ALS, one page both sides, 7.25 x 9.25, December 12, 1790. Addressed from Wallingford, Connecticut, a handwritten letter to his wife Sarah Livingston Jay, to whom he refers to as "Sally," in part: "This is Sunday. On Wednesday last I set out from Providence. The weather very cold, and the Roads rendered bad by Snow and Ice. I was strongly tempted to wait until Saturday for your Letter, but considering that to be relieved from Suspence respecting Nancy was less interesting to us all than to be at Home speedily, I concluded it would be best to return without Delay, & direct the post master to send the Letter after me. By rising early and travelling late, I reached Hartford on Friday night. Yesterday it rained. I am nevertheless come to this place, with Intention to go on early this morning to New Haven. The distance being only 13 miles. This morning the weather is so bad that it would be very imprudent to turn out. It rained constantly during the night, and the Roads are in a sad Plight. I have had so much to do with cold and wet, that I really wish for a Respite, and shall be very happy to enjoy the comforts of Leisure and my own fireside with You and the Children. I did flatter myself with the Pleasure of being with you on Wednesday next, but that cannot now be the Case. I hope however that in the Course of the Week I may be able to reach New York. Altho your Letter assures me that in Doctor Charltons opinion Nancy was out of Danger, yet it would give me great Satisfaction to learn that he was not mistaken. I do not expect to have Information of this before I get to Rye. God grant that I may there receive good Tidings of you all. As passing thro’ Bedford would detain me at least a Day, I shall postpone visiting it to another opportunity. I write this letter with Intention to send it to the post office at New Haven; for there is now no Reason to doubt that you will receive it before you will see me. Had the weather continued fair I should have been in New York as soon as the next post. Unless it should again freeze the Roads will be deep & heavy, and if it should freeze they will be very rough and bad for the Horses at least for four or five Days. To these circumstances we must accommodate ourselves and be content. Adieu my dear Sally. My love to the children &c.”
Jay adds a lengthy postscript: “The weather clearing this afternoon I came to this place. The Roads are now so bad by Reason of the Rain that I cannot promise myself the pleasure of seeing you before Friday; especially as the greater part of Tomorrow morning will be spent in having my Horses shod. They had had hard service, and must be drawn with Patience and Care. I learn tonight that Slidells House has been on fire. My Informer was at it. He could not tell me how you and the children did. He said he had not heard anything to the contrary of their being well, which I think it not unprobable he wd. have done, had Nancy not have recovered. I think of her constantly, and tho’ not with gloomy apprehensions, yet with a mind not wholly free from apprehensions.” In very good to fine condition, with paper loss to the integral address leaf affecting a few words of text.
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