51From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 16 August 1809 (Jay Papers)
I this Morning rec d . your Letter of the 9 inst. with the interesting sermon which it enclosed; and I thank you for them both. A well arranged and well researched ^proper^ History of the U.S. would have much to recommend it, and in some respects, it would be singular ^or unlike all others^ It would develop the Great Plan of Providence for causing this extensive and (these) undiscovered part...
52From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 18 April 1809 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your Letter by W m ., and am happy in having rec d . so favourable an Acc t . respecting Maria— it corresponds with the Information given me by Wil m .— He also mentioned in strong Terms, your friendly attentions to him. I am much less unwell than I have been, but my Strength returns slowly— The Report you sent me, I have read— it certainly contains some valuable Provisions.—...
53From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 2 March 1812 (Jay Papers)
It is said that the manufacturing Company at Mamaroneck, have applied to the Legislature for an Act to empower them (on paying Damages) to overflow and drown as much of the adjacent Farms, and without the Consent of the owners, as may be necessary to make a Pond, that will afford a more ample Supply of water, than they can otherwise obtain there. The Country abounds in plentiful Streams— Why...
54From John Jay to John Murray Jr., 12 October 1816 (Jay Papers)
Accept my good Friend tha my thanks for your kind Letter of the 22 ult and for the Pamphlets enclosed in ^with it^, which ^they^ came to my Hands on the 2 Inst. The state of my Health is such, that I can read or write but little at a Time without Fatigue; and therefore I cannot prudently venture on the Task you recommend— Whether war of every Description is prohibited by the Gospel, is one of...
55From John Jay to Richard Peters, 21 November 1810 (Jay Papers)
Among the news papers &c. brought to me last week from the post office, I found a Packet directed to me in your handwriting— it enclosed no Letter, but it enclosed no bad Substitute for one. On reading it I was pleased with the Information and Pleasantry which run thro’ it. I was a little surprised to find that you had given up old wine and apician Dishes; from whence I learn, that wit will...
56From John Jay to Richard Peters, 9 January 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 25 Nov r — Altho the Privations you voluntarily submit to, exceed the “ne quid nimis” of the wise men, yet they evince a sound mind, and will I hope tend to preserve it long in a sound Body. My Inquiries respecting Speltz were in Terms too general. To sow wheat here, is like taking a Ticket in a Lottery—more blanks than prizes—the Fly destroys more than we...
57From John Jay to Richard Peters, 29 March 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 14 th . ult., and also the Book on Plaister of Paris, which you was so obliging as to send me, and for which accept my thanks— Your Letter conveyed to me the first and only information I have received, that a copy of President Washington’s valedictory address, had been found among the papers of General Hamilton, and in his handwriting; and that a certain...
58From John Jay to Richard Peters, 23 April 1811 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . by the last mail your Letter of the 14 Inst:— Between the Date of mine to You of the 29 ult, and the arrival of yours of the 11 Inst, I was taken with a sore throat— it prevailed in the Neighbourhood, as was thought to be epidemic— As the Inflamation abated, a severe cough came on. I am getting better slowly, but am very feeble; tho’ less so than I was in April last. As to the...
59From John Jay to Richard Peters, 24 July 1809 (Jay Papers)
Soon after recieving your letter of the 18 Sept r . last, I was called to Albany by the Death of the only remaining Child of my Daughter; whose Grief for the Loss of her Son and of her Husband, was still fresh and severe.— I returned on the 3 d . of Nov r . with a Pain on my Side, which the Doct r . ascribed to an obstruction in the Liver. The Complaint increased, and kept me in close...
60From John Jay to Richard Peters, 9 January 1815 (Jay Papers)
It is a great while since any Letters have passed between us— perhaps some of them have miscarried. The Season reminds me that I have survived the last year, and that I have left with it a great number who enjoyed more Health and Strength. Many friendly wishes have as usual been reciprocated on this occasion, but it seems to be questionable, whether an average proportion of them will be...
61From John Jay to Richard Peters, 14 March 1815 (Jay Papers)
On reading your interesting Letter of the 19 th . of Jan y . I observed with particular pleasure, from the matter and manner of it, that notwithstanding the winter of Life and Snow falling on your Head, you endure like an Evergreen. Your Impression that “we should e’re long have Peace,” has been verified. If I remember right, you had heretofore an Impression that Spain, altho’ her case was...
62From John Jay to Richard Peters, 16 October 1811 (Jay Papers)
It was not until this Day, that I rec d . your Letter of the 5 Inst — owing to some Derangement in the post office, the two last mails did not come before Yesterday. It gives me pleasure to learn that your Health continues good—may it long continue so— mine is at present somewhat better— The Day before yesterday, my Son William returned from Rye. He found there the two Sheep you mention, safe...
63From John Jay to Richard Peters, 26 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
After lingering thro’ the Summer, I found my Disorder gradually returning in the Autumn. Since the middle of Nov r . I have been confined to the House; but have as yet suffered less this winter, than I did the last. At Times however, I seemed to be approaching that State in which “a Grasshopper is a Burden”. When I took up my Pen, it was not because it was pleasant, but because it was...
64From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you by the last mail — On the 10 Aug t . 1782 Doct r . Franklin & myself waited on C[oun] t . De Vergennes, and a Conference between him and us, on the subject of Oswalds Commission ensued. The Count declared his opinion that we might proceed to treat with M r . Oswald under it— & c .— I observed that it would be descending from the Ground of Independence to treat under the...
65From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 26 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
The last Mail brought me both your obliging Letters — At this Moment I am constrained to write in Haste — When the present Governm t . was organized there were many interesting Papers of the former Congresses in the Hands of their Secretary M r . Thompson— there was a secret Journal as well as a public one— I presume that the Heads of the Departm ts . rec d . from him the papers appertaining...
