JAY TO GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON. 1 - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 3 (1782-1793) [1891]
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. 3 (1782-1793).
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JAY TO GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON.
New York, 25th January, 1790.
Dear Sir:
. . . . . . .
The last list of the Saratoga’s officers and men was carefully examined by Mr. Remsen this morning. It is dated the 20th December, 1780, and noted to have been received in the office the 9th of February, 1781. There are no such names as Reynolds and Minor in it.
The Saratoga is with great probability supposed to have been lost on the 18th of March, 1781, about four o’clock in the afternoon of that day. One of the lieutenants, who had been put into a prize, parted from her a little before that time, and left her in full chase of a sail, the wind coming on so exceeding violent that the prize before mentioned was obliged to take in her sails. The lieutenant, I am told, is persuaded that the Saratoga, whose captain was venturous and full of ardour, was then lost.
Besides it would be very extraordinary, indeed, that a young gentleman of talents should be for years working in Algiers, and that openly on the fortifications, and there meet with this Blinckhorn, and Reynolds, and Minor, and yet never be able to convey intelligence of himself to any of the Christian consuls or captives, or to the regency of the country. He knew I was in Spain, that we had ministers also at courts at peace with Algiers, and must soon have learned that among other friendly nations the French had a consul there.
I will nevertheless cause copies of your letter to be transmitted to the French and English consuls at Algiers, for although Blinckhorn’s story appears to me to deserve no credit, yet in cases of this kind no pains should be spared to remove doubts.
Among the younger officers lost in the Continental man-of-war Saratoga was midshipman John L. Livingston, son of Governor Livingston, Jay’s father-in-law. The report reaching the Governor, through the sailors named above, that his son was alive, a prisoner in Algiers, he requested Jay to have the matter investigated. In the latter’s reply, we have the first account of the probable manner in which that vessel foundered. See vol. i., p. 376.
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