51To John Adams from John Jay, 27 March 1821 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter to you of the 20th. Inst: I inserted a Copy of the one which on the 13th. Inst: I had written to Mr. William Duane; and promised on recieving his answer, to transmit a Copy of it to you. The last mail brought me his answer, in the words following— “Philadelphia—16th. March 1821”— “Sir Your Letter of the 13th. Inst: which you did me the honor to address to me, concerning some notes...
52From John Jay to John Adams, 27 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
In my Letter to you of the 20 th . Inst: I inserted a Copy of the one which on the 13 th . Inst: I had written to M r . William Duane; and promised on recieving his answer, to transmit a Copy of it to You. The last mail brought me his answer, in the words following— Your Letter of the 13 th . Inst, which you did me the honor to address to me, concerning some notes in the fifth volume of the...
53To John Adams from John Jay, 20 March 1821 (Adams Papers)
On the 10th., I recieved your letter of the 6th Inst: You will doubt l ess be desirous to know what I have done in Pursuance of the Advice and Request contained in it. To obviate Suspense on this head, I take this early opportunity of informing you, that on the 13th Inst, I wrote a Letter to Mr. William Duane, who published Dr. Franklin’s works at Philada. in the following words— “Sir During...
54From John Jay to John Adams, 20 March 1821 (Jay Papers)
On the 10 th ., I recieved your Letter of the 6 th Inst: You will doubtless be desirous to know what I have done in Pursuance of the advice and Request contained in it. To obviate Suspense on this head, I take this early opportunity of informing you, that on the 13 th . Inst. I wrote a Letter to M r . William Duane, who published D r . Franklin’s works at Philad a —in the following words—...
55From 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...
56To John Adams from John Jay, 27 February 1821 (Adams Papers)
On the 20th. Inst’ I recieved, and for the first Time saw, the fifth volume of Franklin’s works, published at Philadelphia. I was surprized to find in the 293d. page, a note of the Editor (Mr. William Temple Franklin) which contains a Paragraph in the following words—vizt.— “Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay had previously arrived, and in Time to share in the arduous and momentuous duties of the Mission....
57From John Jay to John Adams, 27 February 1821 (Jay Papers)
On the 20 th . Inst I recieved, and for the first Time saw, the fifth volume of Franklins Works, published at Philadelphia. I was surprized to find in the 293 d . page, a Note of the Editor (M r . William Temple Franklin) which contains a Paragraph in the following words— viz t . “M r . Adams and M r . Jay had previously arrived, and in Time to share in the arduous and momentuous Duties of the...
58From John Jay to Samuel Worcester, 27 February 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . and thank you for the Copy of M r . J. Pickerings Essay relative to the Indian Languages of North America, which you was so obliging as to send to me. Altho it is a Subject which had engaged but little of my attention, yet the name of the Author and an Impression that he was the Son of Col. Pickering, induced me to read it with more Interest than I should otherwise have done....
59From John Jay to Daniel Raymond, 13 February 1821 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . and thank you for the Book on political Economy, which you had the Goodness to send to me— It contains Destinctions and Definitions which tend to relieve this abstruse Subject from several obscurities. If those of its essential Principles which result from pertinent and indisputable Facts were clearly developed and established, they would divest this Science of many Doubts and...
60From 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...
61From 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,...
62From 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...
63From 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...
64From John Jay to Thomas Church Brownell, 4 September 1820 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . the Pamphlet respecting the Episcopal Theological Seminary, which you was so obliging as to send me— This Institution, and the place chosen for its Establishment, meet with my approbation. In appearance as much as that [?] In my opinion various Considerations concur in recommending it to the Support of Episcopalians throughout all the States. Much will depend on the zealous...
65From John Jay to George Alexander Otis, 31 July 1820 (Jay Papers)
On the 22 d . Inst. I rec d . your Letter of the 15 th . enclosing a Copy of your Proposals for publishing by Subscription your Translation of “Botta’s History of the War of American Independence”— and also the first volume of that work— They arrived at a Time when a more than ordinary Degree of Sickness had rendered both reading and writing irksome to me— Being at present less unwell, I will...
