John Jay Papers
Documents filtered by: Period="Washington Presidency"
sorted by: date (descending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-06-02-0255

From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 28 February 1797

To Jedidiah Morse

Albany 28 Feby 1797

Dear Sir

I have been fav[ore]d. with yours of the 14 ult. and also with the one which accompanied the Set of your Geography, for which be pleased to accept my Thanks.—1

It gives me Pleasure to learn that you will endeavour at least to prepare for a History of the American Revolution. To obtain competent and exact Information on the Subject, is not the least arduous part of the Task— it will require much Time patient Perseverance and Research.

As the Revolution was accomplished by the Councils and Efforts of the union, and by the auxiliary Councils and Efforts of each individual State or Colony; it appears to me that your Enquiries will necessarily be divided into those two Departments— the first will of course include foreign affairs, and both of them will naturally divide into two others vizt. the civil and the military— Each of these you know comprehend several distinct Heads, which are obvious.

So much of our Colonial History as cast Light on the Revolution viewed under all its aspects, and considered in all its anterior Relations will be essential. I think our colonial History is strongly marked by discriminating Circumstances relative to our political Situation and Feelings at three different Periods— 1st. down to the Revolution under King W[illia]m.— 2d. from thence to the Year 1763— and 3d. from that Year to the union of the Colonies in 1774— Want of Leisure will not permit me to go into Details—

As to Documents— the public and private Journals of Congress— the Papers mentioned or alluded to in them—such as certain Reports of Committees, Letters to and from civil and military officers, ministers, Agents State Governors &ca.—the proceedings of the standing Committees for marine, commercial, fiscal, political and foreign affairs—all merit attention— There are also Diaries, and Memoirs, and private Letters which would give some aid and Light to a sagacious and cautious Inquirer— for Experience has convinced me that they are entitled to no other Respect or attention than what they derive from the well established Characters of the writers for Judgment accuracy and Candor—

As to Characters, I have throughout the Revolution known some who passed for more than they were worth—and others who passed for less.— on this Head great Circumspection is particularly requisite—

It is to be regretted, but so I believe the Fact to be, that except the Bible, there is not a true History in the World— Whatever may be the ^virtue^ Discernment and Industry of the Writers, Truth and Error, tho’ in different Degrees, will imperceptibly become and remain mixed and blended untill they shall be separated forever by the great and last refining Fire — With real Esteem & Regard I am Dr Sir your most obt Servt.

John Jay

The Revd.

ALS, PHi: Gratz (EJ: 01130). Addressed. Stamped: “ALBANY NY”. Endorsed: “ … hoping he will write / a history of Amer. Revo. / lution—& specifying the proper Sources / of information”. Dft, NNC (EJ: 12775); WJ, 2: 278–80; HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends , 4: 223–25. The Dft contains lengthy, often illegible, excisions that are not recorded here. For the reply, see Morse to JJ, 21 Apr. 1797, below.

1See Morse to JJ, 14 Jan. 1797, above, and 24 Oct. 1796, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09545).

Index Entries