1The Jay Family Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
The Jay family in America was founded by John Jay’s grandfather, Auguste or Augustus Jay (1665–1751). According to a memorandum on the family’s history prepared by John Jay, Augustus came from a prominent Huguenot family in La Rochelle, where his father, Pierre, was “an active and opulent merchant.” Augustus was trained to take his place in the Jay mercantile empire. At the age of twelve, he...
2Education Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
John Jay’s education began at home, in Rye, where his mother, Mary, taught him “the rudiments of English, and the Latin grammar.” His father, Peter, wrote Jay’s brother James (then studying medicine in Edinburgh) that “Johnny is of a very grave disposition and takes to learning exceedingly well.” At the age of eight, John Jay was sent to the New Rochelle grammar school operated by the Reverend...
1 st None shall be admitted (unless by a particular Act of the Governors) but such as can read the first three of Tully’s Oration, and the six first Books of Virgils Æneids into English; and the ten first Chapters of S t . John’s Gospel, into Latin; and such as are well versed in all the Rules of Clark’s introduction, so as to make true grammatical Latin; and are expert in Arithmatick so far...
4Peter Jay to David Peloquin, 16 May 1762 (Jay Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you the 12 Decemb: & 6 feb. last, and have since received your favours of the 31st Octob: & 17 Nov r together with the Magazines. It gives us a very sensible pleasure that you and the my Cousins your Sisters were well, and we wish you all a long continuance of perfect health. in my last I acquainted you of my wife being on the recovery of a pretty severe...
5Samuel Johnson to Peter Jay, 24 September 1762 (Jay Papers)
In a Letter I had lately from the Archbishop of Canterbury, he expressed some Wonderment that the Ch[urc]h at Rye had never applied to the Society for another Minister since the Death of M r . Wetmore. This is indeed to be wondered at if they have not done it; at least to thank them for their past favour, & desire the Continuance of it, & l[e]ave to nominate one themselves, & to be looking out...
6To John Jay from Peter Jay, early 1763 (Jay Papers)
You may read my Letter that covers this, to your Aunts Depeyster & Chambers, to prevent any exceptions at what we propose abo t . Peter, and let them act therein as they think best— Make my Complim ts . to Doct r . Johnson and tell him that I’m very sorry for M r . Punderson’s & the Peoples disappointm ts :, and ^ that ^ I wish it mayn’t prove unfortun te
7Entering upon Law Studies Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
John Jay decided while he was at King’s College to enter a “Learned profession,” the law. However, his plans were complicated by the fact that the legal profession in provincial New York was a closely controlled monopoly. An informal organization of the bar functioned in the province by the early eighteenth century, and from that time admissions to legal practice became increasingly...
8Peter Jay to James Jay, 15 February 1763 (Jay Papers)
My last was the 15 ult o ., and have since received your letters of the 30 Sept., 5 Octob: & 6 Nov r . last. hearing so frequently from you is indeed a very great Satisfaction to us, and the more so, as it shews you are very sensible to our affection for you, and the pleasure it must consequently give us, it would be still greater if we could hear that your own affairs do answ r , at least in...
9Changes at King’s College Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
Samuel Johnson’s relationship with the King’s College Board of Governors was often difficult. These tensions, coupled with Johnson’s age, led the governors to request that the Archbishop of Canterbury suggest a successor. The chosen candidate, the Reverend Myles Cooper, was a graduate of Queens College, Oxford, and while not noted for his scholarship or preaching, he was amenable to going to...
1 Each person, to be admitted, shall be able to give a rational account of the Latin & Greek Grammers, to render Sallust, Caesar’s Commentaries, or some part of Cicero’s Works, into English, the Gospels, at Least, from the Greek into Latin, & to translate correctly both English into Latin, & Latin into English. He shall be examined by the President, and, if admitted, shall subscribe to the...