From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 12 September 1783
To Robert R. Livingston
Passy Septr. 12 1783—
Dr. Robt.
At your Farm, with your Family, in Peace, and in Plenty, how happy is your Situation! I wish you may not have retired1 too soon. It is certain you may do much good where you are, & perhaps in few Things more; than in impressing by Precept Influence and Example the indispensable necessity of rendering the continental and State Governments more vigorous and orderly—
Europe hears much, and wishes to hear more of Divisions, Seditions, Violences, and Confusions among us. The Tories are generally and greatly pitied—more indeed than they deserve— The indiscriminate Expulsion and Ruin of that whole Class & Description of Men would not do Honor to our Magnanimity2 or Humanity, especially in the opinion of these Nations who consider with more astonishment than Pleasure, the3 Terms of Peace which America has obtained.4 General Washington’s Letter does him5 Credit as a Soldier, Patriot and Christian— I wish his advice may6 meet with the attention it merits.7
Mr Hartley is gone to London, and expects soon to return, and resume the Discussion of commercial Regulations &ca. He has assured us officially that Britain is not resolved to adhere to the Line marked out in their Proclamations respecting the W. India Trade— I doubt their knowing themselves what they mean to do— In my Opinion we should adhere to exact Reciprocity with all nations, and were we well united they would yield to it—8 He assured us also that orders were gone for the Evacuation of New York—
On the 13th. last month Mrs. Jay was delivered of a Daughter [whom?] we have called her Ann, after my Sister—about whom I am very anxious, having heard nothing of her, nor any other of my Family these three Months. You would oblige me exceedingly by Accounts of them. I hope to see you and them next Summer—9 We have had much cool Weather lately, and I find myself the better for it.
All the People here are running after air globes— The Invention of them may have many Consequences—and who knows but Travellers may hereafter litterally pass from Country to Country on the wings of the wind—one of the enclosed Prints is no less true than laughable—10 Assure your good family of our sincere Regard, and believe me to be Dr Robt. your afft friend,
John Jay
The Honb. Rob. R. Livingston Esqr.
ALS, NHi: Robert R. Livingston (EJ: 846). Endorsed. Dft, NNC (EJ: 7967); E, NN: Bancroft (EJ: 2753).
1. Here, in the Dft JJ excised: “from the Deck to your [Cabin?]”.
2. Here in the Dft JJ excised “in the Eyes of” and interlined “or Humanity especially in the opinion of”.
3. Here in the Dft JJ excised “honorable & advantageous”.
4. Here in the Dft JJ excised “& particularly on that point”.
5. Here in the Dft JJ excised “great Honor &” before interlining “Credit as a Soldier patriot & Christian”.
6. Here in the Dft JJ excised “be attended to” before interlining “meet with the”.
7. For Washington’s widely reprinted circular letter to the governors of the states of June 1783, see , 26: 485–86.
8. The previous ten words were interlined in the Dft.
9. In the Dft the remaining sentences are penned at the bottom of the letter and marked for placement here, preceding the complimentary closing.
10. See JJ to Robert Morris of this date, above. JJ’s remark about the second print, the descent, would apply to the depiction of J.-A.-C. Charles’s experiment of 27 Aug., when his fallen unmanned hydrogen balloon was attacked by peasants with pitchforks. See , 33, and plate IV, “Panic at Gonesse”, following p. 12, and illustrated above.