From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 4 September 1782
To Robert R. Livingston
Paris 4 Septr. 1782
Dear Robt.
I wrote to You on the 13 Ult.1 a Copy of that Letter enclosing one for your good mother, and one for Mr Benson,2 was given last Week to Mr Wright,3 who had appointed last Thursday for setting out to Nantes in order to embark there for America. He is still here, but leaves Paris Tomorrow. This gives me an Opportunity of writing you a few Lines more, for tho’ I daily gain Strength, yet the Dizziness to which I have been subject on the least application, since my Illness, will not permit me either to write or read more than an Hour at a Time without a Cloud before my Eyes.
Be pleased to forward Bills for my Salary as it becomes due, deducting the Sums which I have, or may in future desire you to pay in America. Whenever you write tell me what you may know respecting the Health of my Family, for I almost despair of a regular Correspondence with Fr.—4 whose last Letter was dated in November. Sr. James is at large in England, but I am still ignorant in what Light he is considered—not having yet had a Line from him.
Count de Montmorin writes me that the Spaniards continue making immense preparations for the attack of Gibralter.5 This object requires enormous Expences.— They have issued more Bills and the Depreciation has encreased— I am preparing a map to shew you the Line wh. Ct D’Aranda proposes for our western Boundary.6 It will not be finished in Time for this Conveyance. I am persuaded it is best for us to take Time—my further Reasons shall be explained at large in a future Letter wh. I shall begin as soon as my Health will permit—7
Assure my Friends of my Remembrance and Regard— Mrs. Morris & Mrs. Meredith8 are in Mrs. Jay’s Debt on the Score of Letters—tell them so— How does Duer do.9 I have written to him, but he never recd. a Line from him— I hope Mrs. Livingston & our little Girl10 are well— My best Wishes always attend them I am Dr Robt. Your Friend
John Jay11
Hon’ble R. R. Livingston Esqr
1. JJ to RRL, 13 Aug., above.
2. See JJ to Margaret Livingston, ALS, NNC (EJ: 8302), and to Egbert Benson, above, both 26 Aug. 1782.
3. Joseph Wright (1756–93), portrait painter, modeler in clay and wax, and medalist, and the first to sculpture General Washington from life. George C. Groce and David H. Wallace, The New-York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America, 1564–1860 (New Haven, 1957). Because the ship on which he travelled was wrecked, Wright did not deliver the letters entrusted to him until the middle of April 1783. See RRL to JJ, 1 May 1783, below. For his 1786 portrait of JJ, see the illustration in , following 402.
4. “Fr.”: Frederick Jay.
5. See Montmorin to JJ, 22 Aug. 1782, above.
6. Aranda’s proposed boundary is indicated on the map in : 271.
7. See JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 1782, below.
8. Mary Morris and Margaret Cadwallader Meredith.
9. William Duer.
10. RRL’s daughter Elizabeth, JJ’s goddaughter.
11. RRL acknowledged receipt of this letter in his letter to JJ of 30 Dec. 1782, below.