To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 18 February 1814
From Peter Augustus Jay
New York 18 Feb. 1814
Dear Papa
I have recd your letter of the 15th. inst.1 & am sorry I troubled you about the $200. I find that my Accounts were correct as they were, & that my Embarassment was occasioned by a mistake in casting up the Columns— I recollect now that tho’ I gave you a number of small bills when I was at Bedford, it was in exchange for large ones—
After I had written to you last Friday Mrs Watkins changed her Mind with respect to buying Stock, & desired me to pay her the money you had recd for her, which I did, & took her Receipt— It is dated the 11th. Feby. 1814 & is for $527.62/100—2
I have spoken to Mr LeRoy on the Subject of Judge Benson He says he is ready to unite in the plan you propose, & that a sufficient number of the Judge’s Friends will join— That he had several times spoken to the Judge with an Intention of discovering his true Situation, & of the manner in which ^his^ friends might interfere in his Behalf— but that the Judge each time changed the subject of Conversation, & evaded his Inquiries. He wished me therefore to break the Subject to the Judge, which I promised to do, but he has not since been in town—
I regret much to hear of Maria’s Indisposition. I have not heard from her for some weeks—
I am obliged to William for writing to me about the Wood cut from Hen Island. I will go in a few days to Rye & take some measures in relation to it.
I have agreed to let Mrs. Saidler keep the house three years more at the present Rent, she paying all the taxes, those of the United States as well as the others—
There is no News— I am told that the principal federalists of Massachusets have held a Caucus at which it was agreed that they had already gone as far as was expedient in their Opposition to the war, unless it was intended to seperate the Union, & that the Question was then put whether the people were prepared for that Measure, whereupon every Member except two voted in the negative.3 We are all well— Our Love to Wm & Nancy I am my dr father Your very Affect. son
Peter Augustus Jay
I have bought for you 14 oz Essence of Hemlock.4 I could not buy a Quart at once. but I do not doubt I can keep you constantly supplied with it.
John Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 06188). Addressed: “John Jay Esqr / Bedford / Westchester County / N.Y.” Marked: “10”. Endorsed: “… and. 22 Feb. 1814 / Has pd. Mrs. Watkins”.
1. Letter not found.
2. Judith Livingston Watkins. JJ was a trustee to William Livingston’s will.
3. Several months later, JJ discussed with PAJ political developments in Massachusetts and the possibility of secession among New England Federalists:
The Intelligence from Massachusetts is interesting— The two parties there, are not very unequal in numbers; and it is important that affairs be prudently conducted, and nothing done permaturely. The circumstance of the Letter is not a matter of indifference— whether genuine or not, the ideas expressed in it merit attention; and may not be unwelcome to some minds both in the North and South. It is very desirable that the Union may be preserved— whether it will survive its present dangers, cannot be foreseen.
I think we may now expect another Campaign and probably a severe one. New York may or may not be attacked— we should provide for the worst, and therefore you should decide in season on the measures proper to be pursued under such a state of things.
JJ to PAJ, 10 Oct. 1814, Tr, NNC (EJ: 11407). For the growing opposition to the war in New England and discussion of possible secession that led to the Hartford Convention in Dec. 1814, see the editorial note “Political Changes and Challenges in the War of 1812,” above.
4. “Essence of hemlock,” from hemlock spruce, was used for cough medicines in North America. Gabrielle Hatfield, Encyclopedia of Folk Medicines Old World and New World Traditions (Santa Barbara, 2004), 195.