From John Jay to George Washington, 14 April 1789
To George Washington
New York 14 Ap. 1789
Dear Sir
On my Return last Evening from a Fortnight’s Absence in the Country, I was informed that proper arrangements for your immediate accommodation were not yet made.1 Permit me therefore to take the Liberty of requesting the Favor of you to be with me in the mean Time; and if Mrs. Washington should accompany you, we should be still more happy. As the Measures that were in contemplation on this Subject, would have given an earlier Invitation the appearance of a mere Compliment, it was omitted. I really think you would experience at least as few Inconveniences with me, as in any other Situation here. Your Reluctance to give Trouble will doubtless suggest objections—apprized of this, we shall be particularly careful to preserve such a Degree of Simplicity2 in our domestic Managt. as will render you easy on that Head— In a word—you shall be recd. and entertained exactly in the Way which if in your place, I should prefer vizt. with plain and friendly Hospitality—3
You will soon want a Secretary,4 and it would be convenient to have him near You— Let me therefore add, that I have a Room very much at his Service, and which may as well be occupied by him as remain as it now is empty—
I cannot conclude this Letter without thanking You, as an American for generously complying with the Wishes of our Country at this interesting period. Personal Considerations strongly recommend Retirement, and none but public and national ones could draw you from it. The People at large seem sensible of this, & do you Justice; and I am glad of it for their Sake as well as yours, for the more Justice they do You, the more good you will be able to do them— With the most perfect Esteem & Regard I am Dr Sir Your affte. & hble Servt.
John Jay
His Exy. Genl. Washington
1. GW, who reached New York City on 23 Apr. and was inaugurated a week later, was housed at what had been the official home of the presidents of the Continental Congress, a residence at the corner of Cherry Street and Franklin Square that belonged to Samuel Osgood of the Board of Treasury. Until his domestic arrangements were settled, the President’s meals were supplied by Samuel Fraunces, the well-known tavern proprietor. Martha Washington joined her husband on 27 May. The next day JJ dined with the Washingtons, along with a distinguished company. Rufus W. Griswold, The Republican Court, or American Society in the Days of Washington (New York, 1856), 164–65, 168.
2. Here in the draft JJ excised: “shall distinguish between the Respect due to the first Magistrate and the domestic and unceremonious Simplicity which”.
3. Here in the draft JJ excised: “in private and with the Respect due to character and office in public.”
4. In addition to David Humphreys, writer and former aide de camp and private secretary to GW, and Tobias Lear, who managed GW’s household affairs, the president soon added Major William Jackson to his secretarial staff. Douglas Southall Freeman, George Washington: A Biography (7 vols; New York, 1948–1957), 6: 203–4.