by whom they...
136From John Jay to Floridablanca, 6 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
It gives me much concern to be informed that the Conduct of Captain Hill of the Cicero, an American private ship of war, towards one of his Catholic Majesty’s Cutters, has been so represented to your Excellency, as to have given me occasion to an order for detaining him at Bilboa— This unfortunate affair is represented to me as follows viz t That Captain Hill in the Cicero, with a prize he had...
137From John Jay to Floridablanca, 12 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . the Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write on the 8 th . Instant. It gives me Pain to hear, that the Conduct of an American Vessel of war should be so reprehensible, as that of the Cicero has been represented to be. It is proper that I should inform your Excellency that the Captains of all American private Ships of War give Bond, with Sureties, to fulfil the...
138From John Jay to Floridablanca, 16 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
I find myself constrained to beseech your Excellency, to think a little of my Situation. Congress flatter themselves, that the offer they have made, would certainly induce his Majesty, at least to assist them with some Supplies— The Residue of the Bills drawn upon me, remain to be provided for— Those payable in next month, amount to 31′809 Dollars—would it be too inconvenient to your...
139From John Jay to Floridablanca, 22 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
M r del Campo having informed M r Carmichael that the exact amount of the Cloathing purchased by M r Harrison, & the Expences attending it, ought to be ascertained, in order that the whole may at once be settled: I think it my Duty to acquaint your Excellency, that I have no further Intelligence on this Subject than what was conveyed in the last Letter I had the Honor to write you on the 15 th...
140From John Jay to Floridablanca, 3 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
When I consider that the delicate State of your Excellency’s health demands a greater degree of leisure & relaxation than the various business of your Office will permit, it is with great reluctance that I can prevail upon myself to remind your Excellency that Since our conference at Aranjues, the Affairs of the United States at this Court have made no Progress. The short residence of his...
141From John Jay to Floridablanca, 9 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
The propositions which your Excellency did me the favor to send me on the 7 th . ins t . have been considered with all the attention which their great importance demands. The evidence they contain of his Majestys friendly disposition towards the united states, will I am persuaded make correspondent impressions on the Citizens of America; and permit me to assure you that his Majestys desire of...
142From John Jay to Floridablanca, c. 16 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
Whatever may be the Issue of the american Revolution—whether that Country shall continue independent—or be doomed to reunite her Power with that of ^ G. ^ Britain, the good Will and Affection of the People of North America will never cease to ^ cannot in either Case ^ be of some Importance to ^ unimportant to ^ their Neighbours: nor will the y ma Impressions made upon their Minds ^
143From John Jay to Floridablanca, 18 August 1780 (Jay Papers)
I never find myself more disagreably circumstanced, than when my Duty constrains me to be troublesome to those, to whom I wish to afford only Pleasure & Satisfaction. Such is my present Situation. Monday next I percieve is to be a critical Day. Other Bills, besides Mess rs . Joyes [Joyce], are then to be represented. M r . Gardoqui of Bilboa writes me that he has recieved Bills on me for...
144From John Jay to Floridablanca, 27 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his Compliments to his Excellency the Count de Florida Blanca, & has the Honor of transmitting herewith enclosed, two Boston Gazettes, of the 20 & 27 Sept r . last; & a Copy of a Letter he has recieved from M r . Harrison dated at Cadiz the 20 th . Instant. These Papers contain all the american Intelligence which M r Jay has recieved by the Vessels lately arrived from thence.—...
145From John Jay to Floridablanca, 17 September 1781 (Jay Papers)
La repugnance que J’ai senti á depecher le Majeur Franks sans transmettre au Congrés á son retour les Informations qu’il s’attend aux sujets que J’ai eu l’honneur de soumettre à la consideration de V. S, m’a engagé à le retenir jusqu’à cette heure, surtout étant encouragé d’esperer que V. S. auroit trouvé le loisir dans la semaine derniere, pour entrer dans des conferences serièueses avec moi...
146From John Jay to Floridablanca, 25 August 1780 (Jay Papers)
I arrived here this morning, but was prevented from immediately doing myself the Honor of paying my Respects to your Excellency, by fatigue & Indisposition. In a Letter I had the Honor of writing to your Excellency on the 16 th . Instant I mentioned that the holders of the Bills began to grow impatient. On the 18 th . Instant I informed your Excellency by another Letter, that their...
147From John Jay to Floridablanca, 11 May 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the Letter which your Excellency did me the Honor to write Yesterday— I have not recieved from Congress, nor their Secretary for foreign Affairs, nor from any of their Ministers in Europe, the least Information that the United states of America either had commenced, or intended to commence Hostilities against Portugal; and therefore have no Reason to believe that the Reports in...
148From John Jay to Floridablanca, 19 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay presents his respectful Compliments to his Excellency the Count D’Florida Blanca, and takes the Liberty of enclosing a Copy of a Note he has just recieved, respecting a Bill drawn upon him for 333 Dollars. From this his Excellency will percieve the painful Situation M r . Jay is in. He forbears making any Reflections on it, being persuaded that His Excellency’s wisdom and Sensibility...
149From John Jay to Floridablanca, 6 December 1781 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay presents his compliments to the Count de Florida Blanca, and has the honor of requesting his Attention to the enclosed memorial. M r . Jay had the honor of calling at his Excellency’s on Tuesday Evening last, but had the Misfortune of not finding him at home. As M r . Jay wishes to regulate his Visits by his Excellency’s Convenience, he begs the favor of his Excellency to inform him...
150From John Jay to Floridablanca, 2 July 1781 (Jay Papers)
When Congress were pleased to order me to Spain, with the Commission of which I have had the Honor of presenting a Copy to your Excellency, I left my Country with the most sanguine Expectations that the important objects of it would be speedily accomplished. The Proofs they had recieved of his Majesty’s Friendship for them, the Interests of a common Cause, and the Information they had recieved...