To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 21 August 1807
Peter Augustus Jay, by John Wesley Jarvis, c. 1806. (Courtesy of the Jay Heritage Center)
From Peter Augustus Jay
Albany 21 August 1807
Dear Papa
We left New York on Monday last & arrived safely here this Morning in time for Breakfast.1 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 has been greatly diminished by change of Air & mine is nearly gone— As for Sally she is perfectly [well/torn] Old Mr. Banyer2 is quite blind & more deaf than ever but in other Respects is as healthy as he has been [during/torn] several years. Miss Rutherfurd has accompanied us. On our passage we met Mr Fultons Steam Boat & I went on board it— Mr Fulton told me that he had performed the passage to Albany in thirty two hours, & that the Boat would move in still water at the Rate of five miles an hour. The greatest Objections to the Invention arise I think from the Expence of the Boat, & the little room it contains— The first exceeds the Cost of a Merchant Ship of three hundred tons burden; and the Furnace & Engine consume so much Space, that no place remains for stowing a Cargo. At each end is a Cabin for passengers, one of which is rendered uncomfortable by the heat of the furnace—3
The Influenza is quite as prevalent here as at New York & at least as severe.
Mary & my Sisters desire to be affectionately remembered to you. My Love to William & Susan— I am your very Affectionate son
Peter Augustus Jay
John Jay Esqr.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 06124). Addressed: “John Jay Esqr. / Bedford / Westchester County;;. Stamped: “Albany / 22”. Marked: “12½”. Endorsed: “… ans[were]d. 2 Septr. 1807 / Albany”. For JJ’s reply, see his letter of 2 Sept. 1807, ALS, NyKaJJH (EJ: 12316).
1. PAJ married his second cousin Mary Rutherfurd Clarkson (1786–1838), the daughter of Matthew Clarkson and Mary Rutherfurd Clarkson (1761–86), in New York City on 29 July 1807. Shortly thereafter, the couple went on a trip to upstate New York before moving into their new home located on the corner of Broadway and Vesey Street. People’s Friend (New York), 31 July 1807. See also Jay, Memorials of Peter A. Jay, 86–87.
2. Goldsborough Banyer Sr. (1725–1815), of Albany, father-in-law of MJB.
3. Robert Fulton (1765–1815), of New York City, engineer and inventor. Fulton’s inventions included naval mines, the submarine Nautilus, the steamboat, including the North River, later Clermont, and a floating battery.
Fulton’s steamboat, built with the assistance of RRL, made its maiden voyage in mid-August 1807 from New York City to Clermont and then Albany. The state legislature granted Fulton and RRL a monopoly the following year for operating their steamships on New York’s waterways.
JJ expressed reservations regarding the practical and commercial utility of the North River, informing PAJ, “Perhaps the Steam Boat may yet be so empowered as to be useful and less expensive. in its present state I doubt its proving advantageous to the owners.” American Citizen (New York), 22 Aug. 1807; JJ to PAJ, 2 Sept. 1807, ALS, NyKaJJH (EJ: 12316).