To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786

From John Jay

New York. 19th: August 1786

Dr. Sir

I wrote to you on the 7th: of last Month, and also on the 18th: of this enclosing some Papers respecting an american Vessel seized at Barbadoes by a british Man of War.1 I have been honored with yours of 16th. 25th. and 28th. May and 6th. June last, which with the Papers accompanying them were immediately laid before Congress.—

The Situation in which the Want of an adequate Representation had for many Months placed Congress, put it out of their Power to decide on several of my Reports, some of which were founded on your Letters. These Delays oblige me to leave those Letters unanswered, and to leave you without Instructions on Points on which I think you should be furnished with the Sentiments of Congress.—

We daily expect to receive the Treaty with Portugal. {I have advised that new commissons be Issued to you and Mr. Jefferson.}2

You will herewith receive the late Requisition of Congress, their Ordinance for the Indian Department and several other printed Papers.3 A Vessel for London has just touched here, and given me an Opportunity of writing you these few Lines. I am mortified to write you such Letters, but that must be the Case, until Congress enable me to write more particularly and satisfactorily. You want Answers to many Questions, and tho’ I am not at a Loss to form a Judgement of what they should be, yet my private Sentiments and those of Congress may not coincide.—

With great and sincere Esteem and Regard, I am, Dr Sir, / Your most obedient Servt.

John Jay—

RC (Adams Papers description begins Manuscripts and other materials, 1639–1889, in the Adams Manuscript Trust collection given to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1956 and enlarged by a few additions of family papers since then. Citations in the present edition are simply by date of the original document if the original is in the main chronological series of the Papers and therefore readily found in the microfilm edition of the Adams Papers (APM). description ends ); internal address: “Hoñble John Adams Esquire / Minister Plenipoy. of the U.S. / at the Court of London”; endorsed: “Mr Jay 19. August / recd. 12. October 1786.”

1. In his 7 July letter (Adams Papers description begins Manuscripts and other materials, 1639–1889, in the Adams Manuscript Trust collection given to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1956 and enlarged by a few additions of family papers since then. Citations in the present edition are simply by date of the original document if the original is in the main chronological series of the Papers and therefore readily found in the microfilm edition of the Adams Papers (APM). description ends ), Jay noted that he had received and sent to Congress the commissioners’ 25 April letter and its enclosures, above, and WSS’s 11 April letter (Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789 description begins The Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from … 1783, to … 1789, [ed. William A. Weaver], repr., Washington, D.C., 1837 [actually 1855]; 3 vols. description ends , 3:22), with which were enclosed Paul R. Randall’s 17 Feb. letter to JA, above, and John Lamb’s 16 Feb. letter, for which see note 1 to Randall’s letter. Jay also mentioned his 6 June letter to JA, above, and asked JA to forward a letter to Richard Hanson Harrison at Cádiz. He did not, however, mention enclosing any documents regarding the case of the brig Jane and Elizabeth, for which see his 18 Aug. letter, and notes, above.

2. The decoded passage, in WSS’s hand, was written below Jay’s signature. Jay had proposed that the joint commission be renewed in an 11 May report to Congress, but no action was taken (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 30:261–262).

3. The enclosures have not been found, but for Congress’ 2 Aug. requisition from the states and its 7 Aug. “Ordinance for the Regulation of Indian Affairs,” see JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, Gaillard Hunt, John C. Fitzpatrick, Roscoe R. Hill, and others, Washington, D.C., 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 31:459–465, 490–493.

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Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786
Author: Jay, John
Recipient: Adams, John
Date: 19 August 1786

Reference

Cite as: “To John Adams from John Jay, 19 August 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-18-02-0233. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 18, December 1785–January 1787, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Sara Martin, C. James Taylor, Sara Georgini, Hobson Woodward, Sara B. Sikes, Amanda M. Norton. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016, pp. 428–429.]

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