From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 16 August 1794
To Sarah Livingston Jay
London 16 augt. 1794
my dear Sally,
By the Hope Capt. Haley1 I have written to You, to Peter, and to Gussy— these Letters were all under one Cover directed to you, I also wrote by the same Vessel to Judge Hobart2
This is intended to go by the Belvedere Capt. Depeyster—3 It is uncertain which of the two vessels will arrive first, & therefore I write by both—
Mrs. Johnson has sent to me two Bracelets and two pins which Peter by your ^Polly’s^ Desire requested her to have made— I think them neat, and am at a Loss whether to send them now, or bring them with me— for the present I believe I will keep them, and wait upon orders, which shall be punctually executed—4
I heard a few Days ago that our Friend Grand had removed into Switzerland— I wish it may be true—for Peace and Tranquility are best adapted to his Age and delicate Health— If I should learn where he resides, I purpose to write to him—5
Tell Mr Munro that a Letter6 for him from me is on the way, so that in Case it should miscarry, he may percieve that I have not been unmindful of the one he wrote to me—
Mr. Grant of Jamaica (the Executor) resides here— Soon after my arrival, he paid me a visit, which I returned— and since that he has made no advances to Sociability— He must feel that all has not been right. I hope you have settled with his nephew in New York;7 and yet I should not be surprized if some new Delays and Difficulties had interposed—
Peet8 begins at times to wish himself Home again. the novelty is a good deal over— I wish we were all entering entering the Street ^Door,^ and you and the Children and Servants running to meet us. God grant that this wish may be realized, and in the mean Time preserve and bless us all. adieu my Dear Sally— my Love to the Children— Yours Sincerely and affecty
John Jay
Mrs. Jay—
ALS, NNC (EJ: 08062).
1. The Hope, Nathan Haley, arrived in New York from London on 13 Oct. Columbian Gazetteer (New York), 13 Oct. 1794.
2. See JJ to SLJ, 13 Aug. 1794, ALS, NNC (EJ: 08061); and JJ to Hobart, 12 Aug. 1794, above. The other letters have not been found.
3. The Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia), of 24 Oct. 1794, reported that the Belvedere, Captain Depeyster, had recently arrived in New York from London.
4. “Polly” refers to Mary Duyckinck Jay, the wife of JJ’s brother Peter. PAJ’s Memoranda and Statement of Accounts, notes on 16 Aug.: “Sent Mrs. P. Jay’s Bracelets & Mrs. Munro’s breast pins by Captain DePeyster to Mama on the 16th. Aug.” PAJ describes the pins as “Two breast pins are to be made of Aunt Munro’s hair— the hair to be plaited enameled settings the letters E. M. engraved on the back— & by direction of Mrs. M. Munro.” See the editorial note, “John Jay’s Mission to London,” above; PAJ to SLJ, 1 Aug. 1794, above.
5. On Ferdinand Grand’s move to Switzerland, see JJ to Grand, 31 Dec. 1793, and note 1, , 5: 581–82.
6. Possibly JJ to PJM, 15 July 1794, ALS, NNMus (EJ: 00425), which was acknowledged in PJM to JJ, 18 Sept. 1794, Dft, NNMus (EJ: 00428).
7. For more on the financial transactions involving the Jays and the Grants, see PJM to JJ, 15 June 1794, and note 1, above.
8. Peter Williams, JJ’s enslaved manservant. See the editorial note, “John Jay’s Mission to London,” and note 2, above.