1To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 23 November 1791 (Jay Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 12 th . Inst t . last Saturday. Essex desires me to tell you that he answered your letter to him the next post to that by which I wrote. I go frequently to visit Uncle Fady, & shall continue to pay him every mark of attention, & respect in my power. Agreable to your advice I have read the life of Cicero attentively. I am not able to point out...
2To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 24 October 1797 (Jay Papers)
On Saturday Cæsar put on board Capt Hanson’s Sloop several Articles which Mama requested me to send viz a Jug of Oil, the Racks for the Spit a Box of Rush-lights & the Safe— in the latter was a Bag containing Salt Petre Isinglass &c and also a small Pot of Ointment for you which Doctor Charlton had given me a day or two before,— The enclosed Letter accompanied it, but I thought it would go...
3To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 26 November 1797 (Jay Papers)
I have been amused for a week past with daily promisses by the Agents of two Furnaces respecting the Stove you wrote for, there being none of that Kind to be had ready made— As I am informed the River is closed for a Distance below Albany, and as from the weather it is doubtful whether it will again be open I do not think it will be prudent to wait any longer— You had better therefore provide...
4To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 15 April 1798 (Jay Papers)
I had the pleasure of rec g : your Letters of the 6th, 7th, & 9th. inst on Friday, & another which accompanied the Pardon for M r . Meeks’s Man yesterday— I shall immediately attend to the different directions contained in them— Most of the Prints are already very neatly boxed; the Cases containing Copies of the U. S. Laws I have put on board Bleeckers Sloop (the same in which Maria came down)...
5To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 19 April 1798 (Jay Papers)
I yesterday rec d . your Letter of the 16th inst: & the Bundle which accompanied it— The latter shall be sent to Rye by the Boat— I am almost sorry you intend to dispose of the Coach, & should prefer parting with the Chariot which in a few years more will be unfit for use, or at any Rate a constant Bill of Cost— Besides that the former will probably sell for much less than its Value— I shall...
6To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 26 April 1798 (Jay Papers)
I have this Afternoon put on board Capt Lansings Sloop 15 Barrels of Wine, 1 Case of Flasks with d o Nine Boxes of Prints & Pictures & small Articles of Glass & China & one small black trunk— I have sent you all the wine except two Barrels whose hoops appeared too insecure to be trusted— I will send you a List of the Contents in a Letter by Capt. Lansing— I have just returned from the Society...
7To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 6 May 1798 (Jay Papers)
I have at length compleated the evacuation of the Gov t . House & taken Possession of my Rooms at M rs . Wests from whence I now write— The Trouble of moving which was much greater than I expected to find it, prevented my writing during the last week. I sent you a number of Articles by Capt: Dusenberry, all those that remain are at M r . Munro’s, who has had one of his unfinished rooms floored...
8To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 13 May 1798 (Jay Papers)
It is now some time since I had the pleasure of hearing from you— this I attribute to your having been at Schenectady where I perceive by the Papers you was present at the Commencement— M r . Seth Marvin some time ago applied to me to purchase your Share of Lot N o . 18 in Cheesecocks Patent (containing as he says 195 Acres) for which he offered 24/pr. Acre, but it appeared during our...
9To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 1 August 1798 (Jay Papers)
I am happy to learn from the Newspapers that you have safely arrived at Albany— I am sorry however that the fatigue of your Journey must too soon be succeeded by the still more unpleasant fatigue of the approaching session of the Legislature— I am told by M r . Ten Broeck that the Democratic Party have a Majority of four in the lower House, & of Course that the next Council of Appointment will...
10To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 1 August 1798 (Jay Papers)
I have already written to you by this Mornings Post since then, I have met Gosman the Mason in the Street who told me that he had been sent for by M r . Church to make another Vault under the Street before the front Door or else to inlarge the old one. I thanked him for the Information & told him that if the thing was to be done at all it must be on M r . Church’s Credit & not yours, but that...
11To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 29 December 1798 (Jay Papers)
I mentioned in my last letter that I was about going to Rye in the your Coach. I accordingly carried it there it where it will be attended to— ^the next day^ From Rye I tr went to Bedford ^where^ the Court sat there on the 17 th —but scarcely any Business was done & it the Term ^it^ was adjourned in less than an hour after it opened— fewer people attended than I remember to have seen on a...
12To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 16 March 1799 (Jay Papers)
I returned yesterday from Rye where & at Bedford I had been detained longer than I intended by foul Weather. The Major has made but small progress towards building, for which a severe Fit of Sickness is some Apology—The Boards are not yet brought from Coscob— No Lime has been procured & only about 20,000 Brick drawn— All the Necessary Timber has been drawn to the Saw mill but not sawed— Two...
