To John Jay from John Adams, 30 April 1821
From John Adams
Quincy April 30th 1821
My dear Sir—
I must beg your pardon for delay^i^ng so long the acknowledgement of your kind favour—1 you have done all that is necessary to be done with Mr Duane— The sume of the matter I suppose is— he has ploughed the Son of the Heifer in the Secretary of States Office— and procured copies of some of your communications to Congress— My letter to Jonathan Jackson, which was unfortunately and absurdly laid before Congress— I have no apprehensions of any evil that can now come of either—
My friend Mr Shaw of the Atheneum brought me up on Saturday a rememberancer, in which is your first Charge to the grand Jury as Chief Justice of New York in the year 1777— This elegant and masterly composition, however it escaped my attention in the time of it— I never saw till now— It revived a thousand painful, and as many pleasant recollections— The Snare is broken— and we have escaped— but Heaven alone knows how— The more I look back, for sixty years— the more I am astonished, and a deeper sense of gratitude I feel I am dear Sir and ever shall be— your friend, and humble Servant
John Adams
John Jay late governor of New York
LS, NNC (EJ: 05442). Endorsed: “Presidt. Adams. / 30 April / recd. 12 May 1821.” Note: “Copy Judgement / by. C. J. Jay. / the missing half sheet / with Address I sent[?] / to W. H. C. Van Schaack / who desired an / Autograph of John Adams”.
1. JJ to JA, 27 Mar. 1821, above. See also the editorial note “Jay, History, and Memory,” above.