To John Jay from Robert Troup, 2 May 1792
From Robert Troup
[New York, 2 May 1792]
My dear friend
Since my last our prospects have brightened exceedingly— We have very faverable accounts from West Chester County and we now think we can rely upon a majority of 300 for you— From Dutchess Mr. Kent writes me that you have a Majority of at least 200 beyond all douts— Major Colden & Gaasbeek write from Ulster that they rely with confidence upon a majority of upwards of 100 for you— and Gaasbeek adds in a letter to me that he has every reason to believe you have had more friends in Orange than we imagined— Washington County Col. Willet told me today had disappointed Clinton’s friends—1 We have not any accounts yet from the North that we can rely upon— this evening’s Mail will probably brings us more certain intelligence— In Suffolk Clintons old friends have been more inactive than they formerly were— We are not without hopes of a majority in Suffolk— At
any rate Clinton’s Majority if he has any will be cut small in Suffolk— We are much elated with hope & I have little or no dout that the election is ours—
Your friends in all parts of the State have acted with becoming ardor—& worthy of the cause in which we were engaged— I shall write you by every post2— Leave directions at New-haven with the Post Master to forward letters to you— It is probable that my next will be addressed to you at New Haven God bless you In great haste I am D[ear] sir Yours
Rob. Troup
Honble John Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 07187).
1. Probably lawyer and future jurist James Kent (1763–1847), a successful assembly candidate, and secretary of the nominating committee in Dutchess County, or less likely his father, Moss Kent, chairman of nominating committees held in Lansingburgh and Troy, or his brother Moss Jr. (1766–1838). See , 201, 203; American Spy (Troy, N.Y.), 30 Mar. 1792. Major Peter van Gaasbeck (1754–97), a merchant and politician in Kingston and major of the Ulster County militia, was a member of the Kingston committee of correspondence. He represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1793 to 1795. BDC. Col. Willet refers to Marinus Willett, then sheriff of New York City and a Clinton supporter. Colden refers to Loyalist Cadwallader Colden II who had returned to his home in New York at the end of the war and was an active Jay supporter. See Eugene R. Fingerhut, Survivor: Cadwallader Colden II in Revolutionary America (Washington, D.C., 1983), 144–45.