To John Jay from Richard Peters, 27 November 1815
From Richard Peters
Belmont Novr. 27—1815
Dear Sir,
Your very acceptable Favour of the 20th.1 I received on Saturday last, in the Midst of the Bustle of closing a very busy District Court. As soon as I was released, I went in Search of Mrs. Bedford,2 as you seemed anxious that she should receive your Information, with Certainty. I found Mrs. Bedford; but it was not the one I sought for. She is the Widow of an old Friend who was Governor of Delaware several Years;3 & she is the Sister of our old & worthy Friend, the late George Reed.4 But I was not out of my Way; for she has undertaken to deliver the Letter to the Mrs. Bedford to whom it is directed; & knowing something about her Affairs, she thinks Mrs. J. Bedford will be highly gratified by your Kindness. Mrs. J. B. is the Widow of the late District Judge of Delaware,5 & lives at the Farm you mention, near Wilmington Delaware State.6 She is the Daughter of Parker, the Printer at New York,7 whom you must well recollect. Your Letter, not only because it is a Letter from you, but because it roused a Number of pleasant Recollections, was very agreeable to me. I found myself, involuntarily, in a Fit of Laughter, excited by the “Pleasures of Memory;”8 which brought into my Mind very diverting Circumstances (relative to the Father & the Daughter) of which, I am certain. I have not thought, for 30 Years, at least. Memory is a strange & unaccountable Faculty. Nevertheless you could not do a Kindness to one more in Need of it; nor to one more deserving your Attention. You always do me Good— & I shall vamp up some of these old Stories of Eccentricities, by no Means contra bonos mores.9 They would, at least, last as long as you could smoke a Cygar— or a Pipe— & are only fit for the Period you employ in such Oblivia Vitae.10 But I scorn to tell any one Story of such an Extent. The Steersmen on the Missouri, used to measure Distances by Pipes. But this Mode of Mensuration will not do for a Story: Lest those who are disgusted by Narration, should set up their Pipes, in Exclamations against the dullest of all Animals— a tedious Matter of Fact Man.
I sympathize with you in your Malady—which attacked me with great Violence; & left me debilitated in an uncommon Degree. I have completely got the better of it; & am in good Health. I reciprocate with sincere & earnest Prayers, that you may long enjoy every Blessing— & without Health, few can be enjoyed perfectly.
I have snatched a Moment from some official Engagements, to answer your Letter; as you seemed anxious about the Subject of it. Believe me always, affectionately yours
Richard Peters
J. Jay Esqr.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 09576).
1. JJ to RP, 20 Nov. 1815, ALS, PHi: Peters (EJ: 01162), enclosing JJ to Jane Ballareau Parker Bedford, 20 Nov. 1815; Dft, NNC (EJ: 08735).
JJ’s letter contained information about real estate transactions in upstate New York involving Bedford, her father, Brockholst Livingston, and David Cox.
2. Jane Ballareau Parker Bedford (1746–1831).
3. Gunning Bedford Sr. (1742–97), governor of Delaware 1796–97, often mistaken for his cousin, below. Bedford was married to Mary Read, and lived in New Castle, Del.
4. Former Delaware Senator George Read (1733–98).
5. Gunning Bedford Jr. (1747–1812), member of the Continental Congress, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, attorney general for Delaware (1779–89), and Federal district judge for Delaware.
6. Lombardy Farm.
7. James Parker (1714–70), printer who trained in New York, and in Philadelphia with Franklin, before setting up his own press in New Jersey.
8. Samuel Rogers (1763–1855), The pleasures of memory, a poem (London: 1792); reprinted The pleasures of memory and all the other poems of Samuel Rogers by Samuel Rogers. And, The pains of memory by Robert Merry (New-York, 1815; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 32672).
9. “Harmful to the moral welfare of society.”
10. Horace, Satires 2: 6, line 62. “… ducere sollicitae iucunda oblivia vitae!” Here reads “forgetfulness of life”.