53751To John Jay from Samuel Kissam, 22 July 1772 (Jay Papers)
In the name of the Gods my Dear Jay! what can have made you the Subject of Diseases? I thought your Temperance might almost have baffled the unwholsom Blasts of Spring or Autumn, the Glowing heats of Aug t : or the nipping frosts of January. Or have you since my Departure indulged your self more freely in the use of Generous Wine, adding to the pleasures of Sociability? do your Friends use...
53752From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 6 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you herewith sundry papers and documents, which contain information that may be not useless to you in your mission. I had wished to have found liesure to say many things to you but my occupations permit me to offer only a few loose observations. We are both impressed equally strongly with the great importance of a right adjustment of all matters of past controversy and future good...
53753From George Washington to John Jay, 15 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for your favors of the 20th & 24th Ult. and thank you for your care of my foreign letters. I do the same for the Pamphlet you were so obliging as to send me. The good sense, forceable observations, temper and moderation with which it is written cannot fail, I should think, of making a serious impression even upon the antifœderal mind where it is not under the influence of...
53754To John Jay from George Washington, 14 July 1789 (Jay Papers)
I find myself incompetent to form any decided opinion upon the paper I received from you the other day without having a view of the transactions which have been had with the Spanish Minister. I wish also to know whether, if the negotiations are renewed, it can be made to appear from any thing that that Gentl[ema]n has said, as the result of an advance towards it from him, in his official...
53755To John Jay from Sarah Livingston Jay, 10 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
Since your letter of the 28 th . of Novb r ., I’ve not rec d . a single line from you; and tho’ I doubt not but your silence is constrain’d, yet for my life I cannot divest myself of a very disagreeable sensation upon the occasion.—half a doz. times at least have I sent upon the arrival of the Post for letters, & as often been disappointed.— When I wrote you last, Maria was still ill, tho’...
53756To John Jay from the Governor of New York (George Clinton), 20 July 1786 (Jay Papers)
In Compliance with your Letter of the 3 d : of May last, I have the Honor to transmit you inclosed, Extracts from the Journals of the Assembly, of this State, containing the Information required and am, with the highest Respect Sir Your Most Obed t Serv t . LS , with enclosed extracts, DNA: PCC , item 67, 2: 531, 534–38 ( EJ : 5136 ). Endorsed. LbkC , DNA: Domestic Letters
53757To John Jay from Gustavus Risberg, 10 May 1779 (Jay Papers)
This morning I waited on the Honorable Governeur Morris Esq r . one of the Committee for our Department to know if the Alteration proposed by Col. Stewart, Commissary General of Issues had pass’d the Approbation of Congress, when I was inform’d they had been reported—but nothing further done— As Col. Stewart is at Camp I beg leave to trouble you with these lines, and report, that for this four...
53758From George Washington to John Jay, 18 May 1786 (Washington Papers)
In due course of Post, I have been honoured with your favours of the 2d & 16th of March; since which I have been a good deal engaged, and pretty much from home. For the inclosure which accompanied the first, I thank you. Mr Littlepage seems to have forgot what had been his situation—What was due to you—and indeed what was necessary for his own character. And his Guardian I think, seems to have...
53759To John Jay from John Adams, 31 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20 th your letter to M r Duane comprehends every thing necessary to be said upon this occasion, and I presume will remove all difficulties— I congratulate you on the firmness of your nerves fully demonstrated by your hand writing, the beauty and firmness of which is equal to the best of your former days Mine are so debilitated that I can neither write— or...
53760To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 23 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
Your Shingles should have been sent up long since but that the Sinsing Boats have not been down. The Washington Society requested me to deliver an Oration on their Anniversary & as you advised me not to be an insignificant Member I was induced to Consent, & accordingly spoke one Yesterday. I have of course been for some time busy in preparing it & have on that account pressed the Furnace...
53761To John Jay from Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
I won’t dispute who has written most. I have written more than twice what you acknowlege to have received but this is of no Consequence. I am sorry for your Session but I wish you had marked out what Taxes have been laid what Salaries given & a few more striking outlines of Legislation These with what I know of your Men would have enabled me to imagine proper Lights & Shades. My arithmetical...
53762From John Adams to John Jay, 19 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to propose for your consideration, and to request you to submit to the decision of Congress whether it would not be proper that some measures should be taken to furnish your Ministers abroad with the Laws of the several States, and more especially with such Laws as may have a relation to External Commerce, or any other foreign Affair— Information of this kind will be wanted at...
53763To John Jay from Richard Lawrence, 27 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
Thine of 23 d ins t . forwarded by the Mayor I have just received, with the warrant for 1000 Dollars and a Copy of the Act, and in observing the Contents am induced to make the following remarks— I am Sensible of the propriety of thy observation on the necessity of economy in the distribution of this Money; and shall therefore carefully observe the same; and assure thee it is not an Object of...
