1Last Will and Testament, 18 April 1829 (Jay Papers)
I, John Jay of Bedford in the county of West Chester-and State of New York being Sensible of the importance and duty of so ordering my affairs as to be prepared for death do make and declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz. Unto him who is the author and giver of all good. I render sincere and humble thanks for his manifold and unmerited blessings and especially for...
2From John Jay to Samuel Adams Wells, 15 March 1827 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . last week your Letter of the 5 th . of this month. Being engaged in collecting materials for a Biography of your Grandfather M r . Sam l . Adams, you are desirous to ob t ain from me some Information ^on Subjects in which^ which he and I were joint were joint actors; and particularly what Agency M r . Adams had in drafting the Report of the Committee appointed by Congress in 1774, to...
3From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 23 January 1827 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your friendly Letter of the 27 th . ul t .— It gives me pleasure to reflect that our mutual Esteem & Regard have from an early period are ^been^ constantly productive of Cordiality & Gratification— A kind Providence has extended our Lives to the commencem t . of the ensuing year— Very few of our early Associates remain with us on this Occasion.— our temporal abode here is merely...
4From John Jay to Charles S. Daveis, 27 October 1826 (Jay Papers)
On the 19 th . of this month I recieved your Letter of the 14 th . ult, together with the a Copy of the address mentioned in it; and I thank you for them both.— I have long been and still am too feeble to occupy ^bestow a^ due degree of Attention to the various Topics which are included and disseminated in that work— I cannot however omit mentioning the ^your^ Mistake [ illegible ] relative to...
5From John Jay to the Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York (Jacob B. Taylor, John Yates Cebra, Richard … (Jay Papers)
I have rec d : your letter of the 22 nd : Ins t : informing me that “the Corporation of the City of New York had resolved to celebrate with public demonstrations of respect & joy, the ensuing anniversary of American independence” & inviting me on behalf of the Corporation to unite with them in their congratulations on the return of this day. I feel very grateful for the honour done me by this...
6From John Jay to Richard Varick, 1 April 1826 (Jay Papers)
On considering the reasons stated in your letter of the 27 th : Ult o : I am induced to comply with the concurrent opinion & desire of yourself, & of the gentlemen with whom you consulted, & I therefore consent to recall the resignation mentioned in my letter to you of the 18 th : Ult o : The Kind and friendly sentiments expressed in your letter derive ample value from the sincerity with which...
7From John Jay to Richard Varick, 18 March 1826 (Jay Papers)
The honour confered on me by the Managers of the American Bible Society in placing me at the head of that institution was very sensibly felt; & the reluctance with which I accepted the office of the President, arose solely from the apprehension, that the state of my health would disqualify me from fulfilling its duties in a manner satisfactory, either to my self or others. It is to me a source...
8From John Jay to Richard Peters, 3 March 1826 (Jay Papers)
I had the pleasure of recieving, on Saturday last, your Letter of the 21 st . of Feby— It gratified me to learn from it, that you was in excellent Health—and I hope that a kind Providence will continue to promote your Prosperity.— The Communications which had occurred between you and the Committee of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, were interesting. In a Letter from them of the 10 th ....
Accept my thanks my Lady! for the friendly Letter which you did me the Honor to write on the 14 June 1824— I rec d . it on the 7 th . Day of this month; and regret the occurrences which prevented its being delivered to me by the Gentleman mentioned in it— The Respect due to your Recommendation and to their Characters would have ensured to them a welcome Reception, and induced me to give them...
10Address to the American Bible Society, 12 May 1825 (Jay Papers)
You have the Satisfaction of percieving from the Report of the Board of Managers, that the prosperous and promising State of our affairs continues to evince the laudable and beneficial Manner in which they have been constantly conducted.— We have to regret that the pleasing Reflections and Anticipations suggested by these auspicious Circumstances, are mingled with the Sorrow which the recent...