I have given <your father> two or three papers which contain the substance of what has passed here respecting the federal convention. The connecting thread is all I shall send, except a few minutes of the proceedings of the convention.

After four months session the house... Continue Reading

‘We have been long together. Every possible objection has been combated. With so many different and contending interests it is impossible that any one can obtain every object of their wishes. We have met to make mutual sacrifices for the general good, and we have at last come fully to understand... Continue Reading

DLC:TJP includes extract (almost all the 7th paragraph) in TJ's hand: "The public Mind . . . attention to them." TJ wrote at head that Jay's letter was written "after receiving a Copy of his [Adams's] Defence of the American constit." The complete letter is in MHI:Adams Papers; http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-0243 (Early Access Document); printed in Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay Jay, 4 vols. (New York, 1890-1893), 3:257-259.

In the selection of Characters to fill the important offices of Government in the United States I was naturally led to contemplate the talents and disposition which I knew you to possess and entertain for the Service of your Country.—And without being able to consult your inclination, or to... Continue Reading

You will perceive by the enclosed letter (which was left for you at the Office of Foreign Affairs when I made a journey to the Eastern States) the motives on which I acted with regard to yourself, and the occasion of my explaining them at that early period.

Having now reason to hope from... Continue Reading

I had the pleasure to receive duly your letter dated the 15th. of Decr. last; but I thought proper to delay answering or mentioning the contents of1 it, until after the arrival of Mr. Madison, who I understood had been with you.—He arrived yesterday, and I now take the earliest opportunity of... Continue Reading

The Secretary of state, to whom was referred, by the House of representatives, the letter of John H. Mitchell, reciting certain proposals, for supplying the U.S. with copper coinage, has had the same under consideration, according to instructions, and begs leave to report thereon as follows.... Continue Reading

The Constitution having declared that the President ‘shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors other public ministers and consuls' the President desires my opinion Whether the Senate has a right to negative the grade he may... Continue Reading

The state of Georgia having granted to certain companies of individuals a tract of country within their chartered limits, whereof the Indian right has never yet been acquired, with a proviso in the grant which implies that those individuals may take measures for extinguishing the Indian right... Continue Reading

Sweden. Gottenburgh.

Hamburgh. This is a considerable deposit of our rice for the consumption of the Northern countries of Europe: being very free in it's commerce, it is a good deal frequented by our vessels; and might be worthy of a consulship were a good native... Continue Reading

The accounts of the souldiers of Virginia and North Carolina having been examined by the proper officer of government, the balances due to each individual ascertained, and a list of these balances made out, this list became known to certain persons before the souldiers themselves had information... Continue Reading

The enclosed Letters and documents from Mr. Gouvr. Morris are sent for the perusal of the Secretary of State.

The private letters from the Marquis de la Fayette and Mr. Payne he also gives Mr. Jefferson a sight of; because there are some ideas in the latter which are new, and in the... Continue Reading

Herewith I have the Honor to transmit a Duplicate of my last Letter of the thirteenth of April. Not having heard from the Duke of Leeds I wrote him a Note on the nineteenth, of which a Copy is enclosed marked No. 1. To this I received no Reply, wherefore on the twenty ninth I addressed him again... Continue Reading

It is with the Utmost Concern that I Hear My letters Have Not Come to Hand, and While I lament the Miscarriage, I Hope You do Not impute it to Any fault on My part—In these time of troubles, it Has Become More difficult to Know, or to Reach Opportunities, and How this Will be Carried I leave to... Continue Reading

Our very good Friend the Marquis de la Fayette has entrusted to my care the Key of the Bastile and a drawing, handsomely framed, representing the demolition of that detestible prison, as a present to your Excellency, of which his letter will more particularly inform. I feel myself happy in being... Continue Reading

North Carolina

District Judge

In obedience to the order of the house of representatives of Jan. 15. I have now the honor to inclose you a Report on the subject of measures, weights and coins. The length of time which intervened between the date of the order, and my arrival in this city, prevented my recieving it till the... Continue Reading

The Secretary of state to whom was referred, by the house of representatives, to prepare and report a proper plan or plans for establishing uniformity in the currency, weights and measures of the U.S. in obedience thereto, makes the following report.

Postscript.

It is scarcely necessary to observe that the measures, Weights, and Coins, proposed in the preceding report, will be derived altogether from mechanical operations; viz: A rod, vibrating seconds, divided into five equal parts, one of... Continue Reading

Have you formed an opinion on the subject I submitted to you on Tuesday?—Have you heard whether the Bill1 was disputed in both or either House of Congress on the ground of the Constitution, or whe[ther] this objection (in its full force) was held in petto for the last move, in the present stage... Continue Reading

A Bill having passed the two houses of Congress, and being now before the President, declaring that the seat of the federal government shall be transferred to the Patowmac in the year 1790 [i.e. 1800], that the session of Congress next ensuing the present shall be held at Philadelphia, to which... Continue Reading

This reasoning is inforced by the clause (Art. 2. Sect. 1. <cl. 3>) which says the list of votes of the electors shall be transmitted to the seat of Govt. directed to the President of the Senate who in presence of the Senate and H of Reps. shall open the certificates &c. The... Continue Reading

The bill on the intercourse with foreign nations restrains the President from allowing to Ministers plenipotentiary or to Chargés more than 9000. and 4500. Dollars for their ‘personal services and other expences.’ This definition of the objects for which the allowance is provided, appearing... Continue Reading

The Secretary of state has also consulted, on the subject of the Marocco consulships, with Mr. Barclay, who furnished him with the note of which a copy accompanies this. Considering all circumstances,1 Mr. Barclay is of opinion we had better have only one Consul there, and that he should be the... Continue Reading

Consulates still vacant, Candidates, of what country, and by whom recommend[ed.] 