53764To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 28 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d your letter of the 25 th . inst. & am happy to hear that Nancys Health has improved and that Maria is well enough to go to Rye. I am sorry for the Death of Major Lyons but hope that his sufferings have been attended with a Blessing. I know very little of what is going forward at Albany, but fear that the federalists in the assembly are driving Bargains in a manner not very...
53765From John Adams to John Jay, 27 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
The Chevalier De Pinto, the Envoy of Portugal, informed me, this Day that he had received Instructions from his Court, to inform me, “that the Queen his Mistress has Sent a Squadron to cruise in the Mouth of the Streights with Orders to protect all Vessells belonging to the United States of America equally with those of her own Subjects and that She would continue those orders as long as they...
53766To John Jay from John Adams, 20 December 1790 (Jay Papers)
Permit me in this Severe Season, to Salute your fireside, and congratulate you on your return from the Northern Circuit. As the time approaches when We are to expect the Pleasure of Seeing you at the Supream Court in Philadelphia, you will give me leave to Solicit the Honour and the Pleasure of your Company and that of M rs . Jay, and whoever else of the Family who may accompany you, at Bush...
53767To John Jay from Peter Jay, 29 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
I have recd your letter of the 21 inst. The Evacuation of Ticonderoga is very alarming, I wish it may soon be made appear in a less gloomy light— hitherto, Fady has not been able to succeed in precuring Wagons to remove Your Books to Kent— My thoughts have been much imployed of late abo t removing from hence in case of need, but the more I consider of it the more I am perplex’d, for my present...
53768To John Jay from Samuel Johnson, 27 October 1763 (Jay Papers)
I should long since have answered your kind Letter but heard you & Benson intended me a Visit in the Vacation, which I should have been very glad of, & since that, I have been much engaged either in Company riding or writing.— It was with much pleasure that I received your Letter & the Account you gave me of the good Condition of things at the College since I left it, for which I am no less...
53769From George Washington to John Jay, 1 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor herewith to transmit you, copy of a letter from General Maxwell, containing such particulars of information, as he omitted in his last, respecting the attempt of the enemy on the post at Elizabeth Town. I also inclose your Excellency a New-York paper of the 24th Ultimo. I am sir Your Excellency’s most obt and humble servt LS , in James McHenry’s writing, DNA:PCC , item 152; Df...
53770To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 6 May 1798 (Jay Papers)
I have at length compleated the evacuation of the Gov t . House & taken Possession of my Rooms at M rs . Wests from whence I now write— The Trouble of moving which was much greater than I expected to find it, prevented my writing during the last week. I sent you a number of Articles by Capt: Dusenberry, all those that remain are at M r . Munro’s, who has had one of his unfinished rooms floored...
53771To John Jay from Peter Jay, 28 February 1764 (Jay Papers)
I have recd: your Letter of last Friday.— I’m of your oppinion that M r . Ernest’s Terms are too high—I shall be well pleas d : to have you lodg’d at M rs . John Livingston’s or any other more private Family than I take D—n’s to be, & w th . whom (between us) I apprehend it would not sute very well—If you can get suted near M r . Kissam’s or in that part of the Town, it will be more convenient...
53772From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I received, last night your kind favour of the 7th. Your design of writing to Mr Duane for Copies of our “very Short journals” as he calls them, is judicious, and all that is necessary. I am under no concern about Mr Duane’s Extracts or Copies, because Congress has ordered our Journals to be printed and they are in a course of publication. Although I am ashamed of mine, yet I know that Shame...
53773To John Jay from William Cushing, 18 June 1795 (Jay Papers)
I heartily congratulate you, on your return to your own country, after the fatigues of the Seas, & your exertions abroad for its prosperity, I hope, without injury to your health. What the treaty is, ^is^ not come to us with authenticity; but whatever it be, in its beginning, middle or end, you must expect to be mauled by the Sons of bluntness and—, one ^of^ the kinds of rewards which good men...
53774To John Jay from William Bingham, 1 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
With great Difficulty & repeated Solicitations I procured permission from Congress to return here & arrived in the Frigate the Confederacy the beginning of May— Previous to my Departure, I addressed you several Letters from Martinico which I hope you have received— It has given me peculiar pleasure to hear of your late Arrival at Cadiz, & of the favorable reception you are like to meet with at...
53775From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you, which were dated the 6th. and 11th. of October, I have been honoured with yours of the 1st. 14th. and 15th. of September . Since the departure of the Mr. Fitzhughs, who carried my last, no confidential opportunity of writing has offered. The present I send by the way of London, and being to pass thro’ the post offices of both countries, shall mention in it nothing but...
