51The Committee of Secret Correspondence to William Bingham, 21 September[– 1 October 1776] (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library Your several letters of the 4th. 15th. and 26th August to this Committee have been duely received with the several enclosures and the whole have been laid before the Congress. We can therefore communicate that satisfaction which we dare say it must afford you to know that you have so far obtained the approbation of that August Body. It is not necessary that we...
52The Committee of Secret Correspondence to William Bingham, 3 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We deliver you herewith two Letters from the secret Committee of Congress, one directed to Messr. Adrian Le Maitre and Mr. Richard Harrison at Martinico, whereby they are directed to pay the Net Proceeds of a Cargo of Provisions Consign’d them per the Sloop Fanny Capt. Britton to our Order and We have endorsed on said Letter that the Payment is to be made to...
53The Committee of Secret Correspondence to William Bingham, 1 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; LS : New York Public Library; LS : Harvard University Library Having received advice that our Agent Monsr. Hortalez is dispatching Sundry Articles wanted for the Service of the United States of America to Martinico recommended to the care of his Excellency the General or the Governor and Intendant there, to be by them delivered to whoever Shall be properly...
54The Committee of Secret Correspondence: Instructions to William Bingham, 3 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania These instructions were composed on the day that Congress authorized the secret committee to export to the West Indies enough goods to pay for the 10,000 muskets described in the second paragraph. Bingham’s mission to the Caribbean was similar to Deane’s earlier one to Europe in that both went in a dual role. Each was the agent of the committee of secret...
55From John Jay to Elias Boudinot, 11 June 1783 (Jay Papers)
You will I hope recieve this Letter from the Hands of Doct r . Bancroft, whom I take the Liberty of recommending as well as introducing to your Excellency. I have had the Pleasure of being intimately acquainted with this Gentleman, for this Year past, and assure you that in the Course of it, he has to my Knowledge been a useful and zealous friend to America. His long Residence in this Country,...
56From John Jay to Bourgoing, 11 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his Compliments to the Chev r DeBourgoing. The minister’s answer to the Embassador is polite & cautious, & if sincere (which can Time only can ascertain), will not only demand M r Jay’s thanks & acknowledgements. M r Jay has no apprehensions of personal Consequences from the disappointments alluded The minister is mistaken if he supposes that M r Jay views personal...
57From John Jay to Bourgoing, 26 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
accept my Thanks for your Favor of the 4 th . Inst. which together with the papers mentioned in it, came to Hand last week. There are few Things in this world that are not rated at more than their real Value ^ worth ^ , and that will always continue to be the Case while Sens Wisdom & Integrity continue to be unequally shared divided among Men— As to ^ the Contents of ^ these News papers in...
58The Committee of Secret Correspondence to John Bradford, 30 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives; typescript of ALS : Yale University Library We take the liberty to enclose herein some dispatches for Messrs. Saml. & J. H. Delap Merchts. in Bourdeaux which youl please to deliver into Capt. Clevelands own hands with a strict charge to take the utmost care of them and follow the orders also enclosed herein directed to him which you will be pleased to deliver and...
59From John Jay to Francisco Cabarrús, 2 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 29 th of March last. As soon as the Examination of your accounts shall be compleated, I shall be ready to pay the Ballance that may be due to You, either here, or by Bills on Paris. I should also be no less ready to subscribe a general approbation of your Conduct, if the latter part of it had been equally fair and friendly with...
60From John Jay to Bernardo del Campo, 1 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his Compliments to M r Del Campo, and requests to be informed whether he has as yet rec d . the Instructions necessary to enable him to execute his appointment relative to the Affairs of the United States, at this Court. M r . Jay begs Leave again to mention his being ready & anxious to enter with M r . Del Campo, into the Discussion of those affairs, at any Time & place that...
61From John Jay to Bernardo del Campo, 3 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the Letter you did me the Honor to write on the 2 d . Instant. As M r . Vaughan was favored last Spring at Aranjues with a passport from his Excellency the Count De Florida Blanca to go to and reside at Toledo, I omitted to enumerate in my last, the circumstances requested in your Letter. This Gentleman’s father is an Englishman—his mother is an american. He himself was born ^...
62From John Jay to Bernardo del Campo, 2 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r Jay presents his Compliments to M r . Del Campo and takes the Liberty of enclosing a Letter to his Exy the Count de Florida Blanca which he requests the favor of him to deliver— M r . Del Campo may not perhaps in future have an opportunity of rendering a more welcome and Interesting Proof of his friendship for America than the at present—and M r Jay will esteem him his Country & himself...
