From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 10 April 1798
To Timothy Pickering
Albany 10 April 1798
Sir,
Altho’ your Letter of the 15 ult.1 has lain thus long unanswered, it has not been forgotten. The one which came enclosed in it,2 in Behalf of the Tuscaroras, was on the 26 ult: laid before our Legislature with a Message, of which the enclosed is a Copy—3 Nothing material however has been done in pursuance of it—an opinion having prevailed, that our intended purchase of the Oneidas should first be compleated.4 David5 arrived here last Week, and delivered to me a Copy of that Letter. I told him how matters were circumstanced, and assured him of my Disposition and Intention to promote the object you recommend.
The Dispatches have given occasion to much Speculation & many Conjectures, as well as to their Contents, as the Reasons why they were not wholly or partially communicated to the Congress. Some of our Friends regret that they were with held untill they were asked for—but cogent Reasons doubtless existed. They now are where no Secrets ever were or will be kept— unless judicious Extracts from them (if not the whole) should be published by Authority, it would not be extraordinary if a thousand Stories half true and half otherwise, should be spread thro’ the Country, and be adopted or rejected as they might happen to suit this or that Party. Some Circumstances said to be detailed in them, are already circulating— by some they are believed to be genuine, by others they are ridiculed—6
The public Mind is at this moment prepared by Sollicitude Suspense and Curiosity, to recieve deep Impressions. Our affairs require very delicate management, and I flatter myself that none of our measures will be injured by Precipitation on the one hand, nor by Indicision on the other— With great Respect & Esteem I am Sir Your most obt. Servt.
John Jay
The Honb. Timothy Pickering Esqr.
ALS, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04786). Addressed: “The Hon’ble Timothy Pickering Esqr.” Endorsed: “Gov. Jay / April 10. 1798 / recd. 17. – Tuscaroras / Envoys Dispatches.”
1. Letter not found, but the enclosed letter of the same date is cited below.
3. Enclosed copy not found. For JJ’s message to the New York State Senate, see , 2: 410–11.
Two leaders of the Tuscarora stopped in Albany in mid-February 1798 in transit to Philadelphia for a meeting with JA and TP. TP discussed the faithful service of Nicholas Cusick (Kanatijogh; Kaghnatsho) (1758–1840) and other Tuscarora during the war of independence and sought JJ’s assistance with creating a homeland for them. TP further suggested that the Tuscarora, most of whom lived near Niagara, should be settled among either the Oneida or the Seneca communities in New York and that these groups should be encouraged by the state government to grant a portion of their property to the Tuscarora.
4. For more on the land transactions between New York and the Oneida, see the editorial note “Indian Affairs under Jay’s Governorship,” above.
5. Possibly David Fowler (1735–1807), Montaukett Indian leader of the Brothertown community, brother-in-law of Samson Occum (1724–92).
6. JJ had not yet received the printed texts of the dispatches from the envoys to France that TP sent on 9 Apr. See TP to JJ, 9 Apr. 1798, above, and for the background, the editorial note “John Jay and the Response to the XYZ Affair in New York,” below.