Will see John Jay next day at 11 a.m. In the mean time, asks John Jay to consider the enclosed "Observations" he has prepared. "Observations respecting the northwestern Boundary of the United States of America" enclosure: Proposed arrangement for settling boundary cannot be considered in any way cession of territory by the U.S. Treaty contains two provisions of equal importance--that the line shoul d be drawn west from the Lake-of-the-Woods and that it should intersect the Mississippi; if, by not drawing the line west from the Lake the U.S. "cedes" territory, any line not intersecting the River is, likewise, a "cession" by Britain. Has no objections to having a survey made, but feels it might waste valuable time. Idea of appointing Commission to settle boundary is a good one, but Commissioners must take into consideration the article of Peace Treaty. Insists on British access to Mississippi.
Subjects
United States--History--Constitutional period, 1789-1809; Jay, John, 1745-1829