63From John Jay to William Carmichael, 14 August 1783 (Jay Papers)
I have this moment rec d . a Letter from His Ex y . the Count de Montmorin, in w h . he mentions your having communicated to him my Letter to you of the Ult., and also favors me with his Sentiments on the Subject of it. As that Letter was written by me in a public Capacity, to you in a public Capacity, and on public Business, I endulged the Expectation of rec g an Answer to it from You. When...
64From John Jay to William Carmichael, 27 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
It is with great Reluctance that I can ^ ever ^ prevail upon myself to tell you that what ^ any thing ^ you do is not right ^ in my Opinion im ^ proper, and especially when my tell g
65From John Jay to William Carmichael, 2 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . yours Le Guerre just now ^ this afternoon ^ gave me a Letter from you dated to Day enclosing a Bundle ^ parcel ^ of Bills which I dare say are right—those from of Nesbit and Williams I return en enclosed as you desire— As to the Residue of the Letter it w d
66Instructions to William Carmichael, 27 January 1780 (Jay Papers)
You will proceed to Madrid with convenient Expedition, and and if M r . Gerard with whom you set out should travel too very deliberately I advise you to go on before him. The Propriety of this however will depend much on Circumstances, & must be determined by your own Discretion. And I [ illegible ] On delivering my Letter to Mr. Galvaise, it would be proper to intimate to him that I presumed...
67From John Jay to William Carmichael, 21 February 1780 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th Inst, was delivered to me last Evening. I congratulate you on your safe arrival, and hope the agreeable circumstances of your present Situation will compensate for the fatigue & trouble you experienced on the way to it. It gives me pleasure to hear the French Embassador has been so obliging, & am glad to find from your letter that your Attentions to him at least keep...
68From John Jay to William Carmichael, 16–17 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
On coming to this Place last M ^ my Arrival here I unexpectedly ^ found that M rs . Jay had been and still was very much indisposed. The Col. had written for me, but neither his Letter, nor mine from Aranjues to M rs . Jay, had ever come to Hand. She is now ^ somewhat ^ better tho far from well, having more Spirits than Strength, and rather an Exemption from Constant pain, than Health. In this...
69From John Jay to William Carmichael, 3 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Copies brought by M r De Clonard of your Letters of 28 May & 10 8 June, gave me the first & only notice I have had of their originals, neither of which ever came to my Hands—nor have I rec d . the one you mention to have written on the 17 June. The above two Copies, a Letter of 3 d . July (also brought by M r De Clonard) ^ & another of 9. July, ^ being the only ones from You that have...
70From John Jay to William Carmichael, 29 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
Perhaps an opp y may offer of send g you this before you leave aranjues. I wish it may. I assure you it was far from my Intention to give you Pain or Uneasiness by my Letter of the 27 Inst. It w d have given me less Trouble and more pleasure to have talked the Matter over with you after your Return, but a Letter was necessary to suspend the Conference w h . I understood was to have been held...
71The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Stephen Ceronio, 23 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: National Archives The Inclosed letter was wrote and signed before we had an opportunity to transmit it and having now so good a conveyance as the Brigantine Lexington we transmit the Same to you as an official Letter from the Committee of Secret Correspondence which you’l observe is distinct from the Secret Committee with whom you also Correspond, by this letter you’l find we...
72The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Stephen Cleveland, 30 July 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society <Philadelphia, July 30, 1776: Bradford has informed us that he has outfitted the Dispatch and appointed you commander; “he gives you an extreme good Character.” You will receive this from John Philip Merkle, and you will be bound by the following instructions until they are superseded: You will give Bradford bills of lading for the cargo, which is consigned...
73From John Jay to George Clinton, 5 October 1779, enclosing Draft Act on Vermont, 24 September–5 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
In a Conference with ^ some of ^ the Delegates of New Hampshire and Massachusets Bay it was agreed that I sh d . draw the Draft of a Bill for carrying into ^ Effect ^ the Resolutions of Congress relative to our Disputes with Vermont & with each other. I now enclos The enclosed Draft is of has been perused and approved ^ of ^ by them, and they have promised to transmit a Copy of it to their...
