1From John Jay to George Washington, 24 March 1788 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay presents his Compliments to his Excellency General Washington, & sends him herewith inclosed the 1 vol. of the Fœderalist— AL , DLC : Washington ( EJ : 10394 ). Endorsed. Dft , NNC ( EJ : 8425 ). Dft
2To George Washington from John Jay, 17 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
Since my arrival here I have written you two or three hasty letters—being constantly involved in Business or Company from wh. it would not be here very practicable or perhaps prudent to retreat, I have been able to write but very little—The Convention this moment adjourned and I am writing in their Chamber—a Question being about to be put on the mode of adoption which you have seen, we moved...
3To George Washington from John Jay, 11 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, a Packet which I received last Evening from Ab. Ogden Esqr. the Attorney of the united States for New Jersey District. It contains three papers. (1)A Letter from Mr Ogden to me, mentioning the apprehension of a Doctr Freeman, on a charge of forgery &ca and his offer of giving Evidence against others, on an assurance of Pardon. (2)...
4From John Jay to George Washington, 26 January 1796 (Jay Papers)
The British Ratification of the Treaty not having arrived and consequently the time for appointing the Commissioners mentioned in it not being come, I have this long postponed replying to yours of 21 last month. It certainly is important that the Commissioners relative to the Debts, and also the Captures, be men the best qualified for those places. Probably it would be adviseable to appoint...
5To George Washington from John Jay, 14 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
apprehensive that my Letter to you (herewith enclosed) is not exactly such an one, as the Gentleman mentioned in it, may perhaps wish and expect it to be, I think it adviseable to send him a copy of it: and that you may have the more perfect and accurate Information, I enclose a copy of my Letter to him. I have lately received much Intelligence from several Quarters—some allowances are to be...
6To George Washington from John Jay, 21 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
In a Packet sent last Week to Mr Randolph, was enclosed directed to You a Book which the author, a Mr Miles of this City, requested me to forward to You. I was then so pressed for Time as not to have Leisure to write to you. You will receive herewith enclosed a Note or Memoir which Messrs Lameth and Duport have given me for the purpose of laying it before you. These Gentlemen express an...
7To George Washington from John Jay, 29 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your’s of the 5th of September. Want of Liesure constrains me to be concise. I am authorized by Lord Grenville to assure you in the most explicit Terms, that no Instructions to stimulate or promote Hostilities by the Indians against the united States have been sent to the Kings officers in Canada. I am preparing an official Representation to him on this Subject, and he...
8To George Washington from John Jay, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 3d Inst. enclosing three York Papers was this moment delivered to me. The one written on the Morning of that Day is not yet arrived. As it contains Intelligence probably important, I am anxious to recieve it. I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellencys obedt Servant LS , DLC:GW . The enclosed New York newspapers have not been...
9To George Washington from John Jay, 22 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, Copies of three Letters respecting the Enemy’s Operations in Virginia—two from his Excellency Governor Henry of the 11th & 12th Inst.—& the other from Thompson Mason Esquire of the 17th Inst. Last Night I received a Letter from James Calhoun enclosing a Virginia Gazette of the 15th Inst., and a deposition of Joseph White taken the...
10To George Washington from John Jay, 4 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
private Since mine to you of Yesterday I have occasionally turned my Thoughts to the Subject of it. I presume that the Treaty is ratified agreable to the advice of the Senate—and that if Great Britain consents to the Suspension of the 12 art: (which I believe will be the Case) the Treaty will thereupon be ratified on her part and become final. of Consequence that the modification contemplated...
11To George Washington from John Jay, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
private You can have very little Time for private Letters, and therefore I am the more obliged by the one you honored me with on the 31 of last month. I was not without apprehensions that on Enquiry it might not appear adviseable to gratify Mr Pickman’s wishes; for altho’ Integrity and amiable manners are great, yet they are not the only Qualifications for office. Your answer to the Call for...
12To George Washington from John Jay, 9 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the 7th Inst. I had the Honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 22d of October last, with the Copies of the articles of Capitulation, Returns, & of General Greene’s Letter, mentioned in it. I also recd on the same Day, Duplicates of each. The Reasons which induced your Excellency to transmit these Papers, will I am persuaded, appear no less proper to Congress, than the speedy...
13From John Jay to George Washington, 30 April 1794 (Jay Papers)
I was this day honored with your’s of yesterday. There is nothing I more ardently wish for than Retirement, and Liesure to attend to my Books and papers: but parental Duties not permitting it, I must acquiesce, & thank God for the many Blessings I enjoy. If the Judiciary was on its proper Footing, there is no public Station that I should prefer to the one in which you have placed me—it accords...