13To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 May 1799 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday ended the best contested Election I ever remember to have seen in this City the Federalists who till within a few Days were perfectly passive were at length roused by a full Knowledge of the Manhattan Scheme, / & by some well written Publications which appeared in the Papers— The Merchants for the first Time have acted with vigor & used all their Influence with the Cartmen— Indeed...
14To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 22 February 1800 (Jay Papers)
I wrote you a few lines on coming to town— Since then I have agreed with M r Munro to go into partnership with him in his Chancery Business for six Months— I am to to conduct it with his assistance & do all the Labor ^Solicitors Business^—& am to retain one half of the Solicitors fees— If at the end of the six Months both parties are pleased with the Agreement, it will be continued— I have rec...
15To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 17 March 1800 (Jay Papers)
I had determined to compleat several Affairs before I wrote to you, but I have been so much delayed, that I should be guilty of inattention if I postponed it any longer— I have ^made^ many but fruitless Inquiries after D r . Tate. From M r . Ray’s Information I have been long in hopes of finding him in this city, instead of which I have not been able to receive any Accounts of him— He must...
16To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 May 1800 (Jay Papers)
I have at length agreed with a Mason who will go to Bedford on Wednesday, I would not send him before, that I might previously give notice to the Major to provide Laborers— The Mason has been employed by M r Russel near twenty years & is highly recommended both by him & by Col. Post. He will take another Mason with him & if he finds that more can be employed to Advantage M r Russel will send...
17To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 11 December 1800 (Jay Papers)
I have this Afternoon rec d your Letter of the 8th. containing the very unpleasant Intelligence of Mama’s Illness— Her former Indispositions had not given me much immediate uneasiness as I supposed them to proceed merely from Debility & excessive Anxiety or Fatigue— This appears to have been of a much more serious Nature tho probably produced by the same Causes—The favorable Symptoms you...
18To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 2 January 1801 (Jay Papers)
Since my last Letter I have not had the Pleasure of rec g . any from you, nor even of hearing from other sources of Mama’s Health— I hope however that the mild weather which has lately prevailed has contributed to restore it— M r Munro who returned a few Days since from Rye mentions that Uncle was well— He has dined by Invitation at M r Pintards which I believe he has never done with any one...
19To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 21 February 1801 (Jay Papers)
I arrived here safely on Thursday Evening The Rain which began to fall on Tuesday destroyed the Snow & made our Journey unpleasant it was however less so than I expected. It has not injured my Health— At ^the Hotel at^ Poughkeepsie I met with a person who I found was the father in law of Col: Bailey (I believe his name is Talmadge). He had a long Conversation with me on political Subjects An...
20To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 5 April 1801 (Jay Papers)
On the 31 st . Ult. I rec d . your Letter of the 21. st by M r Livingston; and M r Miller this Morning brought me one from Nancy. Since I last wrote to you I have seen Uncle Augustus— His Health is very much impaired & his Mind at least as much so as his Health— There is however no immediate Danger to be apprehended— His Disorder is a severe Headache accompanied sometimes with a Derangement or...
21To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 8 March 1802 (Jay Papers)
I had been some time expecting the pleasure of seeing you in town when Sam arrived with the unpleasant Intelligence of your Indisposition— I hope however you will be soon able to compleat your Journey— I send you a Letter from Alderman Lenox, which I presume is on the Subject of your sitting for your picture— VanderLyn, who is to paint it is about departing for Washington— He is said to be one...
22To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 14 May 1803 (Jay Papers)
Since I last wrote to you from Leghorn I have passed from that City to Genoa by Water, & from thence thro Turin to this place without any disagreable Accident— The Rumors of war between France & England prevented the sailing of the English Vessel in which I intended to go to Genoa. I therefore went in a felucca & had a short & pleasant passage of only twenty two hours— From Genoa D r . Seaman...
23To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 21 August 1807 (Jay Papers)
We left New York on Monday last & arrived safely here this Morning in time for Breakfast. Our Accommodations were good, & the passage tho rather long was in every other Respect extremely pleasant. We found Maria as well as usual; indeed I have not for several Years seen her look better—Her little Girl is quite hearty. Nancy’s health continues the same as when you parted with her. Mary’s Cough...
24To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 8 July 1808 (Jay Papers)
I have just rec d . your Letter of the 6th. inst. & am sorry to learn that Circumstances have occurred which make it necessary to dismiss Caty— If however her place can be tolerably supplied, the loss, will not be a great one—Mary & myself will immediately employ ourselves in endeavoring to find a person to suit you; & I beg you will believe that in executing this or any other Commission with...
