1From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 18 April 1809 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your Letter by W m ., and am happy in having rec d . so favourable an Acc t . respecting Maria— it corresponds with the Information given me by Wil m .— He also mentioned in strong Terms, your friendly attentions to him. I am much less unwell than I have been, but my Strength returns slowly— The Report you sent me, I have read— it certainly contains some valuable Provisions.—...
2From John Jay to Morris S. Miller, 22 May 1809 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . by the last mail, and have read with great pleasure, your obliging Letter of the 11 th . Inst:— The Information in conveys, cannot fail of being grateful to all who prefer the wise and upright Policy which distinguished the Administration of Washington, to that which of late has distressed and disgraced our Country: How far the favorable changes which have taken place, are imputable...
3From John Jay to Richard Peters, 24 July 1809 (Jay Papers)
Soon after recieving your letter of the 18 Sept r . last, I was called to Albany by the Death of the only remaining Child of my Daughter; whose Grief for the Loss of her Son and of her Husband, was still fresh and severe.— I returned on the 3 d . of Nov r . with a Pain on my Side, which the Doct r . ascribed to an obstruction in the Liver. The Complaint increased, and kept me in close...
4From John Jay to Jedidiah Morse, 16 August 1809 (Jay Papers)
I this Morning rec d . your Letter of the 9 inst. with the interesting sermon which it enclosed; and I thank you for them both. A well arranged and well researched ^proper^ History of the U.S. would have much to recommend it, and in some respects, it would be singular ^or unlike all others^ It would develop the Great Plan of Providence for causing this extensive and (these) undiscovered part...
5From John Jay to David Longworth, 28 October 1809 (Jay Papers)
My Son has sent me your Letter of the 16 th . Ult. informing me that “you had been directed by Doct r . Ramsay, to present me, in his name, the Copy of his S. Carolina therewith sent.”— As yet my Son has not sent me the Books; for want I presume of a proper opportunity. It not being certain how soon such an opportunity may offer, I think I ought not to delay answering your Letter any longer.—...
6From John Jay to William Wilberforce, 8 November 1809 (Jay Papers)
On the 28 ult. I rec d . your Letter of the 1 st . of Aug t . last, and I thank you for it, and for the Pamphlets enclosed with it.— It was not without Surprize and Regret that I percieved from it, that my Letter to you of the 14 April 1806, in answer to your’s of the 7 Nov r . 1805, had never come to your hands; and it appeared to me the more singular, as a Duplicate was also sent. As they...
The Vestry having deliberately heard and examined the Witnesses relative to the Reports in Circulation respecting M r . Feltch, together with his allegations and Remarks touching the same; proceeded to take the whole matter into Consideration: And having maturely and dispassionately considered it, they are of opinion, and do Resolve— That the Expressions used by M r . Feltch to M r . John F....
8From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 31 January 1810 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 26 th ., and the Boxes of Plaister you sent by the Stage. They are much less in Size than those bought and sent by W m . Watkins— buy three or four more, while they may be had, and keep them for the present.— W m . has been confined by a Cough, which is better— when a little more so, he purposes to make you a visit; and by him I intend to send the Papers you...
9From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you by the last mail — On the 10 Aug t . 1782 Doct r . Franklin & myself waited on C[oun] t . De Vergennes, and a Conference between him and us, on the subject of Oswalds Commission ensued. The Count declared his opinion that we might proceed to treat with M r . Oswald under it— & c .— I observed that it would be descending from the Ground of Independence to treat under the...
10From John Jay to Benjamin Moore, 14 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
Sanguine Expectations appear to ^are said^ to be entertained here, that the application lately made for a gratuitum Stipend to the Minister to be called by this Congregation will succeed— For my own part I wish it may succeed—for if such a Bounty be proper in any Case, I think it would be in this.— The Expediency however of granting such Bounties, on what I understand to be the present Plan,...
11From John Jay to The Wardens and Vestry of the United Episcopal Church of Bedford and North Castle, 14 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
The Candor and openness which you have a Right to expect, and which I have observed, in all my Transactions with you; render it proper in my opinion, that I should communicate to You, a Letter which I have lately written to Bishop Moore.— I therefore subjoin a copy of it. I am Gentlemen with great Respect your ob t . Serv t . The Church Wardens and Vestry of the United Epscopal Church—at...
12From John Jay to Richard Peters, 26 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
After lingering thro’ the Summer, I found my Disorder gradually returning in the Autumn. Since the middle of Nov r . I have been confined to the House; but have as yet suffered less this winter, than I did the last. At Times however, I seemed to be approaching that State in which “a Grasshopper is a Burden”. When I took up my Pen, it was not because it was pleasant, but because it was...
