A Committee of the Citizens of Albany, in behalf of themselves and Constituents, beg leave to pay their respects to you, in your passage thro this City on your tour of Official duty With the dignified feelings of Independant Republicans, we experience real pleasure in acknowledging our obligations to you, for the various services you have rendered, this your Native State as well as the States...
2From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 9 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
When we last conversed together on the subject we were both of opinion that the Minister expected from France should be received. Subsequent circumstances have perhaps induced an additional embarrassment on this point and render it adviseable to reconsider the opinion generally and to raise this further question—Whether he ought to be received absolutely or with qualifications? The King has...
3To John Jay from Samuel Bayard, 25 February 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had the honor of writing you by the January Packet in answer to your favour of Nov r . last. By the present conveyance (The Hope Cap t . Haley) I have the pleasure to forward you the 3 last parts of Madame Rolands work—& a letter from M r Burke to the Duke of Bedford which made its first appearance yesterday— it is perfectly of a peice with all the productions of this extraordinary man— It...
4To John Jay from Phineas Bond, 11 August 1789 (Jay Papers)
I have now the Honor to enclose the Commission I hold, as his Majesty’s Commissary for all commercial affairs, within the Dominions of the United States, which I am commanded by his Majesty to present for the Approbation, & Recognition of the United States.— The Conversation you were pleased to indulge me with, in Regard to this Commission, leads me to offer some few Observations which I...
5To John Jay from Edmund Randolph, 21 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
The four trustees of the sinking fund, who are here, having been divided on two occasions, very interesting to the United States, I am instructed to request your attendance, as soon as it may be convenient to you. They are aware, how much their desire to see you here may interfere with your arrangements for the ensuing circuit; but in truth they cannot justify themselves in forbearing to...
6From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of the 17th. and 18th. inst. gave you the progress of the 17th States general to the 17th. when the Tiers had declared the illegality 18th of all the existing taxes, and their discontinuance from the end of their present session. The next day being a jour de fete could furnish no indication of the impression that vote was likely to 19th make on the government. On the 19th. a council...
7From George Washington to John Jay, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
You judged very right when in your letter of the 18th Ulto you observed I “can have very little time for private letters.” But if my friends will put up with the hasty and indigested ones I can write, under such circumstances, there are a few of them (among whom allow me the gratification to place you) with whom I should feel very happy to corrispond: and while I hold my present Office, to...
8To John Jay from George Washington, 26 December 1790 (Jay Papers)
Your favors of the 13 th . of last month, & 12 th . of the present came safe to hand.— The first however, not so soon as might (from the date and distance) have been expected.— I thank you for both, particularly for the communications in the first.— In every good wish for you and M rs . Jay I am joined by M rs . Washington and in offering the Compliments of the Season and the happy return of...
9From George Washington to John Jay, 14 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I find myself incompetent to form any decided opinion upon the paper I received from you the other day without having a view of the transactions which have been had with the Spanish Minister. I wish also to know whether, if the negociations are renewed, it can be made to appear from anything that that Gentln has said, as the result of an advance towards it from him, in his official character?...
10To John Jay from John Adams, 21 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
A difference of opinion having arisen among those of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund, who are now in this City, respecting the construction of their authority under the Act making provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt, by which they are equally divided, your presence here towards settling the principle which is in question, in order to the future conduct of the business, has become...
11To John Jay from Grenville, 5 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
Since Lord Grenville had last the honour of seeing M r Jay he has looked more particularly into the grounds on which M r Jefferson in the Paper communicated to Lord Grenville by M r Jay accuses great Britain of the first violation of treaty by her conduct respecting the Posts. He now sends M r Jay a Note on that subject which he does not communicate to Him as an official Paper because He has...
12William Short to John Jay, 6 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have at length received the ratification of the consular convention and signed the article of exchange, both of which I have the honor of forwarding to you by the way of Havre. The ratification was made out last year at the time of the convention being signed and remained in one of the bureaux unknown to the minister, where it only waited his signature. I mention the circumstance that it may...
13To John Jay from John Trumbull, 21 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 12 th . December, is the last I have had the Honour to receive from you, this I received and answered on the 6 th . March;— I have since received a number of Letters from America, through M r Pinckney, which convince me that I have not been so entirely forgotten by my friends as I supposed. I embark this Afternoon for the North, having terminated the Business which has kept...
