From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 13 December 1784
To Peter Augustus Jay
Trenton 13 Decr. 1784
My dear Son
The Letter you favored me with1 gave me great Pleasure; it was well written, and well spelt; and you said, what you had to say, in an easy familiar manner. I should have written to you before, but as Pleasure should always give Way to Business, I was obliged on that account, to postpone it till now.
Your Mama writes me that the Schoolmaster, who was at Eliz. Town, is removed; so that you will miss the Walks and Lessons he would otherwise have given you. I regret this Circumstance, both on account of the Health and Learning you would probably have derived from going to that School. Remember that you are advancing in Years, and that other Boys are also advancing in the latin Grammar— It is a Language which you must learn, because it is useful for you to know, and because a young Gentleman cannot have the Reputation of being a Scholar, while he remains ignorant of it. The sooner you begin to learn it, the sooner that Task will be done—it may not be a pleasing, but is a necessary one; and I am persuaded you have too much Resolution, to be deterred by a few unpleasant Difficulties, from the Pursuit of important objects. Nothing can be done without Perseverance—without that Quality, Talents avail but little. Take Care of your Health and never forget that your Happiness is concerned in having both a sound Body, and a sound mind—in Play Hours, play with spirit; and in Study Hours, study earnestly—
How does Solomon go on with the Barrack? Will it be ready to recieve my Horses by Christmass?
Kiss your Sisters for me, and believe me to be my dear Peter, Your affectionate Father
John Jay
P.S. Your Grandpapa is well, and often speakes kindly of you. You will secure his affection by continuing to deserve it, and by loving him in Return— I thank You for the Elegy inclosed in your Letter— Make my Compliments to Mrs. Belle and Mr. Bell—2
ALS, NyKaJJH (EJ: 9976). Addressed “Master Peter Augustus Jay / Elizabeth Town—”. Endorsed by Elizabeth Clarkson Jay: “A Letter from Papa / December 13th. 1784—/ E.C.J.”
1. Peter Augustus Jay to JJ, [before 13 Dec. 1784], not found.
2. Livingston family friends in New Jersey. Probably the widow of John Bell (d. 1778), whose daughter Cornelia (1755–83) married New Jersey lawyer William Paterson. Her son Andrew Bell (1757–43) was a New Jersey Loyalist who had acted as confidential secretary to Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Guy Carleton. In 1782 Andrew had married Susannah Moore (b. 1755), daughter of Margaret and Daniel O’Brien, in New York City; he settled as a successful merchant in Perth Amboy after the war. In 1805 a “Madame Belle” was described by Julian Niemcewicz, husband of William Livingston’s niece Susan Livingston Kean, as a friend of his wife and as: “A woman of such wit, fine judgment, and learning is most uncommon in this country.” Julian U. Niemcewicz, Under Their Vine and Fig Tree, Metchie J. E. Budka, trans. and ed., Collections of The New Jersey Historical Society (Elizabeth, N.J., 1965), 14: 238; Guide to the Andrew Bell Papers, The New Jersey Historical Society.