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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

COL. JOHN TRUMBULL TO JAY. - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 4 (1794-1826) [1893]

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. 4 (1794-1826).

Part of: The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, 4 vols.

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COL. JOHN TRUMBULL TO JAY.

London, 23rd July, 1795.

Dear Sir,

It is with the most real pleasure that I congratulate you on your safe arrival in America, the Cordial reception you have met with from your fellow Citizens, and the flattering testimony they have given of their respect and esteem by electing you to the first office in their Gift. May you long and happily enjoy the reward of your labours!

I returned to this place from France, three days ago; while in that Country I only wrote to you twice, the last of which was a few days ago, enclosing the project of a new Constitution, and sent by the Nancy, Capt. Butler, to your port. On my arrival in Paris I found much Curiosity, jealousy and prejudice on the subject of the treaty. The Gentleman to whom I had your permission to communicate under certain injunctions, found himself embarrassed by a previous engagement inconsistent with those injunctions, and as I did not feel myself justifiable in the smallest departure from the instructions you had given me, he ultimately determined not to receive from me the proposed information. That I should be there, be seen frequently with him, and he remain ignorant on such a subject, would have increased the jealousies which already existed; and for this there was no remedy but in observing the utmost distance and coldness:—Of course the whole weight of suspicion and ill will was accumulated upon me, and my situation became very awkward and unpleasant.—I thought it, however, prudent to remain as long as my business required, contenting myself with repeating on all occasions that the treaty contained nothing contrary to the engagements of the existing treaties; and that whenever the contracting Government should see fit to make it public, I had no doubt but it would meet the approbation of all reasonable men.

We are now in hourly expectation, of hearing the result of the deliberations of the Senate, as we have accounts down to the 15th June and know that the Asia was to sail from Phila about the 20th with Mr. Allan’s and Mr. Hammond’s families:—I hope the late Orders, for bringing in neutral Ships bound with Provisions to France and the continued Captures on the Coast of America, will not prove the source of new misunderstandings.—I yesterday breakfasted with Sir William Scott, and had some conversation on this Subject;—I ventured to say to him, that, having just arrived from France I could assure him that as a measure of military policy the bringing in of Neutral Ships was utterly useless, as great quantities of foreign Corn had been received and the harvest was begun in the South; that if the want of bread here operated as a reason for the measure, I was sorry it had not been announced in another way, as we should have been equally ready to sell to this Country as to any other; that I dreaded the Effect this Measure might have upon the public mind in America, for although I trusted it would not prevent the ratification of the Treaty, yet the loss falling upon the same important Class of men who had already suffered so severely, I did apprehend, that unless great dispatch in the settlement of this business and great liberality in payment were experienced, it would have the Effect to counteract in a very great degree that return of Amity and neutral kindness which I had supposed to be the great object of the treaty; and to render all that had been done a mere palliative and momentary business.

Sir William assured me that the necessities of the Country were to a certain degree the Cause of the existing Orders; that, at the same time Government considered themselves as in the Exercise of one of the rights of war common to all Nations, and which they should not think of contesting, were we or any other Nation to exercise the same hereafter in similar circumstances, with respect to the Ships of this Nation; that Government had instructed him (and he should most faithfully and with pleasure execute those instructions) to give all possible dispatch to the business, as well as the utmost latitude to payments consistent with reason. In the mean time our people are very much dissatisfied both here and on the Continent.

A body of Emigrant Troops have lately been landed in Quiberon Bay, from whose cooperation with the disaffected people of La Vendee and Brittany, much has been expected;—but I believe little will be done; we already hear of several revolts, and additional troops are known to be on their March from the North and East of France, where hostile operations are at present suspended.

The Public opinion of France, no longer controul’d by the Guillotine and patriotic Baptisms, is now as loudly pronounced against the Atrocious consequences of Jacobinism, as that of England or America ever were; and if they now Err in their criminal prosecutions it is by employing a formality and caution which one can scarce refrain from blaming, when exercised towards such a wretch as Joseph Le Bon, or Fouquier Tinville.

The Constitution of which I sent you a Copy, is still under discussion; several amendments (as we think them) have been, and it is probable that others will be, adopted; and I am not without a hope, and even an Expectation that within a few Months we shall see a form of Government in operation in France which altho’ not altogether meeting our views of Wisdom, will yet be a prodigious approach towards it; and such a declaration of intentions towards other Nations as will show more Moderation than might have been expected from a people covered with so many Victories.

My plate at Stutgard I found not so nearly finished, as I had hoped, and of course the publication cannot take place this Winter. I shall send in a few days to Mr. Pinfield an impression of it in the State it was last January, as well as a finished one of Montgomery, from which my friends, I hope, will be induced to have a little longer patience; they cannot be so much hurt at the delay as I am.—I beg my respects to Mrs. Jay and Peter, as well as to Mr. Benson, King, Hobart, &c. I am with all respect,

Dear Sir, your Humble Servant,

Jn. Trumbull.