66From 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...
67From 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,...
68From John Jay to Aaron Clark, 14 February 1820 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 29 Ult. inclosing a Prospectus of a proposed Publication of “New York State Papers”— If the Collection should be sufficiently comprehensive, and the Selection be judiciously made, the work will in my Opinion be justly entitled to general Patronage— You have undertaken a Task which requires too much Research and Investigation ^and Research^ to be hastily...
69From John Jay to Elias Boudinot, 17 November 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . the copy of a circular Letter, which as Chairman of the Committee appointed by the late Public Meeting at Trenton respecting Slavery, you was pleased to direct to me on the 5 th . Instant.— Little can be added to what has been said and written on the Subject of Slavery. I concur in the opinion that it ought not to be introduced nor permitted in any of the New States; and that...
70From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 12 October 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letters of the 30 Ult & 8 Inst.— Judge Benson favored us with a visit on Saturday last, and remained with us until the Morning, when he set out for Rye.— Sundry Circumstances having occupied my Time and attention since the Rect. of your Letters, I now write to you with less deliberation respecting the assessments than would otherwise have been the case. It appears to me...
71From 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...
72From 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...
73From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 20 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 15 Inst— The Measures you have taken appear to me to have been prudent, and the Letter you wrote unexceptionable. —That many will be pleased to see you in the Station you fill, I have no Doubt; and I am also persuaded that Envy and Discontent will watch your ways.— Be prudent, and without Sollicitude leave the Results to Providence— I am glad that John was...
74From 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...
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 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...
77From 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...
78From 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...
79From John Jay to John Quincy Adams, 11 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
The last mail brought me a Letter, dated the 3 d of Nov r . last, from the House of the Mess rs . Fox at Falmouth in England; mentioning the Death of M r . Robert Were Fox, who had long been our Consul there; and who they observe had rec d . repeated Testimonies of the approbation of our Government. They express a Desire that his Son Robert, whom they represent as being a Man of “Ability...
80From 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
81From John Jay to Charles G. Haines, 27 November 1818 (Jay Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 17 Inst, together with the interesting Pamphlet respecting the Great Western Canal, arrived by the last mail from New York— accept my thanks for them both. In my opinion that ^noble^ Enterprise ^[ illegible ] not only does honor^ does credit to those by whom it was projected, and ^but also^ to those by whose Counsels and Exertions it has been adopted and [ illegible...
82From John Jay to Rufus King, 8 October 1818 (Jay Papers)
On Friday last M rs . Hamilton favored us with a Visit.— Speaking of Doct r . Mason, she observed that the State of his Health not permitting him to write the Life of General Hamilton, she had received from him the Papers which had been put into his hands for that purpose.— She expressed her Desire to have the Life written, and remarked in Substance, that she knew of no Person who was both so...
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 Jay Munro, 20 July 1818 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 17 Inst —and am pleased to find from it, that the Portrait of our excellent & common ancestor is so acceptable to you. Peter and William also have Copies of it. These Portraits will tend to remind us of our Consanguinity, and to cherish an habitual Disposition to mutual & cordial Attentions and good offices— such as you have manifested on sundry interesting...
85From 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...
86From John Jay to Samuel F. Jarvis, 4 May 1818 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for your obliging Letter of the 28 ult— The motives which prompted, and the Sentiments which are expressed in it, make correspondent Impressions on my Mind— The departure ^Removal^ of my excellent Daughter from the House of her earthly, to the House of her heavenly Father, leaves me nothing to regret or lament on her account— Her absence is nevertheless a Privation which I...
87To John Adams from John Jay, 31 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
I recd. your Letter of the 9th. by the Mail which arrived here on the 24 Instant on the Return of Mr. Son and his Sisters from their Tour thro’ the Eastern States, it gave me pleasure to learn from them, that they had paid their Respects to you—that they found you and Mrs. Adams in good Health, and that I might expect a Letter from you—that expectation induced me to postpone expressing to you...
