1To John Jay from William Coleman, 14 May 1817 (Jay Papers)
You probably have seen a controver[s]y in the Herald respecting the authorship of the respective individuals who contribute to The Fœderalist. The correspondent of the National Intelligencer claims for M r . Madison several, I believe, nearly 30 numbers, that we have always been led to suppose were written by Hamilton, & upon his own authority; were written & one number, that we have always...
2To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 25 July 1817 (Jay Papers)
On Friday last I was in court from Morning till 9 oClock at Night engaged in the trial of a Man who ^was^ indicted for an attempt to export a Cargo of Negroes to Georgia, which is now an offence punishable with Imprisonment for not more than 14 years— He was convicted— This trial prevented my writing to you by the last Mail— James Hamilton has shown me a letter from M rs . Gouverneur Morris to...
3From John Adams to John Jay, 9 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry, by William Wirt of Richmond Virginia has been Sent to me by Mr Shaw of the Atheneum. My Family are reading it to me every Evening, and though We have not finished it, We have proceeded far enough to excite an earnest desire to know your Opinion of it There is a Section fourth, page 108. a passage which no Man now living but yourself can...
4To John Jay from John Adams, 9 January 1818 (Jay Papers)
Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry, by William Wirt of Richmond Virginia has been Sent to me by M r Shaw of the Atheneum. My Family are reading it to me every Evening, and though We have not finished it, We have proceeded far enough to excite an earnest desire to know your Opinion of it. There is in Section fourth, page 108. a passage which no Man now living but yourself can...
5To John Jay from Noah Worcester, 6 February 1818 (Jay Papers)
I have received both your letters relating to mine of Jan 2nd. But prior to the arrival of either I was under a necessity of printing yours of Nov. 12, or of excluding it from No XI. The paragraph I had mentioned is printed; but on reading your letter again after I had written, I thought it would not be proper for me to publish Mr Lords opinion of the Editor of the Friend of Peace. I therefore...
6To John Jay from John Clarkson Jay, 23 February 1818 (Jay Papers)
J’espere que vous et toute la famille etes bien. Je regarde d’avance avec bien deplaisir a L’approche d’avril et Je desire le plaisir De vous voir. Ditez moi dans votre prochaine lettre quand ma tante Nancy va venir a la ville vivre avec ma tante Marie. Je lis Telemaque et Je m’ en vais Commencer Cæsar au prim^i^er de mars. Donnez mon amour a la tante Nancy et toute la famille. Je reste votre...
7To John Jay from John Murray Jr., 9 April[–19 May] 1818 (Jay Papers)
I am induced to address thee on a subject which has heretofore interested thy feelings, and which, as a philanthropist, and Christian, I presume still continues to claim thy consideration? It is in relation to the African Race, whose cause thou early advocated, by being the first President of the Society for promots the manumission of Slaves, and for protecting such of them as were, or should...
8To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 22 April 1818 (Jay Papers)
Sister Sallys Troubles are all ended. It has pleased God to take her to himself. She expired this Afternoon about half past three oClock. She retained her Senses to the last, knew her Situation & was perfectly composed & tranquil. M r Milnor prayed with her a short time before she died. May God comfort you my dear father, I am your Affectionate Son, Maria & Nancy are as well as can be...
9To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 30 October 1818 (Jay Papers)
Maria & Nancy arrived in town yesterday & are not the worse for their ride. I have rec d your letter of the 26 th . ins t which they brought & have the one to Lord Amherst to the Post Office to go by the packet. I shall observe your Directions concerning the Lisbon Wine. I was sorry I could see so little of William when he was here during the whole time that he was in town & indeed ever since...
10To John Jay from Foxes & Sons, 3 November 1818 (Jay Papers)
It is with the deepest concern that we beg to trouble thee on the occasion of the death of our highly valued relative Robert Were Fox, who has ever since the time of American Independance held the situation of Consul in this and the neighbouring ports, with the entire approbation of the American Government, of which he has received repeated testimonies. We have now to request that thee wilt be...
11To John Jay from Charles G. Haines, 17 November 1818 (Jay Papers)
I do myself the pleasure, to send you my publication, concerning the Western and Northern Canals, in this State, written and published at the request of the New York Corresponding Association, for the promotion of Internal Improvements. In doing this, I cannot but congratulate a Statesman, so distinguished and venerable as yourself, among the Fathers of our Republic, that you have lived to see...
12To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 December 1818 (Jay Papers)
Since I wrote to you last some of the Committee of M r Freys Congregation have called on me for the purpose of buying ground on which to build a Church— I have asked them $7000 for three lots on Walker Street, & I have told them a part of the money must be paid down & that the Residue must be secured not only by a Mortgage on the premises, but also by personal Security, so that it may not be...
