11From John Jay to Robert Randall, 2 February 1773 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d . and should have answered your Letter immediately, had I not found myself more disposed to Violence, than might be justified on cool Reflection. I believe th[ere is no one] less dis[posed to in]jure or insult oth[ers than my] self, or more ready to give Satisfaction to such as have a Right [to] require it. You speak of a Stab given your Honor this Morning. I have reflected...
12From John Jay to John Tabor Kempe, 2 January 1772 (Jay Papers)
The Receipt of your Letter should have been acknowledged before had I not been out of Town when it was delivered. If by withholding an Explanation you mean to punish me for a Defe supposed Defect in Constitution, or Inaccuracy in Mode of Expression, you certainly Sir! fix your Resentment on Objects too triffling to merit serious Severity. To think with Freedom & to speak with Sincerity I knew...
13From John Jay to John Tabor Kempe, 27 December 1771 (Jay Papers)
Your Doubts respecting Faulkners Declaration appear well founded, and the Remarks contained in your Letter judicious. I concieve the Charge of his having robbed the Company imports no more than a Breach of Trust—if so, it would be hazardous to insert those Counts: if we recover Damages it will be on the other, I am therefore for resting the Cause upon them, and think the Partnership should ^...
14Petition to the Earl of Dunmore, 12 June 1771 (Jay Papers)
To his Excellency the Right honourable John Earl of Dunmore Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the same In Council The Petition of John Jay of the City of New York Esq r . Humbly Sheweth That there are certain pieces of Vacant Land vested in the Crown on the East Side of...
15The Rules and Members of the Moot Club, 23 November 1770 (Jay Papers)
The Subscribers being desirous of forming a club for social conversation & the mutual improv t . of each other have determined to meet in the evening of the 1 th : Friday of every month, at Bardins or such other place as a Majority of the members shall from time to time appoint, & for the better regulating of the said Club do agree Benjamin Kissam John Jay David Matthews William Smith William...
16From John Jay to Samuel Kissam, 1 March 1770 (Jay Papers)
The manner in which you tell your brother that you expected a letter from me contains a reproof which gives me pain. I confess appearances have been against me, and my conduct even to you, my friend, must have appeared exceptionable. My last letter I hope will apologize for seeming omissions; you have doubtless received it before this. Neglect of friends is a species of littleness to which I...
17From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, January 1769 (Jay Papers)
The letter you mention to have wrote the week before last, has never come to Hand and I cant account for the Miscarriage of two Letters I wrote you by the Post last Monday, in which I informed You of the Dissolution & c .— The Paper you inclosed by will be printed to Night, and 100 shall be struck off and sent—Coll. Beekman has either wrote or procured a Paper to be written, 60 of w h . you...
18From John Jay to Benjamin Kissam, 12 August 1766 (Jay Papers)
To tell you that I often find myself at a loss for something to say, would be telling you nothing new; but to inform you that whenever I sit down to write, my invention makes a point of quarrelling with my pen, will doubtless be to account for the . . . in my letters. In writing to those who, I know, prefer honest hearts to clear heads, I turn thought out of doors, and set down the first ideas...
19From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 4 March 1766 (Jay Papers)
I received Yours of the 1 st . March Yesterday. altho I did not suspect any Part of my Letter to be misterious or unintelligable, I confess I imagin d , you would hesitate in answering to every Part of it—There was a Hobby Horse in the Way. You have it seems been highly entertained of late, and by your Account of the Matter have attained every Qualification necessary to form a Buck, & entittle...
20From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 31 October 1765 (Jay Papers)
Never my Dear Friend have I been more at a Loss in answering a Letter than I now am, and never have I undertaken a Task more agreable or that has given me [ illegible ] ^ greater ^ Satisfaction. Be not surprised that on such an Occasion, I should be at a Loss; for nothing that I can say, will be adequate to your Candour, and Generosity; nor can any Terms be fully expressive of my Sentiments on...