Title
[Document, 1785 November 24]
Library Location
Name
Van Staphorst, Jacob (Author)
Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Addressee)
Van Staphorst, Nicholaas (Author)
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
November 24, 1785
Language
English
Physical Description
10 pages
Subjects
United States--History--1783-1865; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
A letter from Walter Livingston and Arthur Lee "of so extraordinary and unexpected a Nature & altogether informal" has prompted the Staphorsts to appeal to John Jay's sense of justice. The Staphorsts, who were never informed in any way of Lee's appointment as Commissioner to the Board of Treasury, feel that it would be unwise to comply with the order he gives because of their ignorance of his official capacity. Furthermore, to follow Lee's orders would be to act contrary to the Congressional Resolution of 15 February and the contract entered into with the United States. Compliance with Lee's orders, which are tantamount to ousting the Staphorsts from the direction of the American loans because of "malevolent and unjust representations", would injure the reputation of their House. The Staphorsts have always fulfilled their commission with zeal and success. However, lest it be construed that they refused to pay money due upon demand, they placed the full balance in the Bank of Amsterdam to the joint credit of Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink and themselves and directed that no disposal could be made of it without the joint concurrence of both houses. Although it is a disagreeable task, the Staphorsts feel that they should tell Jay about their relations with Adams, whose "total Inexperience...in Finance and his unciliating and opinionated disposition" is hardly calculated to inspire the confidence of moneylenders. Although the Staphorsts did not
Identifier
columbia.jay.12599