Jay, John (1745-1829) to Elbridge Gerry
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07490 Author/Creator: Jay, John (1745-1829) Place Written: Madrid, Spain Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 November 1780 Pagination: 2 p. ; 29.8 x 20.6 cm. Order a Copy
Jay agrees to attend to Mr. Warren (the son of the late General Joseph Warren, killed at Bunker Hill), should he visit Madrid. He also refers to passage of the Massachusetts Constitution and asks Gerry to send him a copy. Jay states that he has been "led to entertain high Expectations of your form of Government." Docketed by Gerry.
Gerry's draft autograph letter response is penned in the left margin to Jay. Gerry writes back from Marblehead, Massachusetts on 20 September 1781, enclosing a copy of Massachusetts' new constitution and some newspapers [not present]. He concludes by predicting American victory over England with the arrival of "the Fleet of Our Allies at Virginia."
At this time, John Jay was minister to Spain and was attempting to gain support for the Continental cause in the face of court politics. Gerry's prediction was correct as Cornwallis surrendered to the French and American armies at Yorktown on 19 October 1781.
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