John Jay Papers

To John Jay from Nathaniel Gorham, 29 September 1789

From Nathaniel Gorham

Albany Sepr 29 1789

Sir

Having been absent from Boston I was not acquainted with the Letter you wrote Governor Hancock; untill near a Week after it had been recd1 The Governor & Council being of opinion that all the rights of Government in this case were transferred to Mr. Phelps & myself in consequence of our purchas—and that they should take no step relative to the business— I immediately set of[f] for Rutland to engage (if possible) Colonel Rufus Putnam2 ^as our Agent^ a very able Surveyor and a Man of strict integrity & honor—but his engagements to the Ohio company are such as rendered it impossible for him to undertake the business, I have applied to some others who allso decline on account of the lateness of the Season & the shortness of the time— upon my arrival here I proposed the undertaking to Mr. DWitt but the avocations of his Office are such as to confine him here— I shall send a special Messenger to Mr. Phelps who is probably now in the Genese Country3 but I am not exactly informed at what time he proposes to leave the Country, or what rout he will take in his return, I am apprehensive the Messenger may not find ^him^—if so it will be impossible for us to have an Agent attending at the time of running this Line—which is a thing I shall very much regret as it is my most earnest wish to have it done in such manner as to prevent all future dispute—

I will thank you Sir to inform the President of the steps I have taken & propose to take— and remain with great esteam and respect Sir Your most Humble Servt

Nathaniel Gorham

Hone. John Jay Esquire

ALS, DNA: PCC, item 78, 10: 605–6 (EJ: 05147). Endorsed: “… Recd. 7 Octr. 1789, ansd. same Day.” LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 4: 94.

2Rufus Putnam (1738–1824) of Massachusetts was an engineer and surveyor. Simon De Witt was surveyor general of New York.

3The land purchased by Gorham and Phelps in western New York was known as the Genesee Country.

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