John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from William Jay, 25 August 1824

From William Jay

Niagara Falls. 25th. August 1824

My dear Father

After a most delightful journey I have reached this place. We arrived this afternoon, having first visited Newark & Queenstown in Canada— No one can have adequate ideas of the resources & prosperity of this state without visiting the Western Counties. From Rochester to this place is 87 miles & in the whole distance there are not 6 miles of bad road, nor half that distance of unsettled Country. I mean that the road does not pass three miles through the woods. I spent a day at Lockport, viewing the greatest works of Art I have ever witnessed. This place is about 20 Miles from the commencement of the canal. The water here falls 60 feet, through five sets of double locks.1 In one place the cutting is 60 feet deep, & for 2 miles, the excavation is about 20 feet deep through hard & solid rock. The Canal will terminate with^in^ 7 miles of the Falls, & is now completed as far as Lockport. The falls here are indescribable. Neither pencil or pen can give any just conception of their beauty & grandeur. I shall endeavour to hasten home as soon as possible,2 but as I shall pass within 28 miles of Turin, I think a short visit will be expected, & ought to be paid—3 My health has been perfectly good, & I feel grateful to Providence for the safety & pleasure I have enjoyed. John4 is likewise very well. I wrote to Augusta5 on Sunday from Rochester. I regret that I cannot hear from home, but hope soon again to be with you. My love to Augusta & Sisters. I remain my dear Father Your very affectte: Son

William Jay

John Jay Esqr:

P.S. 25th: Augt: Mr: & Mrs: McVickar & their daughter6 arrived here this morning all in good health. I expect to leave this tomorrow in company with them.

ALS, NNC (EJ: 09684, EJ: 09679). Addressed: “Niagara Falls / Augt. 25. / John Jay Esqr: / Bedford / West Chester Cy: / N.Y” Note: “25”. Endorsed.

1The Flight of Five Locks of Lockport, completed in 1825.

2JJ later worried WJ would miss a meeting of “the Bible Society at Bedford” on 1 Sept. See JJ to MJB, 30 Aug. 1824, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06041).

3Probably visiting members of the McVickar family, as Augusta Jay’s brothers had business and property in Turin. Some family settled there. Several family members lived out their lives in Lewis County. See Elizabeth L. Arthur, Lewis County Cemetery Records: Partial Survey of Inactive Cemeteries (Lowville, N.Y., 1965); http://genealogytrails.com/ny/lewis/cem_oldstpaul.html.

4John C. Jay accompanied his uncle to Niagara. See PAJ to JJ, 3 Sept. 1824, below.

5Letter not found.

6Probably Archibald McVickar (1785–1849), one of Augusta’s brothers; Catharine Augusta Livingston McVickar (1791–1854), daughter of Henry Brockholst Livingston; and their daughter Catharine McVickar (1814–1913). Other brothers and relations also had ties to the area. See note 3, above.

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