13To John Jay from Richard Peters, 12 December 1818 (Jay Papers)
Although our correspondence is rare, my most sincere regards for you are uninterrupted. I have outlived, & so have you, so many old friends & contemporaries, that the very few left me are the more valuable for their scarcity. New acquaintances I make the most of; but old & valued friends delight me with solid enjoyments, more easily felt than described. And yet, in what is called society, a...
14To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 28 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d your letter of the 25 th . inst. & am happy to hear that Nancys Health has improved and that Maria is well enough to go to Rye. I am sorry for the Death of Major Lyons but hope that his sufferings have been attended with a Blessing. I know very little of what is going forward at Albany, but fear that the federalists in the assembly are driving Bargains in a manner not very...
15To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 19 February 1819 (Jay Papers)
I left our Friends well at Rye & came to town on Wednesday. Little Mary has entirely recovered, & all our Family are well. William his sitting for his Picture & expects to return in a few days. In the mean time he has sent back the waggon to Rye. Anna is better & Augusta very well. M r . Munros Children have all recovered from the Scarlet Fever. A Dinner or Ball is to be given here to Gen l ....
16To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 18 March 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 16 th . inst. & am truly concerned that Maria’s Health is again worse— Augusta has I suppose returned to day. Yesterday the Weather was so severe that I advised her to remain. I will subscribe for you to the American & Columbian. The former I find is pretty generally disapproved. M r Eddy this morning sent for me & shewed me a letter from the Governor saying...
17To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 1 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
Col. Pickering called on me last Sunday & breakfasted with me on Monday. He was going that Day in Stage as far as Stamford where he intended to hire a horse & ride over to Bedford to visit you. I mention this because the weather was such as probably prevented him from putting his Intention in Execution. M r Eddy this Morning shewed me a letter from the Governor in which he says that M r Jays...
18To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 7 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
The Governors Secretary called on me this Morning & told me that he had just arrived from Albany; that the Council of Appointment was to meet on the Day he left that city, & that he was authorized to tell me that I would at that Meeting be appointed Recorder. This Intelligence which a short time since would not have been unwelcome, is at present a little embarrassing. Since the Appointment of...
19To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 15 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 13 th . & am very much obliged to you for it. It was necessary however to decide before I rec d it. Upon further reflection the same Reasons occurred to me which have weighed with you— I thought it prudent also to consult some of the principal federal Gentlemen who thought that I ought to accept— & that during the election it would be unnecessary & improper in...
20To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 20 May 1819 (Jay Papers)
I sent by Mary Delavans bond & c but had not time to write by her. A M r Honeywell called & told me that he had proposed to give a new Mortgage in lieu of Delavans & that you had referred him to me. I believe that Delavans bond is perfectly secure, but as he is not in the habit of paying his Debts voluntarily & is now deeply indebted to the Mechanics bank who will probably press him for money,...
21To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 17 September 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have not yet rec d any letters from Bedford by the last Mail, tho it is possible they may be now at my Office in Wall Street, to which I have not time to send before the hour at which I must be at the City Hall. On Monday last I wrote you a short letter & sent it to Clarks to be forwarded, communicating the intelligence that Mary had a daughter on Sunday— Both the Mother & Child are doing...
22To John Jay from Elias Boudinot, 5 November 1819 (Jay Papers)
We have the pleasure of transmitting to you, a Copy of the proceedings of a Meeting held at Trenton; the objects of which are sufficiently explained in the Resolutions adopted—we can truly assure you, that whether we consider the number of the persons present, or their individual importance, a more respectable assembly has never been convened in this State: whether the subject of those...
23To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 30 March 1820 (Jay Papers)
Mary has rec d . a charming letter from Sister Nancy. She desires us to make Inquiries concerning Jenny who has run away, & we will do all we can to discover what has become of her. I regret very much to learn that Maria has lately been worse. Hers has been for a long time a life of suffering. Little Maria too Nancy writes, is thin & delicate. I am truly sorry for this both on her Account &...
24To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 12 May 1820 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 9 th . ins t . I know nothing of the management of the Canal Company. The Dividends have been as you mention. I will ask M r Eddy whether they are to be annual or how otherwise. I have received your Watch of M r Sedgwick & will send it by Calhoun put up in the box which Maria provided for it. I have purchased for you at the place you directed a Lottery Ticket...
25To John Jay from Richard Peters, 25 November 1820 (Jay Papers)
Every occurrence in which you have shared, or originated, seems by some strange perversion to be misunderstood, or misstated, by the present generation, when some favorite individual, or topic, induces the obliquity. Although I give M r Adams his full share of merit in the affair of the Compte de Vergenne’s maneuvring with the british administration on the subject of our treaty of 1783; yet I...
