51From John Jay to Donald Fraser Sr., 10 October 1820 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 2 d . Inst, with a Copy of the Prospectus mentioned in it. Be pleased to add my Name to your List of Subscribers for 2 Copies— I shall write by this Mail to my Son Peter Augustus Jay to pay you the Price in advance, without waiting for the Delivery of the work— Permit me to remark that you are mistaken as to my being present when the Declaration of...
52From John Jay to George Alexander Otis, 27 May 1822 (Jay Papers)
It gave me pleasure to find ^from your Letter of the 19 th Feb y —^ that my Remarks on certain Passages in the first Volume of Botta’s History had been communicated to, and approved by, M r Adams and M r . Jefferson. I On have read all the ^reading that & the other^ Volumes, and have [?] I met with its additional Passages of which I doubted the accuracy— In compliance with your Request, I...
53From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 10 June 1822 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved the Pamphlet you had the Goodness to send me relative to the Society for the Benefit of Indians; with a manuscript Note subjoined, inviting a full Communication of my views and opinions on the Subjects in question. My Health neither is, nor probably will be such, as to enable me to take comprehensive views of those Subjects, and form mature and satisfactory opinions on the...
54From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 25 January 1825 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letters of the 13 th ., & 20 th . Inst, and also the account mentioned in the latter. We all rejoice in the Recovery of your dear little promising Girl; and in the Tidings brought by William respecting her and all your Family. The Rise in the Value of real property in the City, and the Prospect of Tenants for our Houses, are agreable Circumstances— altho Rents may rise, I...
55From John Jay to Caesar Pine, 28 December 1818 (Jay Papers)
I this morning rec d . your Letter of the 24 Inst:, ^by Rob t . whom I was glad to see—^ and [ reported? ] learn from [ illegible ] that ^He tells me^ you continue sick; and with but little Prospect of soon recovering your Health. As afflictions are usually sent in Mercy, let us recieve and consider ^regard^ them accordingly— Your Son
56From John Jay to Edward Livingston, 28 July 1822 (Jay Papers)
On the 20 th . Inst. I rec d . a Copy of your Report to the General General Assembly of Louisiana, under ^a^ Cover directed to me— To whom I am indebted for it, does not appear— The Impression of the Seal, which is that of your Family, leads me to conjecture that you have had the Goodness to send it— There are various important Remarks and Reflections in it which I believe to be just— and...
57From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 25 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you the 12 th . and have rec d . your’s of the 15 Inst.— It gave me Pleasure to be informed of your attentions to M r . Vaughan & c .— and also to learn that John was going on well— William, with Augusta, M rs . Banyer, and little Ann— set out this morning to make a Visit to our Friends at Rye. I fear they will find the Roads bad—the long Spell of moderate misty Weather, has...
58From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 4 November 1822 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 31 Ult— That the Fever has abated and that there have been no Cases of it in your part of the City are agreable Circumstances— I hope Helen’s Indisposition will not be of long Continuance, and that the Health of the Rest of your Family may not be interrupted by Sickness— It will always give us pleasure to see you and them here, but let not your visits to us...
59From John Jay to Beverly Robinson, 18 February 1823 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 19 th . ult— and should have answered it sooner, had not the State of my Health confined my Attention to such affairs as would not admit of Delay. The Feeling which pervades your Letter, evinces that kind of Sensibility, which denotes the character and worth of the Heart; and it gives me pleasure to say, that its Impressions on mine are such as you wish them...
60From John Jay to Foxes & Sons, 28 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
On the 9 th . Inst. I rec d . your Letter of the 3 d . of Nov r last, informing me of the Death of M r . Robert Were Fox, the American Consul, and requesting me to recommend the appointment of his Son, ^whom you represent as well qualified,^ to succeed him , whom you represent as well qualified for it . On the 11 th . Inst. I ^wrote^ communicated this to the Secretary of State, the Information...
61From John Jay to Edward Livingston, 26 February 1823 (Jay Papers)
Your Letter of the 1 st . Dec r . came to my Hands last Month— The friendly Sentiments and Feelings it expressed in it, made correspondent Impressions; and increase the Satisfaction with which I am accustomed to recollect the many Friendship and Hospitality of Clermont— Your ^The^ Report presents certain Principles and Propositions, which I suspect have heretofore by ^been^ less known and...
62From John Jay to Richard Varick, 18 March 1826 (Jay Papers)
The honour confered on me by the Managers of the American Bible Society in placing me at the head of that institution was very sensibly felt; & the reluctance with which I accepted the office of the President, arose solely from the apprehension, that the state of my health would disqualify me from fulfilling its duties in a manner satisfactory, either to my self or others. It is to me a source...
