From John Jay to John Blanchard, 3 October 1795
To John Blanchard
New York 3 Octr. 1795
Dear Sir
I was this moment fav[ore]d. with your’s of the first of this month;1 & very sincerely thank You for your friendly offer to accommodate my Family, in Case the Disorder prevailing here should make it adviseable to remove them. As the Disorder seems to abate I flatter myself that measure will not be necessary. our Situation affords us considerable Security against the Disorder, and I think it best that my Family should remain here, lest their Removal should increase the alarm which is already too great— If indeed the Danger should become very imminent, it would doubtless be right for Mrs. Jay & the Children to leave me, and go into the Country—2
I am glad you have reminded me of my Mare and Colt. While I had the Circuits to ride, and consequently many long Journies to make, that excellent Mare was important to me— but as I now have Rest from those Fatigues, I feel very much disposed to give her Rest also; and have therefore concluded to let her pass the Remainder of her Days in breeding, and in nursing her Foals. If the one she now has is not already weaned, I should prefer letting it suck thro’ the winter— would it be convenient to You to keep them both untill april next? I had Thoughts of sending them to my farm; but it occurs to me that untill the Colt is a little gentled, and used to the Halter, there would be some Risque in crossing the Ferry—3 I am Dr. Sir &ca.
LbkC, NNC: JJ Lbk. 10 (EJ: 12875).
1. Letter not found. John Blanchard (c. 1730–1811) was a prosperous merchant who had served as a captain in the Continental Army and lived in Elizabethtown (serving as alderman and then justice of the peace) before retiring to what is now Chatham Township, N.J. , 173.
2. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1795, many New Yorkers fled the city for the country. See the editorial note “John Jay and the Yellow Fever Epidemics,” above.
3. JJ rode several horses during his tenure on the circuit court, and mentions them and his concern for their welfare in his diary and letters. , 5: 243, 259, 278. This mare may have been a descendant of a mare belonging to JJ’s father, of which he wrote Richard Peters, “Of her Stock I have always had Saddle Horses— those which I selected for that purpose, remained mine as long as they lived—” JJ to Peters, 16 Oct. 1811, ALS, PHi (EJ: 01159); Dft, NNC (EJ: 11524).