From John Jay to James Monroe, 19 February 1795
To James Monroe
London 19th. February 1795
Sir
On the 5th. of this month I had the Honor of writing to you a Letter1 in answer to yours of the 17 ult:2 by Mr. Purviance, who is still here waiting for an opportunity to return, and who will be the Bearer of that Letter—3
You will recieve this by Col. Trumbull, who for some Time past has been waiting for an opportunity to go, thro’ Paris, to Stutgard, on private Business of his own.4 He did me the favor to accompany me to this Country as my Secretary. He has been privy to the negociation of the Treaty between the United States & Great Britain, which I have signed; and having copied it, is perfectly acquainted with its Contents. He is a Gentleman of Honor understanding and accuracy, and able to give you satisfactory Information relative to it. I have thought it more adviseable to authorize and request him to give you this Information personally, than to send You written Extracts from the Treaty, which might not be so satisfactory— But he is to give you this Information in perfect confidence that you will not impart it to any Person whatever; for as the Treaty is not yet ratified, and may not be finally concluded in its present Form and Tenor, the Inconveniences which a premature Publication of its Contents might produce, can only be obviated by Secrecy in the mean Time. I think myself justifiable in giving you the Information in Question, because you are an american minister, and because it may not only be agreable, but perhaps useful— I have the Honor to be with great Respect Sir your most obedt. & h’ble Servt
John Jay
The Hon’ble James Monroe—Esqr. Minister of the United States of America to the Republic of France
ALS, NNPM: Presidents of U.S. (EJ: 02846). Endorsed: “… by Mr. Trumbull, recd. 20 march, note Mr. T. did not leave England before Mr. P. & it was not expected he wd. from [what] he told Mr. P.” ACS, DNA: Jay Despatches, 1794–95 (EJ: 04297); ASP: FR, 1: 518; , 3: 237–38.
1. JJ to Monroe, 5 Feb. 1795, Dft, NNC (EJ: 09625; EJ: 90058); C, PHi (EJ: 01128); C, DNA: Jay Despatches, 1794–95 (EJ: 04296); C, embedded in JJ to ER, 5 Feb 1795, DNA: Jay Despatches, 1794–95 (EJ: 04290); LbkC, NNC: JJ Lbk. 10; ASP: FR, 1: 517; , 4, 137–39; , 3: 222.
2. Monroe to JJ, 17 Jan. 1795, C, DNA: Jay Despatches, 1794–95 (EJ: 04299); RC, NNGL (EJ: 90541); SR (extract): Sweet Catalog 141 (EJ: 12933); ASP: FR, 1: 517; , 3: 206.
3. John Henry Purviance (1763–1820), son of Baltimore merchant Samuel Purviance Jr. Purviance was Monroe’s secretary and interpreter during his French mission (1794–96, 1803). , 3: 165n5.
On 24 Nov. 1794, JJ wrote Monroe, informing him that the treaty had been signed and that “This Circumstance ought not to give any uneasiness to the Convention,” as it was explicitly stated in the treaty that it would not violate or negate existing treaties. In JJ’s letter of 25 Nov., he repeated this assurance, but warned “As the Treaty is not yet ratified it would be improper to publish it.” He reiterated this point in his letter of 28 Nov., adding that as Thomas Pinckney had a code used with other ministers, JJ would send “the principal Heads of the Treaty confidentially:—.” JJ enclosed copies of these letters in his to ER, 2 Feb. 1795, above.
In his letter of 17 Jan., Monroe wrote JJ that the news of the treaty did indeed cause alarm in France, and that as he did not have the key to the code, he was sending his secretary, Purviance, to London. More importantly, Monroe observed that the French would be not satisfied with anything less than a copy of the treaty. JJ’s strongly worded reply of 5 Feb. 1795, reassured Monroe that the treaty would not violate the treaty with France. He declared his intention of sharing the particulars of the treaty in “perfect Confidence” but pointed out that it would be improper to make the whole public before ratification, as “It does not belong to Ministers who negotiate Treaties, to publish them even when perfected, much less Treaties not yet compleated and remaining open to alteration or Rejection;— such Acts belong exclusively to the Governments who form them”. For Monroe to JJ, 17 Jan., and JJ to Monroe, 5 Feb. 1795, see above notes 2 and 3. See also JJ to GW, 25 Feb. 1795, letter and note 4, , 17: 577–80.
4. For JT’s trip to Paris and Stuttgart, see JJ Memorandum to JT, 5 Feb. 1795, above. JJ had JT memorize the treaty, but not to impart its contents until Monroe promised not to share the information with the French. Monroe declined, based on his previous agreement with the Convention. JT, in his words, “became obnoxious to the French rulers.” A private note from Monroe hinted to JT that it would be advisable to leave France. JT determined he would not leave before he had completed his private business (purchasing paintings from impoverished estates) unless ordered to by the government. No direct order came. , 184–86.