John Jay to Philip Schuyler, 26 July 1777
Kingston 26[–28] July 1777–
Dear Sir
Your Favor of the 24 Inst covering a Letter from Gen: S t . Clair was delivered to me this Evening. I have sent the latter to the Press. It will be printed entire– Extracts might be followed by Suspicions The malicious might remark that Parts were concealed which if made known would probably give a different Colour to the whole. A Number of Holts Papers shall be sent you; & Care taken to transmit others to Congress, to Head Quarters– Peeks Kill &c a .– I shall also request Loudon 1 to reprint it.
This Attack 2 on your Reputation will I hope do you only a temporary Injury. The honest tho credulous Multitude when undecieved will regret 3 their giving way to Suspicions which have led them to do You Injustice.
I have no Reason to suspect that the Council of Safety ^ believed ^ Tyconderogah was left by your Direction, or Advice; or with your Knowledge. They appear fully satisfied of the contrary; and in my opinion S t . Clairs Letter will remove all Doubts 4 on that Head.
The Propriety of appointing a Committee to inquire into Your Conduct appears to me very questionable. Supposing it unexceptionable in Point of Delicacy with Respect to You (which I by no means think it), yet 5 as this Council and the late Convention, 6 have on certain occasions made your Cause their own; your Enemies would not fail to insinuate that the proposed Inquiry was a mere Contrivance to give a favorable Complection to your Conduct.
Your Readiness to submit to such an Inquiry is no Doubt a strong argument of Innocence & conscious Rectitude; but whether it would not be assuming in the Council to propose it, and inconsistant with the Dignity of your Station to accede to it, are Questions of Importance. Besides, a Proposition so apparently officious, & out of their Line, might perhaps be ^ maliciously ^ ascribed to their apprehensions of mismanagement, & consequently cast Weight in the Scale against You.
A temperate State of Facts formed from the materials you mention, would doubtless 7 set your Conduct in its true point of View. I wish Altho a strict Scrutiny may be eligible, yet how far it would be proper to press Congress to that measure is worth Consideration– 8 The Affairs of the northern Department have lately engaged much of their Time and Attention– 9 The Evacuation of Tyconderogah will naturally bring about an Inquiry. The Country will not be satisfied without it. You will then have a fair opportunity of vindicating your Conduct. 10
The manner in which you Account for the Removal of the Cannon mentioned in my Letter, is very satisfactory 11
28 July–
M r . Morris returned this afternoon. The Council were displeased with the last Letter from him & M r . Yates– They have passed a Resolution declaring it disrespectful & unsatisfactory & dissolved that Committee. 12 They have nevertheless joined M r . Morris with me & directed us to repair to Head Quarters to confer with his Excellency on the State of your Army, the Means of reinforcing it &c a .– We set out Tomorrow– 13 With the best Wishes for your Health & Prosperity I am Dear Sir Your Friend & h–ble Serv t
John Jay
Maj r Gen. Schuyler