13From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 26 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
The last Mail brought me both your obliging Letters — At this Moment I am constrained to write in Haste — When the present Governm t . was organized there were many interesting Papers of the former Congresses in the Hands of their Secretary M r . Thompson— there was a secret Journal as well as a public one— I presume that the Heads of the Departm ts . rec d . from him the papers appertaining...
14From John Jay to Maria Jay Banyer, 23[–24] April 1810 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 17 Inst:— The Cold you mention has gone off; and I am again much as I have been throughout the Winter— I rejoice that your Health has mended, and that Sally was well. It will give you Pleasure to be informed that on the 17 Inst. Mary was delivered of a Daughter, & that they were both doing will. That Peter should be nominated for Congress, is an agreable...
15From John Jay to Maria Jay Banyer, 8 May 1810 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you a few Lines last week, but they were written in much Haste — We flattered ourselves with recieving Letters from you or Sally on Saturday last, but were disappointed. This I impute to negligence at one or other of the Post offices. The Disappointm t . was the greater, as we were and continue anxious to know whether we may expect the Pleasure of seeing you here this Month....
16From John Jay to William Wilberforce, 25 October 1810 (Jay Papers)
On the 13 th . Inst. I rec d . and read with great pleasure, your interesting and friendly Letter of the 18 July last. There are several Topics in it, on which I should like to converse with you— they shall be noticed in some future Letters. As I cannot write or read much at a time, without fatigue, I shall confine myself at present to the one, on which you express a wish to know my...
17From John Jay to Richard Peters, 21 November 1810 (Jay Papers)
Among the news papers &c. brought to me last week from the post office, I found a Packet directed to me in your handwriting— it enclosed no Letter, but it enclosed no bad Substitute for one. On reading it I was pleased with the Information and Pleasantry which run thro’ it. I was a little surprised to find that you had given up old wine and apician Dishes; from whence I learn, that wit will...
18From John Jay to Richard Peters, 9 January 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 25 Nov r — Altho the Privations you voluntarily submit to, exceed the “ne quid nimis” of the wise men, yet they evince a sound mind, and will I hope tend to preserve it long in a sound Body. My Inquiries respecting Speltz were in Terms too general. To sow wheat here, is like taking a Ticket in a Lottery—more blanks than prizes—the Fly destroys more than we...
19From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 10 February 1811 (Jay Papers)
Your Brother who is the Bearer of this, will deliver to you the original Book in which were entered as they occurred, the Expenditures for Aug[ustu] s ., and also (in other parts of the same Book) those which were made for M rs . Munro and her Son. He will also deliver to You the Accounts in question, of which there are Duplicates— one for your use in the Settlem t . and the other for S[i] r ....
20From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 12 February 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 5 th Inst. requesting Information respecting the Aids afforded us by Spain in our revolutionary war. These come under two Heads—viz— those which preceded my leaving this Country for Spain in 1779—and those which were afterward rec d. — Your Letter relates only to the former— As to the first— In a Letter to me from the Count de Florida Blanca, dated the 24 Feb,...
21From John Jay to Richard Peters, 29 March 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 14 th . ult., and also the Book on Plaister of Paris, which you was so obliging as to send me, and for which accept my thanks— Your Letter conveyed to me the first and only information I have received, that a copy of President Washington’s valedictory address, had been found among the papers of General Hamilton, and in his handwriting; and that a certain...
22From John Jay to Richard Peters, 23 April 1811 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . by the last mail your Letter of the 14 Inst:— Between the Date of mine to You of the 29 ult, and the arrival of yours of the 11 Inst, I was taken with a sore throat— it prevailed in the Neighbourhood, as was thought to be epidemic— As the Inflamation abated, a severe cough came on. I am getting better slowly, but am very feeble; tho’ less so than I was in April last. As to the...
23From John Jay to Cave Jones, 26 September 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . ^by the last Mail^ your Letter of the 18 Inst— It certainly is important that the Facts asserted by you, and denied by Doct r . Hobart should not be left doubtful, if they can be rendered clear. How long it may be advise-able to delay the Reply, they who are on the sport and know exactly all the Circumstances which have relation to it, can best decide. If the indirect...
24From John Jay to Richard Peters, 16 October 1811 (Jay Papers)
It was not until this Day, that I rec d . your Letter of the 5 Inst — owing to some Derangement in the post office, the two last mails did not come before Yesterday. It gives me pleasure to learn that your Health continues good—may it long continue so— mine is at present somewhat better— The Day before yesterday, my Son William returned from Rye. He found there the two Sheep you mention, safe...
25From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 24 October 1811 (Jay Papers)
I went with Nancy last Friday to Rye, and returned on Monday. As the carriage came to the Door, your uncle asked me what I thought of parting with Peet— there was no time to think or say much on the Subject— I observed that it would be difficult to supply his place by a person equally capable of serving in such a Variety of Respects. I had the Day before advised him to make it Cæsars Interest...
