To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 19 November 1824
From Peter Augustus Jay
New York 19 Novr. 1824
My dear Father
I have recd. your letter of the 16 Nov. Inst. & thank you for the direction it contains concerning John.1 I ought before to have thanked you for your kind directions concerning old Mary.2 but I really think that it would be unreasonable to put you to any expense on her account. I consider her as appertaining to the Rye farm & mean to take good care of her— She boards with Silvia of her own choice in preference to boarding with Th. Haviland3 who would have taken her.
I will attend to Tho. Browns4 Interest as soon as I go to Rye. I suppose we shall again have to take his obligation for it.
The houses will be finished in time & from present appearances will bring as good rent as the others. We shall however be better able to judge of the prudence of building others in February next when the rents of the ensuing year will be settled.5
We hope soon to see sisters. I hope Sister Maria is not more indisposed than usual. I sent by Reynolds6 a few days ago a few lilly roots for Nancy & two letters for Mrs. Banyer—7
Great Interest begins to prevail concerning the election of President & no one pretends to know how it will terminate— It is generally thought that Mr Crawford cannot succeed, & that the Contest will be between Mr Adams & Genl. Jackson—8
Mr Clinton is in town & is a singular example of the instability of popular opinions. Two years ago he was not only unpopular but odious. He is now the peoples man— & yet he has done nothing in the interval to justify the change—9
We are all well. Our Love to William Sisters & the Children— I am my dear father, Your very affectionate son
Peter Augustus Jay
John Jay Esqr
I have received Williams letter of the 16th. inst.10
ALS, NNC (EJ: 06286). Endorsed: “ . .answd. 30 Novr 1824—”.
1. See JJ to PAJ, 16 Nov. 1824, ALS, NNC (EJ: 13556). JJ instructed PAJ to take $100 from his account to pay for John C. Jay’s education.
2. See JJ to PAJ, 4 Nov. 1824, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06284). JJ asked to be allowed to pay for the upkeep of this servant or enslaved person. Probably not the “old Mary” mentioned in JJ to PJM, 14 Sept. 1794, ALS, NNMus (EJ: 00427), who had worked for JJ’s parents.
3. Thomas Haviland (1744–1827), worked for the Jays in Rye. See also PAJ to JJ, 22 Oct. 1813, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06186).
4. Thomas Brown of Rye, who owed several loans to the Jays, dating back to 1786. For the main mortgage and other loans, see JJ Account Book Lbk. 9, NNC.
5. For the Walker street development, see JJ to PAJ, 20 May 1818, above.
6. Reynolds worked for the Jays. See also JJ to PAJ, 4[–5] Feb. 1822, above; and PAJ to JJ, 20 Jan. 1825, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06291).
7. One letter was in answer to MJB to PAJ, 24 Oct. 1824, ALS, NNC (EJ: 11493). That answer, not found, also dated 24 Oct., was mentioned in MJB to PAJ, 22 Nov. 1824, ALS, NyRyJHC. This letter also mentions PAJ forwarding a letter from a “Miss Bard.”
8. The voting in the four-way election between JQA, Henry Clay, William H. Crawford, and Andrew Jackson occurred from 26 Oct. to 1 Dec. 1824. JQA was finally elected by the U.S. House of Representatives on 9 Feb. 1825. For New York results, see PAJ to JJ, 4 Dec. 1823, note 10, above. See also PAJ to JJ, 26 Nov. 1824, below; and PAJ to JJ, 3 Dec. 1824, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06288).
9. Clinton was elected Governor. See PAJ to JJ 4 Dec., 1823, note 8, above.
10. Letter not found.