George Clinton to John Jay, 2 February 1779
Poukeepsie, 2 d . Feb y . 1779.–
Dear Sir
I wrote you on the 10 th . Ultimo in Answer to your Letters prior to that Date; Since which I have had the Pleasure of receiving yours of the 10 th . & 13 th . M r . Yates has not ^ yet ^ favoured me with an Answer to my Letter requesting the Papers & Maps respecting our Boundaries– 1 You may depend upon their being forwarded the Moment they are received.
A Sufficient Number of Members to form a Legislature did not meet until the 27 th . so that they are now only entring upon Business– A Tax and Confiscation Bill have been read in the Assembly 2 and are in some forwardness.
The Gen l . 3 I am informed has announced this to be a Session of Politics & has introduced this Tune in the Senate by moving for a Bill for regulating the Council of Revision, founded on Doubts (which I am persuaded never existed except in his own Mind) whether the Lieutenant Gov r . or President of the Senate administring the Government are by the Constitution Members of the Council of Revision; And whether the Members of the Council are amenable to the Laws of the Land for Mal or Corrupt Conduct in the Council as Gov r . Chancellor &c a . & containing a Clause obliging the Council to publish their Minutes as well past as future– You will readilly perceive that the Intention of this Bill is to hold up the Members of the Council of Revision to the Public in an obnoxious Point of View as having already been guilty of Corrupt Conduct which is concealed from the Public Eye.
The Chancellor has not yet appeared or either of the Judges so that I am deprived of their Aid in warding off a wicked factious Measure which might perhaps be more easilly defeated now than at later Period. 4 I flatter myself however I shall be able to render the Present Attempt abortive.
The People of this State warmly interest themselves in the Controversey between M r . Deane and the Lees and without knowing more than the Gazette informs them pretty generally espouse the Cause of the former.
I send you the Papers continued from the Date of my last. They are scarcely worth your perusal. The Author of the Farmer is unknown to me. The Language as well as Sentiment will discover the Author of the Real Farmer. 5 Your Brothers are here and well. I have mentioned to them Your Desire that they should write you frequently. M rs . Clinton beggs to be rembered to you. I am my D r Sir with the most perfect Regard & Esteem Yours Sincerely
Geo. Clinton
P.S. M r . M c Kesson 6 who is just arrived from Albany informs me that the Maps & Papers wanted are not in M r . Yates Possession or in his (M c Kesson–s) and; he cannot tell me where it is likely to find them:
His Excellency John Jay Esq r .