William Jay to Timothy Pickering, 24 June 1826
William Jay to Timothy Pickering
Bedford June 24th: 1826
Sir
My Father’s health not permitting him to answer your letter of last Month1 in his own hand, he has desired me to acknowledge the receipt of it, together with Dr: Holmes’s Memoir & letter which accompanied it.2 My Father did not know, till informed by your letter, that your Son Henry was a resident in New York, & he requests you to assure him, that should he find it convenient to visit Bedford, the esteem felt for the Father, will be manifested in the welcome the Son will receive, from every member of the family3
I embrace this opportunity of returning you my thanks for the very able & interesting remarks on Mr. Knights theory which you were so good as to send me. With Sentiments of great esteem: I have the honour &c
The Hon: Timothy Pickering—
C, in WJ’s hand, NNC (EJ: 08804). Endorsed.
2. In this letter, TP enclosed a letter (not found) from the Reverend Abiel Holmes (1763–1837) and his A Memoir of the French Protestants, Who Settled at Oxford, in Massachusetts (Cambridge, 1826). Holmes, a prominent Boston Congregational minister, wrote several histories. In his letter to JJ, he apparently asked JJ about “secret journals” kept by Francis Dana. In WJ’s reply to Holmes [22 June 1826, C, NNC (EJ: 08044)] he reported: “My Father being entirely unacquainted with the Journal & MSS of Judge Dana, referred to in your letter, is of course unable to judge of the authenticity & contents of the document which you call his ’secret Journal’ & which he understands from your letter, is ’preserved in those papers.’ He is therefore restrained from sanctioning by the permission you request, the publication of extracts from that document.”
3. Henry Pickering (1781–1831), merchant and poet, moved to New York in 1825. The firm of “Pickering, Kendal and Pope, merchants” was located at 129 Water Street.