John Jay letter signed ("John Jay Presd.") as President of the Continental Congress. One page of a bifolium, 7.25" x 9", Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania]; May 10, 1779. Docketed. John Jay, as President of the Continental Congress, sends a letter to New York Governor concerning a recent act of Congress. Letter, in a secretarial hand, from Jay, as president of the Continental Congress, to Governor George Clinton (1739-1812), governor of New York, enclosing a copy of a recent act of Congress concerning the accounts of the late Commissary General of the Continental Army, Joseph Trumbull (1737-1778). The letter reads, in full: "Herewith enclosed your Excellency will receive a Copy of an Act of Congress of the 5th Inst., for facilitating the Settlement of the late Commissary General Trumbull's & other public accounts. I have the Honor to be With great Respect & Esteem Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant". Signed, "John Jay Presd." This is presumably a circular letter that Jay sent to all governors informing them of the recent act of Congress. Joseph Trumbull, referred to in the letter, was the son of Jonathan Trumbull Sr. (1710-1785), governor of Connecticut. He served as the first commissary general of the Continental Army from 1775 until his resignation on July 19, 1777. His resignation was spurred by widespread criticism of his department from Congress and the army. He died on July 23, 1778. The Act of Congress referred to in Jay's letter, passed on May 5, 1779, states that "there be allowed to Jonathan Trumbull, jun. esq. for his services in the settlement of the accounts of the deputies of the late commissary-general J. Trumbull, in pursuance of the act of the 5 day in May, 1779, the same salary as in provided by the act of the 27 February last, for the commissioner to be appointed for the settlement of the accounts of the commissary's department: that the said salary be computed on the time Mr. Trumbull has been actually employed, and be in full for all services and expences." The letter is accompanied by an engraving of Jay by J.C. Buttre and an engraving of Clinton in uniform published by Johnson, Fry & Co. John Jay (1745-1829) served as the sixth president of the Continental Congress from December 1778 to September 1779 after succeeding Henry Laurens. He later became the first chief justice of the United States. He also served as one of George Washington's secretaries of state, a minister to Spain, a secretary of Foreign Affairs, and the governor of New York. He was a prominent member of the Federalist party during the 1780s and 1790s. George Clinton (1739-1812) was a soldier and statesman from New York. He served as the fourth vice president of the U.S. from 1805 until his death in 1812 under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He was elected governor of New York from 1777 to 1795 and from 1801 to 1804. Condition: Light scattered soiling. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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