To John Jay from George Clinton, 29 April 1778
From George Clinton
Poughkeepsie 29th. April 1778
Dear Sir
A few Days since Mr. Benson enclosed Lord Norths famous Speech (in the English House of Commons) to Mr. McKesson for the perusal of the Court & I now enclose you Copies of the two Bills aluded to therein.1 His Lordship is two years too late with this political Maneuvre— This at the Time of his former Conciliatory Proposition (as he calls it) woud have divided & ruined us. At this Day it will have a very different Effect it gives Spirit to our Friends & divides & disheartens our Enemies— The Tories (as Brasher2 woud express it) are all aback— The Account of these Measures and of his Majesty’s most Gracious Disposition towards us had hardly reached us before we were enabled to Account for the great Change— Capt. Deane Brother to Silas arrived the Day before yesterday at Fishkill (on his Way to Congress) in forty Days from France—3 He came on a French Ship encharged with Dispatches from that Court to Congress of great Importance— He travelled with an Escort of Light Horse— Particulars have not yet transpired—. This much I may venture to tell you as a Truth—a Treaty is concluded between that Court & our Embassadors4 these very favourable to these States (of which Capt. Deane was charged with the Counterpart) I believe I may ^farther^ venture to say it is more so than coud have been expected— A Sensible Friend of ours who has had an Opportunity of learning the particulars writes me so.— Shoud not Lord Norths Speech & the two Bills be published with some strictures on them5 I think it woud have a good effect & I wish you coud spare a Little Time to prepare them for the Press.
By a Letter inclosing some Resolutions of Congress6 I learn Genl Gates is to Command in this Department including what was formerly the Northern Department— Genl Starke is to be employed under him to the Northward at his particular Request. Genl McDougal7 on Gates’s Arrival which is daily expected is to Join the Grand Army Our good Fortune not our Wise Management must save us. Instability & Folly cant ruin us or it woud have been effected ’ere now.
You must accept this Uncorrect Scroll or nothing— I am not able even to read it over there is a Crowd about me that I am not likely to get rid of soon—& Mrs. Clinton is very Sick. Adieu Believe me yours Sincerely
Geo. Clinton
Chief Justice Jay
1. Letter of Robert Benson to John McKesson not located. McKesson was then clerk of the supreme court; Benson was Clinton’s secretary. On 19 Feb., Lord North had proposed conciliatory measures with America, in hopes of preventing the French-American alliance. He moved that two bills be passed: one to establish a peace commission to treat with Congress, the second to enable the commissioners to suspend or abolish taxation and to “treat, discuss, and conclude upon every point whatsoever.” The Parliamentary History of England, From the Earliest Period to the Year 1803 (36 vols.; London: T. C. Hansard, 1806–20), 19: 762–870; , 4: 230–31.
2. Abraham Brasher (1734–82) was a member of the Committee of One Hundred and served in the New York Provincial Congress and the New York Assembly. NYGBR, 27: 37.
3. Captain Simeon Deane.
4. On 6 Feb. 1778 a Treaty of Amity and Commerce and a Treaty of Alliance were signed at Paris by American commissioners Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee and the French minister plenipotentiary, Conrad Alexandre Gérard. Both treaties were read and ratified by Congress on 4 May 1778. David Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts (8 vols.; Washington, 1831–48), 2: 3, 35.
5. Lord North’s speech and bills, together with the 22 Apr. resolutions of Congress, were published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 24 Apr. 1778.
6. Henry Laurens to George Clinton, 20 Apr. 1778, enclosing the congressional resolution of 15 Apr., in , 3: 197–200; , 9: 455–57.
7. On 16 Mar. 1778 Washington ordered General Alexander McDougall to replace Israel Putnam as commander of the Continental forces in the Hudson Highlands. , 11: 90–91, 95–96.