53776To John Jay from Floridablanca, 5 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
Le Comte de Florida Blanca fait bien ses Compliments a Mr. Jay, et lui souhaite un hereux voyage; il ne manquera pas de lui ecrire d’abord qu’il sera en etat de dire quelque chose de positif sur l’objet de son dernier Billet. The Count de Florida Blanca presents his compliments to Mr. Jay, and wishes him a pleasant journey. He will write to him as soon as he can say anything positive on the...
53777To John Jay from Matthew Robinson, 17 June 1792 (Jay Papers)
Understanding there is a Vessel going soon from Newport to New-York reminded me of my Promise to Your Honour of inclosing my attested Copy of the first Act of Incorporation of the first Emigrants to this State from the Persecut ns . at Salem taken from the first Book of Records call’d “The old leather Book”. Also an Attested Copy of a Bill of Divorce from John Coggeshal one of the first...
53778To John Jay from Robert Morris, 6 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
I am absolutely ashamed to think how long you have been gone & that in all that time I have not found time ^ leisure ^ to write you a line, & even now sit down in the midst of hurry & Confusion occasioned by the dispatch of several Vessels under my care all going away together; just to enclose a letter from M rs . Meredith at Trenton to M rs . Jay. I regret that I did not fix a Cypher with...
53779From John Adams to John Jay, 22 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
On Monday Evening another Conference was held with the Tripolitan Ambassador, attended with his Interpreter Benamor, who is a decent Man, and very ready in the English as well as Arabick and Italian. The Foreign Ministers here Say it is the Custom of all the Ambassadors from Barbary to be much connected with Jews to whom they are commonly recommended. It may be Supposed the Jews have...
53780To John Jay from John Adams, 26 February 1786 (Jay Papers)
The Envoy from Portugal, has received, from his Court an Answer to his Dispatches relative to the Treaty with the United States, and the enclosed Extract from it, which has been delayed some time by the Sickness of the Chevalier de Freire, the Portuguese Secretary of Legation, th at is Minister did me the Honour to deliver to me two days ago, with his request that it might be transmitted to...
53781To John Jay from Nathanael Greene, 18 January 1779 (Jay Papers)
It cannot be unknown to Congress that in the different Departments of the Army there are many Persons employed in the Character of Officers who have no other Commission than a kind of Warrant or Appointment from the Head of the Department in which they serve. They consequently have no Rank in the Army, but are left on the Footing of private Soldiers as to Arrests, and Modes of Trial. Amongst...
53782To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 14 May 1803 (Jay Papers)
Since I last wrote to you from Leghorn I have passed from that City to Genoa by Water, & from thence thro Turin to this place without any disagreable Accident— The Rumors of war between France & England prevented the sailing of the English Vessel in which I intended to go to Genoa. I therefore went in a felucca & had a short & pleasant passage of only twenty two hours— From Genoa D r . Seaman...
53783From John Adams to John Jay, 26 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I recieved from L’Orient a sett of fresh Instructions from Congress, dated the 16th. of August, and with the more enjoined to open a Correspondence with your Excellency, upon the subject of them. I presume You have Copy by the same Vessel; but as it is possible it may have been omitted, I shall venture to inclose a Copy, and hope it may pass unopened. I have communicated it...
53784From George Washington to John Jay, April–Dec. 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States presents his Compliments to Mr Jay, and informs him that the Harness of the President’s Carriage was so much injured in coming from Jersey that he will not be able to use it today. If Mr Jay should propose going to Church this Morng the President would be obliged to him for a Seat in his Carriage. L , in the writing of David Humphreys, NNC .
53785To John Jay from Nathanael Greene, 1 February 1779 (Jay Papers)
In the different Movements of the Army it frequently happens that the Inhabitants of the Country unavoidably suffer damages of various kinds for which Justice seems to demand that they should receive a Compensation from the Publick. There are two ways in which these damages usually happen one of which is the taking; of such Articles on sudden Emergencies as the Army may stand in need of, which...
53786To John Jay from Charles Thomson, 15 January 1784 (Jay Papers)
Though I am sensible that lieut Col D. S. Franks, who is the bearer of this needs no introduction or recommendation to you, yet I cannot suffer him to go without a line from me. He is intrusted with a triplicate Ratification of the definitive treaty, which passed yesterday, the first time we have had nine States represented since Oct r . last, and which was done with the unanimous consent not...
53787To John Jay from Samuel Bayard, 16 May 1796 (Jay Papers)
Your favour of the 25. March reached me on saturday last (the 14 th . ins t .). It came I presume by the packet—or it would probably have been accompanied by the “printed papers” you were so obliging as to propose sending me— Every information from the U. States is exceedingly interesting at all times—but peculiarly so when our national affairs are in so critical a posture as they were when at...
53788From John Adams to John Jay, 17 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
At three O Clock according to Appointment, I went to the Secretary of States Office, in Cleavland Row St. James’s, and was immediately received by the Marquis of Carmarthen. His Lordship began the Conversation, by Saying that he could answer for himself and he believed for the rest of the Kings Servants, that they were Sincerely desirous of cultivating the most cordial Friendship with America,...
