51To George Washington from John Jay, 19 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed Your Excellency will receive a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 11th Inst. making further Provision for Officers in the Quarter Master’s Department. I have the honor to be With the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. The enclosed copy of a resolution of 11 May is in DLC:GW ; see also JCC Worthington Chauncey...
52To George Washington from John Jay, 22 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed, Copies of three Letters respecting the Enemy’s Operations in Virginia—two from his Excellency Governor Henry of the 11th & 12th Inst.—& the other from Thompson Mason Esquire of the 17th Inst. Last Night I received a Letter from James Calhoun enclosing a Virginia Gazette of the 15th Inst., and a deposition of Joseph White taken the...
53To George Washington from John Jay, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Copies of three Acts of Congress are herewith enclosed—One of the 22nd Inst., respects the Exchange of Citizens captivated by the Indians—Another of the 22nd provides that the Officers, exchanged, & not continued in Service, be considered as supernumerary Officers—The third is of the 24th Inst., and directs a copy of a Memorial from Colonel Lewis Debois to be transmitted to your Excellency. I...
54To George Washington from John Jay, 4 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of transmitting herewith enclosed a Copy of an act of Congress of the 3d Inst. authorizing your Excellency to make such and so many parole Exchanges as you may judge expedient. various Reports respecting the Enemy’s movements in West Chester County have lately reached us, but we know not what Degree of Credit is due to them. The Report of a victory near Charlstown still...
55To George Washington from John Jay, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 3d Inst. enclosing three York Papers was this moment delivered to me. The one written on the Morning of that Day is not yet arrived. As it contains Intelligence probably important, I am anxious to recieve it. I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellencys obedt Servant LS , DLC:GW . The enclosed New York newspapers have not been...
56To George Washington from John Jay, 7 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, I have been honored with two Letters from your Excellency of the third Inst., with the papers they covered. Herewith enclosed are two Acts of Congress of the 5th Inst., One ascertaining the Rank of Coll DuBois, the other Revoking the Commission of Major Powell, & assigning a Rule for settling the rank of the other Officers of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. The Extract of a...
57To George Washington from John Jay, 15 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Lieutenant Smith, herewith enclosed, contains a State of his case—Congress have referred it to your Excellency. No Express from South Carolina has as yet arrived. I have the honor to be With the greatest Respect And Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. The enclosure was a petition from Lt. James Smith to “His Excellency the...
58To George Washington from John Jay, 20 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 14th Inst. Herewith enclosed is a Copy of a Letter I lately received from Major General Philips, respecting the exchange of Capt: Fetherston of the Convention Troops, with a Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the 18th Inst. on that Subject. Your Excellency’s Orders will find this Gentleman at Mount-Holly. The Southern Express is not yet...
59To George Washington from John Jay, 24 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed Your Excellency will receive a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 22nd Instant, on the Subject of Plundering the Inhabitants of Places in Possession of the Enemy. I have the honor to be With the greatest Respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant P.S: No Express yet from the Southward. LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. The enclosure, a copy of a resolution...
60To George Washington from John Jay, 30 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 23rd Inst., with the papers referred to therein, came duly to hand, & have been communicated to Congress. Herewith I have the honor to transmit a copy of a Letter of the 15th Inst., from Doctor Morgan to Congress, charging Dr Shippen with Mal-practice in Office, and an Act of Congress directing such Proceedings to be had thereon as that the charges alluded to in...
61To George Washington from John Jay, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 27th Ult. & 1st Inst. They were committed. Peter Wickoff Esqr. has been appointed Cloathier General, and will I hope soon enter on the Execution of that Office. Herewith enclosed is a Copy of a Letter from Governor Rutledge to the Delegates of South Carolina of the 9th Ult.—of one from General Lincoln to Congress of the 4th Ult. —And of...
62To George Washington from John Jay, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will receive herewith enclosed Copies of two Letters this moment read in Congress. The Intelligence they communicate being important is transmitted by Express. I have the Honor to be With the greatest Respect Your Excys most Obedt Servt N.B. The same verbatim to Governor Trumbull. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. The enclosures were copies of letters from Arthur Lee to “the Chairman of the...
63To George Washington from John Jay, 15 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 9th Inst. with the papers referred to in it—They were immediately committed. In a late letter I informed Your Excellency that Peter Wikoff Esqr. had been appointed Cloathier-General; That Gentleman not approving the terms of the appointment has declined it, & Lieut. Colonel Percifer Frazer was yesterday elected. Your Excellency will...
