From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 3 September 1784
To Peter Van Schaack
N York 3 Sep 1784
Dr. Sir
I have recd. your favor of the 21 June last—1 Doctor Drummond2 may perhaps have an internal Sense of the Propriety of his Doubts & Scruples but on every other Principle they appear ^to^ me very extraordinary unaccountable.
Above a Week has been employed here in Discussions between [Brother Fœdy & myself on the one hand and?] ^with^ our infallible Knight on the other about the Legacy to my Father—3 Benson4 was obliged to go out of Town and leave the Matter unsettled—two Days ago however he gave up the Idea of dividing that money in England ^& consented to Recieve 300£ of it on acct^ and we acceded to his plan of sending a ^common^ Letter of Atty. to Mr. Daltera5 to [secure them?] witnessed &c. &c. &c. as he in the manner that he (Sr Jams.) says he is confident will succeed: We thought it better to have Union in this Measure ^Business^ on these Terms than leave it embarrassed by his opposition— I am content to let him try his plan, tho’ I fear nothing less than ^Letters of^ administration to you will be do. Fœdy also proposes to send a Letter of Atty to Daltera to recieve his Legacy— My feelings with Respect to the Delicacy due to you on this occasion are hurt—
I have seen your Son—6 he is a promising Lad— Mr Silvester7 will write you particularly abt. him— I have hopes that the next Session will terminate the Necessity of your absence— God bless You my friend yours sincerely
Dft, NNC (EJ: 9428).
1. Not located; but see Van Schaack to JJ, 6 July 1784, ALS, NHi: Misc. Mss., Van Schaack, Peter (EJ: 902); , 376–78.
2. Dr. Archibald Drummond, a trustee of the Peloquin estate, on which see “An American in England” (editorial note), on pp. 491–93.
3. Sir James Jay.
4. Egbert Benson was a trustee and executor of Peter Jay’s estate. See “The Estate of Peter Jay” (editorial note), : 720–21.
5. James Daltera, also a Peloquin estate trustee.
6. Either Henry or Cornelius Van Schaack.
7. Peter Silvester (1734–1808), an attorney in Kinderhook, N.Y., and Van Schaack’s brother-in-law by marriage to the latter’s sister Jane.