63From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 13 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 7 th . Inst— and have heard that the Commission mentioned in it had arrived— It appears to me, as it does to you, that the opposition of the Foederalists to M r . Clinton’s party, has been increased by the Circumstance you ^allude to.^ That you should feel a Delicacy in accepting an Office from him, and immediately concur in that opposition, is natural and...
64From John Jay to Charles Gerrit De Witt, 18 August 1823 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 4 Inst, informing me that you are a Grandson of the late Col l . Charles DeWitt, and contemplate preparing a Memoir of his Life; and requesting me to communicate to you such Documents & anecdotes illustrative of his public Services during the Revolution, as I may possess. This mark of Attention to the memory of your worthy Ancestor, is commendable; and I wish...
65From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 23 September 1823 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 18 th . Inst. In what Manner it will be most expedient to employ the Money you have rec d . is a question which when you come here we will consider and decide. Nancy has rec d . from W m . the money you sent to her by him; and has repaid the Sum I had advanced to her. You do well to remind M r . Thorne of his Inattention to Punctuality—and you doubtless take...
66From John Jay to Noah Worcester, 21 June 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . and thank you for the Copy of the Memorial against privateering, and of the number of “the Friend of Peace,[”] which you had the Goodness to send me on the 1 st . Instant. The Object of the Memorial meets with my approbation, tho’ not entirely for the Reasons specified in it. The Memorial states that “Crimes of the deepest Die abound in the Land”— and that much of their...
67From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 14 January 1822 (Jay Papers)
On making the necessary Entries from your Acc t . to the 28 th . ult. I observed that on the 24 ult. you made two payments of $35 to M rs . Watkins— One of them was doubtless that which I had desired you to make— being for Interest which I had rec d . here— the other I presume was for Interest which you had rec d ., but you omitted to say from whom — I wish to know this, that I may credit it...
68From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 11 July 1820 (Jay Papers)
I hope your Brother, who set out Yesterday, had a pleasant Passage from Sinsing to New York, and found your and his Family well— I have rec d . your Letters of the 16 and 30 th . Ult— I am inclined to believe that your opinion respecting the operation of an assignment by Commissioners of Bankrupts is well founded— it is a question which I have not examined— general Principles seem to be in...
69From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 30 October 1820 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 20 Inst. I concur in your opinion that a well for the Livery Stable, had better be placed in the Street than in the Yard— Let it be made or postponed, as you may think most adviseable.— The Sums paid on assessments— the Monies applied to ordinary Expenses, and which should have been replaced at Interest, together with the Debts contracted, have so reduced my...
70From John Jay to Richard Peters, 26 December 1820 (Jay Papers)
I thank you cordially, my good and constant Friend! for your Letter of the 25 th . Ult.— it affords me no little Gratification. We grow old but our Hearts retain their Warmth.— The Perversion and Obliquity you notice, has not been recent nor unexpected— Men who are ardent in the pursuit of Influence and its Fruits; and more attentive to the Prosecution than to the Propriety of their Schemes,...
71From John Jay to Richard Peters, 12 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
My Letter to you of the 26 th . of Dec r . last, contained some Remarks relative to the Perversions and Obliquities which you had noticed, and which I observed were neither recent nor unexpected. In that Letter there was not Room for explanatory Details. Those Remarks were therefore concise and general. To supply that Deficiency is the Design of this Letter. Those Perversions and Obliquities...
72From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 13 August 1822 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 9 th . Inst. from your Acc t . of the Fever there was Reason to hope that it would soon cease. We have since heard that several new Cases had occurred, and that it would probably become more general— Perhaps this Information may be incorrect. If the Fever is spreading and cases multiplying, I think it would be prudent for Mary and the Children who are with...
73From John Jay to Richard Henry Lee, 12 February 1823 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . by the last Mail, your friendly Letter of the 30 th . ult— the principal object of which you observe, is to ob t ain from me, if I recollect minutely on the Subject, a correct account of the part which your Grandfather acted in the three leading committees appointed by the Congress of 1774— these were the Committees to prepare an address to the King of England— to the People of Great...
74From John Jay to Richard Peters, 25 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
My Eyes were lately rendered so weak by an Influenza, that I was obliged to postpone answering your friendly Letter ^of the 12 Ult:^— Of this I lately informed you by a few Lines— At present I am so nearly free from that Complaint, as to be able to resume my Pen. I have read your Letter more than once. Mutuality of friendly Feelings always affords Gratification; and the kindness which pervades...
75From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 30 March 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 26 Inst. —On that Day W m . returned, and gave us agreable accounts of you and your Family. He mentioned the Illness & Recovery of M r . Munro’s Son. By hearing of both these Circumstances at the same time, much anxiety was obviated— He is a promising boy, and I hope his Recovery will be perfect.— From the amount of the Loss sustained by the Merch ts . Bank,...