88From John Jay to John Adams, 31 January 1818 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your Letter of the 9th by the Mail which arrived here on the 24 Instant. On the Return of M r . Son and his Sisters from their Tour thro’ the Eastern States, it gave me pleasure to learn from them, that they had paid their Respects to you that they found you and M rs . Adams in good Health, and that I might expect a Letter from you— that Expectation induced me to postpone expressing...
89From John Jay to John Clarkson Jay, 25 February 1817 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter and am pleased to find it written as well as it is. A late Letter from your Papa informed me of your Sickness and Recovery— Remember Him by whose kind Providence your Life has been preserved— and be thankful— From your translating Latin into English, I conclude that you have paid proper Attention to the latin Grammar— endeavour to learn it perfectly. Your being...
90From John Jay to Eleazar Lord, 7 February 1817 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for your obliging Letter of the 31 ult. and for the Pamphlets which were inclosed with it. I hope the The Institution of Sunday Schools is in my opinion calculated to do good extensively, and in various Respects. I hope they will ^I hope they will become more general.^ On the Subject of War and capital Punishments, my Sentiments do not altogether correspond with those of some...
91From 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
92From John Jay to James Eastburn & Company, 5 December 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 21 Oct r ., with your Proposals for to publish by Subscription “the History of the origin and first Ten Years of the British and foreign Bible Society—[”] agreable to your Request, they shall be laid before ^communicated to^ our Society at their next ensuing annual meeting, when it will be [?]in May next— They will ^probably^ [ illegible ] ^are not^ authorized...
93From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 5 November 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 1 Inst. and am indeed sorry to learn from it that M r . G. Morris was then thought to be at the point of Death— it would be an Event which I should for many Reasons greatly regret— not having as yet heard of his Decease, there seems to be some little Probability of his being still alive, and perhaps of his being convalescent.— the next mail I presume will...
94From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 28 October 1816 (Jay Papers)
Having heard much of your Discourse before the New York Historical Society, it gave me pleasure to recieve a Copy of it; and to find from the Direction that I owed it to your friendly attention. It abounds in interesting Remarks— The Diction is elevated throughout— perhaps in some Instances beyond the proportion which the Topics bear to each other. In Landscape we prefer Hill and Dale to a...
95From 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...
96From John Jay to Cave Jones, 1 October 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have reflected on the Topics on which we conversed, and agreable to my Promise, now acquaint you with the Result— Permit me to premise, that in my opinion the newly instituted ^office^ of Provost of Columbia College, which has lately become vacant, should be discontinued; & consequently that there is no Person whom I wish to see appointed to fill it. To me it appears adviseable that the...
97From John Jay to Calvin Chapin, 2 September 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 19. ult— informing me of the Time and place appointed for the next Meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for foreign Missions— Be pleased to inform me whether any Person in the City of New York has been engaged by the Board to receive Donations for them— with I am D r . Sir with Respect & Esteem Your ob t . Serv t Dft , NNC ( EJ : 08745 ). Calvin...
98From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 13 August 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 9 th . Inst— on Saturday last M r . Hach [alia] h Bailey was here, & paid the Int[eres] t . that was due— He mentioned his having intended to pay the Principal, and that a Sum to the amount ^of it,^ had probably been paid to you on his acct.; but that certain Circumstances induced him to apprehend that it would be convenient to him to postpone the Payment— It...
99From 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...
100From John Jay to Jacob I. Griswold Jr., 5 August 1816 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter——July last, and have read the Proposals for “a grand national Institution,” and also the Pamphlet ^explaining^ it which were inclosed within Whether, (if I may use the Expression) the public Mind is prepared to give competent Support to an Institution so comprehensive; and whether provision can be made for ably doing the Business assigned to each of its numerous...