14From George Washington to John Jay, 8 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Although, in the present unsettled state of the Executive Departments under the Government of the Union, I do not conceive it expedient to call upon you for information officially; yet I have supposed that some informal communications from the Office of Secretary for Foreign Affairs might neither be improper or unprofitable. For finding myself, at this moment, less occupied with the duties of...
15William Short to John Jay, 1 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I still continue to address you my letters under the ancient form because I have had no indication of any other mode of making my official communications. Until then I shall suppose the department of foreign affairs under your direction, particularly as I learn by a letter recieved yesterday from Mr. Jefferson, dated the 14th. of December, that he had declined, so far as depended on him,...
16From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [9 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Certain Circumstances of a delicate nature have occurred, concerning which The President would wish to consult you. They press. Can you consistently with the Governor’s situation afford us your presence here? I cannot say the President directly asks it, lest you should be embarrassed; but he has expressed a strong wish for it. I remain yr. Affect & Obed ALS , Columbia University Libraries....
17To John Jay from John Sloss Hobart, 7 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
Having heard this morning that the Adriana is to sail in a day or two for London I embrace the opportunity of my being in town to wish you and the family with you the compliments of the season. I paid my respects to M rs . Jay on coming to town, and found her in good health and sprits having just returned from a visit to our Friends at Rye, but I suppose you’ll hear the particulars of that...
I have had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 4 th . instant. The territory referred to has been quit-claimed to the Honorble M r . Gorham and others by the Legislature of this Commonwealth for a valuable consideration so that we having no interest therein, it is judged unnecessary that the Commonwealth should attend by their Agent at the running of the Line— M r . Gorham and others who...
19To John Jay from William Wilberforce, 27 January 1795 (Jay Papers)
Understanding from the Bish[o]p of London that you have not receiv’d any copy of the Sierra Leon Report, allow me to beg your acceptance of one & & to send a Copy also for your Son & M r . Trumbull— I trust you will think the latter part very interesting— I am dear Sir your oblig’d & faithful servt ALS , NNC ( EJ : 90434 ; EJ : 09276 ). Addressed: “John Jay Esqr. / &c— &c &c”. Although the...
20To John Jay from Edmund Randolph, 29 March 1792, enclosing Act of the Board of Trustees of the Sinking Fund, [26 March] … (Jay Papers)
I have the honor to inclose to you an act of the board of trustees; and am, sir, with very great esteem and respect, y r . mo[st]. ob[edient] ser v . At a meeting of the trustees of the sinking fund on the 26 th . day of march 1792— Present the Vice President, secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, and attorney-general of the United States. This board, having been equally divided at...
21From George Washington to John Jay, 7 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of Sunday came to my hands yesterday, and for the Pamphlet enclosed, I thank you. The purport of my last to you, with the enclosure, are incontrovertible evidence that no offer had been, or could be made to the Gentleman you mention, until you had decided on the proposition which was made to yourself. The report therefore, of its having been so made, could be no other than mere...
22From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 4 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The session of Congress is about to close much better than I expected. All mischievous measures have been prevented and several good ones have been established. Among these additional provisions of revenue & some of force are not the least important. But as more immediately connected with the objects of your mission you will learn with satisfaction that the bill which had passed the senate...
23To John Jay from Tench Coxe, 8 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
I have the honor to send you by way of letter a recent publication, which contains among other matter some of my ideas on the present state of our public affairs. If you can find time for a perusal of the work or even of all the text that follows the 379 th . page, and an inspection of the documents inserted in that part of the work, so far as you have not seen them, or the text, it may be of...
24To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 29 May 1794 (Jay Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on the 26 th . by the Belvedere Cap tn . Depeyster which Vessel still remains in Port— The Factor he said will soon sail, & your brother takes charge of my letters— I would wish not to omit a single opportunity of letting you know we are all well— It was with inexpressible pleasure I heard the Ohio had been met on the 18 th . ins t . & that all was...
25To John Jay from Samuel Huntington, 14 July 1795 (Jay Papers)
John Brainard Esq r . Sheriff of the County of New Haven, will have the honour of delivering this letter to your Excellency; & with the other papers which he will lay before you, You will observe I have appointed him my Agent to take two Criminals who have fled from Justice in this State & are said to be in the State of New York— I request your Excellency to give the bearer the necessary Aid &...
