John Jay Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-07-02-0089

To John Jay from Richard Varick, 2 March 1801

From Richard Varick

New York March 2nd. 1801.

Dear Sir

I had the Honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 21st. Feby. on the 27th.1

At the first Meeting of the Common Council I will communicate to them the Subject of that Letter & without Delay inform Your Excellency of the Result:2

By the British Packet in 35 Days Passage3 We have News till after the Middle of January, from which it appears that the Austrians have been so much wasted as to drive them to a separate Peace & Great Britain is to be attacked by Russia, Prussia & Sweden, in Addition to the French Maratime force. She will have her Hands full.

A Letter from B. Livingston4 has given us Information that Your Excellency has probably already or will very soon be involved in a Dispute with the Council, as in his Language “an Explosion was expected” on the subject of the Nominations for Appointments in this City.—5 He says that at a Caucus held in Albany lately, it was resolved that my Office should at all Events be filled by E. Livingston.—6 Robt. Bensons was also to be filled per present hopes. The successor he was not at Liberty to Name. & so on.7

I trust I shall complete the most Material Part of the Licenses to Innholders before the News of this distant procedure shall have reached the Ears of some of my Restless fellow Cit[izen]s. And that if I must now give way, it will be to a foederal, or at least to an honest Man.

Be my fate what it me I shall ever feel myself grateful & happy in having Merited the Confidence and Friendship of Your Excellency, being with Every sentiment of Respect & Attachment Your Excellency’s Most Obliged Hble Sert

Rich. Varick

His Excellency John Jay Esqr.

ALS, NNC (EJ: 09303).

1JJ’s letter of 21 Feb. mentions that when his family moved from the Government House in New York City to Albany in the fall of 1797, they had taken with them four mahogany chairs that belonged to the Corporation. JJ asked that Varick inquire whether he should either return the chairs or pay a fair price for keeping them. JJ to Varick, 21 Feb. 1801, Dft, NNC (EJ: 90036; EJ: 09285).

2At a meeting held on 11 Mar., the Common Council decided that JJ may keep the chairs until the “Common Council shall direct otherwise.” MCCNYC, 2: 714. For Varick’s follow-up, see his letter of 12 Mar. 1801, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09305).

3Possibly the Duke of Cumberland, which arrived in the port of New York on 3 Mar. after a voyage of 38 days. Mercantile Advertiser (New York), 3 Mar. 1801.

4Brockholst Livingston to Richard Varick, concerning the Council of Appointment, not found.

5For JJ’s interactions with the Council of Appointment, see the editorial note “Conflict with the Council of Appointment,” above.

6For Varick’s concern that he would be ousted as mayor of New York City and replaced by Edward Livingston, see Varick to JJ, 15 Nov. 1800, and note 10, above.

7Robert Benson served as clerk of the Common Council until August 1801 when the Council of Appointment replaced him with Tunis Wortman. Commercial Advertiser (New York), 31 Aug. 1801.

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