26From John Adams to John Jay, 6 March 1821 (Adams Papers)
The sight of your hand writing and your name is to me a cordial for low Spirits. I wish I could give you a specimen of mine as beautifully written; but a pen will not obey the command of my paralytick nerves—The 5th Vol: of Dr. Franklin’s works, mentioned in your kind letter of 27th February, I have never seen, nor any preceding Vol: except the first. What the Editor Mr: William Temple...
27To John Jay from John Adams, 6 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
The sight of your hand writing and your name is to me a cordial for low spirits. I wish I could give you a Specimen of mine as beautifully written; but a pen will not obey the command of my paralytick nerves. The 5 th Vol: of D r . Franklin’s works, mentioned in your Kind letter of 27 th . February. I have never seen, nor any preceding Vol: except the first. What the Editor M r . William...
28To John Jay from Richard Peters, 20 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
It is always to me a most gratifying cordial, & delightful antidote to the “ills that flesh is heir to” when I receive an affectionate remembrance from an old & highly valued friend. There are so few left of those we loved in “olden times”, that it seems as if, like other precious commodities, they become the more estimable, in proportion to their scarcity. When I wrote to you on the subject...
29From John Adams to John Jay, 31 March 1821 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20th. your letter to Mr Duane comprehends every thing necessary to be said upon this occasion, and I presume will remove all difficulties— I congratulate you on the firmness of your nerves fully demonstrated by your hand writing, the beauty and firmness of which is equal to the best of your former days mine are so debilitated that I can neither write—or...
30To John Jay from John Adams, 31 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 20 th your letter to M r Duane comprehends every thing necessary to be said upon this occasion, and I presume will remove all difficulties— I congratulate you on the firmness of your nerves fully demonstrated by your hand writing, the beauty and firmness of which is equal to the best of your former days Mine are so debilitated that I can neither write— or...
31From John Adams to John Jay, 30 April 1821 (Adams Papers)
I must beg your pardon for delaying so long the acknowledgement of your kind favour—you have done all that is necessary to be done with Mr Duane—The sume of the matter is I suppose is—he has ploughed the Son of the Heifer in the Secretary of States Office—and procured copies of some of your communications to Congress—My letter to Jonathan Jackson, which was unfortunately and absurdly laid...
32To John Jay from John Adams, 30 April 1821 (Jay Papers)
I must beg your pardon for delay^i^ng so long the acknowledgement of your kind favour— you have done all that is necessary to be done with M r Duane— The sume of the matter I suppose is— he has ploughed the Son of the Heifer in the Secretary of States Office— and procured copies of some of your communications to Congress— My letter to Jonathan Jackson, which was unfortunately and absurdly laid...
33To John Jay from Maria Jay Banyer, 3 May 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have this moment recieved with the most grateful pleasure yours & Augusta’s & Maria’s affectionate letters & must beg you to accept my thanks & offer them to my Sister & Niece. I have doubly enjoyed the fine weather of the last week, in the hope that it had released you from your long confinement to the house, & was disappointed on hearing from Augusta that you had only walked on the Piazza;...
34From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1821 (Adams Papers)
I received, last night your kind favour of the 7th. Your design of writing to Mr Duane for Copies of our “very Short journals” as he calls them, is judicious, and all that is necessary. I am under no concern about Mr Duane’s Extracts or Copies, because Congress has ordered our Journals to be printed and they are in a course of publication. Although I am ashamed of mine, yet I know that Shame...
35To John Jay from John Adams, 13 May 1821 (Jay Papers)
I received, last night your kind favour of the 7 th . Your design of writing to M r Duane for Copies of our “very Short journals” as he calls them, is judiceous, and all that is necessary. I am under no concern about M r Duane’s Extracts or Copies, because Congress has ordered our Journals to be printed and they are in a course of publication. Although I am ashamed of mine, yet I know that...
36From John Adams to John Jay, 19 June 1821 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind favour of the 11th. which I have this moment received, and Soon determined that an acknowledgement of it should not be So long delayed. You have done, with dignity and propriety all that can be done. A publication of your letters to Mr Duane and his Answers would place him in a ridiculous light. But Duane Cobbet and Calender are Such excentric Characters that it Seems...
37To John Jay from Maria Jay Banyer, 19 June 1821 (Jay Papers)
I had a very comfortable ride to Rye & found Aunt remarkably well, she & Helen were mutually delighted to see each other, Aunt & Effy both wish to keep her there— They went with me after dinner to M r . Munro’s after paying a short visit I proceeded to M r . Watts’s & spent the evening agreably with Matilda— M r . Watts was out electioneering until 11 O’Clock— it is thought Brother will be...
