From John Jay to Thomas Pinckney, 31 August 1794
To Thomas Pinckney
Royal Hotel—pall mall—31 augt. 1794
my Dr Sir
I sympathize with you most sincerely in the late calamity Distress you experience; and [would wi] ^really^ wish to relieve you from much official ^as much as possible^ attentions to public affairs1
When Irecd from ^yesterday recd^ the papers relative to the Copper, I was at Liesure to take up that Business—2 I have ^am^ this Moment [illegible] ^become so circumstanced as to^ find it absolutely necessary to devote my whole time to the Business of my Mission,3 in order to avail myself of the Prospect there now is of my being en enabled to write decidedly ^on the Subject^ to the president Mr Randolph on the Subject, in Season for my Letter to reach Ph[iladelphi]a. before ^or by^ the meeting ^sitting^ of Congress.—4 This ^circumstance^ constrains me to return the Papers relative to the Copper, and will oblige me to devote all my Time to the Business in Question— ^to Mr Dias^ & I return them with regret and Reluctance; for on every occasion, & particularly on the Present, I am sollicitous to manifest the real Esteem and Regard with wh. I am Dr. Sir yr. most obt & hble Servt
The Honb. Mr Pinckney
Dft, NNC (EJ: 09470).
1. JJ refers to the death of Pinckney’s wife, Elizabeth “Betsey” Motte Pinckney (1762–94) on 24 Aug. 1794. PAJ wrote in his diary on 25 Aug., “This day we were exceedingly shocked at the unexpected account of Mrs. Pinkney’s death—” PAJ Diary A, AD, NNC.
2. The copper refers to copper and other materials AH charged Pinckney with obtaining, as supplies for building six frigates. Pinckney was given a draft of 180,000 guilders, with instructions to first try to obtain the materials in Great Britain, or, if unsuccessful, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. See AH to Thomas Pinckney, 25 June 1794, , 16: 527–29.
3. JJ had just received Grenville’s Draft Treaties of Amity and Commerce, 30 Aug. 1794, above.
4. JJ wrote to ER on 13 Sept. 1794, below. Congress next met on 19 Nov. 1794.