Revolutionary War-dated ALS, three pages on two sheets, 8.25 x 13.5, March 5, 1779. Handwritten letter to his wife, Sarah Livingston Jay, from Philadelphia while serving as president of the Continental Congress. In part: "It is now near nine o'clock, my fellow lodgers out, and what seldom happens—I am perfectly alone and pleasing myself with the prospect of spending the remainder of the evening in writing a letter to you. As it rains and snows there is less probability of being interrupted…Could I be certain that this letter would be read by none but yourself, it would be long and perhaps entertaining. I would contain many little anecdotes which prudence forbids me to commit to paper, and must be reserved to those social hours which I hope we shall soon pass together. These restraints are very unpleasant, tho' I confess the tale of my two letters to you which fell into the enemy's hands at Elizabethtown tends to reconcile me not a little to that caution in writing which, tho' disagreeable, I have long practiced. They contain nothing improper to be published, and if printed without an alteration it would give me no concern to see them in a newspaper…I wish to know the particulars of Susan's convention with Lord Cathcart. It is said she had the advantage of him in the treaty, and displayed much fortitude as well as address on the occasion. Pray how did John Lawrence fare? We hear he was in the house and was made a prisoner. Did they release or carry him off?…The sensible and once gay, witty and handsome Miss Emlen, whom you knew and admired four years ago, is now a Quaker preacher. Strange things happen in the course of this world. I will not hazard my conjecture on the cause of this turn. We will talk it over when we meet." In fine condition, with splits to the ends of the folds. A fantastic letter rife with content, ranging from family news to war rumors.
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