From John Jay to Sarah Livingston Jay, 2 January 1785
To Sarah Livingston Jay
New York 2 Jany 1785
How ^happens it^ my dear Sally that not a Line from You has reached me since we parted. This is my fourth Letter to You.1 A Copy of my last went by Mr G. Morris last Friday.2 I hope you have recd. it and seen him—It informd. you that my Brother3 had divided his Home with us, and that I flattered myself with the pleasure of seeing you as soon as the weather wd. admit of yr. travelling and crossing the Ferries, or going from the Point with prudence—
The followg is a Copy of a Letter wh. I have written to your Father vizt. (here insert the Letter on the other page)4
I am persuaded you will readily join with me in wishing to me the object of the above Letter attained, and in promoting it as zealously as Regard to Delicacy & Prudence may permit—
Kiss the little ones for me & beleive me to be very cordially & sincerely yr. afft. Husband
Mrs. Sarah Jay
Dft, on verso of JJ to William Livingston, 30 Dec. 1784 [–2 Jan. 1785], NNC (EJ: 8286). Endorsed by JJ: “To Gov. Livingston / 30 Dec 1784 / To Mrs. Jay / 2 Jany 1785 / by post / NB”.
1. This is the first extant letter of JJ’s to SLJ since their return from abroad.
2. Letter not found, but noted as being enclosed in Gouverneur Morris to SLJ, 1 Jan. 1785, ALS, NNC (EJ: 12818), which Morris had no time to deliver but mailed, noting: “But I must be in that place [Philadelphia] To morrow Evening and I have already made one Stage so that my Time limits me to this Mode of paying my Respects. Accept my sincere Congratulations that the infant Year finds you in the Bosom of your Family and beleive that no Man in America (one only excepted) can more ardently wish that each succeeding Year thro an extended Period of ^your^ Existence may pass away in the constant Enjoyment of Conjugal and parental Felicity. Make I pray you my Respects acceptable to Mr. Livingston and tell Kitty what is very true that I wish her all the Happiness she deserves and would wish her more if I knew how”.
3. JJ’s younger brother, Frederick Jay, who lived at 11 Queen Street in Manhattan. See the New-York Morning Post, and Daily Advertiser, 2 May 1785; and The New York Directory for 1786. At this time Frederick Jay also had an auction room at 14 Hanover Square, but it too was soon transferred to 11 Queen Street. See the New-York Packet, 3 Jan. 1785; Independent Journal (New York), 2 July 1785.
4. See JJ to William Livingston, 30 Dec. 1784–[2 Jan. 1785], above.