John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to the President of Congress (Richard Henry Lee), 2 August 1785

To the President of Congress (Richard Henry Lee)

Office for foreign Affairs 2d. August 1785

Sir

On Friday last Mr. DeMarbois called upon me to enquire whether Congress had as yet directed any Answers to be given to his Memorials under their Consideration. In the course of Conversation he mentioned the Affair of Longchamps and informed me that his Court would not persist in their Demand of him. He proposed that the Paper containing that Demand together with those that accompanied it should be returned to him, so that the Matter might remain as if no such Demand had been made. If this Idea should be adopted the proposed Letter to his most Christian Majesty would be unnecessary if not improper. He expressed a Wish that Congress would pass Resolutions asserting the Rights of Ministers &c. and recommending to the States to pass Laws to punish Violations of them in an exemplary Manner. If Congress should think proper to pass such Resolutions, a Copy of them might be enclosed to the King of France in a Letter calculated to remove any uneasiness which may remain in his Mind from the Case of Longchamps.1 I have the Honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s Most obt. & very Hble: Servt.—

John Jay

LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 1: 329–31 (EJ: 124). Endorsed: “… Read 2 Aug. / Referred to the Secy / for foreign Affairs to / report.—” Dft, NNC (EJ: 5747); LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 1: 391–92 (EJ: 1727).

1. See “The Longchamps Affair” (editorial note), above.

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    Jay Papers
    Title
    From John Jay to the President of Congress (Richard Henry Lee), 2 August 1785
    Author
    Jay, John
    Recipients
    President of Congress
    Lee, Richard Henry
    Date
    2 August 1785

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From John Jay to the President of Congress (Richard Henry Lee), 2 August 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0056. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 4, 1785–1788, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015, pp. 145–146.]