To John Jay from Mary Stansbury, 9 February 1813
From Mary Stansbury
[New York Feby 9th 1813]
Sir,
The Directresses of the Orphan Asylum Society always feel themselves indebted for the smallest sum given as a transient donation, but your uncommon liberality in voluntarily offering to become an Annual Subscriber of 25 Dollars is a favour of such magnitude as leaves the Trustees at a loss for words suitably to express their sense of it. Be assured Sir, it will ever be one of the first wishes of the Board that they may be enabled to conduct their Institution in such a manner as shall merit the continuance of your patronage and approbation.1 With the highest respect, I have the honour to subscribe myself, Your humble Servant
Mary Stansbury Secy
The Honourable John Jay Esqr,
ALS, NNC (EJ: 09075). Addressed: “The Honourable John Jay Esqr / Bedford / Westchester County”. Endorsed: “… and. 16 Feb”. The reverse of this letter also contains a Dft of JJ’s reply of [16] Feb., for which, see below.
1. The Orphan Asylum Society was organized in Mar. 1806 and petitioned the state legislature for a charter the following year. In Jan. 1813, the Asylum housed 84 children and had 68 “bound out in respectable families.” The constitution and laws of the Orphan Asylum of the city of New-York (New York, 1808; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 15821); Weekly Museum (New York), 16 Jan. 1813. For more on charitable donations to the Orphan Asylum Society, see New-York Gazette, 9 Feb. 1813.