On this Day the Commission for holding a Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery in and for the County of Albany expires. At this Court the following persons have been convicted of capital offences. They will have this Day Judgment of Death and we have agreed to order their execution on fryday the fifth day of June next. David Dick Robbery. On Sufficient Evidence. James Esmond Robert...
75New York Delegates to George Clinton, 3 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
Major General Arnold has it in Contemplation to establish a Settlement of Officers and Soldiers who have served with him in the present War, and to lay the necessary Foundation without Loss of Time. From a Desire to become a Citizen of New York he gives our State the Preferrence and now visits your Excellency to make the necessary Enquiries, it being out of our Power to give him any...
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 Sept r by Maj. Franks. 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...
77From John Jay to George Clinton, 19 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your very friendly Letters of the 10 th : Ult o . and 2 d . & 9 th . Ins t . by M r . Barclay, gave me Pleasure. Accept my Thanks for these Instances of Attention, and be so obliging as now & then to tell me how you do, and what political operations distress or promote the public Weal. The Bill respecting the Council of Revision is a most insidious Measure. I always wished to see their...
78From John Jay to George Clinton, 18 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
I send you two Sets of the Journals of Congress—two acts of the Legislature of Virg a . one for establishing a Land office & c . the other laying a Tax payable in Certain enumerated Commodities —four news Papers from the 5 to the 17 th : Aug Ins t inclusive—3 Parcel’s of German ones—and an Essay on Trade and Finance by Pelatiah Webster— There are also enclosed with this Letter, two from for my...
79From John Jay to George Clinton, 12[–13] June 1783 (Jay Papers)
It would give me great Pleasure to be certain that this Letter will be delivered to you at your Home in the City of New York, but it is even doubtful whether orders to evacuate it have as yet been dispatched. What motives enduce this Delay can only be conjectured, perhaps it may be designed ^ by some of the british Cabinet ^ to stimulate our doing more for the Tories than ex than they...
80From John Jay to George Clinton, 27 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
If New York and New Hampshire by mutual Acts of their respective Legislatures will authorize Congress to settle the Line between them, and if New York will further by Act of ^ their ^ Legislature, empower Congress to adjust the Disputes with the Hamp ^ People ^ on ^ of ^ the Grants on ^
81From John Jay to George Clinton, 25 September 1779, enclosing Resolutions of the Continental Congress (Jay Papers)
Whether the Resolutions of Congress ^ herewith enclosed of the 24th Inst. ^ ^ herewith enclosed ^ providing for the Settlement of all Disputes between you ^ New York ^ and your ^ her
82From John Jay to George Clinton, 22 May 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have now the Pleasure of enclosing you a Copy of certain Resolutions moved in Congress this Morning respecting the pretended State of Vermont. They were introduced by M r . Morris with a very proper prefatory Speech. on Saturday next Congress ^ the House ^ will ^ be ^ resolved themselves into a Com[mitte]e of the whole to take them into Consideration—what will be their Fate is uncertain, tho...
83From John Jay to George Clinton, 25 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
Where you live, whether still at Poghkeepsie, or at Kingston or elsewhere— Whether any of my Letters have reached you, & whether you have been too sick, too busy, or too lazy to answer any of them— how M rs . Clinton & her little Family does? Whether Vermont is to be or not to be & c & c . are points of which I am as ignorant as if I resided among the ten Tribes, whose Habitations no...
84From John Jay to George Clinton, 14 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
My last Letter to you was dated the 20: th June— I have written many & hope you have already rec d . several. None from you have as yet reached me— By the Journals of Congress I percieve that your Disputes with your Neighbors are in fair Way of being decided— I think M r Duane might have been a useful Counsellor to your other Delegates on that occasion, but I dont find his name among those...
85From John Jay to George Clinton, 25 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
Be pleased to keep the Letters herewith enclosed, until good opportunities of sending them offer— Since the Successes of General Sullivan against the six Nations, some People have affected to speake of that Country as a conquered one, and I should not be surprized if they should next proceed to insist that it belongs to the united States, by whose Arms it was won from independent Nations in...
86From John Jay to George Clinton, 23 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was written on the 16 Nov r . since which I have not ^ had ^ the pleasure of hearing from you— Three Days ago M rs . Jay was delivered of a Daughter & I take the Liberty of enclosing a Letter ^ on that Subject ^ for my Father, which you be so kind as to send him— I congratulate you on the sucessful Issue of the last Campaign, to the Brillancy of which the ^ late
87From John Jay to George Clinton, 10 January 1779 (Jay Papers)
Had I more Leisure I should send you less blank Paper— Intelligence of Importance we have none— The News Papers will tell you little— I wish they said less— If I am not greatly decieved the Vermont Affair will end well— Send us the Papers— If my Brothers are with you request them to write to me— My Comp ts to those about you whom you know I esteem—particularly Livingston Benson & Platt— my...
