From John Jay to Robert Randall, 3 February 1773
To Robert Randall
[NYork 3 Feby 1773]
Sir
Permit me to assure you, that you are exceedingly mistaken if you suppose me desirous of hushing up the Matter between us in a Way, that may be inconsistant either with your Honor or my own.
The Coolness with which I now act, & which I hope will never forsake me flows from another Principle, and will always lead me to behave with Decency and with Firmness.
did not imagine that as you signified your Assent last Evening to a fair Determination of our Difference; that your Letter1 required no ^an^ Answer.—I have been expecting all the Morng that you would have mentioned, or conferred with me respecting the Persons we were to consult on the Occasion, and the Time & Place of doing it.
I am under an Engagement to go to Mr. Schuylers2 at Second River Tomorrow on Matters of Business, & am ready to devote this Evening to the Purposes mentioned in your Letter. I am willing to Submit it to Mr. Watts Mr. Bache Mr. Ver Plank or Mr. De Lancey or any of them.—3 let me know your opinion of this Proposal, and let us appoint some Hour for the Purpose that may be convenient to us both—any Time after five oClock will suit me. I am Sir Your hble Servt
John Jay
DftS, NNC (EJ: 12945). Addressed: “To Mr. Robt Randall, Prest.”
1. Letter not located.
2. Arent Schuyler (1746–1803), a 1765 graduate of King’s College, lived on an estate on the Passaic River opposite Second River or modern Belleville, N.J. The “Matters of Business” probably concerned the estate of Schuyler’s father, John, who had died 12 Jan. 1773. JJ was appointed an executor of the will. Peter DuBois to JJ, 30 Jan. 1777 (EJ: 5569).
3. The friends referred to here are probably John Watts Jr. and Stephen De Lancey, JJ’s fellow members in the Moot; Theophylact Bache (1735–1807), a prominent New York merchant; and either Samuel (1739–1820) or Gulian Verplanck (Ver Planck). 24 (1893): 43–44.