John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 October 1778
Poughkeepsie 21 st . October 1778.–
Dear Morris
Your favors of the 8 th ., 22 d & 27 th . of September and last of all, of the 26 th . Aug st . by Doct r . M c Knight are come to hand. 1
While the far greater part of mankind derive pleasure from discord between friends, you derive credit from feeling and acting differently. What your information may have been, or from whom received I cannot conjecture. It was not entirely well or ill founded. One of the last bills passed by the legislature last spring was for confirming all the proceedings of the pretended and self-constituted Council of safety, 2 and that too in the gross, without even having read them. On the bills coming to the Council of revision, they applied to the Assembly for their proceedings, and an order passed for their being furnished with them. The bill was then committed to the Chancellor. The Legislature adjourned for more than ten days; and the Council, you know, were either to object the first day of the succeeding meeting, or the bill become a law. The members of this Council of safety, with their adherents, had labored to obtain from the Legislature an oblique recognition of their authority, and succeeded. The Council of revision objected, and the people were with them. Hence the bill in question became in many respects important. The Legislature met; the Chancellor and the other members of the council, except myself, were absent. The bill became a law and its advocates triumphed. 3 I confess I was chagrined and plainly blamed our friend. 4 Nor did I pay that respect to his excuses which perhaps prudence directed; to me they appeared very triffling indeed. But from this affair I did not apprehend a breach or coolness between us. Neither his nor my conduct have to my knowledge given any such indications. I certainly disapprove of his inattention, or to speak more plainly, of his laziness–and that lazy he is too many know and all his friends regret. but though this trouble may sometimes ruffle my temper, it will never destroy my friendship for him. Connections of this kind should neither be hastily formed nor dissolved.
I am glad your letters of the 8 th . ult. was a little enigmatical and not very important. it had been opened by splitting the wafer with a knife not more than half of it had again joined.
Your late resolution for saving time will not save as much as was spent in the debate. I am sure the plan is not good. It was tried in 74 or 5, but soon relinquished. The scarcity or high price of wine &c. may indeed render it less improper now than formerly
Duane, Lewis, yourself, Schuyler and Floyd, are our delegates for the year ensuing. 5 Scot pushed hard, but, as usual, in vain.– A resolution declaring a special occasion to exist has passed the assembly and will probably pass the senate.
The late Council of appointment have made Scot Brigadier General of the militia of the city and county of N York. The present council are Plat Lawrence Ten Broeck of the Manor of Livingston–& [Russell] of the Eastern District. 6
Your enemies talk much of your Tory connections at Philadelphia– 7 Take care– Some people of importance in your city apprehend ill consequences to yourself as well as the State from it, and wish you to be more circumspect. They have informed me of this in a friendly manner, that I might hint it to you. Do not unnecessarily expose yourself to calumny and perhaps indignity. I have heard that Hazard 8 has lately spoken freely about it to some people here. Adieu. I am sincerely yours &c.
John Jay