121From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 18 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I send you herewith enclosed a Copy of a Translation of an important Letter*. The Original in French I have not seen, and at present is not accessible to me, though I shall endeavor to get a Copy of it, in Order the better to decide on the Correctness of the Translation. I am not at Liberty to mention the manner in which this Paper came to my Hands. To me it appears of Importance that it...
122From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 17 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
Doct r . Franklin sent me this morning your Letter of 11 Aug t . last. I thank you for it. Aptitude to Change, in any Thing, never made ^ a ^ part of my Disposition, and I hope makes no part of my Character. In the Course of the present Troubles I have adhered to certain fixed Principles, & faithfully obeyed their Dictates, without regarding the Consequences of such conduct to my Friends, my...
123From John Jay to Vergennes, [c. 11 September 1782] (Jay Papers)
The Question, whether we ought to exchange Copies of our respective Commissions with M r Oswald, and proceed to do Business with him under his , is not only important and consequential in itself, but derives an additional Degree of Weight from the Variance subsisting between your Excellency’s Sentiments and our own on that Subject. The Respect due to your Excellency’s Judgment, our Confidence...
124From John Jay to Richard Oswald, 10 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
It is with Regret that we find ourselves obliged by our Duty to the ^ our ^ Country to object to entering with You into negociations for Peace on the plan proposed—one Nation can treat with another Nation only on Terms of Equality, and it can not be expected that we should be the first and only Servants of Congress ^ who ^ would admit Doubts of their Independence. The Tenor of your Commission...
125From John Jay to Aranda, 10 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
Agreable to your Ex y s Request I have now the Honor of repeating to your Ex y ^ in writing, ^ that I am not authorized by Congress to make any Cessions of any Countries belonging to the United States, but ^ & therefore ^ that I [ will mention
A commission (in the usual Form) to Richard Oswald Esquire to treat of Peace or Truce with ^ Commissioners or ^ Persons vested with equal Powers by and on the Part of the thirteen United States of America, would remove the Objections to which his present Commission is liable, and thereby render it justifiable ^ proper ^ for the American Commissioners to proceed to treat with him on the Subject...
127From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to You on the 13 Ult. a Copy of that Letter enclosing one for your good mother, and one for M r Benson, was given last Week to M r Wright, who had appointed last Thursday for setting out to Nantes in order to embark there for America. He is still here, but leaves Paris Tomorrow. This gives me an Opportunity of writing you a few Lines more, for tho’ I daily gain Strength, yet the...
128To John Adams from John Jay, 1 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter, and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it. My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing. We have told mr Oswald so, and he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet recd....
129From John Jay to John Adams, 1 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I am this Moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter, and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it. My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing. We have told M r Oswald so, & he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet rec d ....
130From John Jay to Egbert Benson, 26 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Day before Yesterday I rec d . a Letter from Col. Isaac Sears dated the 25 March last, covering one from you of the ^ dated ^ the 27 Nov. 1782— The You evidently mistook the Year, and if the month be right, you have either been lazy or your Letters very unlucky— ^ I suppose the latter to have been the case ^ The only Letters I have rec d