26From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 28[–29] November 1811 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 25 th .— The necessity of stopping at Rye is obvious, and as to your aunt, at least not improper— and yet visits, prompted evidently by Convenience, are seldom pleasing. I wish the arrangement had been such as not to involve the Introduction of a new Guest there— under existing circumstances, there can be no Desire to see other visitors than those of the...
27From John Jay to Maria Jay Banyer, 3 January 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 24 Ult; and am pleased to find you are pursuing the course you mention. Cheerfulness promotes Health, and Health promotes Cheerfulness. We are so formed, that when one part suffers, the Rest, whether corporeal or mental, are in a Degree affected by it. Hence it is the more proper that we should attend to every Indisposition, and to whatever may aggravate or...
28From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 4 February 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 31 Ult. and am glad that the Tidings of Mary’s Illness and of her Recovery came together. A Letter from Maria arrived at the same time, but contains nothing respecting her Health. William purposes to make you a visit soon; but how soon exactly is not ascertained. I think he had better wait until Mary’s Health is more confirmed, which I hope will be the Case by...
29From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 2 March 1812 (Jay Papers)
It is said that the manufacturing Company at Mamaroneck, have applied to the Legislature for an Act to empower them (on paying Damages) to overflow and drown as much of the adjacent Farms, and without the Consent of the owners, as may be necessary to make a Pond, that will afford a more ample Supply of water, than they can otherwise obtain there. The Country abounds in plentiful Streams— Why...
30From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 18 March 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letters of the 6 th . and 13 th . Inst: — The woman procured by W m . appears to be desirous to give Satisfaction, but is in some Respects deficient in Qualifications for her place— I am glad however that she was sent— the other went to Sinsing last Saturday, not a little mortified and disappointed. As W m . has rec d . Bismuth from Albany, Nancy will not want a further...
31From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 24 March 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . a Letter of the 20 Inst: from you; but from William none arrived by the last mail. The Ballance due to your uncle Peter will be somewhat less than $500— he may repay me the Difference. Your Cousin W m . L. Watkins has sent me his acc t . and according to it I owe him $43.63.— I presume it is right— ask him for a Copy of it, and pay him the Ballance— Nancy is again much better—...
32From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 28 April 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 24 th . Inst.— Blake refused to have a doct r . and is again well— The attack was violent, but I doubt its having been by the prevailing Fever— Its having abated, and not hearing of any new Cases, I sent for W m .; who was importunate to return— he arrived on Saturday last— The late and present cool weather has produced new Cases of Fever— I heard Yesterday of...
33From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 28 July 1812 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . on Saturday last, your friendly Letter of the 20 th . Inst. No Event that is highly interesting to our Country, can be viewed with Indifference by good Citizens; and there are certain occasions when it is not only their Right, but also their Duty to express their Sentiments relative to public measures. As the War has been constitutionally declared, the People are evidently bound to...
34From John Jay to Richard Bland Lee, 7 September 1812 (Jay Papers)
In your obliging answ r . to my Letter of the Feb y . last, mention is made of a work of your Brother, then in the press— viz t . memoirs of the War in the southern Departm t . The Subject and the author, naturally excited my attention and my Desire to procure a Copy— I have not learned that it has yet been published, nor seen any thing relative to it, in our public papers. I presume therefore...
35From John Jay to William Jay, 16 September 1812 (Jay Papers)
When or where you will recieve this Letter is uncertain. I shall inclose it to Maria; who will either forward it immediately, or detain it until your Return to Albany, as she may think most adviseable— I rec d . by the last Mail your handsome and affectionate Letter of the 7 th . Inst. — it is sincerely my wish that the Expectations of both Families may be realized; and nothing will conduce...
36From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 September 1812 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . on the 19 th . your Letter of the 11 th . Inst.— The Diminution of my health since I left you, leaves me very little Reason to expect a Return of such a Degree of it, as would enable me to attend to any Business like that in Question— To undertake a Task without a Prospect and probability of performing it properly, is to deviate from the Path of prudence. The last is the only week,...
37From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 23 September 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 17 th . Inst — The Details in it are interesting, and I am glad you communicated them to me so early, and so particularly— The Sentiments you express relative to them, correspond with my own— The Resolution is not sufficiently cum ^cun^ning to conceal its object and Design— I have no Hesitation in concluding and saying that if we must have either M r . Madison...
38From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 13 October 1812 (Jay Papers)
Nancy returned on Thursday last, and to appearance as well as when she left us— I am happy to learn from your Letter of the 7th Inst . that Mary and the children had arrived in safety— We have rec d . the Rusk & c .— If the Question respecting M r . Farmer should be submitted to the Convention, inform me of the Result. Have you obtained M r . Rutherfurds opinion of the value of Pettits Farm?...