88From John Jay to George Clinton, 16 September 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor by M r . Phelps has arrived— I approve much of your Resolutions respecting Vermont— It is a Pity they had not taken Place two Years ago— They were committed— and a Report I am told will ^ believe will ^ be made To Day or Tomorrow— whether it will be sufficiently explicit or pass in its present Form is uncertain— My Endeavours [to] render it proper ^ neither have or ^ shall not be...
89From John Jay to Henrietta Maria Colden, 2 April 1783 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 14 th of last Month was delivered to me Yesterday. It is more than four years since I left the State of New York, & having no Copy of the Laws since passed there on the Subject you allude to, I cannot possibly determine how far the Property & Rights of M r Colden’s Family may be affected by them: while ignorant of the Fact, it will not be in my Power to give you the Advice...
I have had the Honor of receiving from you a Letter of the 16 th . of June, and another the 12 th . of July, 1780, with the several Papers mentioned in them. With respect to the Subjects of the first, you will find them fully discussed in my Letter to His Excellency the President of Congress, which will accompany this: The description of the Bills will I hope, answer good purposes. How far the...
91The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a Copy, were compleated, on the thirtieth of last Month. To Us, at this...
92From John Jay to Francis Dana, 19 August 1780 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 5 th . Inst was delivered to me Yesterday Morning. I am happy to hear M r Adams is gone to Holland. He will I am persuaded be very useful there. Accept my thanks for the Intelligence communicated in your Letter, and be so obliging as to continue the Correspondence you have begun. The Character I heard of you at Congress induced me to wish for an Occasion of commencing it, and...
93The American Peace Commissioners to Francis Dana, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS, AL (draft), and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: Library of Congress We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the...
94From John Jay to Silas Deane, 2 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
Since mine to you written at ^ from ^ S t . Ildefonso & enclosed to Doct r Franklin, I have had the pleasure of reciev g yours of the 4 and 13 th . of Sept r . a few Days ago.
95The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 1 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; letterbook copy: National Archives Mr. Morris has communicated to us the substance of your letters to him down to the 23rd June when you was near setting out for Paris. We hope your reception there has been equal to your expectation and our wishes, indeed we have no reason to doubt it considering the countenance we have met with amongst the French Islands, and...
96The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 23 October 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Haverford College Library; copy: National Archives <Philadelphia, October 23, 1776: We have written you twice today by different ships. This letter goes by the Andrew Doria to St. Eustatius, to be forwarded to William Bingham and by him to you in a French vessel. We enclose two resolutions of Congress. The first replaces Thomas Jefferson as commissioner with Arthur Lee, whom you will...
97From John Jay to Silas Deane, 16 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 8 Ap. is particular on a Subject, on which I confess I wished to be minutely informed. I approve of your having conveyed to the Minister what you concieved to be a true State of our Affairs. On such Occasions Policy, as well as Candor, forbids Deception. How far it was necessary or proper to mention the same Things in public Conversations, is less clear, & if that was the...
98From John Jay to Silas Deane, 27 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 9 th . Inst has come to my Hands, hav g as usual been inspected— spain want[s] mississippi — true they are participatin in it ^ sat verbum ^ — Whenever you write to me do it in full Expectation that your Letter will be opened before I recieve ^ get ^ it, this being the Case with almost all I recieve—
99From John Jay to Silas Deane, 1 November 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have just rec d . your Letter of the 16 Oct r .— How happens it that you do not yet know me ? Time and opportunity have not been wanting— I suspect You sometimes see double — If my Regard for my Friends be measured by the Length of the Letters I write them, I confess they have often Reason to complain, especially as a constant Attention to Matters of public Concern, leaves me little Leisure...
100From John Jay to Silas Deane, 28 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was of the 10 Inst. and I concluded it with a Promise of a Continuation, which I now set down to perform. The more I enquire and hear about your Contract, the more I become convinced that it will never be ratified. The Prices affixed to the several Articles are thought exorbitant, and I am well persuaded that the Conduct of those Affairs will be referred to the Person I before...