Autograph Draft version of document 12516. Acknowledges receipt of Laurens' letter sent by return of John Jay's courier. John Jay has received none of the letters from America which Laurens committed to the care of Franklin. John Jay does not think that Henry Laurens, Laurens' father, will be released on parole, and, as the Americans do not hold any British prisoners of sufficient importance, it is also improbable that he will be exchanged. It might be practicable to make an invasion of the coasts of Britain and Ireland "to surprize and take off some ministerial men of consequence in both Islands" in order to have some exchange. John Jay is disappointed to learn that Laurens will soon leave Europe for correspondence with him without benefit of the European postal systems.
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829