66From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 12 February 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 5 th Inst. requesting Information respecting the Aids afforded us by Spain in our revolutionary war. These come under two Heads—viz— those which preceded my leaving this Country for Spain in 1779—and those which were afterward rec d. — Your Letter relates only to the former— As to the first— In a Letter to me from the Count de Florida Blanca, dated the 24 Feb,...
67From John Jay to John Brodhead Romeyn, 12 June 1816 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 1 st . Inst., informing me that I had been elected one of the Vice Presidents of the American Bible Society, arrived by the last mail— I rejoice in the Institution of that national Society, and assure the Board of managers, that I am very sensible of the Honor they have done me, in thus connecting me with it.— The Events and Circumstances under which such Societies have been...
68From John Jay to William H. Sackett, 29 July 1816 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay presents his Comp ts . to Doct r . Sackett— Dick went lately to N. York in the Expectation of being rec d . and cured in the Hospital— The Doctors there, finding his Complaints to be a Fistula and an infection of the Lungs, were of the opinion— that if the Discharge from the Fistula was dried up, the other Disorder ^complaint in his Lungs^ might prove fatal;— that his Lungs ^and...
69From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 28 July 1812 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . on Saturday last, your friendly Letter of the 20 th . Inst. No Event that is highly interesting to our Country, can be viewed with Indifference by good Citizens; and there are certain occasions when it is not only their Right, but also their Duty to express their Sentiments relative to public measures. As the War has been constitutionally declared, the People are evidently bound to...
70From John Jay to John Sinclair, 8 August 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the papers which you was so obli[ging as to send] me— accept my Thanks for them. Gratitude is due to thos[e who employ their] Time and Talents in promoting the common Welfare. Y[our exertions to improve] agriculture, and render it more productive, are known and [acknowledged. The] Paper on “Mildew in Wheat” I have sent to New York, to be pub [lished. The] multitude of...
71From John Jay to Philip Smith, 7 January 1817 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay understanding ^presents his Comp ts . to M r . Ph. Smith—^ Being informed that M r . Ph Smith is authorized to recieve and give Certificates for Taxes on Carriages in this Town, ^M r Jay^ subjoins a List of his Carriage being the same which he had the last Year ; and sends by the Bearer the Am t . of the Taxes on them, as will appear from the Certificates he then rec d
72From John Jay to Horatio Gates Spafford, 20 October 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have had the pleasure of recieving your Letter of the 22 r . Ult, and also the Copy of your Gazetteer which you was so obliging as to leave with my Son for me; and for which I thank you. On hearing that it was published, I had a copy purchased for my own use— I shall place one in our Town Library, and dispose of some others in the manner most likely to excite attention. As yet I have rather...
73From John Jay to Mary Stansbury, 16 February 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your obliging Letter of the 9 th . Inst— In my opinion th ey ^Ladies^ who suggested and established the orphan asylum, merit great commendation. It gave me pleasure to learn that much good was already resulting from that ^benevolent Institution—^ May it long continue to recieve, not only the Blessings of those who are ready to perish! but also of Him , who commands us to relieve...
74From John Jay to Noah Webster Jr., 11 May 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have lately rec d . a Set of the Panoplist— and in the fifth volume have found, and for the first Time read, an address from you to the Friends of Literature; and also a Prospectus of your new Dictionary, in which a Subscription to that work is proposed. I had heard of the proposed Subscription, but not of the Circumstances and Reasons which appear in the address— Be pleased to inform me,...
75From John Jay to William Wilberforce, 8 November 1809 (Jay Papers)
On the 28 ult. I rec d . your Letter of the 1 st . of Aug t . last, and I thank you for it, and for the Pamphlets enclosed with it.— It was not without Surprize and Regret that I percieved from it, that my Letter to you of the 14 April 1806, in answer to your’s of the 7 Nov r . 1805, had never come to your hands; and it appeared to me the more singular, as a Duplicate was also sent. As they...
76From John Jay to William Wilberforce, 25 October 1810 (Jay Papers)
On the 13 th . Inst. I rec d . and read with great pleasure, your interesting and friendly Letter of the 18 July last. There are several Topics in it, on which I should like to converse with you— they shall be noticed in some future Letters. As I cannot write or read much at a time, without fatigue, I shall confine myself at present to the one, on which you express a wish to know my...
The Vestry having deliberately heard and examined the Witnesses relative to the Reports in Circulation respecting M r . Feltch, together with his allegations and Remarks touching the same; proceeded to take the whole matter into Consideration: And having maturely and dispassionately considered it, they are of opinion, and do Resolve— That the Expressions used by M r . Feltch to M r . John F....
78From John Jay to The Wardens and Vestry of the United Episcopal Church of Bedford and North Castle, 14 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
The Candor and openness which you have a Right to expect, and which I have observed, in all my Transactions with you; render it proper in my opinion, that I should communicate to You, a Letter which I have lately written to Bishop Moore.— I therefore subjoin a copy of it. I am Gentlemen with great Respect your ob t . Serv t . The Church Wardens and Vestry of the United Epscopal Church—at...
79Exegesis of Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 3 [c. 1813] (Jay Papers)
Men have universally and in all Ages agreed and concurred in ascribing Light to the Instrumentality of the Sun Moon and Stars, and yet Moses assures us that Light was made before any of those Luminaries were created— How is this contradictory apparent contradiction to be reconciled to Truth? I never doubted the Fact as asserted by Moses— the Difficulty was how to account for it— If a...