From John Jay to the Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York (Jacob B. Taylor, John Yates Cebra, Richard Riker, and Stuart F. Randolph), 29 June 1826
To the Committee of the Corporation of the
City of New York (Jacob B. Taylor, John Yates Cebra,
Richard Riker, and Stuart F. Randolph)
Bedford June 29th: 1826
Gentlemen
I have recd: your letter of the 22nd: Inst:1 informing me that “the Corporation of the City of New York had resolved to celebrate with public demonstrations of respect & joy, the ensuing anniversary of American independence” & inviting me on behalf of the Corporation to unite with them in their congratulations on the return of this day.
I feel very grateful for the honour done me by this invitation, & request the favour of you to assure the Corporation of my gratitude for it; & of my regret that the state of my health, renders me unable to comply with their kind wishes—
I cannot forbear to embrace the opportunity afforded by the present occasion, to express my earnest hope, that the peace happiness & prosperity enjoyed by our beloved Country, may induce those who direct her national Councils to recommend a general & public return of praise & thanksgiving to Him, from whose goodness these blessings descend.
The most effectual means of securing the continuance of our civil & religious liberties, is always to remember with reverence & gratitude, the source from which they flow.
I beg you to accept my thanks for the obliging manner in which you have been pleased to allude to my public life. I have the honour Gentlemen to be with great respect Your Obedt: Servt:
Jacob B. Taylor
John Yates Cebra
R. Riker
S. F. Randolph
Esquires
Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York2
C, in WJ’s hand, NNC (EJ: 08805). Endorsed. Enclosed, WJ to Jacob Morton, 29 June 1826, C, in WJ’s hand, NNC (EJ: 08805); WJ, 1: 457–58; HPJ, 4: 476–77. Jacob Morton (1756–1837), led the New York Militia during the War of 1812 and was clerk of the New York City Council from 1809 to 1836.
1. Jacob Morton to JJ, 23 June, 1826, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09125), and The Committee of the Corporation of the City of New York to JJ, 22 June 1826, LS, NNC (EJ: 09126). The City planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and requested JJ’s presence. They wrote “By your firmness and the wisdom of your councils you eminently contributed to the glorious and happy issue, which has placed our Country in a rank with the most favored nations of the earth— Amidst the festivities, of the Anniversary which we remember your worth your Virtue and your patriotism it will add to our pleasure to reflect that you have been permitted by Providence to Witness the 50th. Return of a day so conspicuous in the annals of Freedom and also to find your beloved Country happy as a people and prosperous as a Nation—”.
2. Jacob B. Taylor (1778–1853), merchant and alderman; John Yates Cebra (1785–1855), merchant and alderman; Richard Riker, lawyer and New York City Recorder; and Stuart F. Randolph (1787–1855), merchant and alderman. On 22 May 1826, Alderman Taylor proposed that “a Committee be appointed to make arrangements for celebrating the ensuing Anniversary in a manner becoming the occasion it being the fiftieth or half centural year of our Independence—”. The original committee consisted of Riker, Cebra, Randolph, and Philip J. Arcularius (d. 1844), son of the late assistant alderman, Philip J. Arcularius Sr. (1747–1825). MCCCNY, 15: 440.