John Jay to Frederick Jay, 16 September 1779
To Frederick Jay
Philadelphia 16 September 1779
Dear Fady
Your obliging Letter with the Parcel of Tobacco—which came with it arrived Yesterday—
I am now to inform you that I have resigned the Office of Chief Justice, and that if the State ^shd^ incline to keep me here, I shall consent to stay, provided either you or Sir James will be in Circumstances to ^undertake^ to attend ^constantly^ to our good old Father & his unfortunate Family, otherwise I shall at all Events return for that Purpose—1 Sr. James has his Doubts respecting his future Destination—^& therefore his Return is precarious at present^ where your Objects may lead you ^is^ uncertain, & but of this he would not chuse to have known— When your^ I wish to know ^without Delay^ the Result of your Reflections on this Subject— Should you succeed with Wadsworth, I think you would then be in Capacity to serve them as well [as] ever—2 If you live on Harris’s Farm you will not— Make up your Mind on this Subject ^Matter^—if you find you cannot pay necessary Attention to Fish Kill—prevent my Election, & let me know your Intention by the first Opportunity—
Sally joins with me in Love & Complts. to Peggy & you ^Thank Peter for the Tobacco, Sally joins me in our Love to you all^ I am Dear Fady Your very aff Brother
Fredk. Jay Esqr.
Dft, NNC (EJ: 6323). Endorsed by JJ.
1. JJ also discussed this subject in a letter written the same day to Robert R. Livingston: “If my Brother will be so circumstanced as to be able to pay constant Attention to my Father & Family, I have no objections to remaining here—but should that not be the Case, my Feelings will not permit me to be longer from him. I percieve the Consequences of this Step—it will carry [me] out of the Road of Ambition, which at present is flattering—it will also be very unfriendly to views of Interest, I having it now in my Power to provide handsomely for myself—but as I wish to have Property in the other world as well as this, and my views of Ambition extend beyond this Life— I shall invariably pursue the Dictates of what I may think my Duty, wheresoever they may lead me—”. ALS, NHi: Livingston; Tr, NN: Bancroft.
2. JJ had recommended Frederick Jay for a position in the Commissary Department. See his letter to Jeremiah Wadsworth of 16 Aug., above.