To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 20 May 1824
From Peter Augustus Jay
New York 20 May 1824
My dear Father
I have recd. your letter of the 17th. May1 & sincerely regret to learn that Sister Maria2 continues to suffer so much. Nancy & William I presume are now with you— The former had a bad cold when she left us, & I shall be happy to hear that it has not been encreased by travelling in disagreable Weather. Mary hopes that as soon as Marias health will permit we shall the pleasure of a visit from her—and that Augusta & the children will come with her. They know that we have plenty of room for them all.
The workmen have turned out as it is called for higher Wages, & our houses at present stand still, as do all others which are building— we give a very fair price to the builders & unless the expence of building should increase very considerably, I do not think you will be bound to pay more. of this we cannot judge sufficiently as yet.3
By Uncle Peters will4 he gave a legacy of £600 to aunt & another to Mr Munro of £500—to be paid after her death—5 By his ^a^ Codicil drawn by Mr Munro & the residue of his personal estate (except furniture &c bequeathed to Aunt) he gave after her Death to your Children (except me)— By a Codicil he directed 4 bonds of Mr Munro’s to be delivered up. & he bequeathed the residue of his moneys bonds & stock to Mr Munro & to your four younger children equally to be divided between them—6
Being satisfied that the second legacy was not at law an ademption of the first—I went to day to pay him the first— He however refused to receive it saying, that he was not certain that Uncle intended that he should have both.
William left in the Carriage which took him to Rye a phial containing Leeches.7 The Coachman brought it here today, & we will send it by the stage. I hope John’s Eyes, are better & that the Doctors prescriptions will be of use to him—
We wish Nancy could have remained with us longer. She was so constantly employed that she had little Opportunity to enjoy herself— Our best love to all the family— We are all well. I am my dear father Your very Affectionate Son
Peter Augustus Jay
John Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 06276). Addressed: “John Jay Esqr / Bedford / Westchester County / N.Y.” Note: “New-York / May 21”. Note: “10”. Endorsed: “… ansd. 31 May 1824 / His uncle Peter’s will / new House”.
1. Letter not found.
2. For recent health complaints, see JJ to PAJ, 23 Sept. 1823, above.
3. Walker Street development. See JJ to PAJ, 20 May 1818, above.
4. “Blind” Peter Jay died on 8 July 1813. See JJ to MJB, 19 July, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06014); and New-York Gazette, 10 July 1813.
5. On the protracted illness and death of Mary Duyckinck “Polly” Jay, see PAJ to JJ, 25 Sept. 1823, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06272); MJB to JJ, 25 Apr., ALS, NNC (EJ: 11496); MJB to JJ, 27 Apr., ALS, NNC (EJ: 09773); and Evening Post (New York), 29 Apr. 1824.
6. JJ subsequently gave PAJ the property at Rye his uncle Peter had bequeathed to SLJ. See JJ to PAJ, 31 May 1824, ALS, NNC (EJ: 11494).
7. John C. Jay was probably diagnosed with chronic ophthalmia, an inflammation of the eye, which was treated with leeches. See Mr. Lawrence, “Lectures on the Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases of the Eye,” Lancet 5 (7 Jan. 1826): 497–502.