76From John Jay to Ethan A. Brown, 30 April 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved, and thank you for the interesting Report of the joint Committee of both Houses of your Legislature, relative to certain proceedings of the Bank of the United States, which you was so obliging as to send to me. Controversies between the national and a State Government, or any of their respective Departments, are to be regretted. It is desireable that the one which occasioned...
77From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 6 September 1819 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was by M r . Beebee— he left us the 26 Ult. I have rec d . your Letter of the 27 Ult.— stating that the Men who by Contract built your & Maria’s Houses, expended on them 7537 Dol rs . more than the Sum for which they agreed to build & finish them— and consequently have sustained an actual Loss to that amount. Whether you should assume that Loss or any Part of it, is a question...
78From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 16 October 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 10 th . Inst— It is to be regretted that the Temper and Proceedings of the Convention are not more promising— A constitution formed under the Influence of improper motives and Feelings may not be approved by the People, unless a majority of them should be actuated by similar Excitements. If the Divisions which it seems have taken place between leading members...
79From John Jay to James Morris, 1 November 1823 (Jay Papers)
My Son William, on his Return this week from Sinsing, delivered to me the Letter from Mr. Waln and the notes relative to your Father, which he there recieved from you for that Purpose— I have perused these Papers, and return them herewith enclosed— To the notes I can make no material additions— There are two mistakes in them, which you will easily correct— 1 st —Your uncle Rich d . was not the...
80From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 16 December 1823 (Jay Papers)
On the 13 th . Inst, I rec d . your Letter of the 28 th . ult— together with the Copy of your Report on Indian affairs— The Copy of the Constitution of “a New Society for the Benefit of Indians” the Copy of a Resolution of the American Board of Com rs . for foreign missions—and the Prospectus of the New York Observer, which you had the Goodness to send with it— Understanding that your Report...
81From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 20 May 1818 (Jay Papers)
Maria and W m . arrived on Saturday, just as the late disagreable weather commenced. She is not quite so well as she was—owing she thinks to a Cold she has taken. the approaching fine Season together with Exercise will I hope be beneficial to her. Sally’s Departure affects her greatly—it is an afflicting Privation to us all, but particularly so to her on many accounts.— This world is indeed a...
82From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 19 May 1820 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . on the 17 th . Inst. by the last mail, your friendly Letter of the 4 th .— ^Inst—^ It gives me pleasure to learn from it that we had not differed in opinion on the Subject of the late Election. It was necessary to ^consider and^ decide, for which of the two Candidates for the office of Governor, it would be most proper to vote— on weighing the Objections urged against each of them,...
83From John Jay to William Pitt Amherst, 5 September 1818 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . by the last mail from New York, the Letter which your Lordship did me the Honor to write on the 17 June last. It appears from the Post Mark that it had arrived by the Ship Telegraph, Cap t . Coffin; and that it was put into the office on the 26 th . ult.— Accept my Gratulations on your Lordship’s Return to the Bosom of your Family, and finding them in the ^in good Health, and^...
84From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 5 February 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 2 d . Inst, and am pleased and gratified with the acct. it gives of John— You say nothing of his Health— M r . Hunt will doubtless be here soon—the mistake is to be regretted— He may perhaps object to the Trouble and Expense of going to New York to finish the Business— Nancy consents to your l[e]asing her Lot for the Time, and on the Terms you mention. She...
85Address to the American Bible Society, 8 May 1823 (Jay Papers)
It gives me Pleasure to observe that this anniversary, like the preceding, brings with it Tidings which give us occasion for mutual Gratulations, and for united Thanksgivings to Him whose Blessings continue to prosper our Proceedings— These annual meetings naturally remind us of the Purposes for which we have associated; and lead us to Reflections highly interesting to those who consider what...
86Address to the American Bible Society, 9 May 1822 (Jay Papers)
Our late worthy and munificent President having, since the last Anniversary of the Society, been removed to a better State; the Board of managers were pleased to elect me to succeed him— and that the State of my Health might cease to be an Objection, they have also dispensed with my personal Attendance. For the Honor they have done me by both these Marks of Attention, it gives me Pleasure to...
87Last Will and Testament, 18 April 1829 (Jay Papers)
I, John Jay of Bedford in the county of West Chester-and State of New York being Sensible of the importance and duty of so ordering my affairs as to be prepared for death do make and declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz. Unto him who is the author and giver of all good. I render sincere and humble thanks for his manifold and unmerited blessings and especially for...
88Address to the American Bible Society, 12 May 1825 (Jay Papers)
You have the Satisfaction of percieving from the Report of the Board of Managers, that the prosperous and promising State of our affairs continues to evince the laudable and beneficial Manner in which they have been constantly conducted.— We have to regret that the pleasing Reflections and Anticipations suggested by these auspicious Circumstances, are mingled with the Sorrow which the recent...