John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from John Sloss Hobart, 20 November 1794

From John Sloss Hobart

New York 20th. Novr. 1794

My dear Sir

I embrace this opportunity to introduce to your notice Mr John Aspinwall, who will have the honor to deliver this letter— he is the youngest son of the late Mr. John Aspinwall of Flushing, and is going to reside for some years in Britain with the best of all possible recommendations for a merchant, a fair irreproachable character and plenty of cash—1

I drank a glass of porter and smoaked a pipe with Mrs. Jay on Saturday evening, master William took a Segar and attempted to play Papa, but his stomach was too weak, he sunk under the operation and was as sick as if he had been 500 leagues at Sea— You will naturally conclude what was the subject of our conversation— Haveing just seen an account that Mr. Bayard was appointed to go to London with power to pledge the U.S. for certain expenditures2 under your direction induced us to dispair of seeing you before the next summer, indeed I am scarce ever in company whose but the most interesting, if not the first, questions are when will Mr. Jay return? will he be in season for the next election? &c. We are amused with various accounts respecting the situation of your negotiations, all of which concur in the prospect of a fortunate termination tho’ they vary as to the progress made, it is expected the speach will aford some light on the subject in the course of a day or two—

you will be surprised to learn that I have not removed to Throggs Neck, but being obliged to build my house intirely new, it is only now habitable, and we are packing up in order to remove there next week— This circumstance added to the frequent interruptions occasioned by official applications obliges me to conclude this letter much sooner than I at first intended.

M’s. Hobart desires to be respectfully remembered to you I am with great sincerity Your most Affect hble. Servt.

Jno: Sloss Hobart

Honble John Jay Esqr.

ALS, NNC (EJ: 05677).

1John Aspinwall (c. 1705–74) was a successful sea captain and merchant. His son John (1774–1847), merchant and shipowner, was born after his father’s death. In 1794, he joined his brother Gilbert’s firm, which imported and sold at wholesale dry goods. Barrett, Old Merchants of N.Y. description begins Walter Barrett, Old Merchants of New York City (New York, 1870) description ends , 337.

2See SLJ to JJ, 11 Nov. 1794, above, note 1, for news of Bayard’s departure.

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