64To George Washington from John Jay, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s Favors of the 30th Ulto by Coll Morgan, and of the 13th & 16th Inst: with the several papers to which they refer. General Waynes Coup de main occasions as much Joy, as the barbarous conflagrations of the Enemy excite Indignation—The former I hope will lead to further successes, the latter to retaliation and Resentments favorable to our Independence. A...
65To George Washington from John Jay, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Success of the Enterprize against stony Point was splendid and important—It has added another Laurel to your Wreath, and given a grateful Country a fresh opportunity of presenting you their Thanks for the Vigilance wisdom and magnanimity, with which their Arms have been conducted. I have now the Honor of conveying them expressed in the enclosed Act of Congress. Prudence forbids me to...
66To George Washington from John Jay, 29 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s favors of the 20th & 21st Inst., with the several papers referred to in the latter. Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed a copy of a Letter from the President of the Executive Council of this State containing Intelligence relative to the Reinforcements expected by the Enemy — a copy of a Letter from Major General Sullivan of the 21st Inst.,...
67To George Washington from John Jay, 6 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Favors of the 29th July & 2nd Inst. have been delivered to me —The Papers, herewith enclosed, are a copy of the Act of the 8th of March mentioned in Your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th Ulto and a Report of the Board of War recommending that Captain Wilkie’s Company of Coll Spencer’s Regiment be annexed to the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment—Congress desire your Excellency’s Opinion on the...
68To George Washington from John Jay, 8 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed is a copy of a Letter from Coll Simmes respecting leave of Absence —Congress refer This Request to Your Excellency —The Colonel will be The Bearer of this Letter, & will more fully explain the reason of his applying to Congress in the first Instance. I have the honor to be With great Respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. Jay also...
69To George Washington from John Jay, 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed your Excellency will recieve Extracts from a Letter which arrived this Morning from Mr Bingham. The Intelligence contained in them is important as well as agreable —I have the Honor to be with perfect Esteem & Regard Your Excellencys most obedt Servt ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. At this time William Bingham was serving as the Continental agent to Martinique. The...
70To George Washington from John Jay, 18 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since the date of my last, I have been honored with Your Excellency’s Favors of the 5: 5: 6: & 11th Inst., with the several papers mentioned in them. I have now the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency a copy of an Act of Congress of the 16th Inst., paying the Soldiers for deficiencies in cloathing —and also a Copy of a Circular Letter from Congress to the several States, which I am happy...
71To George Washington from John Jay, 20 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed Your Excellency will receive a copy of three Acts of Congress, of the 17, 18, & 19th Inst. The two first respect a Provision for the Army—The latter for the Commissary General of Prisoners. Congress have under Consideration further Resolutions on this Subject, calculated to do equal Justice to the whole Army, & remove every cause of complaint in their power to remedy. I have...
72To George Washington from John Jay, 24 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s Favors of the 15th, 16, & 17th Inst—The first is referred to a special Committee—The second to the Board of War—& the third to the Treasury. It is the Sense of Congress that your Excellency “refuse your Assent to the Request of Major General Philips that two Officers of the Convention Troops be allowed to go into Canada.” Congress came to some other...
73To George Washington from John Jay, 25 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of recieving your Favor of the 16th Instant. Britain refused the mediation of Spain at a Time when their Spirits were elated by their Successes in the west Indies, and the southern States; and by the accounts they recieved of Discord in Congress, Discontent among the People, and a Prospect of the Evils with which we were threatned by the Depreciation of our Currency....
74To George Washington from John Jay, 26 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Herewith enclosed Your Excellency will receive a copy of a Letter from Major General Philips of the 8th Inst., and of other Papers enclosed with it, marked No: 1, 2, 3 & 4, which together with the Letter are referred to Your Excellency that such Order may be taken on the several Matters mentioned in them as You may think proper. The sense which Congress entertain of the merit of Major Noirmont...
75To George Washington from John Jay, 29 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s Favors of the 21, 23, 23rd Instant, and the several papers referred to in them. The enclosed copy of an Act of Congress of the 27th Inst., will communicate to your Excellency the sense of Congress relative to your Plan for conducting, & measures for executing the Western Expedition. I have the Honor to be With the greatest Respect and Esteem Your...
