From John Jay to John Oothout, 4 October 1798
To John Oothout
Albany 4. Octr. 1798
Sir.
I have been favd. with yours of the 24. Ult.1 and should have written to you frequently had anything sufficiently interesting occurred. All accounts from New York represent the City as being in a Melancholy situation; and great credit is to those who like you and others are doing every thing in their power to mitigate the common calamity. Altho the Fever will probably cease before the middle of next month, yet every exertion should be made to remove whatever may engender or encrease its extension or its virulence: and I flatter myself that the powers vested in you by Law for those purposes will continue to be executed, not only with prudence but also with promptitude and firmness.2 With Sentiments of esteem and regard I remain Sir Your most obt. Servt:
John Oothout Esqr. Chairman of the Comrs. of the Health Office—
LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03172).
1. Letter not found.
2. JJ wrote this letter in the midst of New York’s worst yellow fever epidemic. See the editorial note “John Jay and the Yellow Fever Epidemics,” above. See also JJ to John Oothout and the Health Office, 20 Nov. 1798, below.