39From John Jay to Susan Barclay, 16 December 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have recieved my dear Madam! your obliging Letter of the 6 th . Inst: and thank you for the Pleasure it has given me.— Having often seen early Friendships fade and fall like vernal Flowers, I am particularly pleased to find that your friendly Disposition towards me, remains unchanged. The Remembrance of it has frequently excited agreable Recollections, and led me to regret, that in the Lapse...
40Exegesis of Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 3 [c. 1813] (Jay Papers)
Men have universally and in all Ages agreed and concurred in ascribing Light to the Instrumentality of the Sun Moon and Stars, and yet Moses assures us that Light was made before any of those Luminaries were created— How is this contradictory apparent contradiction to be reconciled to Truth? I never doubted the Fact as asserted by Moses— the Difficulty was how to account for it— If a...
41From John Jay to Maria Jay Banyer, 2[–3] February 1813 (Jay Papers)
Altho’ I have nothing interesting to communicate, yet I will not let the Mail go without a few Lines to you. I have rec d . your Letter of the 25 ult.— I feel very sensibly the affliction with with our Friend V. Schaack has been visited; and I greatly regret the Death of Judge Sedgwick— Such Events should make strong, but at the same time useful Impressions on our Minds. There have as yet been...
42From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 9 February 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 5 th . Inst— and considered the Question stated in it.— To me it appears probable that the Leading Men among your Electors, and others in different parts of the State, desire and Expect a Petition to Congress. —If so— Can a satisfactory Reason from for declining it be given? or would it be discreet to be, and appear to be, passive and indifferent. If such...
43From John Jay to Mary Stansbury, 16 February 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your obliging Letter of the 9 th . Inst— In my opinion th ey ^Ladies^ who suggested and established the orphan asylum, merit great commendation. It gave me pleasure to learn that much good was already resulting from that ^benevolent Institution—^ May it long continue to recieve, not only the Blessings of those who are ready to perish! but also of Him , who commands us to relieve...
44From John Jay to Peter R. Livingston, 9 March 1813 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . by the last mail, your Letter of the 26 Ult. informing me of the Death of Chancellor Livingston.— This Event awakens ^combined with^ the Recollection of past Days & Incidents which Together ^and^ with the his having expressed the Sentiments of me that ^that^ you mention, excites Feelings too ^which (being^ obvious and natural) to need Description need not be described May He who...
45From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 22 March 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 19 th . Inst:— Care must be taken to make adequate Provision for my Expenses here, which are not inconsiderable— when the monies payable to S r . James, and to Nicholl, are deducted, the Ballance remaining will not be great— M r Felch lately wrote a Letter to the Vestry signifying that he could not continue in their Service for less than $500 a Year— They...
46From John Jay to Maria Jay Banyer, 30 March 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 22 d . Inst:— we are happy to learn that the Fever spread no further in your Family, and that you and Sally continue as well as usual. I hope a Trip to this place will conduce to the Health of you both— the most pleasant Season for it would you know be between the Middle of May and the middle of June. I wish you may have some person with you, to whom the...
47From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 30 March 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 26 Inst.— You observe that you had rec d . and paid for the Christian Observer sent by D r . Morse— I presume it must be the Panoplyst. — In answer to S r . James’s Question “when he first sent me some of his invisible Ink?” tell him that I cannot recollect the Time exactly, but that I think it was as early as 1773 or 1774. The Impression on my mind is, that...
48From John Jay to William Miller, 30 March 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 6 th . of last month— It gave us pleasure to learn from it, that ^you had regained^ your Health now re-established , and that M rs . Miller and all the Family were well. M r . Benson has been elected a Member of Congress; but your Intelligence that Peter was also elected, is not so correct. I understand that there was a small majority against him, but that the...
49From John Jay to Joseph McKean, 14 April 1813 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . on Saturday last the interesting Letter which you did me the Favor to write on the 31 Ult. together with the two Pamphlets which you was so obliging as to send with it. Marks of Respect to the manners ^characters^ of such Men as Doct r . Eliot, not only tend to console their afflicted Relatives, but also to cherish the Virtues by which they were distinguished. Unhappily there is too...
50From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 4 May 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your Letter of the 30 Ult: but none from Albany. The Sums to be paid to S r . James and M rs . ^F. Jay^ were I think 58–25, to each of them— Your Letter says 58–21— perhaps the Error was in my Letter to you— but it is not very important— Altho there is a Ballance due to me from your uncle Peter, yet I wish to close the Account in Question— pay therefore to M r . Munro for him,...