John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 27 March 1776

Philadelphia 27 March 1776

Dear Sir

As M r . Willet leaves this Place in the Morning, I shall commit these few Lines to his Care, and tho they contain nothing important will nevertheless tend to manifest my constant Attention to the Province as well as to the Person for whom they are designed. I am sorry no Provision has been made for M r Willet, from every thing I can learn, he has Merit, and I hope when we shall be informed of the Arrangement. in Canada, that a Place will be found for him. 1

How do your People like the Design of privateering–€”In the year 1757 they had thirty nine Sail & no less than 4060 Men employed in that Business–€”I feel so much for the Honor of our calumniated Colony, that it would give me Pleasure to see them distinguished by vigorous Exertion–€”Indeed had it not been for the Slanders of some of our own Citizens Fame would have done us Justice–€”however she has been detected in so many dirty Misrepresentations to vilify New York that I can assure you the Province stands well with the Congress & has at least its due Weight–€”It gives me great Satisfaction that your military Appointment will probably admit of your continuing in the City, where I cant but think your Presence extremely necessary–€”and the more so as many among you observe no medium, and are either all Flame or all Frost.

It is said Boyd has not fulfilled his Contract and has only delivered six or seven Musquets. I suspect all is not right in this Business, and that there are more Reasons for the Delay than ostensible ones. 2 If so he ought to feel the Indignation of the Public–€”

That no Salt Petre is making in the Province is a sad Tale–€”I wish we could contradict it–€”A Work at public Expence should be erected, if it were only for the Honor of the Colony–€” 3 I hear you have emitted more Money–€” 4 Will you never think of Taxes? The Ice must be broken, the sooner it is begun & more insensibly performed the better. I Tremble for this Delay–€”There is much Money in the Province, the Produce of the Country retains its Price & a moderate Tax would be born without Murmur especially & its Payment can be enforced and the Necessity obvious

The Tories at Boston are left to the Mercy of their incensed Countrymen. 5 I hope our wise ones will draw proper Inferences from this Circumstance, and not seek for Protection from those who never think of their Friends longer that Interest may dictate Attention–€”M r . Willet is waiting Adieu I am y r F d .

John Jay

Coll M c Dougall