261To George Washington from John Jay, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will receive herewith enclosed Copies of two Letters this moment read in Congress. The Intelligence they communicate being important is transmitted by Express. I have the Honor to be With the greatest Respect Your Excys most Obedt Servt N.B. The same verbatim to Governor Trumbull. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. The enclosures were copies of letters from Arthur Lee to “the Chairman of the...
262To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 14 July 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 14 July 1779 . Circular letter to the state executives enclosing resolves of Congress of 9 July respecting persons employed in provisioning the army. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 14); 1 p. Enclosure not located; printed in JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , ed. W. C. Ford and others, Washington, 1904–1937 , xiv , 812–15.
263To George Washington from John Jay, 15 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 9th Inst. with the papers referred to in it—They were immediately committed. In a late letter I informed Your Excellency that Peter Wikoff Esqr. had been appointed Cloathier-General; That Gentleman not approving the terms of the appointment has declined it, & Lieut. Colonel Percifer Frazer was yesterday elected. Your Excellency will...
264To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay: Proposed Letter, [on or before 2 August 1779] (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): National Archives The Burning of Suffolk in Virginia Fairfield East Haven Green’s Farms & Norwalk in Connecticut together with the Ravages committed in Georgia & South Carolina form a cruel Commentary upon the Proclamation of the british Commissioners. This Proclamation was defended in their Parliament as meaning no more than that in future the War was to be carried on agt. America...
265To George Washington from John Jay, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Favors of the 30th Ulto by Coll Morgan, and of the 13th & 16th Inst: with the several papers to which they refer. General Waynes Coup de main occasions as much Joy, as the barbarous conflagrations of the Enemy excite Indignation—The former I hope will lead to further successes, the latter to retaliation and Resentments favorable to our Independence. A...
266To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 26 July 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency sundry papers respecting the capture of a vessel of Portugal by a Captain Cunningham of the Privateer Phoenix the Property of Carter Braxton Esqr. and others. Among these papers is a copy of an Act of Congress of the 21st. Inst., for the purpose of doing Justice to the Parties injured, and punishing the Aggressors, to both which Objects it...
267To George Washington from John Jay, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Success of the Enterprize against stony Point was splendid and important—It has added another Laurel to your Wreath, and given a grateful Country a fresh opportunity of presenting you their Thanks for the Vigilance wisdom and magnanimity, with which their Arms have been conducted. I have now the Honor of conveying them expressed in the enclosed Act of Congress. Prudence forbids me to...
268From John Jay to George Washington, 27 July 1779 (Jay Papers)
The Success of the Enterprize against Stoney-Point was splendid & important— It has added another Laurel to your wreath, and given a grateful Country a fresh opportunity of presenting You their Thanks for the vigilance, Wisdom, & Magnanimity, with which their Arms have been conducted— I have now the Honor of conveying them expressed in the enclosed Act of Congress— Prudence forbids me to...
269To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 28 July 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 28 July 1779 . Circular letter to the state executives enclosing resolves of Congress of 23 July respecting, first, the better preservation of buildings belonging to the United States and, second, the delivery of horses, cattle, and other stores owned by the United States to proper officers. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 14); 2 p. Enclosure ( Vi ); signed by Charles Thomson; endorsed by...
270To 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.,...
271To George Washington from John Jay, 6 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Favors of the 29th July & 2nd Inst. have been delivered to me —The Papers, herewith enclosed, are a copy of the Act of the 8th of March mentioned in Your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th Ulto and a Report of the Board of War recommending that Captain Wilkie’s Company of Coll Spencer’s Regiment be annexed to the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment—Congress desire your Excellency’s Opinion on the...
272To 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...
273To George Washington from John Jay, 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed your Excellency will recieve Extracts from a Letter which arrived this Morning from Mr Bingham. The Intelligence contained in them is important as well as agreable —I have the Honor to be with perfect Esteem & Regard Your Excellencys most obedt Servt ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. At this time William Bingham was serving as the Continental agent to Martinique. The...
274To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 14 August 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 14 Aug. 1779 . Circular to the state executives. The expected arrival of 7,000 troops from Europe and 3,000 from the West Indies as reinforcements to the enemy is a matter of grave concern to Congress and “our Allies.” The states are therefore to “prepare for the most immediate, and most vigorous operations” by filling up their battalions and by having the militia ready to march...
275From John Jay to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 16 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
The Reasons which at present induce many good men to avoid holding Places in the Staff Departments, ought in my opinion to stimulate them to accept them. These Departments are important. The Public suffers from the Clamors which prevail against them, and perhaps no measure would tend more to restore them to the Confidence of the People, than for men of known and established Reputation in each...
