George Washington Papers

To George Washington from John Jay, 27 January 1779

From John Jay

Philadelphia 27th Jany 1779

Sir,

Your Excellencys Letter, of this day, was this morning communicated to Congress, & immediately taken into consideration—By the enclosed copy of an Act, on the Subject of Captain Stoddard’s request, You will perceive that it is granted.1

Your Excellency’s Recommendation respecting Provision for the speedy recruiting the Army is referred to the Treasury.2

The Congress have, by Acts of the 22nd & 27th Inst:, (copies of which are also enclosed) directed the Marquis De Bretigny to repair to Count D’Estaing—They have granted him a Commission of Lieutenant in the Service of the United States, and recommended him to your particular Notice.3

Should Your Excellency have any dispatches for the Count, I will, with pleasure, place them under the same cover with my own—The Marquis will not sail to morrow. I have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellencys most Obedt Servt

John Jay

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 14.

1The enclosed copy of Congress’s act of this date granting Capt. Josiah Stoddard a furlough to go to France for his health is in DLC:GW (see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:117). Stoddard did not go to France. He died at Cambridge, Mass., on 24 Aug. (see American Journal, and General Advertiser [Boston], 9 Sept. 1779).

2See JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:117.

3The enclosed copies of these two acts are a single sheet of paper in DLC:GW. In the act of 22 Jan., Congress resolved that “the marine com[mitt]ee be directed forthwith to fit out two dispatch boats to carry the dispatches of Congress to the count d’Estaing and that the Marquis de Brétign[e]y be requested to take charge of one of those dispatches to the count.” The act of 27 Jan. concerns Brétigney’s commission and his recommendation to GW’s notice (see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:102–3, 117–18). Brétigney did not carry dispatches to d’Estaing. He was sent instead to South Carolina during the spring of 1779 to command a French volunteer corps there (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:443–44).

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