John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to Silas Deane, 22 February 1783

To Silas Deane

Paris, 22d Feb., 1783.

Sir,

Your letter of the 10th inst. was delivered to me a few days ago.1

The reason to which you ascribe my not having answered the other you wrote me was the true one, viz. that it was unnecessary.

The time has been, when my writing to you would not have depended on such a circumstance, for you are not mistaken in supposing that I was once your friend. I really was, and should still have been so, had you not advised Americans to desert that independence which they had pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honour to support.

The charges against you of peculation undoubtedly called for strict and speedy inquiry; but I expected that you would make a satisfactory defence against them. I hope so still.

I will write to Congress about your accounts as you desire. Justice certainly demands that they should be liquidated and settled.2

Dr. Bancroft, some time ago, asked my opinion as to your going to England. I told him it would be imprudent, but not that “it would be taken ill.” To my knowledge, you was and are suspected of being in the British interest. Such a step would have strengthened that suspicion, and at that interesting period would have countenanced harsh conjectures as to the motives and objects of your journey, which for my part I could not divine. Perhaps the suspicion I mention is new to you; if so, the information is important.

Before this will come to your hands, and you could afterward get to London, the above mentioned objections will be weakened; and as circumstances press your going, it is probable you will venture. Let me advise you to be prudent, and to be cautious what company you keep, and what conversation you hold in that country.

write thus plainly and fully, because I still indulge an idea, that your head may have been more to blame than your heart; and that in some melancholy desponding hour, the disorder of your nerves infected your opinions and your pen. God grant that this may prove to have been the case, and that I may yet have reason to resume my former opinion, that you was a valuable, a virtuous, and a patriotic man. Whenever this may happen, I will, with great and sincere satisfaction, again become Your friend,3

John Jay

Printed: WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends , 2: 112–14; HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends , 3: 29–31; and Deane Papers, description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends 5: 131–32. Original manuscript not found.

1. Deane to JJ, 10 Feb. 1783, ALS, NNC (EJ: 7787); LbkC, CtHi (EJ: 2884), which in turn referred to his previous letter, Deane to JJ, 1 Dec. 1782 [misdated 1 Dec. 1783], ALS, NNC (EJ: 90272).

2. No letter from JJ supporting settlement of Deane’s accounts has been found.

3. For Deane’s response, see Deane to JJ, LbkC, CtHi (EJ: 2883), and to Edward Bancroft, both 28 Feb. 1783, Deane Papers description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends , 5: 135–42, 142–44. For Deane’s subsequent letters to JJ in London, to which JJ did not reply, see 27 Aug., Deane Papers description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends , 5: 186; 4 Nov. 1783, LbkC, CtHi (EJ: 2881), Deane Papers description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends , 5: 227–28; and 21 Jan. 1784, Deane Papers description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends , 5: 279–80; and JJ’s reply of 23 Feb. 1784, below. For Deane’s published defense, forwarded for publication in America in 1783, and subsequently published in England, see “An Address to the United States of North America, to which is added A Letter to the Hon. Robert Morris, Esq., with Notes and Observations,” Deane Papers description begins The Deane Papers, 1774–1790 (5 vols.; New-York Historical Society, Collections, vols. 19–23; New York, 1887–91) description ends , 5: 235–79.

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    Jay Papers
    Title
    From John Jay to Silas Deane, 22 February 1783
    Author
    Jay, John
    Recipient
    Deane, Silas
    Date
    22 February 1783

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From John Jay to Silas Deane, 22 February 1783,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-03-02-0113. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 3, 1782–1784, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013, pp. 327–328.]

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