276To George Washington from John Jay, 18 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since the date of my last, I have been honored with Your Excellency’s Favors of the 5: 5: 6: & 11th Inst., with the several papers mentioned in them. I have now the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency a copy of an Act of Congress of the 16th Inst., paying the Soldiers for deficiencies in cloathing —and also a Copy of a Circular Letter from Congress to the several States, which I am happy...
277From John Jay to George Clinton, 18 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
I send you two Sets of the Journals of Congress—two acts of the Legislature of Virg a . one for establishing a Land office & c . the other laying a Tax payable in Certain enumerated Commodities —four news Papers from the 5 to the 17 th : Aug Ins t inclusive—3 Parcel’s of German ones—and an Essay on Trade and Finance by Pelatiah Webster— There are also enclosed with this Letter, two from for my...
278To George Washington from John Jay, 20 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed Your Excellency will receive a copy of three Acts of Congress, of the 17, 18, & 19th Inst. The two first respect a Provision for the Army—The latter for the Commissary General of Prisoners. Congress have under Consideration further Resolutions on this Subject, calculated to do equal Justice to the whole Army, & remove every cause of complaint in their power to remedy. I have...
279To George Washington from John Jay, 24 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s Favors of the 15th, 16, & 17th Inst—The first is referred to a special Committee—The second to the Board of War—& the third to the Treasury. It is the Sense of Congress that your Excellency “refuse your Assent to the Request of Major General Philips that two Officers of the Convention Troops be allowed to go into Canada.” Congress came to some other...
280To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 24 August 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 24 Aug. 1779 . Circular letter to the state executives enclosing a resolve of Congress of 17 Aug. relative to further provisions for the army. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 14); 1 p. Enclosure missing; printed in JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , ed. W. C. Ford and others, Washington, 1904–1937 , xiv , 973–4.
281To 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....
282From John Jay to George Washington, 25 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of recieving your Favor of the 16 th . 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....
283To George Washington from John Jay, 26 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed Your Excellency will receive a copy of a Letter from Major General Philips of the 8th Inst., and of other Papers enclosed with it, marked No: 1, 2, 3 & 4, which together with the Letter are referred to Your Excellency that such Order may be taken on the several Matters mentioned in them as You may think proper. The sense which Congress entertain of the merit of Major Noirmont...
284From John Jay to George Clinton, 27 August 1779 (Jay Papers)
If New York and New Hampshire by mutual Acts of their respective Legislatures will authorize Congress to settle the Line between them, and if New York will further by Act of ^ their ^ Legislature, empower Congress to adjust the Disputes with the Hamp ^ People ^ on ^ of ^ the Grants on ^
285To George Washington from John Jay, 29 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s Favors of the 21, 23, 23rd Instant, and the several papers referred to in them. The enclosed copy of an Act of Congress of the 27th Inst., will communicate to your Excellency the sense of Congress relative to your Plan for conducting, & measures for executing the Western Expedition. I have the Honor to be With the greatest Respect and Esteem Your...
286To 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,...
287To George Washington from John Jay, 31 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed account of the Reinforcement with admiral arbuthnot is copied from one recd by Mr Jos. Wharton from his Friend in Paris. The Confidence Mr Wharton has in his Correspondent induces him to think this account may be relied upon. I am Dear Sir: with perfect Regard your most obt Servant P.S. Mr Wharton would not chuse that this Line of Intelligence should be generally known. ALS ,...
288To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 6 September 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
You will receive herewith enclosed a copy of an Act of Congress of the 4th: Inst, giving Lieut. Colonel Simms leave of Absence from his Regiment until the 20th Novr. next, together with copies of two letters on that subject, one from General Washington of the 19th: Ulto. the other from Lieut. Coll: Simms of the 2nd: Inst. It is the wish of Congress that Coll: Simms may be enabled to join his...
289To John Adams from the President of the Congress, 7 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
On the 20th. August last I had the Pleasure of recieving and communicating to Congress your Favors of the 3d. and 4th. of that month. Be pleased to accept my Congratulations on your safe Return to your Family and Country. Yours of the 27 Feby. and 1st. March last came to Hand about ten Days ago. An Expectation of having Commands from Congress to transmit, induced me to delay writing ’till now....
In governments raised on the generous principles of equal liberty, where the rulers of the state are the servants of the people, and masters of those from whom they derive authority, it is their duty to inform their fellow-citizens of the state of their affairs, and by evincing the propriety of public measures, lead them to unite the influence of inclination to the force of legal obligation in...