Description:

Jay John 1745 - 1829 John Jay writes to his wife during the time that he was overseas to negotiate peace with Great Britain, quoting a romantic poem

First Chief Justice of the United States, diplomat, statesman. Autograph Letter Signed, 2 pages small 4to with integral address leaf in his hand and intact red wax seal bearing Jay's monogram, Bath, England, Dec. 13, 1783, to his wife, Sally at Challlot, France. A letter written in the last year that Jay was based in France, with Franklin and John Adams, as one of the negotiators of peace between the United States and Great Britain. In this amusing and affectionate letter to his wife, he quotes a poem written on his window:

"...Tomorrow I certainly shall go to Bristol!, unless prevented by some incident of which I am now ignorant. I have been better these two days than at any time since my illness in London, & if I continue so a week longer, I shall venture to leave this place_ÑÓon my Return from Bristol!, my first Employment or rather my first Pleasure shall be that of writing a Letter to You_ÑÓHaving removed Yesterday to another Room in the same House, J amused myself a Quarter of an Hour in reading a number of verses written by different Hands on the Glass of the windows, it appears to me that in Proportion to the Size of the City, Bath has more wit on the windows than any other City_ÑÓsome of these poetical Effusions are sprightly & well turned enough_ÑÓLove and Ladies are the subjects of the far greater part of them_ÑÓamong those on my window there is one which I thought very pretty_ÑÓI took a Copy of it for you_ÑÓthe Idea is a new one to me, at least I have not [seen] it so well expressed before_ÑÓ

These Lines you [so] inscribed here/indelible shall still appear 'till Force or Fracture makes,/just so Thy Name, by Cupid's Dart inscribed sweet Boote upon my Heart./shall last, untill it breaks

_ÑÓP. Harvey_ÑÓ

I have just heard that Mrs. [Anne Willing] Bingham has a Daughter, and that they were both doing very well_ÑÓas this Event must be very interesting to their Families at Philadelphia.. .be perfectly assured of the sincere & unceasing

affection of Your John Jay_ÑÓ. "

The final peace treaty had been signed in September; Jay's health had never been terribly good, and here he has gone to the hot mineral springs at Bath for a cure. Although John Jay longed for a quiet, domestic life, his talents caused him to be chosen to represent his country abroad, in important diplomatic positions, on several occasions. A fascinating letter from one of the founders of American government, and most unusual with the quotation of poetry. Fine condition.

From the Robert Batchelder collection, priced by him at $2,800.

Provenance:

This remarkable piece is offered directly from the estate of Robert Batchelder, among the most important dealers of the 20th century who began his passion in autographs and historical documents in the late 1960's. Each piece will include Robert's original description indicating the noted retail price which could have been 20 years ago. in addition to his inventory folder containing his handwritten notes. Robert's highly diverse background and amazing achievements include a long list of important sociÕ©tal memberships, examples worthy of noting include an honorary member of the Society Cincinnati, a member of the Manuscript Society, the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America), the ANA (American Numismatic Association), the PAGCA (Pennsylvania Antique Gun Collectors Association), the PADA (Professional Autograph Dealer Association), and the UACC (Universal Autograph Collectors Club). He was a graduate of University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and served in the U.S. Army Air Force.

A portion of the commission on Batchelder lots will be donated to the Alzheimer's Foundation in his memory.

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