To George Washington from John Jay, 3 March 1779

From John Jay

Philadelphia 3d March 1779

Dear Sir

The opinion that greater advantage results from communicating important Events to the People, in an authentic manner, than by unauthorized Reports, is certainly just, tho often neglected.1

The Intelligence alluded to, is unfortunately of such a Nature, or rather so circumstanced, as to render Secrecy necessary. As Congress with the Consent of the Minister of France, have directed it to be communicated to you, further Remarks will be unnecessary. Doctor Witherspoon, who lately returned to Jersey, promised to do it in a personal Conference.2

A Committee was appointed this morning to prepare an address to the People on the present State of our Affairs. if properly executed, Benefit may be expected from it.3

Two Letters, one of the 3d the other of the 6th Decr from Mr J. Adams, were delivered to Congress this Morning. They mention no Facts of Importance, but strongly express his apprehensions, founded principally on the Kings Speech and the Debates of both Houses on the Subject of it, that great and vigourous military Exertions will be made to reduce us.4 But whatever Attention may be due to this Gentlemans Suggestions, we certainly should remember that to be formidable in the Field, is necessary to be succesful in Negotiation. Preparations should, and doubtless will, be made for both; but when is less certain—Delays being annexed and fastened to modes of Government like our’s.

You will oblige me exceedingly by communicating from Time to Time such Hints and Observations as may lead to Measures of public Utility. I shall always be happy in opportunities of being instrumental in extending to the Councils of America, the Influence of those abilities, to which she is indebted for the Reputation of her arms.

Be pleased to present my best Respects to Mrs Washington, and permit me to assure you that I am with perfect Esteem & personal Regard Your most obedt Servant

John Jay

ALS, DLC:GW. Although Jay dated this letter 3 March, its context suggests that he wrote it on 4 March (see notes 2 and 3).

1. Jay is replying to GW’s private letter to him of 1 March (first letter).

2. The French minister, Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, had appeared before Congress in “a private audience” on 15 Feb. and discussed confidentially the diplomatic situation in Europe, including the possibilities of peace negotiations with Britain and of Spanish entry into the war (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 , 13:184–85, and William Henry Drayton’s Notes of Proceedings, 15 Feb., in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 12:71–73). On 17 March, Congress appointed Gouverneur Morris, John Witherspoon, and William Henry Drayton a committee of three “to prepare and report an account of such of the intelligence received lately from Europe as it may be proper to publish” (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 , 13:323–24; see also John Fell’s Diary, 17 March, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 12:204–5). Such a report appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser (Philadelphia) for 6 April.

3. On 4 March, Congress instructed a committee consisting of Gouverneur Morris, William Henry Drayton, and William Paca “to prepare a recommendation to the several states to set apart a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, and an earnest address to the inhabitants thereof to rouse them to vigorous exertions on the present critical situation of public affairs” (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 , 13:272; see also Jay’s first letter to GW of 24 March, and n.1 to that document).

4. On 4 March, Congress read the letters that John Adams had written to the president of Congress from Passy, France, on 3 and 8 Dec. 1778 and referred them to the committee consisting of Gouverneur Morris, William Henry Drayton, and William Paca (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 , 13:272; the letters are in DNA:PCC, item 84). Adams’s letter to the president of Congress of 6 Dec. 1778 had been read by Congress on 25 Feb. (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 , 13:251). All three letters concern the speech that King George III delivered at the opening of Parliament on 26 Nov. 1778, in which he castigated the French for siding with the Americans, decried conciliatory approaches, and called for continued exertions to defeat the rebellion. The king’s speech had been published as a broadside in Philadelphia on 6 Feb. by John Dunlap, and Drayton had responded to the king at length in a long public letter of 13 Feb. that was published in the Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser for 18 Feb. (see also Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 12:61–69; for the king’s speech and the ensuing debates in Parliament, see Parliamentary History of England description begins The Parliamentary History of England, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803. 36 vols. London, 1806–20. description ends , 19:1277–1376).

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from John Jay, 3 March 1779
Author: Jay, John
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 3 March 1779

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from John Jay, 3 March 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-19-02-0357. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 19, 15 January–7 April 1779, ed. Philander D. Chase and William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009, pp. 341–342.]

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