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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

1820. - John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, vol. 4 (1794-1826) [1893]

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. 4 (1794-1826).

Part of: The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, 4 vols.

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1820.

WILLIAM JAY TO JAY.

Turin [N. Y.], October, Sunday 8th, 1820.

My Dear Father:

We left New York in the steamboat on Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock, and after a very pleasant passage arrived in Albany at about the same time the next afternoon. We found at the dock a stage for Schenectady and immediately took our seats in it, and had only time to stop at Mrs. Sedgwick’s door, to deliver a letter and inquire about the family. Susan and Matilda came to the carriage and shook hands with us; their husbands were both in Vermont. We passed the night at Schenectady and left it the next morning in the stage before sunrise. Our carriage was as comfortable as any private coach. We travelled 65 miles on Friday without being fatigued; the next day we got within eight miles of this place, and this morning we arrived here safely before breakfast.

The children have behaved extremely well, and have given us scarcely any trouble whatever. They have not once seemed tired. I am myself very well, and have got rid of every symptom of influenza. I think of leaving this on Saturday for Utica where I propose spending Sunday and Monday the 15th and 16th, after which I shall hasten home as quick as possible.

The facilities for travelling between Turin and Albany have wonderfully increased within a few years. The road for the whole distance with the exception of only one mile is turnpike. The Stages between Albany and Utica, 96 miles, are what are now called Post Coaches. The driver sits on a box outside of the Carriage; the baggage is put into a boot behind the Carriage, but connected with the body and is perfectly protected from the weather, and the inside of the carriage is well stuffed and cushioned. The fare from Albany to Utica is only $2. This however is owing to competition and cannot last long, as I am assured it does not even defray the necessary expenses. Augusta had the pleasure of finding her sisters and brothers well, as likewise their families.

She desires to be affectionately remembered to you and sisters. Anna and Maria likewise send their love to you and their Aunts. Be so good as to add mine also.

Believe me, my dear Father,
Your very affectionate son,

William Jay.

JUDGE PETERS TO JAY.

Belmont, November 25, 1820.

Dear Sir:

Every occurrence in which you have shared, or originated, seems by some strange perversion to be misunderstood, or misstated, by the present generation, when some favorite individual, or topic induces the obliquity. Although I give Mr. Adams his full share of merit in the affair of the Compte de Vergennes’ maneuvring with the British administration on the subject of our treaty of 1783, yet I have felt indignant that your name should have been omitted in the Massachusetts Conventional account of the matter, and Mr. Adams held out as the principal figure, when you should have been the prominent and leading portrait in the group. I am sure Mr. Vaughan will not justify this statement of the transaction, tho’ he is alluded to us confirming it, by one of the speakers in the Massachusetts Convention. His account of it to me was exactly as you stated it in your letter to Congress, which I saw and read at the time of its being the subject of our consideration; when, as I wrote to you, the unjustifiable vote was taken as to the unmerited censure of proceeding without the concurrence of the French ministry, in our adjustment with Great Britain.

In your letter to me, in answer to my relation of what passed at this place in a conversation with Mr. B. Vaughan, a year or more ago, in relation to the affair, and when I told you he confirmed my recollections on the subject, you only refer to your letter to Congress. I think some additional statement of facts should be left, lest the archives of the office of state may suffer the catastrophe which destroyed all the records of transactions in the war office. The truth of history depends on fair and correct relations of the conduct of individuals to whom public transactions were committed. The biography of those individuals is one thing, the national character is another; but both are united in the inquiry on this subject.

Among the pleasures of memory (which has many pains), the recollection of old friendships is one of the most delightful. Among these, my remembrances of your personal regard is one of the most prominent gratifications. Whensoever any thing turns up in which you were concerned, all my sensibilities recur.

I begin to feel some of the infirmities of age; but, in general, am highly favoured with good health. The most extraordinary depression of property is no cordial to landed proprietors; but those who will soon occupy a small portion, and leave their extensive possessions behind them, need not much deplore the “hard times” which have fallen on us. The friends of peace have nothing to encourage them, when universal peace brings along with it universal privation, and much distress to individuals. But we have wantoned in prosperity: and cannot bear the check which circumstances have given to our career—festina lente must hereafter be our motto. I trust you enjoy as much health as you have heretofore experienced, though I cannot flatter myself that it is perfect. My best wishes constantly attend you; and I beg you to be assured of the sincere regard with which I am always

Affectionately yours,

Richard Peters.

