To John Jay from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 8 March 1782
From the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston)
Philadelphia 8th: March 1782.
Dear Sir,
I shall leave town to morrow and be absent a few weeks,1 I do not care to do it without letting you know that we have nothing worth telling you.— For want of positive you must be content with negative information which sometimes has its use, and failing of any other at least serves to provoke an Answer; and makes those to whom it is addressed ashamed of their silence, when they can collect any thing to communicate.— I just now learn that General Greene has moved to the Quarter House, five miles from Charles Town, and detached a part of his Army to Georgia, the Enemy have evacuated all the out Posts, they held in that State, and retired into Savannah.— It is imagined ^that^ they will shortly evacuate Charles Town, and concentrate their Force at NewYork. Empty Transports have sailed from the latter place, but whether to bring away the Troops from Charles Town, I can not say.— We are extremely anxious to hear the event of a Battle which has been fought in the West Indies between the Fleets, but of which we know nothing certain.—2 Enclosed you have a Copy of a Letter from Mr. Pollock who is well acquainted with the Country about the Mississippi, it contains some information which may be of use to you.— I also enclose you sundry Resolutions of Congress organizing the Office of foreign Affairs from which you will learn the extent of my powers, and not be mislead by supposing them greater than they are.—3 I am dear Sir, with great Esteem and Affection your most Obedt. humble Servant
Signed Robt. R Livingston
LS, NNC (EJ: 7931). Marked: “No. 5” and “2plicate— Copy”. Endorsed: “Recd 6 Augt / 1782”. Dft, NHi: Robert R. Livingston (EJ: 816). LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 79, 1: 401–2 (EJ: 11362); item 118, 130–31 (EJ: 9920).
1. On the reasons for RRL’s absence from Philadelphia and Congress’s reaction to it, see , 18: 378–79.
2. At this time a Franco-Spanish force was preparing to invade Jamaica, but the plan was called off after the battle of the Saints, in which the French fleet under de Grasse was defeated on 12 Apr. by a British naval force under George Rodney. 83, 87.
3. Enclosures not found, but they included copies of Oliver Pollock to the President of Congess, 15 Oct. 1781, and of the resolutions of Congress of 22 Feb. 1782 on the organization of the Office of Foreign Affairs. See JJ’s account book of letters sent and received, NNC, and for copies of the texts, see DNA: PCC, item 50, 139–41, 267–70; and , 22: 87–92.