John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Maria Jay Banyer, 3 May 1821

From Maria Jay Banyer

New York 3d May 1821.

My dear Papa

I have this moment recieved with the most grateful pleasure yours1 & Augusta’s & Maria’s affectionate letters & must beg you to accept my thanks & offer them to my Sister & Niece. I have doubly enjoyed the fine weather of the last week, in the hope that it had released you from your long confinement to the house, & was disappointed on hearing from Augusta that you had only walked on the Piazza; do dear Papa ride out in the chair or Coachee, exercise is so very beneficial to me that I am very solicitous you should try it—and am anxious Sister Ann should have the benefit of change of air & consult the Dr. respecting her eyes— could not she come to town with Wm. I will return to Bedford the next day & altho’ I cannot expect to supply her place shall be proud to shew I have not quite forgotten how to keep house— & can still go to Albany a few weeks hence— Your friend Judge Benson looks remarkably well, he spent the Winter in Albany, while the Patroon2 glad to escape the violence of Political contest there, spent the Winter here— The Judge brought his Memoir3 with copious manuscript notes & a critique he has written on a piece called the Wife written by Mr. Irving4 & lent them to me with an injunction to read, mark & understand them; I fear he had not taken the measure of my capacity when he enjoined this upon me— Many of your friends have expressed a strong desire that you should attend the Convention, it is said Brother Peter will be a delegate & it is hoped if you cannot go that Wm. will— The friends of the administration exulted extremely a few days ago, feeling assured that they should gain the election, which was despaired of by the opposite party— I mentioned it to Nancy & not an hour after heard that there was a total change in the faces & feelings of Politicians & sent the papers thinking you & William would wish to see them—

Brother’s family are well. John5 has improved very much in his appearance, he studies hard at school but in the intermediate time uses a great deal of exercise, he brought home another honourable testimonial of his good conduct on Saturday— they are all charming children, it is delightful to see their affection for each other, they seem to have but one heart— there was a general shout of joy when Sarah came home on Saturday each one exclaiming Sarah has got the diligent Medal! she now takes great pains to improve— dear little Helen who was a good deal spoilt last Summer behaves remarkably well, her burn is healing as fast as the Dr. will let it—6 & we now hope it will leave no mark but that impressed by gratitude on her heart & on the hearts of her friends— she seems very sensible of the goodness of God & yesterday said I love my Father & Mother better than any body in this world but I love my God & Saviour better than them— it is pleasing to hear them all express their desire to go to Bedford, they & William’s children will I trust form one family & “love as Brethren”—7 What a comfort it is to see them all trained up in the way they should go— & may we not with confidence hope that they will not depart from it— Anna Maria8 is a beautiful child lively & intelligent but does not say half as many words as our little Sally who I am glad to hear has got the Shine pock.9 I long to see you & all the dear family at home but should be ungrateful not to be pleased with my visit here. Mary10 does every thing she possibly can to make it agreable to me & has been very attentive to my friends— she has asked a number of them to meet me this evening— nor am I insensible to the delicate & affectionate manner in which both Augusta & Nancy sacrificed their own inclinations to enable me to come here— Oh what kindness have you all shewn to a poor broken hearted creature— yes you have made the “Widows heart to sing [torn text: for joy]”11 & he who has condescended to call himself the Widows Go[d will] reward you all— Poor Mrs Ten Broeck12 looks wretchedly indeed & is severely tried in her health, her circumstances, the situation of her daughter, & I fear in a still more tender point— she is the picture of patient suffering— her youngest Son13 is studying with Dr. Watts—of whom she speaks in the highest terms as a Physician & friend— The ice boxes shall be procured & sent as soon as possible—14 A barrel of Coffee has been sent on board the Montgomery Capn. Smith which sails today— I will let you know as soon as I can ascertain from the Painter that the Paint & oil is gone—15 Please to remember me with great affection to Sister William & Augusta & the dear Children my love to Kitty if she is with you— I am my dear Father your dutiful & affte. daughter

Maria Banyer

ALS, NNC (EJ: 09756). HPJ, 4: 449–51. Addressed. “John Jay Esqr / Bedford / Westchester County”. Stamped: “NEW-YORK / MAY / 4.” Note: “10”. Endorsed.

1JJ to MJB, 1 May 1821, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06039).

2Stephen Van Rensselaer III. His inherited Upper Hudson Valley estate, Rensselaerswyck Manor, was originally a chartered Dutch patroonship under his great-great-great grandfather Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1586–1643).

3Egbert Benson, Memoir read before the Historical Society of the State of New-York, 31st December, 1816 (New-York, 1817; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 40183).

4Egbert Benson, Brief Remarks on the “Wife” of Washington Irving (New-York, 1819; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 47201). “The Wife” appeared in Irving’s serial, The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon, No. I (New York, 1819; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 48355). Marginalia in what is probably Benson’s personal copy of Brief Remarks, which quotes DeWitt Clinton at length, includes a tipped in sheet of paper in Benson’s hand explaining the Latin motto on the title page, and warning “for the greater caution, the Author think’s proper to disavow all Considerations, either political or personal as it respect’s Mr: Clinton—he is noticed only as one of our fine writers—.” This is possibly the copy MJB viewed. See DLC copy, https://archive.org/details/briefremarksonwioobens.

5John Clarkson Jay.

6PAJ’s daughters Sarah Jay (Dawson) (1811–46), and Catharine Helena Jay (Du Bois) (1815–89).

71 Peter 3: 8.

8PAJ’s daughter Anna Maria Jay (Pierrepont) (1819–1902).

9WJ’s daughter Sarah Louisa Jay (Bruen) (1819–1905). Named after her aunt Sally, who died in 1818. See PAJ to JJ, 22 Apr. 1818, above. “Shine pock” might signify inoculation.

10Mary Clarkson Jay.

11Job 29: 13.

12Cornelia Stuyvesant Ten Broeck (1785–1825).

13Stephan Philip Van Rensselaer Ten Broeck (1802–66).

14See JJ to MJB, 1 Nov. 1821, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06039). JJ wanted two tin boxes for his icehouse, one for meat and one for fish, preferring this to the wood boxes commonly used, his theory being that the cold would transfer more quickly from the ice, and that they would also be better for storage when the ice was depleted.

15Probably paint for her Walker Street property. House paints were hand-mixed by the painter.

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