To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 1 August 1798
From Peter Augustus Jay (First Letter)
New York 1 August 1798—
Dear Papa
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 Mr. Ten Broeck1 that the Democratic Party have a Majority of four in the lower House, & of Course that the next Council of Appointment will be an improper one— He sails today on board Capt Boyds Sloop— I shall send by the same Vessel Col: Trumbulls Prints2 & a Bundle ef containing Sisters Shoes & some Muslin for Mama.
At this place the Stream of public Opinion continues to run with increasing rapidity in our Favor— Several Insults lately offered to the Cockade & the Song of Hail Columbia have contributed to accelerate it— A few Evenings ago I was unluckily one of a Company who received much Abuse on Account of the latter— As this Affair has been grossly misrepresented I send you the inclosed Statement which I wrote at the Request of one of the Printers & is strictly accurate—3 Altho I cannot reproach myself even with Imprudence in the Business, I greatly regret it; since the very Circumstance of having been engaged in a Broil with a Set of Blackguards at a late Hour of the Night has in it something disgraceful— It has however tended to increase the influence of those it was meant to injure, as I think all violent attacks upon a Party which is superior in Numbers & Enthusiasms always must—
Mrs. Bruce’s Son Archibald4 is desirous of being appointed Surgeons Mate of Col: Swartwouts Regt.5 & I have promised to mention it to you— The Col: I am told will recommend him for the Commission—
Mr. Tiebout some time ago applied to me to obtain for him the Print you have at Albany of General Washington6 (which he has heard is a better likeness than any he can procure here) in order to copy it for the same work in which yours is to be inserted— I do not Know whether he spoke to you when in town as he intended & therefore mention it now—
Mr. Bleecker does not think that in the present State of the funds he can dispose of your Stock in the Manner you proposed— I am Your Affect: Son
Peter Augustus Jay
Govr. Jay—
ALS, NNC (EJ: 90167). Addressed: “His Excellency / Governor Jay— / Albany—”. Endorsed. Enclosure not found.
1. Abraham Ten Broeck, Albany businessman and mayor of Albany, 1779–83 and 1796–98.
2. JT’s engravings of the deaths of Generals Warren and Montgomery. See JT to JJ, 6 Mar. 1798, above.
3. Enclosure not found. PAJ’s account of the disturbance submitted to the local press was possibly the following:
Last Friday about half past ten in the evening 5 young men were walking on the Battery. Animated by the presence of our illustrious President, who had that day entered the city, under the display of flags, and the thunder of our cannon, amidst the glitter of swords, a forest of bristling bayonets, and the shouts and acclamations of assembled thousands, they were singing, as was common throughout the town, the Federal Song— “Hail Columbia”— A much larger number of boatmen and low fellows, from the wharves and docks immediately collected; and, instigated by the deluding demon of French Jacobinism, and no doubt by some of its mad or corrupted votaries, here approached our young men singing in opposition to them— what song do you think my countrymen? The infamous French song “Ca Ira!” Heavens, what a contrast! How honorable to those who wore the badge of Americanism— How degrading and traitorous in the others. Both parties quickly met each other, and it was not long before the alien crew, conscious of their superior numbers, began the dastardly attack, and first insulted, and then beat and bruised them in a most shameful manner. Mr Samuel Malcom, one of the young men seemed to be particularly singled out as the object of their infernal hatred. It was asked if he was the secretary to the president, and on having answered in the affirmative, three or four ruffians grappled him, and altho’ he defended himself with great courage, yet he received considerable injury. One villain in the scuffle attempted to gouge him; at another time he was seized by the throat by two or three, and the consequence would have been fatal, had not one of his companions that instant come to his assistance. Meantime several watchmen, and a number of people assembled, and the ruffians desisted from their purpose. Yet no attempt was made to secure them; on the contrary disposition friendly to their escape was discovered.
The young men finding themselves thus unsupported thought it most prudent to retire. In consequence of this unprovoked and scandalous outrage, it was resolved next day that the young men who wore the cockade would go on the battery in the evening, and meet in a body any attack that should be made on the mark they had assumed to evince their disposition to support our government against the insolence, perfidy, ambition, and rapacity of France. A large number of opposite opinions collected:— No attack, however, was made or insults given. They sung several patriotic songs; and at the conclusion, determined to go to mr. Malcom’s house and give him three cheers to proclaim in this manner their indignation at the insult offered thro’ him to them all, and their fixed resolution to maintain their ground against all opposition. Accordingly, about 400 assembled in front of his house, huzzaed three times, and sung Hail Columbia. They then moved up Broadway to Trinity Church, and there dispersed.
PtD, Daily Advertiser (New York), 30 July 1798. Reprinted in several newspapers, including, Porcupine’s Gazette and Gazette of the United States (both Philadelphia), 31 July; Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia), 1 Aug.; Carey’s United States Recorder (Philadelphia), 2 Aug.; Albany Centinel, 3 Aug.; Massachusetts Mercury (Boston), 3 Aug.; E, New-Jersey Journal (Elizabeth-town), 7 Aug.; Georgetown Gazette (S.C.), 28 Aug 1798.
A different, though still pro-Federalist rendering, of the affair appeared in the Farmer’s Register (Chambersburg), 8 Aug. 1798. The Democratic-Republican press responded with its own counter-narrative that interpreted events as representing a Federalist display of divisive politics, excessive party spirit, and slavishness to the executive branch; such a perspective is provided in the Aurora (Philadelphia), 1 Aug. 1798. A less partisan accounting appeared in Greenleaf’s New-York Journal, 1 Aug.; Carey’s United States Recorder (Philadelphia), 2 Aug.; and New-Jersey Journal (Elizabethtown), 7 Aug. 1798.
4. Archibald Bruce (1771–1819), son of Judith Bayard Bruce and William Bruce, developed an interest in mineralogy while studying at Columbia College. “Archibald Bruce” in W. E. Wilson (2016), The Mineralogical Record: Biographical Archive https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=1015 (accessed July 2018).
5. Lt. Col. Bernardus Swartwout commanded the 5th militia regiment for New York County. Military Minutes, 1: 450.
6. For Tiebout, see JJ to PAJ, 16 Apr. 1798, above. The GW print is most likely Tiebout’s 1798 engraving, designed and drawn by Charles Buxton, and published by Charles Smith in N.Y. described in David McNeely Stauffer, American Engravers upon Copper and Steel (New York, 1907), 2: 526.