Title
[Document, 1781 October 26]
Library Location
Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Name
Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Author)
Littlepage, Lewis, 1762-1802 (Addressee)
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
October 26, 1781
Language
English
Physical Description
16 pages
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
Littlepage's friends had told Jay that the chief difficulty in sending him was a lack of funds. Jay has been generous in taking a stranger into his household. Littlepage told Jay that entering into the service of the Duke de Crillon would be an inexpensive venture. Reasserts his arguments against Littlepage's joining the expedition. As the project was adopted without Jay's approval and carried out against his advice, justly he could have refused to furnish money for its execution. When he finally decided to give Littlepage money, unlimited credit would have been improper. If the sum which the expedition would cost was beyond Littlepage's means, he should never have attempted it. Until Jay should be informed of the sum which Littlepage's friends desired to restrict him to, Jay gave him the pay of a British Captain of Foot and paid considerable other expenses. Littlepage requested more money without giving any details. "I have known many gentlemen with ten times your allowance, in daily distress for want of money, and yet it would not have been proper to indulge them with more. "If Littlepage meant to keep up with his companions, his allowance would indeed prove inadequate. There was no need for Littlepage to take a coach to Cadiz. Jay will not comment on the "improprieties" in Littlepage's letter. They were "the incautious violences of a generous mind revolting against narrow tho' necessary restraints."
Identifier
columbia.jay.06797