38To John Jay from John Adams, 19 June 1821 (Jay Papers)
I thank you for your kind favour of the 11 th , which I have this moment received, and soon determined that an acknowledgement of it should not be so long delayed. You have done, with dignity and propriety all that can be done. A publication of your letters to M r Duane and his answers would place him in a ridiculous light. But Duane Cobbet and Calender are Such excentric Characters that it...
39To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 October 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have received your letter of the 25 Sept. & another from Mary of the 1 st . inst. mentions that she & the children were at New York & that Nancy & Aunt Symmes had arrived & were well. I saw less of Nancy here than I could have wished, but she left this city in better health, than she was in when she came, I wish it may continue to improve—& that Marias might also change for the better....
40To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 10 October 1821 (Jay Papers)
Our prospects here grow more unpleasant The more violent members of the Convention begin to act more in a body & to gather strength. They have held at least one caucus. Upon the whole there is a good deal of bad feeling & I should not be surprized if something very violent should be attempted in relation to the judiciary. This will probably depend upon the likelyhood of its succeeding—& of...
41To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 28 October 1821 (Jay Papers)
You have already heard that Mary has given you another Grandson. I left Albany yesterday & arrived here this Morning & finding all well shall return tomorrow. M r Munro’s Daughter Frances had a son on the same day with Mary. The Convention will I hope adjourn in about a week. Since I wrote you last it has been occupied with the Judiciary. The first attack made upon it was a proposition to...
42To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 15 November 1821 (Jay Papers)
The Convention adjourned on Saturday & I immediately went on Board the Steam Boat & arrived here on Sunday Morning. You will see the new Constitution in the Newspapers. Many of the democratic members were dissatisfied with it, but did not dare to seperate from their party— I think it chief defects are making the right of suffrage universal, rendering the Judges of the Supreme Court dependent,...
43To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 22 November 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 20 th . instant. Since I wrote to you last Mary’s Cough has increased & I am not without anxiety concerning it. During the first part of her confinement she was so well that she was perhaps she was not sufficiently prudent. The Child is quite hearty. I am happy that Marias Complaints are more moderate & hope she will pay us a visit. I understand that the new...
44From John Adams to John Jay, 18 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
I have received with more pleasure than I can express and with something too much like envy which I detest, your well-known correct exact hand writing of the 11 of this month and with equal gratitude your noble present of the journal of Debates &ca the N.Y State convention. Although this respectable volume is printed in a so small a type that it will be impossible for me ever to read it I will...
45To John Jay from John R. Hudson, 10 May 1822 (Jay Papers)
I trust the following explanation of my motives in addressing you, will offer a sufficient excuse for an intrusion on your time, and your public and private engagements, which as a Stranger I should not under other circumstances ^have^ presumed on; I shall not therefore tresspass on your indulgence by any labored apology.— A short time since I accidentally heard that some property of the late...
46To John Jay from Sarah Morris, 18 May 1822 (Jay Papers)
Many years ago I was induced by my brother Col. Morris to execute a paper touching some of the privileges secured to me by the will of my father, the tenor of which has escaped my memory— My affection for my brother which remains undiminished, and Confidence in his equity is such, that in signing the instrument, I could not suppose it deprived me without an equivalent of any of the rights...
47To John Jay from Edward Livingston, 1 December 1822 (Jay Papers)
On my return to this place, I had the honor to receive your Letter of the 28 th July last,— acknowledging the receipt of a Pamphlet which I took the Liberty to address to you. Aware of the dignified manner in which you had voluntarily abstracted yourself from public concerns, I should not have offered, any disquisition of a merely political nature, as one that would have afforded you...
48To John Jay from Beverly Robinson, 19 January 1823 (Jay Papers)
Knowing as I think I do my own heart, and the Impression which an Act of kindness has never failed to make upon it, I am utterly at a loss to account for my long silence to you upon a subject on which I should have spoken many years ago— Month after Month and Year after Year have I intended to visit you, and express an Obligation, which, I lament to say, you have every reason to suppose I...
49To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 9 May 1823 (Jay Papers)
We went very comfortably to Rye the Day we left you, and the next Day finding that no Stage passed toward New York, Aunt was so good as to send us to town in her chariot. Maria is certainly not worse for her ride. The annual Meeting of the Bible Society was held yesterday, & your address was very well read by D r Milnor. M r Clinton moved a resolution for thanks to you, & did it very...
50From John Adams to John Jay, 4 July 1823 (Adams Papers)
The excellent president, governor, ambassador and chief justice, John Jay, whose name, by accident, was not subscribed on the declaration of independence , as it ought to have been, for he was one of its ablest and faithfulest supporters. A splendid star just setting below the horizon. Printed Source--Niles’ Register..