From John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, 18 April 1809
To Peter Jay Munro
Bedford, 18 Ap. 1809
Dear Peter
I recd. your Letter1 by Wm., and am happy in having recd. so favourable an Acct. respecting Maria—2 it corresponds with the Information given me by Wilm.— He also mentioned in strong Terms, your friendly attentions to him.
I am much less unwell than I have been, but my Strength returns slowly—
The Report you sent me, I have read— it certainly contains some valuable Provisions.— Considering the novelty of three chancellors in any Kingdom or State— and considering how this Report is associated in the public mind with certain Persons and Things, it was hardly to be expected that it would pass thro’ the ordinary Courses of Investigation, without meeting any Thorns or Briars in the way. Whether it consists in all its parts with the Constitution? is a Question, on which able and candid men may, in my opinion, very honestly take different Sides.—3
Nancy has lately had more pain in her Eyes and Head than common.—Remember us to Peggy and the Children— I am Dear Peter Your affte. uncle,
John Jay
Peter Jay Munro Esqr
2. PJM informed JJ, “Maria and Sally were at my departure from Albany, in better health and spirits than at my arrival there. The former exhibits a degree of resignation and fortitude, of which very few are capable. At times she is depressed, but those depressions are gradually becoming less frequent.” MJB had suffered deaths in her young family; her son, Goldsborough, died soon after his birth in 1804, her husband, Goldsborough Banyer, followed in 1806, and her daughter, Sarah, passed in 1808. She lived in Albany, caring for her elderly blind and deaf father-in-law and raising her sister Sally. See also JJ to William Wilberforce, 14 Apr. 1806, note 8; JJ to Sarah Louisa Jay, 28 Nov. 1806, note 3, both above.
3. A recent commission report issued by Ambrose Spencer and PJM recommended reforms to the Court of Chancery, advising the creation and appointments of additional assistant chancellors. PJM mentioned that the report “has been met with less candour than it deserves.” Balance (Albany), 28 Feb. and 14 Mar. 1809; PJM to JJ, 31 Mar. 1809, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09397).