You doubtless, my Friend will be surprized to receive a Letter from Me dated at this Place— I am here on an Errand from the State to the Delegates, too extensive to be the Subject of a Letter, and not proper to be entrusted to Paper—1

I sincerely congratulate You on a Peace— It is almost a Consummation of all my Wishes, and gives general Satisfaction here— A few Years of Wisdom and Virtue are requisite to secure to Us all the Happiness which ought to result from it—

With this You will receive Letters of Attorney from Your Brothers and Sister to receive their Legacies, and also a Certificate of Your being one of Your Father’s Executors to enable You to receive the Legacy left to him—2 I found myself exceedingly at a Loss as to the Mode of authenticating these Papers— Our Friend ^the Governor^ would chearfully have given Us something like an Exemplification under the Great Seal, but an Objection arose, and I think it was well founded, that nothing could be exemplified unless it was Matter of Record— It is only by a Construction of our Act of Assembly that a Letter of Attorney under which Lands are conveyed can be recorded, but the Case of personal Interests cannot be brought within the Provisions of the Act— I had our entire Copy of Your Father’s Will with the Codicils made out, and intended to have sent it to You certified under the Seal of the Court of Probates, but found the Copy exceedingly bulky, and very expensive and inconvenient in Conveyance, and it occurred to Me that as an Executor You could separately release a Debt, and therefore supposed, unless Mrs. Peloquin’s Executors meant to be captious, that they would pay You the Legacies if You produced reasonable Evidence that You was authorized to receive them, and I should imagine the Privy Seal of the State will carry with it a sufficient Degree of Authenticity for that purpose—3

Peter, Nancy, Fredk: & Mrs: Jay are well, and I beleive will remain at Poughkeepsie til late in the fall even admitting the British Troops should leave the Southern parts of the State soon— Your little Boy is in Health and has been with Us at Poughkeepsie for some time, tho’ I beleive that at present he is on a Visit to his Relatives at Elizabeth Town—

I have a great deal to say to You, but dare not write it— To communicate satisfactorily, I must lay open the Conduct of Individuals— This can only be safely done in one of those confidential Conversations which We have so often had and which I most ardently wish We may soon have again— My best Regards to Mrs: Jay Yours sincerely