25To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 14 January 1809 (Jay Papers)
I have this instant rec d . a letter from Judge Van Ness of which the following is a Copy— Your Affect. Son I have taken the liberty to obtain from ^through^ you some important Information from your Father relative to the Construction of the ninth Article of the Treaty negociated by him with the British Government— There is a Difference of Opinion respecting it in a Case depending altogether...
26To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 March 1809 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your letter of the 22 d Feb y on Friday last— Judge Benson being still at Albany I could not consult him, but I called the next morning on Sir James & offered to pay him the Ballance of your Acc t . deducting the £50 due on his agreement to you— He said he was willing to settle in this way & I thereupon offered gave him a Check for the Money & drew a Receipt for him to sign in these...
27To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 23 February 1810 (Jay Papers)
Your Shingles should have been sent up long since but that the Sinsing Boats have not been down. The Washington Society requested me to deliver an Oration on their Anniversary & as you advised me not to be an insignificant Member I was induced to Consent, & accordingly spoke one Yesterday. I have of course been for some time busy in preparing it & have on that account pressed the Furnace...
28To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 1 May 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have just rec d . your letter of the 28 th . April, & am relieved from much anxiety by learning that Blake has recovered. Jotham Smith told me last Sunday that D r Rockwell & one Trowbridge had died here with the same fever that prevails with you. D r Bruce however says that he has not seen or heard of any case of it. A melancholy event occurred yesterday at Morrissania. M rs . James Morris...
29To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 26 June 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have just rec d . your letter of the 23 June — I am sorry I have troubled Mills by Dunning him— Uncle Peter desired me to write to those to whom I had put out money for him, & from whom Interest was due— Finding from my Accounts that Mills had not paid the Interest to me, & not knowing that he had paid it (as must be the Case) at Rye, I wrote to him. The Effect the War will have on our...
30To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 July 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter by Charles Watkins & also that of William & will attend to the Commissions mentioned in both. I have rec d . of Thomas Eddy $189.80 for Interest on his bond to the 28 th . May last. M r & M rs . Munro have this morning executed the partition Deeds which William will take with him for your Signature. Shall I now speak to Col: Barclay? Alexander Fisher came down in the...
31To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 10 July 1812 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 8 th . inst. William is at Bloomingdale but purposes I believe to return to Bedford this afternoon. A Flag of Truce has just arrived from Halifax where the Declaration of War when she sailed was still unknown to inquire the Reason of an attack made by Commodore Rogers with his Squadron upon the English Frigate Belvidere. It seems Rogers fell in with this...
32To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 11 September 1812 (Jay Papers)
At the late meeting at White Plains before proceeding to Business M r Morris proposed that you should be one of the County Delegates. I was therefore asked by members whether if appointed you would attend the Convention— I stated to them explicitly that tho I had no authority to say any thing on the Subject that I was certain you could not. They however still persisted in appointing you,...
33To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 17[–18] September 1812 (Jay Papers)
Soon after writing my last letter to you I was invited to attend the meeting I mentioned to you. The plan of it I found was formed in Connecticut, & the leading federalists of all or nearly all the States were invited to assemble here to fix upon a Candidate who should be supported by the federalists at the ensuing Election for Pres t . The Convention assembled on Tuesday & adjourned today...
34To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 12 February 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 9 th . ins t . & am much obliged to you for your Opinion on the Subject mentioned in it. My objections to the petition were not founded on an apprehension that we should suceed but to dislike asking for a Seat not because we had a bona fide right to it, but because of irregularities which tho highly reprehensible in those who committed them, did not in fact...
35To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 12 March 1813 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 9 th . & one from Nancy of the same Date & am very happy to learn from the latter, that your Health is rather better than usual for the Season. William & Augusta have I am afraid had an unpleasant Journey. Aunt Livingston is ill & Matilda & Aunt Watkins have both gone to Oak hill. I do not know what is her Disorder, she had been sick at Albany & when a little...
36To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 7 May 1813 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . this Morning your letter of the 4 th . instant & instantly sent the one enclosed to M rs Livingstons brother Anthony Barclay— On the 1 st . instant I paid M rs . Watkins $35 agreably to the Directions contained in your letter of the 27 April. And I have this day paid her $69 being the Interest rec d . on Honeywells bond & $35 which you say you have rec d . for her, making $104 for...
37To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 18 February 1814 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d your letter of the 15 th . inst. & am sorry I troubled you about the $200. I find that my Accounts were correct as they were, & that my Embarassment was occasioned by a mistake in casting up the Columns— I recollect now that tho’ I gave you a number of small bills when I was at Bedford, it was in exchange for large ones— After I had written to you last Friday M rs Watkins changed...
