From John Jay to Noah Webster, 22 November 1794
To Noah Webster
London 22 Novr 1794
Sir
Since my arrival here the news papers have been sent you by almost every vessel to New York, that carried Letters from me— I hope you have recd. them; tho’ from the little attention with which such Packets are sometimes treated, it is possible that all of them may not have come to your Hands—1
These papers were the Morning Chronicle, the best opposition Paper, and the Times, which is the best ministerial Paper, for so they are distinguished here. I have recd. two parcels of your Heralds, and wish all the papers in our Country were as well conducted.2
Two parcels are now sent to You— They will inform you of the present State of Affairs in Europe— there are many Conjectures about Peace— more Time is necessary to produce such Indications as may enable one to judge with tolerable precision on that Subject
our Affairs are settled by a Treaty, signed the 19th. Inst:—but it is probable you will have heard of it before this Letter will reach you: for the public prints having announced it, the Intelligence will pass to am[eric]a. by various Conveyances, some of which may be more speedy than this— with the best wishes for your Prosperity I [closing and signature cut out]
Noah Webster Esqr.—
1. No letters from JJ to Webster earlier than this date have been found.
2. The Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser, founded in 1769 and published by James Perry (1756–1821) from 1789, was the leading opposition Whig paper. The leading pro-Pitt paper, Times (London), founded in 1785 as Daily Universal Register and known as the Times since 1788, was published by John Walters (1738/39–1812). Despite their partisan politics, both papers were known for their high editorial standards. Karl W. Schweizer, “Newspapers, Politics and Public Opinion in the Later Hanoverian Era,” Parliamentary History 25 (2006): 42–43, 46.
Webster published the Federalist-leaning American Minerva, later New-York Commercial Advertiser (1797), from 1793 until its sale in 1803. Webster also published a semi-weekly edition of this paper titled Herald; a Gazette for the Country from 1794 to 1797.