14To George Washington from John Jay, 3 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
an English Gentleman having been so obliging as to procure for me some Rhubard Seed which, from his account of it, there is Reason to believe is of the best kind, I take the Liberty of sending you a little Parcel of it—If the seed prove good you will soon be able to determine whether it will flourish in your climate, & in what Soil & Situation best. It is a prevailing and I believe a just...
15From John Jay to George Washington, 14 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
Your very kind letter of of the 7 th Instant gave me all that Pleasure, which accompanies marks of cordial Esteem & Attachm t from those whose Commendation is praise, and Whose Friendship is discriminate. Among the Objects of my mission are some which, however just, will ^ not ^ be difficult to easily attain’d and therefore its success will be precarious, and probably partial. The only...
16To George Washington from John Jay, 3 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will herewith receive a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 2nd Inst: on the Subject of Aid to the States of Georgia & South-Carolina. I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14 The enclosed act of 2 Feb. consists of resolutions directing that Pulaski’s Legion and the Continental troops said...
17To George Washington from John Jay, 25 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of recieving your Favor of the 16th Instant. Britain refused the mediation of Spain at a Time when their Spirits were elated by their Successes in the west Indies, and the southern States; and by the accounts they recieved of Discord in Congress, Discontent among the People, and a Prospect of the Evils with which we were threatned by the Depreciation of our Currency....
18To George Washington from John Jay, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jay has the honor of informing the President of the United States, that yesterday afternoon he received a letter from Sir John Temple in the following words, vizt “New York 12th of October 1789, Sir. I beg leave to submit in the most respectful manner, the enclosed memorial to the consideration of the Government of the United States. The memorialist informs me he hath in his possession all...
19John Jay’s Draft of a Letter from the Continental Congress to George Washington, 2 April 1776 (Jay Papers)
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you by order of Congress the only Tribute which a free People will ever consent to pay, the Tribute of Thanks & Gratitude to their Friends & Benefactors. The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to the Field, have also led you to Glory, and it affords no little Consolation to your Countrymen to reflect, that as a peculiar...
20To George Washington from John Jay, 19 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
A Letter which I wrote to you on the 29 Octr last contained the following Paragraph vizt. “I am authorized by Lord Grenville to assure you in the most explicit Terms, that no Instructions to stimulate or promote Hostilities by the Indians against the United States, have been sent to the Kings officers in Canada—I am preparing an official Representation to him on this Subject, and he will give...
21From John Jay to George Washington, 13 March 1791 (Jay Papers)
Percieving that Col. Smith you have been pleased to appoint Col. Smith a Supervisor for this District, I conclude that on his acceptance of that place, another the office of Marshall will be conferred on some other person. It is probable that Several Candidates, will offer, and [ illegible ] I take the Liberty of availing myself of your [ Permission ?] to communicating my Sentiments respecting...
22To George Washington from John Jay, 30 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency an Account of the Enemy’s force with Admiral Arbuthnot, from Arthur Lee Esqr. And am with the highest & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. Congress read two letters from Arthur Lee, both dated 26 April, on this date (see JCC, Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress,...
23From John Jay to George Washington, 20 April 1788 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 3 d . Ult. gave me great Pleasure, and I thank you for the friendly offers contained in it. Some Gentlemen here and in Jersey [h]ave it in Contemplation to form a Society to promote the Breeding of good Horses and mules—in that Case we will endeavour to introduce some Jennies, of which we have none at present, and send them to your Jack. The Constitution still continues to...
24From John Jay to George Washington, 5 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
On the 2 d . Inst: I wrote to M r . Randolph, and sent him Copies of my Representation relative to Captures, and of the answer to it. I am this moment returned from a long Conference with Lord Grenville— our Prospects become more and more promising as we advance in the Business— The Compensation Cases (as described in the answer) and the amount of Damages, will I have Reason to hope be...
25To George Washington from John Jay, 14 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
This morning I had the Pleasure of receiving & communicating to Congress, your Excellency’s favor of the 12th Inst., The enclosed Act, on the Subjects of it, will inform your Excellency, that Congress cannot agree to the Request of Major Harnage & Captain Hawker, but do not object to their remaining where they are —And that the Proceedings of the Court Martial in the case of the Officers at...
