From John Jay to William Livingston, 21 August 1795
To William Livingston
New York 21 Augt. 1795—
Dear Sir
I was this moment favored with yours dated the 16 July, instead of 16 Augt., when I presume it was written.1
The two Papers that were enclosed in it vizt. the Copy of your Letter of the 16 Augt. to B. Livingston and M. Clarkson Esqr., and of the Certificate of Docr. J. Griffith of the same Date, respecting the State of your Health, shall be immediately transmitted to Judge Hobart, agreable to your Request.2—
As to the Subject of your Letter, and of those Papers, I can only in general Terms express my Regret, that you have been reduced to Distresses and mortifications which your Talents & Education enabled You to avoid, and from which they still offer to extricate you whenever you may be pleased to permit them—
On this Head Remarks might be multiplied, but they are obvious—and must occur to You as readily as they do to me — with the best wishes for your Happiness here & hereafter I am, Dr Sir, &c.—
LbkC, NNC: JJ Lbk. 10 (EJ: 12867). “To Wm. Livingston Esqr. Newark” written in JJ’s hand at top of letter. William Livingston (1754–1817), SLJ’s brother and eldest son of William Livingston, was an alcoholic and had become alienated from his family. See JJ to Matthew Clarkson, 13 Sept. 1799, ALS, NNYSL (EJ: 02863); Dft, NNC (EJ: 09799); and Clarkson to JJ, 23 Sept. 1799, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09800).
1. Letter not found.
2. Documents not found. B. Livingston is Henry Brockholst Livingston, William Livingston’s younger brother. M. Clarkson is General Matthew Clarkson, William Livingston’s cousin. Dr. John Griffith (1736–1805) of Rahway, N.J., was a founder of the Medical Society of New Jersey.