New York Nov. 30th. 1785.
Dear Sir
I have very little news to communicate. Mr. Hancock is appointed President but it is much doubted whether he will accept of this high Office. It was surely improper to play the risquing game on such an occasion. The business immedy. before Congress is whether Mr. Temple shall be received as Consul Genl. from G.B. or not; there are on this occasion different sentiments, though I presume when the States are fully represented (there being but seven at present) that it will be decided in the affirmative as Congress seem to have committed themselves as they have resolved that the Ministers & Chargés des affaires of the U.S. are Consuls genl. ex Officio. Of course Adams is Consul Genl. at the Court of G.B. - as soon as the dispatches from the Secy. for foreign affairs arrives. Temple himself is in a peck of troubles about it; it seems a very good salary depends on the decision.
Since your departure Adams has givn us another fire, to the old tune of commercial restrictions. Jay & Thompson have thought his last advices of so much importance as to send official letters to the States to require the immediate attendance of the Members.1 It is a little extraordinary that Mr. Adams should recommend a commercial war, when in the same letter he agrees that in the prosecution of this commercial war it is highly probable we shall incur a real war.2 We are no doubt in a good situation for war. I inclose you a schedule of the advances to the States,3 by which you will see that Virginia has had less by a million of dollars than her proportion. No advantage it seems can however be taken of this circumstance in the next requisition as the resolution of the 3rd of June 1784 suspends the payment of interest till the final settlement of the accounts, that is, till the day of Judgment.
I read some part of your letter at the Sycamore alias the Virginia Hotel, which gave no small satisfaction, & like an able negotiator I drew some small advantages from it myself. Perhaps it may still be productive. I had the honor of escorting them to the play the other evening, when they made so beautiful & elegant an appearance as to depopulate all the other boxes of the Beaux & Philanders. They beg me to present their best regards to you. If it was not for the intervention of Mrs. Lee, perhaps the expression might be more animating. I am just on the point of leaving this place.4 Should however anything new cast up before I go I will write.
From yr. Affect frd & most obed servt.,Willm. Grayson5
Receiver's copy, Lee Family Papers, University of Virginia Library.
1 See Charles Thomson to Certain States, November 18.
2 See James McHenry to John Henry, November 28, note 3.
3 Not found.
4 Apparently Grayson did not leave New York until December 6 or 7, for which see Maryland Delegates to Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, December 6, note 3.
5 Grayson also wrote the following brief note to Virginia's treasurer Jacquelin Ambler on November 29: "At five days sight, of this my first bill of exchange, (the second of the same tenor and date not being paid,) pay to William Duer Esqr. or order the sum of four hundred dollars, & place the same to account of, Sir, yr. hhble servt, Willm. Grayson." Account Vouchers, Vi.