26From John Jay to George Washington, 11 August 1794 (Jay Papers)
The Letter herewith enclosed from M r . Wangenheim came to me enclosed from him, requesting me to transmit it to You— it was and now is, without a cover— of this Gentleman I have no Knowledge or information but from these Letters. I have written to him, that the Issue of his application to You could not be foreseen; but that as the united States interposed no Impediments to Emigrants, so on...
27To George Washington from John Jay, 29 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed contains my Resignation of the office of chief Justice —I cannot quit it, without again expressing to You my acknowledgments for the Honor you conferred upon me by that appointment; and for the repeated marks of confidence & attention for which I am indebted to You. It gives me pleasure to recollect and reflect on these circumstances—to endulge the most sincere wishes for your...
28To George Washington from John Jay, 14 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
On my Return last Evening from a Fortnights absence in the country, I was informed that proper arrangements for your immediate accommodation were not yet made. Permit me therefore to take the Liberty of requesting the Favor of You to be with me in the mean Time; and if Mrs Washington should accompany you, we should be still more happy. As the measures which were in contemplation on this...
29To George Washington from John Jay, 1 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
When Mr Drayton of Charleston was here last Summer he told me that the true nankeen Cotton was in So. Carolina. It appeared to me to be a valuable acquisition, and I suggested to him the Expediency of planting it always at so great a Distance from other Cotton, as to avoid the Influence which many plants of the same kind, tho’ of different Species have on each other, when very contiguous....
30From John Jay to George Washington, 29 October 1794 (Jay Papers)
I have been honored with your’s of the 5 th . of September. Want of Liesure constrains me to be concise— I am authorized by Lord Grenville to assure you in the most explicit Terms, that no Instructions to stimulate or promote Hostilities by the Indians against the United States have been sent to the King’s officers in Canada. I am preparing an official Representation to him on this Subject,...
31To George Washington from John Jay, 14 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your very kind Letter of the 7 instant gave me all that Pleasure, which accompanies marks of cordial Esteem & attachmt from those whose Commendation is Praise and whose Friendship is discriminate. Among the Objects of my Mission are some, which however just, will not be easily attain’d and therefore its Success will be precarious & probably partial. The only Satisfaction I promise myself from...
32To George Washington from John Jay, 23 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
private Dear Sir London 23 June 1794 on Sunday the 15th of this month I arrived here. the next Day I made Inquiries for Mr Lear, and was informed that he had gone to Liverpool to embark for america. I asked whether it was probable that Letters sent by the post would find him still there—the answer was, that it was highly improbable. under these Circumstances & well knowing the jealous...
33To George Washington from John Jay, 2 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letters of the 24th & 26th Ulto with their several Inclosures have been received and communicated to Congress. A Copy of an Act of Congress of the 27th Feby is herewith enclosed, by which your Excellency will perceive that the Letter of Coll Wigglesworth is referred to the Delegates of Massachusetts Bay, & that General Glover is to be indulged with a furlough for such time as...
34To George Washington from John Jay, 15 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jay has the honor of transmitting herewith enclosed to the President of the United States, a memorial and a translation of it, from the Marquis de Lotbiniere, a respectable Canadian now here in very indigent circumstances, and who says, with great appearance of truth, that his attachment to the american cause has rendered him so obnoxious to the british government as to render it...
35To George Washington from John Jay, 8 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed is a copy of a Letter from Coll Simmes respecting leave of Absence —Congress refer This Request to Your Excellency —The Colonel will be The Bearer of this Letter, & will more fully explain the reason of his applying to Congress in the first Instance. I have the honor to be With great Respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. Jay also...
36To George Washington from John Jay, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 27th Ult. & 1st Inst. They were committed. Peter Wickoff Esqr. has been appointed Cloathier General, and will I hope soon enter on the Execution of that Office. Herewith enclosed is a Copy of a Letter from Governor Rutledge to the Delegates of South Carolina of the 9th Ult.—of one from General Lincoln to Congress of the 4th Ult. —And of...
37To George Washington from John Jay, 23 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you a few Days ago and inclosed a copy of certain Propositions, or mode of adoption—great objections to it being urged it was withdrawn for the present —The Convention proceeded to Day in debating on the Plan of conditional amendment. some of the anti Party moved for striking out the words on Condition and substituting the words in full confidence —it was carried 31 to 29 in the...
38To George Washington from John Jay, 5 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed three Acts of Congress of this day—One for accepting the Resignation of Brigadier Genl Warnum, another accepting the Resignation of Major Pawling of Colonel Malcolm’s Regiment, and the third authorizes your Excellency at your discretion to settle with the Enemy a Cartel for the Exchange of Prisoners. I have the Honor to be Sir Your Excellency’s...
