From John Jay to William Bingham, 29 July 1783
To William Bingham
Passy 29 July 1783
Dr Sir
I have been favored with your obliging Letter of the 10th. Instant, and sincerely congratulate You & Mrs. Bingham on your safe arrival.1 A Tour thro’
^parts of^ Europe cannot fail of being agreable to Mrs. Bingham ^her^ and as your havg made it before will enable you to render it particularly so— We flatter ourselves with having the Pleasure of seeing you here, and of enjoying much interesting Conversation in a Variety of Subjects—
The Washington had a short passage, but brought us nothing ^little^ news, except a Report that ^many^ European Goods were cheaper at Philada than here, & that the Price of Amn productions had risen very considerably—2 a year will be necessary for regu for our commerce so to regulate itself as to afford those engaged in it certain Principles for Calculation—
As to a Treaty of Commerce with Britain, it seems doubtful as yet whether that Cabinet has adopted any fixed Plan or System of Policy with Respect to Ama.3
Their procla^ma^tion respecting the Trade between us & their Islands will be found to be useless ^[bitter?]^ impol[it]ic [illegible] ^as well as ill timed^. It is in vain to reason with people ^those^ who are governed ^listen^ only by ^to the Dictates of^ their Passions & their Feelings—an american Navigation ^act^ will be more productive ^convincing^ ^[intelligible?]^ and persuasive than the most best Speeches of Mr Pitt or any other eloquent and patriotick Member of either House. A British ^Britain may try the Ex[perimen]t. & adopt^ ^a^ partial & monopolizing commerce System of Commerce, but it will injure her—not us, provided we continue wise ^are wise^—we have the World before ^us^, & a navigation act on the ^avowed^ principle of equal of conducting our Commerce on the ^Footing of the^ most exact Equality reciprocity with all Nations, will tend more to increase than diminish our power— While we can undersell ^other Nations^ the British Islands will buy ^from us^ tho at neutral ports & the Charge of two Freights instead of one—4 Canada is locked up by the Ice for half the year [illegible] the Expectation excited by Tales abt Nova ^&^ Nova Scotia [illegible] ^are^ sd to be able to supply the Islands— This will prove a Bubble, and those who blow it ^up^ may perhaps get something by it—
I hope to hear often from you— Remember however that Letters by the post are liable to Inspection—present our best Compts to Mrs. Bingham & believe me to be, Dr Sir, Your afft Friend & Servt
Mr Bingham
Dft, NNC (EJ: 7481).
1. Letter not found. The Binghams had sailed for England in May 1783, and reached Gravesend in early July. , 120–21.
2. On the arrival of the General Washington with news of the American reaction to the preliminary peace treaty, see the editorial note “The Commissioners Defend the Treaty” on pp. 416–19.
3. Here in the manuscript JJ excised a passage, only portions of which are legible: “[acknowledging?][illegible] [Infatuation?] appears to be the policy that [Europe?] [illegible] and divert their Attention prevent [their?] perceiving ^this & the Wis Policy of certain^ ^and [have long?] cannot be^ measures which the [illegible] of the [illegible]”.
4. The British Order in Council of 2 July 1783, inspired by Sheffield’s Observations on the Commerce of the United States, had derailed negotiations for a trade agreement. See the editorial note “Negotiating a Trade Agreement” on pp. 373–86. Bingham published a reply to both in his “Letter from an American Now Resident in London to a Member of Parliament on the Subject of the Restraining Proclamation, and Containing Strictures on Lord Sheffield’s Pamphlet on the Commerce of the United States.” , 126–27. On Anglo-American trade relations, see also Edward Bancroft to JJ, 12 Aug. 1783, and notes, below.