From John Jay to John Sinclair, 8 August 1816
To John Sinclair
Bedford—West Chester County—8 Augt. 1816
Dear Sir
I have recieved the papers which you was so obli[ging as to send] me— accept my Thanks for them.1 Gratitude is due to thos[e who employ their] Time and Talents in promoting the common Welfare. Y[our exertions to improve] agriculture, and render it more productive, are known and [acknowledged. The] Paper on “Mildew in Wheat” I have sent to New York,2 to be pub [lished. The] multitude of interesting Facts ^which^ have been collected during the last tw[enty years would] which ^doubtless^ furnish Materials for a comprehensive System of Hu[sbandry.3 Such a] work ably executed, would be useful—
Credit is also due to your Endeavours to make known [and excite attention] to the Means which conduce to Health and Longevity— the [proposed edition] of the Code on these Subjects, in one octavo Volume, will doubt less [be better] calculated for general use and extensive circulation, than the [larger work] from which it is to be extracted.4 I hope it will soon be finishe[d, and find] its way to this Country. It must be an agreable Reflection to [you, that] you have been “diligent in well doing”.—
My Health has for years been declining, and my age re[minds me] that the Re-establishment of it is not to be expected. What [you have] written of the Flesh Brush, will induce me to use it more fre[quently: it] can do no harm, and may do good— and that is no incon[siderable] Recommendation—
With the best wishes that your Health and L[ongevity may] be such, as to give additional Weight to your Remarks respecting [them,] I am Dr Sir Your faithful & obt [Servant].
Dft, NNC (EJ: 08744). Manuscript mutilated. Missing text supplied by published letter in Correspondence of Sir John Sinclair, Bart., 2: 61–62. WJ, 2: 374; HPJ, 4: 390–91.
1. Not found.
2. Sinclair wrote two books involving wheat rust: John Sinclair, Result of an inquiry, into the nature and causes of the blight, the rust, and the mildew, which have particularly affected the crops of wheat, on the borders of England and Scotland. With some observations on the culture of spring wheat. (Edinburgh, 1809), and idem., Hints regarding the agricultural state of the Netherlands, compared with that of Great Britain; and some observations on the means of diminishing the expence of growing corn; of preventing the mildew in wheat, the rot in sheep, and the introduction of other improvements in British agriculture (London, 1815). The paper given to JJ was placed in the newspapers by PAJ at JJ’s request (see JJ to PAJ, 13 Aug. 1816, below), e.g., “Mildew in Wheat,” Evening Post (New York), 24 Aug. 1816; New-York Herald, 28 Aug. 1816; and Albany Advertiser, 31 Aug. 1816. The paper provides a summary of Sinclair’s talk on the subject of the second book given at the Farmers’ Club meeting at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James Street, London, on 8 June 1815.
3. See JJ to John Sinclair, 1 Apr. 1795, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08936); and Correspondence of Sir John Sinclair, 2: 61, written while JJ was still in London. Thus began a correspondence on Sinclair’s Board of Agriculture. See also, JJ to John Sinclair, 7 Nov. 1797, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08975); and Correspondence of Sir John Sinclair, 2: 59–60. JJ encouraged Sinclair’s scientific approach to agriculture and offered advice for the organization of Sinclair’s quasi-governmental Board, of which JJ was an honorary member (see John Sinclair to JJ, 31 Mar. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07141)). Of this agricultural exchange with JJ, Sinclair wrote: “There is no man with whose correspondence I was more highly gratified than with that of Mr. Jay. He entered so fully into all my views, and seemed so deeply impressed with the numerous advantages likely to result from them, as to give me additional energy in my endeavours to carry on, and complete them.” Correspondence of Sir John Sinclair, 2: 59.
4. The paper JJ may have received would be published as John Sinclair, Code of health and longevity … Part II. Chap. V. ([Edinburgh], 1815). For Sinclair’s “longer work” on health with which JJ was also familiar, see The code of health and longevity: or, A concise view, of the principles calculated for the preservation of health, and the attainment of long life. Being an attempt to prove the practicability of condensing, within a narrow compass, the most material information hitherto accumulated, regarding the most useful arts and sciences, or any particular branch thereof; 4 vols. (Edinburgh, 1806–7). JJ encouraged the plan of a handier version, which did come out as the third edition in 1818.