141To George Washington from John Jay, 19 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
It occurs to me that it may not be perfectly prudent to say that we are never to expect Favors from a nation, for that assertion seems to imply that nations always are , or always ought to be moved only by interested motives. It is true that disinterested Favors are so rare, that on that account they are not to be expected between nations; and if that Sentiment turned on that Reason vizt their...
142To George Washington from John Jay, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
There has long been something about my Heart which urged me to write to You, but I thought it selfish to diminish your few Leisure moments by an additional Correspondent, especially as your Punctuality & Attention would probably have led you to consult my Wishes rather than your own Convenience. The Time I hope will come when the Return of Tranquility will give me an opportunity of conversing...
143To George Washington from John Jay, 9 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the 7th Inst. I had the Honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 22d of October last, with the Copies of the articles of Capitulation, Returns, & of General Greene’s Letter, mentioned in it. I also recd on the same Day, Duplicates of each. The Reasons which induced your Excellency to transmit these Papers, will I am persuaded, appear no less proper to Congress, than the speedy...
144To George Washington from John Jay, 6 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
It is most certain that the Letters alluded to in your Excellency’s of the 18th Octr last (which with sundry post marks was sent to my Brother) have all miscarried. The Sea, or the Enemy, or the unceasing and jealous attention of the french and spanish Governments to american Letters and Papers, may in this as in many other Instances, have been unkind to me. I think the Motto of si recte...
145To George Washington from John Jay, 13 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Geo. Mason Junr who sailed lately from Nantes has a Letter from me to You. I have within these few Days past, read & admired your address to the army and their Proceedings in Consequence of it. Such Instances of Patriotism are rare, and america must find it difficult to express in adequate Terms, the Gratitude she owes to both. Such a Degree of Glory, so virtuously acquired, and so decently...