39To George Washington from John Jay, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Copies of three Acts of Congress are herewith enclosed—One of the 22nd Inst., respects the Exchange of Citizens captivated by the Indians—Another of the 22nd provides that the Officers, exchanged, & not continued in Service, be considered as supernumerary Officers—The third is of the 24th Inst., and directs a copy of a Memorial from Colonel Lewis Debois to be transmitted to your Excellency. I...
40To George Washington from John Jay, 21 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
Accept my Thanks for the long & friendly Letter of the 14 Inst. which I have had the Pleasure of recieving from you. It was for many Reasons grateful to me—I value the Esteem of the wise and virtuous, and had wished to know the particulars of Transactions, respecting which only vague and unsatisfactory Reports, had come to my Knowledge. Delicacy forbid my breaking the Subject to you when...
41To George Washington from John Jay, 19 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Bedlow of this Place (whom I have long known to be an exceeding good Man) tells me, that Coll Freer near Poughkeepsie lately assured him that Morris Hazard, of that Place had purchased of him, for public use expresly, a Quantity of Flour, which in a few Days afterwards he sold at an advance of between four and five hundred Pounds. Capt. Bedlow further tells me that Coll Palmer of...
42From John Jay to George Washington, 17 [i.e., 18] July 1788 (Jay Papers)
Since my arrival here I have written you two or three hasty Letters— being constantly involved in Business or Company from w h . it would not be here very practicable or perhaps prudent to retreat. I have been able to write but very little— The Convention this moment adjourned and I am now writing in their Chamber. a Question being about to be put on the mode of adoption which you have seen,...
43To George Washington from John Jay, 23 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
My first Idea was to have made a Sketch of what, in my opinion would be proper on the occasion; but finding in the Progress of it, that my Information relative to the actual State of Affairs was not sufficiently particular, and in several Respects defective, it became necessary to confine myself to general Remarks. How far the fiscal arrangements require amendments or additions, can best be...
44To George Washington from John Jay, 21 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Ideas relative to the Diffusion of Intelligence and useful Information by means of news Papers and the Press, appear to me exceedingly just; nor do I percieve any good Objection to preferring the Stages to Post Riders for the Transportation of the Mail, on the contrary I think the Ballance of Advantages is clearly in favor of the former. How far it was the Duty of the Post office to...
45To George Washington from John Jay, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s favors of the 20th & 21st Inst., with the several papers referred to in the latter. Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed a copy of a Letter from the President of the Executive Council of this State containing Intelligence relative to the Reinforcements expected by the Enemy — a copy of a Letter from Major General Sullivan of the 21st Inst.,...
46To George Washington from John Jay, 5 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed Copies of two Acts of Congress of Yesterday—The one for recruiting Count Pulaski, & Coll Armand’s Corps to their full Complement of Infantry—The other for completeing the Arrangement of the Army, & settling the relative Rank of Officers under the Degree of Brigadier. I have the Honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency’s most Obedt & Hble Servt LS , DLC:GW...
47To George Washington from John Jay, 12 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Mrs De Lancey will be the Bearer of this Letter—when Philadelphia was evacuated, she went round with the Fleet to New York; and left it last October, so circumstanced, as to bring out but very little of her wearing apparel. She is anxious to obtain Permission to send for the Remainder. The Request appears to me reasonable, and therefore I take the Liberty of recommending it to your...
48To George Washington from John Jay, 4–8 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you my dear Sir! on the adoption of the constitution by Virginia. That Event has disappointed the Expectations of opposition here, which nevertheless continues pertinacious. The unanimity of the southern District, and their apparent Determination to continue under the wings of the union, operates powerfully on the minds of the opposite Party. The constitution constantly gains...
49From John Jay to George Washington, 3 October 1791 (Jay Papers)
I shall request the favor of Lord Wycombe to take charge of this Letter — Permit me to introduce him to You.— He is the Son of the Marquis of Lansdown, of whose liberal Policy relative to the United States you are informed— This young Nobleman has already become distinguished, and will doubtless be much more so. His Visit to America marks his Desire of Information, and his Talents will render...
50From John Jay to George Washington, 6 October 1789 (Jay Papers)
When distinguished Discernment & Patriotism unite in selecting men for Stations of Trust and Dignity, they derive Honor not only from their offices, but from the Hand which confers them. With a mind and a Heart impressed with these Reflections and their correspondent Sensations, I assure you that the Sentiments expressed in your Letter of Yesterday, and implied by the commission it enclosed,...