26To John Jay from Timothy Pickering, 16 July 1796, enclosing Timothy Pickering to Alexander Hamilton, 16 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
Some doubts having arisen on the mode of executing the 5th article of the British treaty, relative to the river S t . Croix, I wrote this morning a letter to Colonel Hamilton on the Subject, and requested him to converse with you. But he may chance to be absent; and as M r . Howell will in the course of two or three days be returning to Rhode Island through your city, I thought it expedient to...
27To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 22 April 1794 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday I received y r . two kind letters of Saturday & Sunday. I do indeed judge of your feelings by my own & for that reason forebore writing while under the first impression of surprize & grief— Your superiority in fortitude as well as every other virtue I am aware of, yet I know too well your tenderness for your family to doubt the pangs of separation— Your own conflicts are sufficient:...
28To John Jay from Theodore Sedgwick, 23 September 1789 (Jay Papers)
Convinced that you will do honor to the supreme national court by presiding in it, you will pardon the freedom of suggesting to you the interest of a friend of mine— M r . John Tucker of Boston one of the Clerks of the supreme court of this state, possesses equal to any man I have ever known all the requisite abilities & qualifications of such an office. It would afford me the most sincere...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of my letters (a servant of Mr. Morris) not going off till to-day I am enabled to add to their contents. The spirit of tumult seemed to have subsided, when yesterday it was excited again by a particular incident. Monsieur Foullon, one of the obnoxious ministry, who, as well as his brethren, had absconded, was taken in the country, and as is said by his own tenants, and brought to...
30To John Jay from Rufus King, 9 December 1793 (Jay Papers)
I inclose M r . Dallas’ publication relative to his interview with M r . Genet— At present I am unable to inform you in what manner Col. Hamilton & General Knox will proceed— M r . Jefferson’s report of this transaction to the President, states that M r . Dallas informed him that Genet had said “that he would appeal from the President to the People”; and I understand that the President will...
31To John Jay from Edmund Randolph, 12 November 1794 (Jay Papers)
In my public Letter of this date, you will find every thing of an official Nature, which we are able to communicate at present. Your private favor of the 13 th . of September last brings with it the satisfactory conviction, that I have not misplaced my confidence in your candor. You may be assured, that, as in the whole of our diplomatic connection hitherto, I have arrived at every...
32To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 15 June 1794 (Jay Papers)
Being at Bedford, when the Embargo expired, my Absence deprived me of the Pleasure of writing to you, by the vessels which then sailed for England— While at Bedford, I visited the Major, but could not find, that he had made, or was making, any Preparation for Stone wall— Indeed, every Thing seemed to be more at a Stand than ever, and convinced me, that for this Year at least, you will not be a...
33To John Jay from James Duane, 31 July 1795 (Jay Papers)
Among your numerous and respectable friends none can participate with more sensibility in events which concern your happiness than myself. I felicitate with you on your safe arrival, on the success of your arduous mission, and on the distinguished manner in which you have been elected to the chief seat of this government. May every blessing attend you in your domestic concerns and your public...
34From George Washington to John Jay, 27 August 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Jay, 27 Aug. 1790. On 28 Aug. 1790 Jay wrote to GW about “the Case which I had Yesterday the Honor of recieving from you.” See also GW to John Adams, 27 Aug. 1790 (second letter), n.2 .
35From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 17 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have sent from this place, together with my own baggage, two hampers and two boxes, which when arrived at Havre I have taken the liberty to order to be separated from my baggage and sent by the first vessel to New York to your address. The marks and contents are as follows: TI. No. 30. } These are hampers containing samples of the best wines of this country, which I beg leave to present TI....
36To John Jay from William Cushing, 23 October 1792 (Jay Papers)
I have rubbed along as well as I could without you. We had two Jury causes at Trenton, & there we took up the matter of invalids, there being no determination upon the subject in that district before, the Judges not having the Statute there last term. M r . Morris was strong in favor & I was not opposing; so we acted as Commissioners, & Sent our certificates accordingly (without making any...
37To John Jay from Benjamin Rush, 2 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
Permit me to request your Acceptance of a Copy of a medical Work which I have just published. It contains some new proofs of the domestic Origin of the yellow fever in our Country, and of Course cannot fail of being interesting to the first Citizen of the state of New York. Until the domestic Origin of the yellow fever in the United States be admitted, we shall always hold, the health,...
38To John Jay from Henry Hill, 24 April 1790 (Jay Papers)
The parties whose names are distinguish’d with your’s as Executors to the will of the late Doctor Franklin present you the inclosed exemplification of the same. They wish it were accompanied with a token left by our venerable Testator to General Washington The “Friend of mankind” but expect soon to find some gentleman going whose honor may prove a sufficient pledge for it’s safe delivery into...
