John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Peter Jay Munro, 16 October 1783

From Peter Jay Munro

Passy 16th October 1783.

Dear Sir,

As some american Gentlemen are going from here to London, I have taken the Liberty of troubleing them with a few lines for you.

I hope you have had a Pleasant Journey, and that you have arrived at London, in better health and without having had an opportunity of trying Perrin’s ^courage^1 We are continually a wondering— One wonders whether you travelled all Night? another when you got to Calais? when you sailed? whether you was Sea sick? how you like England? &c. &c. If I was to tell you them all I would in reallity make a wonderful of it. Ever since your Departure, our Conversation at the Breakfast table has been begun by “I wonder Mr. Jay is now?[”] or by some other, I have already mentioned. Do not fear to put an end to our Conversation by answering the above Questions for we have a fresh set all ready—

Mr. Mongolfier has sent up a Globe tied to a Rope, and two men with it, they tried to fill it with Smoke while in the air, and Succeeded.—then these new Navigators instead of spare Masts, spare Sails, Cordage &c. &c. will take with them a supply of Straw, Old Shoes Rabbits Skins and other animal Substances:2

Our house is not ^yet^ ready, nor will it be in some Days, My aunt talks of removing next week, but for my part I don’t think we shall be settled there before next week the first of November. Several Persons have been to look at the House since we have taken it.—3

My aunt is in good health and so is Nancy. Maria has still a ^has^ been a little unwell, and is still very Pale.— Mr. Adams will set out for England next Monday— Sir James I believe is gone,4 for the 9th Inst he sent here for a Passport, and Mrs. Gregson whom we saw last night at Mrs Mongomery’s informed us me that he was to set off that morning. when you see my father remember me to him I am Dear Sir Your Dutiful Nephew

Peter Jay Munro

P.S. Benoit is cured.

ALS, NNMus: Jay (EJ: 376).

1Possibly a variation of “perrosin,” a concoction of pine resin, related to frankincense, and spruce beer that was used medically in plasters placed on the chest. Robley Dunglison, Medical Lexicon (Philadelphia, 1860), 698.

2The first manned balloon ascension occurred on 15 Oct. 1783, when Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier (1756–85) piloted a Montgolfier balloon to a height of 80 feet, remaining airborne for 4 minutes, 25 seconds. However, the balloon remained tethered to the ground with a rope. The experiment was repeated on 17 Oct., when the balloon reached approximately the same height but a strong wind diminished its ability to hold its position. Rozier made three more attempts on 19 Oct. In the first the balloon was filled with hot air in 5 minutes. He reached and sustained a height of 200 feet for 6 minutes without any fire in the brazier. In the second, with a fire in the brazier, he reached and maintained a height of 250 feet for 81/2 minutes. In his descent the balloon was caught by a wind and entangled in some tall trees, from which he succeeded in extricating it by adding gas. This flight was considered extremely significant as it proved that the balloon descended rather than fell. For the third attempt that day Rozier was joined by a companion, Miroud de Villete, who served as counterweight to him. The balloon’s cords were lengthened, and it reached a height of 324 feet, holding its position for 9 minutes. On the first untethered manned flight, which occurred on 21 Nov. 1783, see SLJ to JJ, 27 Nov., and Peter Jay Munro to JJ, 7 Dec., below. Because the Montgolfiers believed that smoke, rather than heated air, caused the balloon to rise, they sought to maximize the smoke by burning aboard items like those mentioned here. They apparently associated the smoke with a gas different than common air, rather like inflammable air (hydrogen) but not as light. Faujas de Saint-Fond, Expériences Aérostatiques description begins Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond, Description des Expériences Aérostatiques de MM de Montgolfier (2 vols.; Paris, 1784). Reprinted in facsimile by Otto Zeller, Osnabruck, 1968. description ends , 1: 268–77; 2: 4–6; Gillispie, Montgolfier Brothers description begins Charles C. Gillispie, The Montgolfier Brothers and the Invention of Aviation, 1783–1784 (Princeton, 1983) description ends , 45–48. For JJ’s response to Munro’s report, see his letter of 26 Oct., below. For references to inflammable air and the J.-A.-C. Charles balloon, see JJ to William Livingston, 12 Sept., Dft, NNC (EJ: 8284), JJ to Robert Morris, 12 Sept., above, and Sarah Livingston Jay to JJ, 27 Nov., below.

3See below, SLJ to JJ, 6 Nov. 1783, note l.

4Sir James traveled to England. See JJ to Peter Jay Munro, 26 Oct., below.

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