John Jay to Thomas Jefferson, August 14, 1779

Philadelphia, 14 Aug. 1779 . Circular to the state executives. The expected arrival of 7,000 troops from Europe and 3,000 from the West Indies as reinforcements to the enemy is a matter of grave concern to Congress and “our Allies.� The states are therefore to “prepare for the most immediate, and most vigorous operations� by filling up their battalions and by having the militia ready to march at shortest warning. Encloses a resolve of Congress of 12 Aug. denouncing John Douglass, late commander of the privateer Hunter .