To John Jay from George Washington, 31 March 1796
From George Washington
Philadelphia 31st. Mar 1796
Accept, my dear Sir, my thanks for your note of the 25th. Instant— enclosing a copy of Mr. Bayards letter to you.—1 The purport of it is pleasing; but the conduct of the British armed Vessels in the West Indies, is intolerable beyond all forbearance.
My answer, given yesterday, to the House of Representatives’ request of Papers, will, I expect, set a host of Scribblers to work:—but I shall proceed steadily on, in all the measures which depend on the Executive, to carry the British Treaty into effect.—2
This reminds me of the name of Pickman,3 who, sometime ago you mentioned as a Commissioner;4—but upon enquiry of his countrymen, it was found he was unfit—& Mr Benson declines.—5 Let me pray you to send the enclosed to Colo. Hamilton6—& be assured of the Affecte. Regard of
Go: Washington
His Excelly Jno. Jay
ALS, NNC (EJ: 07261). Endorsed. , 19: 641–42; , 2: 267; HP], 4: 206–7.
1. JJ to GW, 25 Mar. 1796, above.
2. GW to the House of Representatives, 30 Mar. 1796, , 19: 635–38. The address was printed in Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, and the Philadelphia Gazette (both Philadelphia) of 31 Mar., and the Argus, Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser (New York), on 2 Apr., and subsequently in many other newspapers. On the resolution of 24 Mar. from the House of Representatives requesting copies of JJ’s instructions and correspondence regarding the Jay Treaty and GW’s refusal to submit the records of the Jay Treaty negotiations, see , 16: 254–63, 290–301; , 20, 64–69, 103–4, and the editorial note “Aftermath of the Jay Treaty: Responses, Ratification, and Implementation,” above.
3. On JJ’s recommendation of Pickman, see Pickman to JJ, 7 July, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07168), and 27 Nov. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07169); JJ to Pickman, 14 Dec. 1795, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08949); JJ to GW, 14 Dec. 1795, ALS, DLS: Washington (EJ: 10654); Dft, NNC (EJ: 08461); GW to JJ, 21 Dec. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07260); Dft, DLC: Washington (EJ: 10656). Benjamin Pickman Sr. (1740–1819), a Salem merchant who suffered heavy losses by underwriting ships that were captured, was seeking appointment as one of the American commissioners to settle British debts. The name “Pickman” is excised from the texts of the and volumes.
4. The following sentence is excised from the and volumes.
5. JJ had recommended Benson as one of the commissioners to consider British debt claims in his letter to GW of 26 Jan. 1796, above.
6. GW to AH, 31 Mar. 1796, , 19: 640–41; , 20: 103–5.