From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 20 June 1791
To Peter Jay Munro
Newport 20 June 1791
Dr Peter
The publication made by Mr. Edwards in the enclosed newspaper, needs no Remarks. I think it probable that the one to whch it is an answer has been published in some, if not all of your Papers. [illegible] be so good as to see that this answer be also published, at least in those Papers. Inquire, & on my Return, inform me whether that Slander was omitted to be published by any & which of your Printers. Shew the enclosed to your Aunt. before before you give it to any of the Printers.1 I also enclose a Letter to Majr. Lyons—2 as several of my Letters to him have heretofore miscarried, it may be best to enclose it to Capt Holly3 by the post, unless you shd. have an Opportunity of sending it by some Person you can depend upon. In a former Letter I mentioned to my having purchased a Saddle Horse, and that Capt. Holly might keep the one I purchased of the Majr. (on Terms which he & I would settle on my Return) in Case B. Gidney had not already fetched him from Bedford— You do not mention in your last any thing of that Letter—4 Remember me to Peggy— I am Dear Peter Your affectionate Uncle:
John Jay
Peter Jay Munro Esqr.
ALS, NNMus (EJ: 00414).
1. The article in question, originally published in New Haven on 11 May 1791, alleged the commitment to jail of a destitute man, Zebulon Crane, formerly of New York but currently a Connecticut resident, on a debt to the Chief Justice. An explanation was published by lawyer Pierpont Edwards on 13 June, quoting JJ’s letter to him of 1 May. It indicated that the case related not to a debt to JJ personally but one to the estate of Peter Jay, for which JJ was acting as trustee, and consequently could not simply forgive the debt. JJ proposed that Crane be released from debtors’ prison provided that he agree to appear at the next session of the Circuit Court. Such suits apparently cost JJ politically in the Hudson Valley and were referred to unfavorably in some partisan polemics. See “Aristides,” 4 Apr. 1792, below; American Mercury (Hartford), 16 May 1791, Litchfield Monitor, 18 May, Herald of Freedom (Boston), 20 May, Phenix: Or, the Windham Herald, 21 May, Cumberland Gazette (Portland), 23 May, Hampshire Chronicle (Springfield, Mass.), 25 May, Thomas’s Massachusetts Spy: Or, The Worcester Gazette, United States Chronicle (Providence), 26 May, Mail; or Claypoole’s Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia), 1 June, Concord Herald (New Hampshire), 8 June, Newport Herald, 18 June, American Mercury (Hartford), 27 June.
2. Letter not found.
3. Probably Jesse Holly of Bedford.
4. Letter not found.