From John Jay to Lady Elizabeth Amherst, 12 April 1796
To Lady Elizabeth Amherst
[New York, 12 Ap. 1796]
Mr Jay presents his respectful compts. to Lady Amherst, and returns many thanks to her Ladyship for the prints which she did him the Honor to send. it was not untill last week that they came to his Hands. The Respect entertained in this Country for his Lordships Character & Services renders them ^very^ interesting.1
Among the agreable Hours ^moments^ which Mr Jay passed in London his Recollection often dwells ^with pleasure^ on those for which he is indebted to ^to the obliging attentions of^ Lord and Lady Amherst— His Son retains similar Sentiments and Impressions, and they both unite in the best wishes for the Health and Happiness of Lord and Lady Amherst, and of the young Ladies—2
Dft, NNC (EJ: 12539). Endorsed: “… in anr. to 24 Sep. 1795”. , 4: 207.
1. Lady Amherst sent JJ ten proof prints of the Boydell engraving of the 1766 Joshua Reynolds portrait of Lord Jeffrey Amherst on 24 Sept. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05454). She noted that this was a reengraving of the portrait (an initial one was done in 1766). She also sent ten loose inscriptions to be pasted on the prints or on their backs when framed. In February 1795, Lady Amherst had given JJ a print of the original engraving while he was in London. See Lady Amherst to JJ (ALS, NNC (EJ: 05448), and JJ to Lady Amherst, Dft, NNC (EJ: 12850), both of 20 Feb. 1795.
2. JJ met the Amhersts while on the Jay Treaty mission in 1794–95. For his relationship with them, see the editorial note “John Jay’s Mission to London,” above. The “young Ladies” were the Amhersts’ nieces, Elizabeth and Harriet, who lived with them.