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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) JAY TO GENERAL LAFAYETTE. - The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 1 (1763-1781)
JAY TO GENERAL LAFAYETTE. - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 1 (1763-1781) [1890]Edition used:The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, ed. Henry P. Johnston, A.M. (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890-93). Vol. 1 (1763-1781).
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JAY TO GENERAL LAFAYETTE.
Philadelphia, 3d January, 1779. Sir:
The Congress have directed me to observe to you, that the plan for emancipating Canada was conceived at a time when, from various movements of the enemy, there was the highest reason to expect a speedy and total evacuation of all the ports they held in these States. These indications, however, proved false, and the probability of their quitting this country in the course of the winter is become very slender; nor is it by any means certain that they will do it in the spring. Prudence therefore dictates that the arms of America should be employed in expelling the enemy from her own shores before the liberation of a neighbouring province is undertaken, as the proportion of force necessary for our defence must be determined by the future operations and designs of the enemy, which cannot now be known; and as, in case of another campaign, it may happen to be very inconvenient if not impossible for us to furnish our proposed quota of troops for the emancipation of Canada. Congress think they ought not, under such circumstances, to draw their good ally into a measure the issue of which, depending on a variety of contingencies, is very uncertain, and might be very ruinous.
John Jay. Major-General the Marquis de Lafayette.
Respecting the proposed Canada expedition see Washington to Jay, April 14, 1779.
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