Sarah Livingston Jay to Catharine Livingston Ridley, 29 July 1796
Sarah Livingston Jay to Catharine Livingston Ridley
Lebanon 29th. July [17]96.
My Dr. Catharine,
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you yesterday1 by Mr. Francis Huger,2 since which Hetty, who is dissatisfied with our Land-Lady has determined to go to New York— She will on Monday set out for Albany in the stage that runs from this place to that, & from thence will take the stages to New York— As there would be an impropriety in my remaining without a Maid, I wish Peter to engage a berth for Eliza either in an Albany stage or Sloop as he thinks best— if in a Sloop he can recommend her to the Captain’s care, & request him to procure a Seat for her in the stage from Albany here.
Except the propriety there is in my having a Maid there is very little use for one until we take our passage; so that Eliza will be quite equal to any thing I want with one— The sooner however she can come the better, & if that little box should have arrived from Baltimore I should be glad she would bring it with her— If Peter can find the travelling backgammon table Mrs. Cortlandt would be very glad she could bring that with her likewise—3 Give my love to Mr. Jay & Peter & remember me to inquiring friends— Adieu! Yours sincerely—
S. Jay
ALS, NNC (EJ: 08121). Endorsed.
2. Probably Francis Kinloch Huger (1773–1855), physician, artillery colonel, and son-in-law of Thomas Pinckney, recently back from an attempt to free Lafayette from an Austrian prison with Dr. Julius Erich Bollman (1769–1821).
SLJ noted in her letter of 28 July, that “Mr. & Mrs. Huger & an younger brother of Mr. Huger’s arrived here, how long they are to stay is uncertain. The young Gentleman will take charge of this letter as he leaves this place this afternoon & will pass thro’ New York in his way to Philadelphia.”
3. SLJ and Maria Jay visited Lebanon Springs for health reasons. SLJ updated her sister on their respective conditions: “Whether I shall be benefited by coming here or not is yet uncertain. Not the least irruption has appear’d since I left home, tho’ I frequently feel those sensations which used to precede the irruption. I shall at any rate rejoice on Maria’s account, for the sore upon her nose which had made its appearance before we left home puts on an appearance so like poor Mamma’s, & proves so obstinate that I believe nothing less than these Springs would have cur’d it. yesterday I thought it better, but today the scab was swashed off in the Bath & I perceive a humor from it which threatens to be tedious. another sore of the same nature has appeared upon her finger.” SLJ to Catharine Livingston Ridley, 28 [mistakenly dated 29] July, ALS, NNC (EJ: 06471). For more on the visit to Lebanon Springs, see also JJ to SLJ, 25 July 1796, and note 1, above, and 4 Aug. 1796, below.