38To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 28 October 1814 (Jay Papers)
Judge Van Ness threw me a Note of which the above is a Copy while I was attending the Supreme Court this Morning— I thought the best way to make the Inquiries he desired would be to send you a Copy of the Note— There is no Declaration yet filed against Clark, & consequently no Judgment can be obtained against him for at least three months, probably not before six & perhaps not till nine...
39To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 16 October 1815 (Jay Papers)
On Friday last I went with the Commissioners of Fortifications to inspect the Fort & Batteries building at the Narrows. Upon my return in the Evening I heard of the Death of Sir James, & as I was going to bed found a Note in the Entry which had been sent during my Absence from Sir James’s son requesting to see me. The next morning I called on him. He told me of the loss of his Father &...
40To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 25 July 1817 (Jay Papers)
On Friday last I was in court from Morning till 9 oClock at Night engaged in the trial of a Man who ^was^ indicted for an attempt to export a Cargo of Negroes to Georgia, which is now an offence punishable with Imprisonment for not more than 14 years— He was convicted— This trial prevented my writing to you by the last Mail— James Hamilton has shown me a letter from M rs . Gouverneur Morris to...
41To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 22 April 1818 (Jay Papers)
Sister Sallys Troubles are all ended. It has pleased God to take her to himself. She expired this Afternoon about half past three oClock. She retained her Senses to the last, knew her Situation & was perfectly composed & tranquil. M r Milnor prayed with her a short time before she died. May God comfort you my dear father, I am your Affectionate Son, Maria & Nancy are as well as can be...
42To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 30 October 1818 (Jay Papers)
Maria & Nancy arrived in town yesterday & are not the worse for their ride. I have rec d your letter of the 26 th . ins t which they brought & have the one to Lord Amherst to the Post Office to go by the packet. I shall observe your Directions concerning the Lisbon Wine. I was sorry I could see so little of William when he was here during the whole time that he was in town & indeed ever since...
43To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 3 December 1818 (Jay Papers)
Since I wrote to you last some of the Committee of M r Freys Congregation have called on me for the purpose of buying ground on which to build a Church— I have asked them $7000 for three lots on Walker Street, & I have told them a part of the money must be paid down & that the Residue must be secured not only by a Mortgage on the premises, but also by personal Security, so that it may not be...
44To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 28 January 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d your letter of the 25 th . inst. & am happy to hear that Nancys Health has improved and that Maria is well enough to go to Rye. I am sorry for the Death of Major Lyons but hope that his sufferings have been attended with a Blessing. I know very little of what is going forward at Albany, but fear that the federalists in the assembly are driving Bargains in a manner not very...
45To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 19 February 1819 (Jay Papers)
I left our Friends well at Rye & came to town on Wednesday. Little Mary has entirely recovered, & all our Family are well. William his sitting for his Picture & expects to return in a few days. In the mean time he has sent back the waggon to Rye. Anna is better & Augusta very well. M r . Munros Children have all recovered from the Scarlet Fever. A Dinner or Ball is to be given here to Gen l ....
46To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 18 March 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 16 th . inst. & am truly concerned that Maria’s Health is again worse— Augusta has I suppose returned to day. Yesterday the Weather was so severe that I advised her to remain. I will subscribe for you to the American & Columbian. The former I find is pretty generally disapproved. M r Eddy this morning sent for me & shewed me a letter from the Governor saying...
47To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 1 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
Col. Pickering called on me last Sunday & breakfasted with me on Monday. He was going that Day in Stage as far as Stamford where he intended to hire a horse & ride over to Bedford to visit you. I mention this because the weather was such as probably prevented him from putting his Intention in Execution. M r Eddy this Morning shewed me a letter from the Governor in which he says that M r Jays...
48To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 7 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
The Governors Secretary called on me this Morning & told me that he had just arrived from Albany; that the Council of Appointment was to meet on the Day he left that city, & that he was authorized to tell me that I would at that Meeting be appointed Recorder. This Intelligence which a short time since would not have been unwelcome, is at present a little embarrassing. Since the Appointment of...
49To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 15 April 1819 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . your letter of the 13 th . & am very much obliged to you for it. It was necessary however to decide before I rec d it. Upon further reflection the same Reasons occurred to me which have weighed with you— I thought it prudent also to consult some of the principal federal Gentlemen who thought that I ought to accept— & that during the election it would be unnecessary & improper in...
50To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 20 May 1819 (Jay Papers)
I sent by Mary Delavans bond & c but had not time to write by her. A M r Honeywell called & told me that he had proposed to give a new Mortgage in lieu of Delavans & that you had referred him to me. I believe that Delavans bond is perfectly secure, but as he is not in the habit of paying his Debts voluntarily & is now deeply indebted to the Mechanics bank who will probably press him for money,...