From John Jay to Peter Van Schaack, 19 May 1820
To Peter Van Schaack
Bedford—19th. May 1820
Dear Sir
I recd. on the 17th. Inst. by the last mail, your friendly Letter of the 4th.— ^Inst—^1 It gives me pleasure to learn from it that we had not differed in opinion on the Subject of the late Election. It was necessary to ^consider and^ decide, for which of the two Candidates for the office of Governor, it would be most proper to vote— on weighing the Objections urged against each of them, those against Mr. Tomkins, in my Judgmt. preponderated— I therefore concluded that it was fit and right to vote for Mr. Clinton—and I did so accordingly—2
It appears to me desireable that mutual Satisfaction and Confidence should be restored and maintained between Lord Amherst and Mr. Van Alen, whose Letter to his Lordship will I hope have that Tendency— I wish it had been revised by you— on such occasions I think Mr Van Alen would do well to avail himself of your Judgmt. and Prudence—3
I exceedingly regret the Injury done to your best Eye by the late Inflamation in it— Whether the operation usual in such Cases, would be adviseable in yours, is a Question which Medical Gentn. are best qualified to answer.— If they should advise it, you might not improbably be restored to the Blessing of Sight— Instances of its proving successful are frequent and numerous—4
Your Letter contains good Tidings respecting your Brother—5 It is not common for persons of his great age to possess such Health both of Body and Mind— be pleased to present to him my Compts., and my best wishes for his welfare—
My own Health has undergone but little alteration since you was here— I am more feeble, but it is only now & then that I experience severe Pain—
Our Friend Benson6 made me a Visit in Octr. last, and gave me Reason to expect the pleasure of seeing him again in the Course of the Winter; but he has disappointed me— When you go to NYork, I am persuaded he will readily come here with You. I should be glad to see you both:
I hope your children are well, and doing well— Your and their Prosperity will always be interesting to your affte. Friend.
P.S. William and ^his wife &^ his Sisters are obliged by your kind remembrance— They will all cordially unite with me in making Bedford agreable to you, ^and^ to any of your Family—
Dft, NNC (EJ: 09445).
1. Letter not found.
2. The New York gubernatorial election was held in April: the Federalist candidate DeWitt Clinton received 47,956 votes; and the Republican Daniel D. Tompkins, 46,256 votes; Rufus King, 32 votes; James Kent, 19 votes; and eight others with 5 votes or less each. See A New Nation Votes https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/d791sg234.
3. William Pitt Amherst (1773–1857), was nephew and heir to Lord Jeffrey Amherst, inheriting the Baron’s substantial North American property holdings. JJ and PAJ helped the Amherst family manage these holdings. Evert Van Alen (1772–1854) surveyed these holdings; Peter Van Schaack’s involvement was likely due to a family relationship between the surveyor and his second wife, Elizabeth Van Alen Van Schaack, as well as a property dispute. The Van Schaack’s son David also acted as an agent. See Peter Van Schaack to Evert Van Alen, 20 July 1820, ALS, NAII (EJ: 02609); David Van Schaack to Evert Van Alen, 21 Oct. 1819, ALS, NAII (EJ: 02608). See also the editorial note “John Jay’s Mission to London,” , 6: 1–11, and 9n13.
4. Eye inflammation was treated by antiphlogistic “depletive therapies” such as “bleeding, blistering, purging, salivation, and diaphoresis [sweating].” Angeline Brasier, “Prisoners’ Eyes: Treatments for Ophthalmic Disease Among Convict Populations During the 1830s and 1840s,” Health and History, 19 Incarceration, Migration, Dispossession, and Discovery: Medicine in Colonial Australia (2017): 41. JJ may, however, have been referring to cataract surgery, which was common.
5. Henry Van Schaack.
6. Egbert Benson.