From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 19 June 1800
To Timothy Pickering
New York 19 June 1800
Dear Sir
I have just had the pleasure of recieving from Mr. Williams your Letter of the 17 Instant.1 Had the weather been fair, I should now have been on the Road to Albany, and I shall set out the Moment it changes. Mr. Williams tells me that he and Mr Putnam purpose to go there by Water— they will probably arrive before me, as I shall travel leisurely, & pass a few Days at my Farm in WestChester. I hope however to find them there; and to shew them those Civilities which Gentlemen recommended by you will always recieve from me.2
Believing as I have done and still do, that you had fulfilled the Duties of your office in a Manner highly honorable both to our Country and yourself, your Removal from it was no less unexpected than regretted by me. Confiding in the Presidents Integrity and Patriotism, & consequently in his Attachmt. to the sound and able Friends of his Country, I have not been without Curiosity to know the Reasons which caused that and some other measures. From the President I have had no Communication whatever on political Subjects. I wish and somewhat expect, to see him on his Return. Without mentioning any thing but what is known from the News Papers, I shall converse with him on the public Measures of his administration, and particularly the late Changes— some Light certainly will, and some Good perhaps may result from it.—3 With true Esteem and Regard and with the best Wishes for your Prosperity I am Dear Sir Your most obedt. Servt.
John Jay
Colonel Pickering
ALS, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04800). Addressed: “Col. Timothy Pickering Esqr / Philadelphia”. Stamped: “New York / [illegible] / 10”. Note: “2”. Endorsed: “Gov. Jay / June 19. 1800. / On my / removal / from office.” Dft and Tr, NNC (EJ: 09516).
1. TP to JJ, 17 June 1800, above.
2. For Williams’s and Putnam’s travels, see TP to JJ, 17 June 1800, above.
JJ here excised the following paragraph from the Dft:
The circumstances mentioned by Mr Williams, in connection, with those in your Letters and the Extract enclosed with, convey more Information on the Topics to wh they relate, then had come to my Knowledge. General Hamilton being gone to the Eastward, a Conversation with him respecting the Dialogue, must of course be delayed.
3. JA had visited Quincy during the summer, leaving his home on 13 Oct. and reaching Washington, D.C., on 1 Nov. No existing evidence suggests that he met with JJ on his return trip, nor is there any indication that they discussed the matter via correspondence. Abigail Adams in a letter dated 10 Nov. 1800, mentioned that JA travelled through New York without stopping. Abigail Smith Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, MWH; Adams Family Correspondence, 14: 434.