TO JAY FROM HIS FATHER. - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 1 (1763-1781) [1890]
Edition used:
The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, ed. Henry P. Johnston, A.M. (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890-93). Vol. 1 (1763-1781).
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TO JAY FROM HIS FATHER.
Rye, 16 January, 1764.
Dear Johnny:
. . . . . . . .
Seal the inclosed before you delivr: it to Mr. Kissam and you may conclude an agreemt. with him vizt:
To pay him £200 when the time of your being with him commences, that is, immediately after your passing your Degrees at College in May next, tho’ perhaps he will not require ye whole sum to be then paid, & be satisfied to have it in two paymts.; but leave that to himself to do therein as he chuses.
To engage for 5 years if his agreemt: with ye Lawyers don’t allow less, but that you shall be at Liberty to apply the two last to ye study of ye Law and attend ye office occasionally so as to be no hindrance to your study and to which I believe Mr. Kissam can have no objection, considering ye sum he requires.
If you should immediately proceed to articles of agreemt: it will be necessary to have it inserted that if either of you should dye before the time of your being with him commences, that in that case the whole agreemt: shall be void, as it would not be reasonable that ye money should be paid.
On the whole you must agree in ye best manner you can, but I would observe that in case ye Lawyers do soon come to another agreemt: (in consequence of some not approvg: ye last made by Mr. Kissam & others) whereby a less sum than £200 is to be required, it will then be reasonable that Mr. Kissam do lower his demand accordingly. . . .
I am, Dear Johnny Yr. affecte. Father
Peter Jay.
1766.
Upon graduation in May, of this year, Jay entered the law office of Benjamin Kissam, Esq., a prominent member of the bar at New York, and was himself admitted to practice in 1768. John Adams, as he passed through the city on his way to Philadelphia in August, 1774, wrote in his diary, commenting on men and measures: “Mr. Jay is a young gentleman of about twenty-six; Mr. Scott says, a hard student and a good speaker.”
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