39To John Jay from Alexander Hamilton, 6 May 1794 (Jay Papers)
I send you herewith sundry papers and documents, in which you will find material information with regard to the which contain information that may be of use ^not useless^ to you in the course of ^ regard to ^ your mission. Our conversations have anticipated so much that I could say little here which would not be repetitive. I will nevertheless add a few observations *[ illegible ] ^[ in margin...
40From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 5 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 19th. of the last month with a postscript of the 21st. and again on the 23d. and 29th. Those letters went by private conveiances: this goes by the London post.—Since my last some small and momentary tumults have taken place in this city, in one of which a few of the rioters were killed by the city militia. No more popular executions have taken place. The capture of the Baron...
41To John Jay from Grenville, 17 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
I cannot let M r Liston go without taking the occasion of his departure to recommend him to you, and to express my hope that his character & conduct will be found well calculated to continue & promote that harmony which it was the object of our labours to establish. I have, since you left us, taken one occasion to renew to you my assurances of the sincere esteem & friendship with which your...
42To John Jay from George Washington, 31 March 1796 (Jay Papers)
Accept, my dear Sir, my thanks for your note of the 25 th . Instant— enclosing a copy of M r . Bayards letter to you.— The purport of it is pleasing; but the conduct of the British armed Vessels in the West Indies, is intolerable beyond all forbearance. My answer, given yesterday, to the House of Representatives’ request of Papers, will, I expect, set a host of Scribblers to work:—but I shall...
43To John Jay from Nathaniel Gorham, 29 September 1789 (Jay Papers)
Having been absent from Boston I was not acquainted with the Letter you wrote Governor Hancock; untill near a Week after it had been rec d — The Governor & Council being of opinion that all the rights of Government in this case were transferred to M r . Phelps & myself in consequence of our purchas—and that they should take no step relative to the business— I immediately set of[f] for Rutland...
44William Short to John Jay, 9 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 6th. inst. Mr. Necker sent to the national assembly the memorial which had been expected for some days. I have the honor of forwarding it to you. You will see that there were some grounds for the public suspicion of his intention to quit the helm of affairs, or at least to relieve himself from a part of the task. I think it certain however that he has no design at present to abandon it...
45To John Jay from Rufus King, 15[–16] December 1793 (Jay Papers)
Soon after M r . Genet’s arrival from New york he had an interview with the Attorney general, at which he pressed the prosecution demanded in his letter— and as I am informed, intimated his expectation that Col. Hamilton & General Knox should be included in it— the Attorney General replied that he did not consider himself, on this, or any other, occasion, obliged to institute a prosecution,...
46To John Jay from Maria Jay, 13 June 1794 (Jay Papers)
Nothing can exceed our wishes to hear of the health & safe arrival of yourself & Brother. Since we had the pleasure of hearing of you by the atlas, I have search’d the papers in vain in hopes some other Vessels might have been equally fortunate, but now I believe we must await letters from yourself & brother, announcing your arrival, which we flatter ourselves has been the case before this—...
47To John Jay from Grenville, 16 June 1794 (Jay Papers)
I have this Evening received your letter announcing your arrival in London on which I beg leave to congratulate you, and to express at the same time my best acknowledgments for the trouble you have taken with respect to the letters you were so good as to forward to me from Falmouth. I am very sorry that it will not be possible for me to have the honour of seeing you tomorrow, but if Wednesday...
48From George Washington to John Jay, 9 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States presents to the Chief Justice of the United States a volume of the laws passed in the first Session of the Congress of the United States, and requests his acceptance of the same. LB , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. A note at the bottom of the letter-book copy indicates that “the same card accompanied a Volume sent to the Secretary of the...
49I. Tench Coxe to John Jay, 25 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
An ingenious Artist of this City has informed me within a few days that he has made a discovery which has been for some time a desideratum both in Science and Commerce. It is connected with the Uniformity of weights and measures, and as that object has been refered to the Secretary of State whose Duties I presume you discharge till you enter on those of your judicial station I do myself the...
50From George Washington to John Jay, 5 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is with singular pleasure that I address you as Chief Justice of the supreme Court of the United States, for which office your Commission is here enclosed. In nominating you for the important station which you now fill, I not only acted in conformity to my best judgement; but, I trust, I did a grateful thing to the good citizens of these united States: and I have a full confidence that the...