76To George Washington from John Jay, 30 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency an Account of the Enemy’s force with Admiral Arbuthnot, from Arthur Lee Esqr. And am with the highest & Esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servant. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. Congress read two letters from Arthur Lee, both dated 26 April, on this date (see JCC, Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress,...
77To George Washington from John Jay, 31 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed account of the Reinforcement with admiral arbuthnot is copied from one recd by Mr Jos. Wharton from his Friend in Paris. The Confidence Mr Wharton has in his Correspondent induces him to think this account may be relied upon. I am Dear Sir: with perfect Regard your most obt Servant P.S. Mr Wharton would not chuse that this Line of Intelligence should be generally known. ALS ,...
78To George Washington from John Jay, 15 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Congress have by a Resolution of which the enclosed is a copy confirmed the Arrangement of the Officers of the Massachusetts-line, & directed Commissions for them to be issued accordingly. I have the Honor to be &ca. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. In his reply to this letter, GW indicated that Jay also enclosed a printed copy of a Congressional circular letter (see GW to Jay, 25 Sept. ). The...
79To George Washington from John Jay, 22 Sept. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from John Jay, 22 Sept. 1779. On 30 Sept., GW wrote Samuel Huntington: “I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 22d and 23d instants.”
80To George Washington from John Jay, 23 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the Pleasure of recg your Exys Favors of the 14 and 18 Inst. with the Papers mentiond in them. The enclosed, is a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 22d Inst. directing the North Carolina Troop to proceed by Land to South Carolina. With perfect Respect & Esteem I have the Honor to be your Exys most obt Servt. LB , DNA:PCC , item 14. A note on the address line next to GW’s name reads,...
81To George Washington from John Jay, 26 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Extract of a Letter of the 26th of Septr 1779 from His Excellency, the President of Congress—to General Washington [”]Sir I have the pleasure of transmitting to your Excellency copies of two Letters from the French Consul in South Carolina to Monsr Gerard, informing him of the arrival of Count D’Estaing on that coast. [”]As Congress have reason to believe, that the Armament under the command...
82To George Washington from John Jay, 14 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your very kind Letter of the 7 instant gave me all that Pleasure, which accompanies marks of cordial Esteem & attachmt from those whose Commendation is Praise and whose Friendship is discriminate. Among the Objects of my Mission are some, which however just, will not be easily attain’d and therefore its Success will be precarious & probably partial. The only Satisfaction I promise myself from...
83VII: James Jay’s Copy of His Letter to the Governors of North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, c.20 … (Washington Papers)
If the Plan be adopted, it will give us an opportunity of getting over, with the other Setlers, a number of good manufacturers in any branch of manufactury we please: and of course it will enable us to introduce and establish such manufacturies among us, as the circumstances of our Country will admit of doing with success and advantage. It is an obvious Truth, that a Nation, in order to be...
84To George Washington from John Jay, 25 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of an Act of Congress of the 19th Instant, of which a Copy is herewith enclosed, I have desired Mr Taylor, one of the Clerks of this Office, to wait upon your Excellency, and agreeable to your Letter of the 5th April last to Mr Thomson, to take Copies of the papers mentioned in it, and in the enclosed Act of Congress. With the best and most sincere Wishes for your Health and...
85To George Washington from John Jay, 2 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
at & for some time after the arrival of your kind and friendly Letter by mr Taylor, official Business obliged me to postpone writing the Letters due to my private Correspondents. In Decr a young Man under the Influence of more important advisors, made an attack in the Papers, which rendered the Publication of my Correspondence with him expedient. The first Edition being replete with Errors of...
86To George Washington from John Jay, 16 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
Under the same cover with my Letter to You of 2 Instant, I transmitted a Pamphlet, in which I have since remarked the Errors mentioned in the inclosed printed Paper. altho’ you have wisely retired from public Employments, and calmly view from the Temple of Fame, the various Exertions of the Sovereignty and Independence which Providence has enabled You to be so greatly & gloriously instrumental...
87To George Washington from John Jay, 27 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
Being deputed by the Church Convention of New York, to attend a general one convened here, I brought with me your obliging Letter of the 18 ult. that I might devote the first Leisure Hour to the Pleasure of answering it. Congress having freed the Papers of which the enclosed are Copies from Injunctions of Secrecy, and permitted the Delegates to make and send Extracts from them to their...
88To George Washington from John Jay, 7 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
They who regard the public good with more Attention & Attachment than they do mere personal concerns, must feel and confess the Force of such Sentiments as are expressed in your Letter to me by Col. Humphreys last Fall. The situation of our Affairs calls not only for Reflection and Prudence but for Exertion. What is to be done? is a common Question, but it is a Question not easy to answer....
