To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 30 May 1783
From Gouverneur Morris
Philadelphia 30 May 1783—
Dear Jay—
My Time will not permit any Thing more at this Time than to assure you of my Affection and to pray you will present me most warmly to Mrs. Jay and your little ones— Beleive me I take a sincere Interest in all which may concern them— I could not if I would say any Thing on Politics worthy of Attention— All you friends here are well myself among the Number— Adieu always beleive me very sincerely yours
Gouvr Morris
P.S. In the Talk of future ministerial Arrangements my Sentiment has been to fix you at Madrid ^Versailles^ in Preference either to London or Madrid—for this I have numerous Reasons not worthy of Repetition in the present Moment—1
ALS, NNC (EJ: 6971). Addressed: “His Excellency / John Jay Esqr / Paris”. Endorsed by JJ: “ . . . Recd. 1 July by Capt. Barney / ansd. 17 July by do.”
1. JJ replied to this letter on 17 July, below. The reference is to the discussions concerning a peace-time diplomatic establishment that the news of the Preliminaries had touched off in Congress, along with the letters of JA, BF, Francis Dana, and Henry Laurens requesting permission to return home. DNA: PCC, item 80, 2; , 6: 106, 110–14. On 1 Apr. Boudinot observed that Congress, oppressed by the ill-timed parsimony of the states, was considering “reducing their Ministers in Europe.” See Boudinot to James Searle, 1 Apr. 1783, , 20: 125–26. On 8 May 1783 a congressional committee (Hamilton, Madison, James Wilson, Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, and Samuel Holton of Massachusetts) reported on peace arrangements for the department of foreign affairs. It considered salaries for the secretary for foreign affairs, and for ministers abroad, consular appointments, and secretaries to American embassies. It did not, however, discuss ministerial appointments. See , 3: 351–53; , 7: 44, 67; and , 25: 965, 967. For Gouverneur Morris’s assessment of JA’s suitability as minister to Britain, see JJ to RRL, 30 May 1783, note 2, above.