John Jay to James Duane, 14 October 1779

Ph a . 14 Oct r 1779

Dear Sir

Your obliging Favor by M r . Phelps 1 it has remained thus long unanswered, because till to very lately I promised myself the Pleasure of seeing you, but that has now become very improbabl ly e as we expect to sail in a few Days–€”

If I leave Congress with Regret and

Your Reelection and ^ Consent to ^ Return to Congress are Circumstances which I consider as fortunate in the present Situation of our State –€” Your intimate acquaintance with our Controversies respecting Jurisdiction will not only enable you but your Colleagues to render the State very important Services. I hope the Train in which I shall leave these Matters meets with your Approbation, and I assure ^ you ^ it will give me very sensible Pleasure to hear of their being drawn to a Conclusion satisfactory to New York. The sooner you take your Seat, in my opinion the better various Considerations, which will readily occur to you wh point out the Propriety of this Measure. I am told m the State will be unrepresented here after tomorrow–€” M r Scot I am told will soon be here–€” I hope you will bring Floyd & L Homedieu with you. Morris it seems is not in the Delegation, & I regret it–€” He would have been useful and particularly in the Vermont Business ^ with respect to ^ which you are so circumstanced, as to be less serviceable on the Floor than otherwise on other other occasions–€”

If there be any Services in my Power to render you abroad, be pleased to command them. A Line for you will accompany all my public Letters, and you will oblige d me by a constant Correspondence–€” With the best wishes for your Health & Happiness I am Dear Sir your most ob t . Serv t .

P.S. My Respects to M rs . Duane & all the Family–€”