John Jay to Robert Morris, 2 December 1776
Fish Kills 2 d . Decr 1776
Dear Sir
Your Letter to M r . Duane relieved me from much Anxiety. 1 The miscarriage of the Generals Letter made me feel for the Fate of those I transmitted thro– him to You. 2
If I believed you suspected my Sincerity, I should for the first Time in my Life be displeased with you, but I assure you I entertain no such unfriendly Ideas. every Chair in the Congress Room will acquit me of the Charge of Adulation–
I am exceedingly hurt at the wicked attack made on M r . Duane–Envy Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness must have conspired in producing it. Whatever Suspicions some Folks might entertain of his political Conduct from his opposition to certain Men & Measures, I am convinced he has maintained no Correspondence with the Enemy–were he in their Interest or Confidence he never would have acted the Part he has, & still continues to do. Nay if I even suspected his Integrity, I should have too good an opinion of Prudence to believe he would ever put himself in the Power of a Servant. 3 Such a Tale, can neither gain Credit or Currency, but with men, who may wish his Ruin, & be capable of adopting any Means, however base, to accomplish it. but such I believe have cursed every Age and Country, and I heartily wish some American S t . Patrick would arise, and cleanse these fair Abodes of Liberty, not only of Vipers Toads & noxious Reptiles; but also of Parricides, Traitors, and insidious dark designing Iagos, more to be feared than all the Venom of the whole brute Creation.
In a few Days I shall do myself the Pleasure of writing to you again. Be pleased to present my Complim ts . to my old Friends at Congress I congratulate those from Maryland on the Gallant Behaviour of their Troups, in whose Fame I really feel myself particularly interested–God bless you, and give the Congress Grace to remain at Philadelphia till the very last Extremity. My best respects to M rs . Morris I am Dear Sir with great Sincerity your Friend & h–ble Serv t .
John Jay