From John Jay to the Secretary of Congress (Charles Thomson), 18 November 1785

To the Secretary of Congress (Charles Thomson)

Office for foreign Affairs 18th. Novemr. 1785

Dear Sir

The Season when the Legislatures usually meet to do Business is at Hand. It is highly probable that Congress will find it expedient to call their Attention to certain Objects of general Concern and particularly to some which the present State of our foreign Affairs present. The late Advices I have received from Europe demand the attentive Consideration of Congress, and in my Opinion will give Occasion to Recommendations to the States and other Measures which should not be delayed.

Considering the Time unavoidably consumed by deliberative Bodies in maturing their Acts, it is to be regretted that a sufficient Number of States to proceed on every Kind of Business within the Powers of Congress are not now represented—1 Communications to the States for the Purpose of accelerating their Representation in Congress fall more properly within your Department than in mine. I therefore think it my Duty to give you these Hints, that your Letters to the states on that Subject may impress them more strongly with the Necessity of their providing for their being speedily, fully and constantly represented in Congress.—2 With great and sincere Esteem and Regard I am Dear Sir Your most obt. Servt.

John Jay

Charles Thomson Esqr.

LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 2: 53–54 (EJ: 161). Endorsed by clerk: “… of the necessity of urging a speedy representation in Congress.” Dft, NNC (EJ: 5784); LbkCs, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 1: 508–9 (EJ: 1805); DNA: PCC, item 18B, 12; Cs enclosed in CT’s circular to the states, 18 Nov. 1785, De-Ar (EJ: 5298), ICHi (EJ: 3507), MWA (EJ: 2621), NjTSA (EJ: 4394), RPB (EJ: 5267); PHarH.

1. The last Congressional session to be held prior to this date was Friday, 4 Nov., with no quorums reported for 7–12, 14–19, 21–22 Nov., with but five states represented—Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and South Carolina—and one delegate from Georgia. Congress met again on 23–25 Nov., 28 Nov.–2 Dec., 7 Dec., and 27–30 Dec., with no quorums reported for 5–6, 7–9, 12–17, 19–24, 26 Dec. JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 29: 870–912.

2. CT’s circular, dated 18 Nov. 1785, urging state representation “as speedily as possible,” enclosed JJ’s letter. LbkC, DNA: PCC, item 18B, 11–12; LMCC, description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1921–36) description ends 8: 256; LDC, description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends 23: 19–20. Although the circular in CT’s letter book was addressed only to the then unrepresented states, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia, extant copies indicate it was sent to most or all of the states, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

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Source Project: Jay Papers
Title: From John Jay to the Secretary of Congress (Charles Thomson), 18 November 1785
Author: Jay, John
Recipients: Secretary of Congress
Thomson, Charles
Date: 18 November 1785

Reference

Cite as: “From John Jay to the Secretary of Congress (Charles Thomson), 18 November 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0104. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 4, 1785–1788, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015, pp. 229–230.]