53789To John Jay from George Washington, 6 March 1792 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of the 27 th . of Jan y . came safely to hand (but not by Judge Cushing) as did your letter of the 23 d . of September for which I thank you. — It is with pleasure I congratulate you on the increase of your family and the restoration of health to M rs . Jay— both of w h . events we have heard M r . B—’s motion, alluded to in your letter of the 27 th . of Jan y
53790From George Washington to John Jay, 29 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that by a letter from Capt. Burrows dated the 26th at Middle Town, it appears, that the body of the Enemy mentioned in my last, as having made an incursion into Monmouth County reimbarked the afternoon of the same day and returned to New York. A small party of fifteen Continental Troops under Capt. Burrows had kept up a desultory fire upon them for a...
53791From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters were of the 31st. of Decemb. and 9th. of January, since which last date I have been honoured with yours of December the 13th. and 14th. I shall pay immediate attention to your instructions relative to the S. Carolina frigate. I had the honour of informing you of an improvement in the art of coining made here by one Drost, and of sending you by Colo. Franks a specimen of his...
53792To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 16 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have received your several favors of January 30 th . February 11 th . and March 1 st . and propose to write fully to you p r . the next Post. In the mean time, this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid Duly all your former Bills drawn in favor of M r . Cabarrus; and that having obtained a promise of six Millions for this year, to be paid me Quarterly, I now see that I shall be...
53793To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson (private), 3 November 1787 (Jay Papers)
I shall take the liberty of confiding sometimes to a private letter such details of the small history of the court or cabinet as may be worthy of being known, and yet not proper to be publicly communicated. I doubt whether the administration is yet in a permanent form. the Count de Monmorin & Baron de Breteuil are I believe firm enough in their places. it was doubted whether they would wait...
53794To John Jay from Edmund Pendleton, 27 September 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have had the Hon r . to acknowledge the receipt of each of y r . very obliging Fav rs . by return of Post, neither of which I presume had reached you when your last of the 14 th . was written, but will hereafter regularly find their way. I am just return’d from attending our High Court of Chancary, where we found little business, people appearing more inclined to hunt the Sources of money,...
53795To John Jay from Henry Brockholst Livingston, 16 March 1801 (Jay Papers)
Considering how nearly we are connected, and that you justly sustain the character of a virtuous & honorable man, I wish for an interview with you for the purpose of reconciliation— I am, Sir, with respect your very obed serv ALS , NNC ( EJ : 90417 ; EJ : 08327 ). Endorsed: “Brockholst Livingston to / M r . Jay—16 march 1801 / an d . immediately—”. JJ ’s response, probably dated 16 Mar., not...
53796To John Jay from Matthew Ridley, 2 May 1785 (Jay Papers)
I was duely honored with your Favor of the 19 th . January. Accept my best Thanks for your kind Wishes respecting my Health. I have now the pleasure to inform you that it is much better than when I wrote you last. As I hope soon to pay you my Respects in person you shall not at this time be troubled with a long Letter. I expect to sail for Maryland the 1 st . of June. Matters go on here much...
53797To John Jay from Joseph White, 20 May 1799 (Jay Papers)
I hold it not only proper but the duty of every independent Citizen when convinced from the most incontrovertible evidence of the dangerous Sentiments and policy of any influential Character to expose in the plain humble maner he is capable of the dangerous Tendency of such Sentiments and Policy. I am pursuaded that I am in possession of sufficient Data to show that a man who holds a most...
53798To John Jay from John Adams, 31 January 1796 (Jay Papers)
D’Ivernois continues to send Us his Speculations, which I value the more for giving me an Opportunity to congratulate you, upon the Durability and impenetrability of the Anvil, while so many hammers are wearing themselves out by their Strokes upon it. The Treaty is not arrived and Congress will do nothing with spirit till they have vented themselves upon that. But all their Hammers will be as...
53799From George Washington to John Jay, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
In a letter which I had the honor of receiving from Congress dated the 2d instant was inclosed the Copy of one from Lt Colo. Fleury, upon the subject of which the president desired me to express “my Sentiments, as also of the Merits of Mr Fleury during his services in the Army.” I do not conceive that Congress should request a renewal of Colo. Fleury’s Furlough from the French Minister...
53800To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 15 January 1782, enclosing Vergennes to Benjamin Franklin, 31 December 1781 (Jay Papers)
M r . Grand tells me that he hears from Madrid, you are uneasy at my long Silence.— I have had much Vexation and Perplexity lately with the Affair of our Goods in Holland: And I have so many urgent Correspondencies to keep up, that some of them at times necessarily suffer. I purpose writing fully to you per next Post. In the mean time I send the enclos’d for your Meditation. The “cursed...