P.S. I have just got home from the drudgery of a long circuit court, and am not the better for the campaign. Washington has begun his return to Mount Vernon, much broken down. He came convalescent; having had a severe attack of an illness which pervaded all the country in his vicinity. He must renew his stamina, or he will not reach the period of life to which you and I have arrived.

JAY TO JUDGE PETERS.

Bedford, 26th December, 1820.

I thank you cordially, my good and constant friend, for your letter of the 25th ult. It affords me no little gratification. We grow old, but our hearts retain their warmth.

The perversion and obliquity you notice have not been recent nor unexpected. Men who are ardent in the pursuit of influence and its fruits, and more attentive to the prosecution than to the propriety of their schemes, usually become and remain hostile to those who steadfastly disapprove of their manœuvres. Instead of regulating their hostility by truth and candour, they generally find it convenient to recur to perversion and obliquity.

The conventional statement to which you allude, was doubtless devised and formed in the manner which its projectors deemed to be best accommodated to the objects they had in view. So many years have elapsed since the negotiations at Paris, that only a few individuals among the present members of any of our popular assemblies probably possess ample and accurate knowledge of those negotiations.

On considering your hint of my making some statement of facts relative to them, in addition to my letter to Congress, which you observe may (like the papers of the War Office) be accidentally destroyed, I think that precaution will not be necessary. I have a book in which are entered that and all my other official letters to Congress.

An accurate and well-written history of the United States down to the conclusion of the late war is desirable, but my expectations on that head are not sanguine. Time is daily obscuring and diminishing the materials, and the task becoming more and more difficult. The marks of talent and rectitude which appear in the Life of Washington by Judge Marshall, have induced me to regret that he had not commenced such a history and incorporated that life in it. The mass of information he has collected continues to afford facilities for such a work, and it would more than answer the purpose of a new edition of the other. Whoever may undertake it would, in my opinion, do well to give it the advantage of frequent revision and postpone the publication until a period when the events and circumstances related in it had ceased to produce personal and political excitement.

As to President Washington’s valedictory address, I can add nothing material to the information contained in my letter to you of the 29th March, 1811. The attention both of Col. Hamilton and myself was, in our consultation on that subject, confined to the paper in which he had incorporated that address with his proposed corrections. We considered whether in this state it required any further amendment, and nothing occurring to render recurrences to the draft itself, as sent by the President, necessary, it was not then read by either of us; nor by me at any time. An idea that this confidential reference might perhaps be disclosed, did not enter into my mind, and not having the least apprehension of unpleasant consequences, there was nothing to excite my attention to care or precaution respecting them. Whether the President adopted all or only some of the proposed corrections, or added others, are questions which my memory at this late day does not enable me to answer; nor do I recollect having read the printed address with an eye to these circumstances. I think Mr. Hopkinson will readily perceive that he cannot assign to Col. Hamilton even the credit of amending and correcting that address, without necessarily and unavoidably assigning to him the discredit of a breach of confidence.

I rejoice in your continuing to enjoy good health. I will not say with the Spaniards “may you live a thousand years,” for that would postpone greater blessings.

The name and the character of Judge Washington interest me in his welfare. I hope he will be restored to health. The prevailing disease which attacked him, I suspect, was the same which visited us—influenza; few families here escaped. I have had it, but not severely; it has left a cough which still gives me some trouble. Although too feeble to go often beyond the piazza, yet I experience no depression of spirits, nor frequent returns of acute pain.

Here also the distress of the times is felt very sensibly. Habits of expense, unproductive speculations and debts injudiciously contracted, press hard both upon debtors and creditors. How long this state of things will continue, or how much good or evil will eventually result from it, cannot now be calculated. They who hope for the best, and prepare for the worst, will doubtless mitigate some of their troubles, and probably obviate the occurrence of some others.

God bless you, my dear sir.
Yours affectionately,

John Jay.