To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 2 January 1801
From Peter Augustus Jay
New York 2d Jany. 1801
Dr. Papa
Since my last Letter1 I have not had the Pleasure of recg. any from you, nor even of hearing from other sources of Mama’s Health—2 I hope however that the mild weather which has lately prevailed has contributed to restore it— Mr Munro who returned a few Days since from Rye mentions that Uncle was well— He has dined by Invitation at Mr Pintards3 which I believe he has never done with any one ^in the Country^ before since [illegible] since the war— He has been near parting with Ben Gidney4 who gave himself some Airs ^behaved with some impropriety^, but this breach has been made up & Gidney will continue with him— S. Youngs has been some time in town procuring blanks of different Kinds— He left it today & means to demand the seal of Mr. Pell, who I am in hopes will give it up ^deliver it to him but will not improbably detain^.5 The Papers & Records it is not improbable he will detain for some time at least in order for the purpose of having them put in better order— their Situation being at present such that as may well make him ashamed to deliver them.
The event of the Election6 & the french Treaty7 are still the common & almost only topics of Conversation—Genl. Hamilton ^it is said^ exerts himself to ensure the Ratification of the Treaty & the Election of Mr. Jefferson.
I can hardly congratulate you on your new appointment; to accept it will be contrary to all your Views & wishes, & yet perhaps it may not be pleasant to decline—8 I should suppose however that after so many Years ^of^ laborious service you have fully discharged your Duty to your Country & may justly claim as your right the enjoyment of quiet & Repose.9 That these may be your Lot for very many Years is the sincere wish of your Affect. son
P.A.J.
DftS, CtY-BR (EJ: 05199). Endorsed: “Dr. Letter to papa / N.Y. 2d Jany. 1801”.
2. For the illness of SLJ, see JJ to PAJ, 8 Dec., ALS, NNC (EJ: 11453); 18 Dec. 1800, above; and PAJ to JJ, 11 Dec. 1800, above.
3. John Pintard of Newark, N.J.
4. Possibly Benjamin Gedney (1761–1805) of Rye, N.Y.
5. Samuel Youngs (1760–1839), of Mount Pleasant, was appointed as surrogate for Westchester County, replacing Philip Pell Jr. (1753–1811), of Pelham Manor, who had held this post since 1787. N.Y. Civil List, 100. See also PAJ to JJ, 23 Dec. 1800, Dft, NNC (EJ: 11452).
6. The presidential election of 1800 pitting TJ, then vice-president, and his running mate, AB, against the incumbent JA and his running mate, Charles C. Pinckney, resulted in a victory for the Republicans who received 73 electoral votes to their opponents’ 65 votes. Yet due to a procedural oversight, the Electoral College ended up in a tie with TJ and AB receiving the same number of votes. A deciding special vote in the House of Representatives, with intensive campaigning by both parties, gave TJ the presidency after holding 36 ballots. For more on this controversy, see “The Electoral Tie of 1801,” PAB, 1: 481–87; “Jefferson’s Reports of Balloting in the House of Representatives,” PTJ, 32: 578–79; and AH to Theodore Sedgwick, 4 May 1800, PAH, 24: 444–52.
7. The Treaty of Môrtefontaine.
8. For JJ and his appointment as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, see the editorial note “Jay Declines a Second Appointment as Chief Justice,” above.
9. For JJ’s retirement following his two terms as governor, see the editorial note “Retreat from Public Life,” below.