From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778
To Gouverneur Morris
Albany Ap. 29. 1778
Dr. Morris
My last to you was written abt a Week ago—1 I am now engaged in the most disagreable part of my Duty—trying Criminals—2 They multiply exceedingly. Robberies become Frequent. The Woods afford them Shelter & the Tories Food. Punishments must of Course become certain, & Mercy dormant—a harsh System repugnant to my Feelings, but nevertheless necessary. In such Circumstances Lenity would be Cruelty, & Severity is found on the Side of Humanity.
The Influence of Lord Norths Conciliatory Plan is happily counterbalanced by the Intelligence from France, & will There was danger of its creating Division A Desire of Peace is natural to an harrassed People & the Mass of Mankind prefer present Ease to the arduous Exertions often necessary to ensure permanent Tranquility.
What the french Treaty may be I know not. If Britain wd. acknowledge our Independence & enter into a liberal Alliance with us, I shd. prefer a Connection with her, to any ^League with any^ Power on Earth. Whether those Objects be attainable Experience only can determine. I suspect the Comrs will have Instructions to exceed their Powers if necessary.3 Peace at all Events is in my opinion the Wish of the Minister. If they will consent to ^and actually^ withdraw their Armies and give us a two Years Truce, I would boast ^I hope the present favorable aspect of our Affairs will neither make us^ arrogant or careless— Moderation in Prosperity marks great Minds & denotes a generous People— The ^Your^ game is now in a delicate Situation & the least bad Play may ruin it— I ^view a Return to the Domination of Britain with Horror, &^ would risque all for Independence but that Point ceded, I would give them advantageous commercial Terms The Destruction of old England would hurt me. I wish it well, it afforded my Ancestors an Assylum from Persecution.
Our Parties ^here^ are still in a Ferment, I hope it will be the Means of purging off much Scum & Dross. I cant be particular— This Letter may never reach You
I expect in a few Days to see Gen. Schuyler and my Importunities shall not be wanting to urge him to join you without Delay— The People grow more reconciled to him
The military Departments here I believe are well managed The Commissary deserves Credit— Handsome Things are said of the Quarter Master—and there is one [illegible] at the Head of the Artillery who appears to me to have much Merit—4 The Park, Elaboratory, and Stores are in high Order— There is the appearance of Regularity ^Care^ and Attention in all the public Works— As to the Hospital I can say little not being as yet well informed. Conway ^is pleased with Schuyler &^ manages the Vermont Troop properly, but of this say nothing. I fancy he does not well understand the Views of his Patron:5 neither of them ought to know this.
The Clothier General once the Duke of Boltons Butler is an anti Washington— An ignorant Butcher is issuing Commissary—6 Let me again hint to you the Propriety of restraining the Stafffrom Trade— Besides general Reasons there are particular ones— Many good Cannon remain yet at Ticonderogah—strange Neglect— Remember Vermont— Why do the marine Com[mitte]e keep Tudor in Pay, I cant hear that he does anything for it7 I am and will be your Friend
John Jay
Dft, NNC (EJ: 8331). Endorsed.
1. Letter not located.
2. JJ was then sitting at a court of oyer and terminer held at Albany.
3. On 16 Mar., Parliament authorized the Carlisle Peace Commission to negotiate with Congress. The members of the commission were William Eden, George Johnstone, and the Howe brothers. The last two were already in America in their military capacities.
4. The deputy commissary general of purchases serving the northern army was Jacob Cuyler, who held the post from June 1777 to July 1782. Hugh Hughes (d. 1804) was assistant quartermaster for New York from May 1776 to December 1781, while Morgan Lewis was deputy quartermaster for the northern army. Ebenezer Stevens of Rhode Island, in command of the artillery of the northern army, was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel on 30 Apr. 1778 “in consideration of his services and the strict attention with which he discharged his duty as commanding officer of artillery in the northern department during two campaigns.” , 10: 410.
5. Conway’s “patron” was General Horatio Gates.
6. The references are probably not to the clothier general of the Continental army, James Mease of Pennsylvania, or to Colonel Charles Stewart of New Jersey, who served the army as commissary of issues from 18 June 1777 to 24 July 1782, but to their deputies for the Northern Department, George Measam and James Blicker. On the overall problems of the Commissary, Clothing, and Quartermaster departments and the reorganization plans adopted in 1778, see , esp. 172, 179–81, 293–95.
7. Probably Samuel Tudor, one of the superintendents for constructing armed vessels in New York and for making a chain across the Hudson River. See “Defending the Hudson” (editorial note) on pp. 273–74.