From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 30 March 1819
To Peter Augustus Jay
Bedford—30 March 1819
Dear Peter
I have recd. your Letter of the 26 Inst.1 —On that Day Wm. returned, and gave us agreable accounts of you and your Family. He mentioned the Illness & Recovery of Mr. Munro’s Son. By hearing of both these Circumstances at the same time, much anxiety was obviated— He is a promising boy, and I hope his Recovery will be perfect.—
From the amount of the Loss sustained by the Merchts. Bank,2 there seems to have been too little attention to the State of their affairs— especially if that amount was formed of many Sums successively taken away—
There appears to be Reason to doubt whether the Foederalists will make a very united and animated Effort for Mr. Morris—3 unless they do, the Result of the Election may cause their Number and Importance to appear less than before—
Whether “the American” is,4 or is not, under the Patronage of Mr. King, is a Question which he probably has no Desire to see arise, and be agitated. Circumstanced as we are with Respect to him, I think we should be cautious in expressing Sentiments on this Question and on others comprehended in it, which (even if correctly reported to him) might be unwelcome, and tend to excite unfriendly Feelings.— What Light future Incidents may cast on these matters, cannot as yet be ascertained—
Stagg I suppose has not proceeded. If he can find any Person who will complete and finish the work specified in his Contract, and a part of which still remains to be done, for a less Sum than the amount of the last Payment which would have been due to him, in Case He had completed it; I am willing to pay that Person such lesser Sum on finishing the Work, and to pay the Ballance or Residue to Stagg. If this should meet with Mr. Munro’s approbation, you may make this offer to Stagg—5
Maria talks of passing some Weeks in her House at N York, and taking Augusta and the Children with her. Whatever her Conclusion may be, I hope it will be for the best. As to Health, neither of us have experienced any material alteration. My Love to Mary & the Children. I am Dr Peter, Your affte. Father,
John Jay
Remember the Interest due on Roofs Bond.
Peter Augustus Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 13427); Dft, NNC (EJ: 06227). Endorsed: “Letter from J. Jay / Bedford 30 March / 1819”.
1. Letter not found.
2. JJ invested in Merchants Bank of New York, a Federalist bank. See JJ to PJM, 15 June 1807, ALS, NNMus (EJ: 00542).
3. James Morris (1764–1827), Federalist, former sheriff, son of Lewis Morris (1726–1798), and widower of Helen Van Cortlandt (1768–1812), ran for the state senate, Southern District, coming in sixth with 2,615 votes. Republican John Townsend took the seat with 5,676 votes. A New Nation Votes https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/j3860820j; and American (New York), 24 Mar. 1819.
4. See PAJ to JJ, 19 Feb. 1819, above.