From John Jay to Samuel Shaw, 30 January 1786
To Samuel Shaw
NYork 30 Jan 1786
Sir
I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed a Commission constituting you Consul of the United States at Canton in China.1 can You have my best wishes that this appt. may the you may derive advantages from this appointment ^office^ equal to the Honor and Propriety which ^with^ which I am persuaded it will be exercised. Altho neither Salary nor Perquisites are annexed to it, yet it so distinguished a Mark of the Confidence and Esteem of the united States must give will naturally give ^you^ a Degree of Weight to your character and Respectability, which the highest personal merit cannot very soon obtain for a Stranger in a foreign Country—
It will not be necessary for me to dwell on the advantages your Country may derive from the Information you may acquire—Permit me ^however^ to request the Favor of your Correspondence, and that you will transmit to me by proper Conveyances whatever Intelligence and observations you may think conducive to the public Good. The mercantile & other Regulations at Canton respecting Foreigners—the number & Burthen ^size^ of foreign Vessels ^& of what Nations^ which annually enter there—their Cargoes and what articles of merchandize may there answer best, are Matters which merit attention—It might also be useful to know whether Foreigners can do or can carry on a circuitous Trade in that part of the World, either on their own acct. or by being Carryers f Carriers for others whether asiatic or European or bot Accurate Information on all these points will probably require Time to collect & therefore I am not sollicitous and as accurate Information only can be useful, I cannot flatter myself with recieving ample Details from you very soon after your arrival, unless on such ^of these^ subjects as may not require much Time to investigate.2
I shall not omit writing to you by every opportunity, and will do myself the Pleasure of sending you such Information respecting our Country, as though prop perhaps not very essential to you either as a Consul or a Merchant, may cannot fail of being interesting to an American Citizen early and strongly attached to his Country.3 with sincere Esteem and the best wishes for your Health and Prosperity I am Sir your most obt. & very hble Servt.
Saml Shaw Esqr. Consul of the United States for Canton in China.
Dft, NNC (EJ: 5794). Endorsed: “Draft of a letter to / Mr. Shaw enclosing / his Commisn. As consul for / Canton—Jany. 30. 1786”. LS, Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery; LbkC with enclosure, , 2: 74–77 (EJ: 1858).
1. Noting that American merchants showed increasing interest in the China and India trade, and arguing that persons with official status would have more weight in dealing with Asian officials than private individuals, JJ had recommended that Congress appoint a consul and a vice consul for Canton and other Asian ports on 20 Jan. Congress read his letter on 23 Jan. Charles Pinckney of South Carolina moved to appoint a consul without salary, fees or emoluments of office on 26 Jan. Shaw was elected the following day, and JJ prepared his commission on 28 Jan. See JJ to President of Congress, 20 Jan., LS, DNA: PCC. item 80, 2: 125 (EJ: 177), LbkC, , 2: 71–72 (EJ: 1855); 23: 116; 30: 25, 28–29; and 235. For Shaw’s acceptance and his proposal that Thomas Randall should be appointed vice consul, see his letter of this date, below.
2. For Shaw’s compliance with JJ’s request, see his letters to JJ of 31 Dec. 1786 and 21 Dec. 1787, below.
3. No subsequent letters from JJ to Shaw have been found.