John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 21 March 1776
[[Philadelphia], 21 March 1776]
D r . Sir
I have at Length procured a Pike for you which will be sent by the Stage. 1 Your fitting out an armed Vessel on the Colony–account does you Honor. I am at Liberty to inform you that the Congress have passed a Vote for privateering, by which I hope the Losses of some of our Friends will be repaired. 2 It is expected that vigorous measures will be taken in preventing such as may be inimical to the Cause from injuring its Friends. Future Subscriptions to associations must be ridiculous and was inserted in the Resolve of Congress merely to accommodate it to those Colonies who have hitherto had no associations among them–Fear & motives of Interest & Convenience will would doubtless induce many to Sign it who are our Enemies in their Hearts & whose uniform Conduct has hitherto been very suspicious if not unfriendly– 3
This Subject recalls to my Mind a little Report which I am told some Tories on long Island were pleased to form and propagate respecting me, vizt. That I should have said they were misrepresented to Congress–This Is not true, & to be ranked with many other False Reports which there is Reason to believe originated with that order of Men–
Would it not be well to remove such as are notoriously dissaffected to Places where their Arts and Influence will do us no Harm–Where are your Accounts?
It is suspected that certain People on Staten Island daily afford Supplies to the Enemy! Ought not the watering Place 4 to be guarded and would not the Troops which might be designed for that Purpose be useful in other Respects. I should think your Army sufficiently numerous to admit of such a Detachment.
I hope you are careful of provincial Powder. The Continent are able to supply a Sufficiency of that article for continental Purposes. This Colony [Pennsylvania] takes Care to keep their own Stock good–& I think act wisely. I wish your Convention would pass a Place Bill, & direct their Delegates to promote such a Measure here–one or two other Colonies have done it, and it would redound much to your Honor to patronize such a Measure. 5 Adieu for the present. I am your Friend
John Jay