To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 14 May 1803
From Peter Augustus Jay
Paris 14th May 1803
Dear Papa
Since I last wrote to you from Leghorn1 I have passed from that City to Genoa by Water, & from thence thro Turin to this place without any disagreable Accident— The Rumors of war between France & England prevented the sailing of the English Vessel in which I intended to go to Genoa. I therefore went in a felucca & had a short & pleasant passage of only twenty two hours— From Genoa Dr. Seaman2 & myself went in a Voiturins Carriage (having sold our own at Leghorn) to Lyons & from thence we came here in the Diligence— Dr. Seaman has left me here & gone to London, & I shall now return by the first good Opportunity to America— I should probably have gone in the Vessel which will carry this had I known of her Sailing in Season— There are several others which will depart shortly— Mr. Livingston3 who is anxious to send Dispatches has intelligence every post of the american Ships which are to sail from Havre & has promised to inform me of them—4 He has been very civil to me— I saw madam La Fayette & her Daughter Last night at his house. Her Husband is in town indisposed. I shall see him on Monday—
Our Affairs respecting Lousiana are settled. We have purchased it of the French for a Sum of Money & for certain commercial priviledges to be enjoyed by them for a limited time in the ceded Country only— The Amount of the purchase money, the privileges & the time during which they are to be enjoyed is ^are^ yet secret. The Island of New Orleans is comprised in the Bargain. The Floridas remain the property of Spain— The French have also promised to pay all their debts to our Countrymen. Lord Whitworth5 left Paris last night & it is thought here that war is inevitable—
My health is the same as when I wrote last— Better than when I left America but not yet reestablished—
I hear that poor Mrs McEvers6 died at Velletri on the Road to Rome— My best love to Nancy & Sally— I am my dear papa Your Affect Son
Peter Augustus Jay
John Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 06111). Addressed: “John Jay Esqr / to the Care of / Peter Jay Munro Esqr / New York”. Endorsed.
1. PAJ to JJ, 3 Apr. 1803, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06109); ALS, variant, NNC (EJ: 06110).
Seeking a warmer climate to improve his health, PAJ left New York bound for Leghorn aboard L’Invention, Captain Tardiff, on 27 Nov. 1802. The ship reached its destination on 7 Jan. 1803. Writing from Leghorn, PAJ informed JJ that his planned itinerary included “Rome, Naples, Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Lucca, Pisa, Florence, Perugia, and Spoletti”. In mid-April, PAJ crossed the Alps and travelled to Lyon and then Paris. Mercantile Advertiser (New York), 27 Nov. 1802; PAJ to JJ, 3 Apr. 1803, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06109); ALS, variant, NNC (EJ: 06110). See also PAJ to JJ, 4 Nov. 1802, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06105); 26 Nov., ALS, NNC (EJ: 06106); 28 Dec., ALS, NNC (EJ: 06107); 3 Jan. 1803, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06108); 14 May, below; JJ to PAJ, 31 Oct. 1802, ALS, CtY-BR (EJ: 05204); 6 Nov., ALS, CtY-BR (EJ: 05202); JJ to PJM, 13 Apr. 1803, ALS, NNMus (EJ: 00517); and Jay, Memorials of Peter A. Jay, 54–77.
Continued concerns about PAJ’s health induced him to travel to Bermuda the following winter. See PAJ to JJ, 2 Dec. 1803, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06112); 10 Feb. 1804, ALS, NNC; 6 Apr., ALS, NNC (EJ: 06118); PAJ to MJB, 2 July 1804, ALS, NNC (EJ: 11441); JJ to MJB, 27 Dec. 1803, ALS, NNC (EJ: 05942).
2. Valentine Seaman (1770–1817), Quaker physician of New York, like PAJ, was travelling to Europe for health reasons. Seaman was active in combatting infectious disease, mapping yellow fever outbreaks in New York City and practicing vaccination for smallpox.
3. TJ had appointed RRL to serve as minister to France in 1801. While carrying out his diplomatic duties, RRL was assisted by James Monroe in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase and signing a treaty on 30 Apr. 1803. See RRL to TJ, 12 Mar. 1803, and editorial note, PTJ, 40: 35–44.
4. RRL requested that PAJ carry the ratified treaty to the United States. PAJ left Le Havre with the documents on 9 June aboard the Oliver Ellsworth, Captain Henry, stopping in La Rochelle on 10 July, and arriving in New York harbor on 18 Aug. 1803. Evening Post (New York), 19 Aug. 1803; RRL to TJ, 2 June 1803, PTJ, 40: 470–74.
5. Charles Whitworth, Earl Whitworth (1752–1825), was appointed to serve as British minister to France in June 1802.
6. Ruth Hunter McEvers (1784–1803), of New York City, wife of merchant James McEvers, died in Rome on 27 Mar. 1803.