Port.

Colo. Mc.Gillivray, with a company of British merchants, having hitherto enjoyed a monopoly of the commerce of the Creek nation, with a right of importing their goods, duty-free, and considering these privileges as the principal sources of his power over that nation, is unwilling to enter into... Continue Reading

No such document has been identified.

Heads of consideration on the Navigation of the

Missisipi for Mr. Carmichael.

We have a right to the navigation of the Missisipi

1. by Nature:

2. by Treaty.

It is necessary to us.

Your favor of July 20th. came safely to hand, together with the Memorial of Monsieur de Latombe of the 7th. of June, and the Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts of the 24th. of the same month. On considering the nature of the difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the... Continue Reading

On consideration of the letter of our bankers of Jan. 25. 1790. the Secretary of the Treasury's answer to it, and the draught of powers and instructions to him, I am of opinion, as I always have been, that the purchase of our debt to France by private speculators would have been an operation... Continue Reading

Provided the dispute between Great Britain and Spain should come to the decision of Arms, from a variety of circumstances (individually unimportant and inconclusive, but very much the reverse when compared and combined) there is no doubt in my mind, that New Orleans and the Spanish Posts above... Continue Reading

Opinion on the Questions stated in the President’s note of August 27. 1790: First Opinion of the Secretary of State

I am so deeply impressed with the magnitude of the dangers which will attend our government if Louisiana and the Floridas be added to the British empire,... Continue Reading

On considering more fully the question Whether it will be expedien[t] to Notify to Ld. Dorchester the real object of the expedition preparing by Governor St. Clair, I still think it will not be expedient. For

If the Notification be early, he will get the Indians out of the way, and defeat... Continue Reading

Proceedings to be had under the Residence act.

A territory not exceeding 10. miles square (or, I presume, 100 square miles in any form) to be located by metes and bounds.

3. commissioners to be appointed.

I suppose them not entitled to any salary. [If they live near the... Continue Reading

Note of letters recieved.

Mr. Short. July 16. A private letter in which he says it is true that the Queen of Portugal has appointed Mr. Freire her Minister resident for the U.S.

Ignatius Polyart. Phila. Oct. 5. Announcing his commission as Consul general for the... Continue Reading

A note of subjects, some of which the President may think proper to be mentioned to Congress.

The extreme want of a coin: and necessity of pursuing the establishment of a... Continue Reading

No such document has been identified.

The laws you have already passed for the establishment of a judiciary system have opened the doors of justice to all descriptions of persons. You will consider in your wisdom1 whether improvements in that system may yet be made; and particularly whether an uniform process of execution, on... Continue Reading

The house of delegates of Virginia seem disposed to adventure 2500.£ for the encouragement of this undertaking: but the Senate did not concur. By their returning to the subject however at a subsequent session, and wishing more specific propositions, it is probable they might be induced to concur... Continue Reading

I have now the honour to return you the letter from the President of the Assembly of representatives for the community of Paris to the President and members of Congress, which you had recieved from the President of the Senate with the opinion of that house that it should be opened by you, and... Continue Reading

Mr. President—Gentlemen,

We have learned that Franklin, the man of all nations, is no more—having enlightened them all, and in every species of knowledge, they ought to share in a loss, which is common to them all.

The august Legislators of our nation have hastened to set the... Continue Reading

Herewith you will receive the Powers and Instructions with which Gouvr. Morris Esqr. is invested and his Communications consequent thereof.—You will give them the consideration their importance merit, and report your opinion of the measures proper to be taken thereupon.

The following... Continue Reading

I arrived in this City on Saturday Evening the twenty eighth of March and called the next Morning on the Duke of Leeds Minister for foreign Affairs. He was not at Home, I therefore wrote to him a Note Copy whereof is enclosed as also of his Answer received that Evening. On Monday the twenty... Continue Reading

I do myself the Honor to enclose a Copy of my Letter of the first Instant. On the Night of the fourth there was a hot Press here which has continued ever since, and the declared Object is to compel Spain to atone for an Insult offered to Great Britain by capturing two Vessels in Nootka Sound.... Continue Reading

This Letter will accompany Copies of what I had the Honor to write on the first and twenty ninth of May. I have heard nothing since from the Duke of Leeds. On the tenth of June the King prorogued the Parliament, which was dissolved on the eleventh. The Elections will be compleated in about ten... Continue Reading

I had the Honor to write to you on the third of July of which Letter I now enclose a Copy. I have patiently waited since that Period for the Answer which had been promised on the twenty first of May to my Letter of the thirtieth of April. Had any Circumstance turned up which would in my opinion... Continue Reading

I had the Honor to address you on the 16th. of August, and stated as nearly as I could the Situation of Russia and Sweden. This Situation has produced a very natural Effect. Sweden being unsupported by her Allies, and Russia having Nothing to gain by farther Fighting but a Part of the finland... Continue Reading

The Secretary of state having had under his consideration the Report, made by the Secretary of the government North West of the Ohio, of his proceedings for carrying into effect the resolution of Congress of Aug. 29. 1788. respecting the lands of the inhabitants of Post Vincennes, makes the... Continue Reading