Draft. Thinks should appoint as commissioners one lawyer and one merchant for the capture cases. Sees Mr. Higginson of Boston as best qualified merchant, and as the majority of the captures were from the eastern and middle states, would be better that the commissioners are from those areas. Perhaps also Mr. King or Mr. Dexter, or Mr. Smith of South Carolina. As for the debts, best to have merchant from north of Philadelphia. If no one else, Colonel Wadsworth and Judge Paterson, Mr. Benson or Mr. Marshall. At a loss about Sir John Sinclair's plan, but likes idea that the country would offer reward for useful discoveries made. Perhaps Congress can recommend it in general terms, not referring to Great Britain, as treaty business not yet settled.
Subjects
United States--History--Constitutional period, 1789-1809; Jay, John, 1745-1829