To George Washington from John Jay, 24 March 1779

From John Jay

Philadelphia 24th March 1779

Sir

I have the Honor of acknowledging the Receipt of your Excellency’s favor of the 20th Inst., with the Memorial enclosed with it—On the 15th I had the Honor of transmitting to You by Major Talmage an Act of Congress of that day for the releif of such of the Troops of the United States as are not included in the Quotas assessed on the different States—This Act I hope has reached your Excellency & will remove the Grievance complained of by the Memorialists.

Herewith enclosed are copies of two Acts of Congress—one of the 20th Inst., recommending to the several States to appoint the first Thursday in May next to be a day of Fasting, Humiliation and prayer1—The other of the 23rd Inst., is “an Ordinance for regulating the Cloathing Department for the Armies of the United States”2—Congress have directed the Board of War to report the Salaries proper to be allowed the Officers of this Department—& when ascertained shall be immediately transmitted. I have the Honor to be &ca.

LB, DNA:PCC, item 14. GW replied to this letter on 2 April.

1. For this resolution, which was printed as a broadside, see Joseph Reed to GW, 29 March, n.6 (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 , 13:342–44, and the facsimile 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 , 12:212). In the general orders for 12 April, GW directed the Continental army to observe Thursday, 6 May, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer.

2. A printed copy of this resolution 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 , 13:353–60). These regulations covered the issuing of clothing, but not the purchasing of it (see the Board of War to GW, 9 April, DLC:GW).

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from John Jay, 24 March 1779
Author: Jay, John
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 24 March 1779

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from John Jay, 24 March 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-19-02-0579. [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, p. 597.]

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