John Jay to John Adams, March 23, 1792
N York 23 march 1792
Sir
I , Start deletion, have , End, this , Start deletion, moment , End, afternoon rec d. the Letter w h. you did me the Honor to write on the 21 Inst— , Start deletion, by , End, & by which I am informed that the Trustees of the sinking Fund , Start deletion, are , End, being equally divided in opinion respecting the Construction of their authority under the act making Provision for the Reduction of the public Debt, my attendence had become necessary—
on considering the act in Question it appears to me that any three of us with the approbation of the President are authorized to direct , Start deletion, the , End, Purchases to be made of the Debt , Start deletion, However mentioned under at its Market Price if not exceeding the Par or base Value— that I do not perceive that this authority is controuled by the act except , End, at the market price , if not exceeding the par or true Value thereof— By this I understand that we are never to give more than the market price, and that , Start deletion, was , End, were unrestrained from giving that, whenever it exceeds the Par, in true Value thereof—
, Start deletion, as the Considering the Season of the Year, & the state of the Roads I have in obedience The Duties imposed upon me by the Act , End, I sh d. conceive it to be my Duty instantly to , Start deletion, set off for , End, repair to Philad a , , Start deletion, if the Day from assigned by Law for holding the Circuit Court here, was yet to declare as that there would be no Require of I might return in season time to attend it— considering [. . .] without any obvious Risque of being , End, were it not for the Risque of being detained by the bad weather & bad Roads common at this Season from the Circuit Court w h is so shortly to be held in this city— as the point in Question can turn only on the word. , Start deletion, of the words , End, of the act, would it not answer every Purpose , Start deletion, to state the , End, to state , Start deletion, the Q , End, it to me— I , Start deletion, will , End, would give it the most mature & candid Consideration, & take the earliest opportunity of conveying to you my Opinion respecting it
, Start deletion, Be pleased Sir to with great Respect , End, I have the Honor to be with great Respect / Sir / y r. most ob t. & hble Serv t