89To George Washington from John Jay, 25 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning honored with your Excellency’s Favor of the 22d Inst: & immediately delivered the Letter it enclosed to Commodore Jones, who being detained by Business, did not go in the french Packet, which sailed Yesterday. Permit me to hint, whether it would not be wise & seasonable to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national...
90To George Washington from John Jay, 6 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your Letter of the 2d Inst., inclosing one for Commodore Jones, which was immediately conveyed to him. New York entertained Hopes of seeing you here, and wishd for such an occasion of giving you fresh Proofs of Esteem & attachment, for your consenting to take a Seat in the Convention has given your Country fresh Reasons for both. You will oblige me by putting it in...
91To George Washington from John Jay, 3 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
an English Gentleman having been so obliging as to procure for me some Rhubard Seed which, from his account of it, there is Reason to believe is of the best kind, I take the Liberty of sending you a little Parcel of it—If the seed prove good you will soon be able to determine whether it will flourish in your climate, & in what Soil & Situation best. It is a prevailing and I believe a just...
92To George Washington from John Jay, 20 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 3d Ult. gave me great Pleasure, and I thank you for the friendly offers contained in it. Some Gentlemen here and in Jersey have it in Contemplation to form a Society to promote the Breeding of good Horses and mules—in that Case we will endeavour to introduce some Jennies, of which we have none at present, and send them to your Jack. The Constitution still continues to cause...
93To George Washington from John Jay, 24 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
It occurs to me that you would probably be glad to know when and in what manner the Letters you sent to me to be forwarded were sent on. The large Packet for the Marqs de la Fayette was committed to the Care of the french minister, who was so obliging as to take Charge of it. Those for Count de Rochambeau, Countess d’Essarts, Gen: Duplessis, Mesdames Van Winter Van Merken &c: Monsr de Bourden,...
94To George Washington from John Jay, 29 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was two Days ago favored with yours of the 15th Instant. it gives me pleasure to find that the Probability of Virginias adopting the proposed Constitution rather encreases—such an Event would undoubtedly disarm the opposition. It appears by recent advices from Charleston that we may count on South Carolina, and the New Hampshire Delegates assure me that their State will come into the...
95To George Washington from John Jay, June 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 8 Inst. found me at this Place—I thank you for the interesting Circumstances mentioned in it. The Complection of our Convention is such as was expected. They have hitherto proceeded with Temper & moderation, but there is no Reason to think that either Party has made much Impression on the other. The Leaders in opposition seem to have more extensive views than their...
96To George Washington from John Jay, 4–8 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you my dear Sir! on the adoption of the constitution by Virginia. That Event has disappointed the Expectations of opposition here, which nevertheless continues pertinacious. The unanimity of the southern District, and their apparent Determination to continue under the wings of the union, operates powerfully on the minds of the opposite Party. The constitution constantly gains...
97To George Washington from John Jay, 17 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
Since my arrival here I have written you two or three hasty letters—being constantly involved in Business or Company from wh. it would not be here very practicable or perhaps prudent to retreat, I have been able to write but very little—The Convention this moment adjourned and I am writing in their Chamber—a Question being about to be put on the mode of adoption which you have seen, we moved...
98To George Washington from John Jay, 23 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you a few Days ago and inclosed a copy of certain Propositions, or mode of adoption—great objections to it being urged it was withdrawn for the present —The Convention proceeded to Day in debating on the Plan of conditional amendment. some of the anti Party moved for striking out the words on Condition and substituting the words in full confidence —it was carried 31 to 29 in the...
99To George Washington from John Jay, 21 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Ideas relative to the Diffusion of Intelligence and useful Information by means of news Papers and the Press, appear to me exceedingly just; nor do I percieve any good Objection to preferring the Stages to Post Riders for the Transportation of the Mail, on the contrary I think the Ballance of Advantages is clearly in favor of the former. How far it was the Duty of the Post office to...
100To George Washington from John Jay, 1 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
Reflecting that our wishes to see you here, would probably soon be gratified, it occurred to me that if you inclined to have of the Spanish Breed of Horses, it would be but little Trouble for one of your Servants to bring up some mares to put to my Horse. I take the Liberty therefore of mentioning this Circumstance—the mares on arriving here, shall be immediately sent to my Farm, where proper...