Lot Details
Lot 45
Jay, John
Autograph letter signed, one page with integral blank, Bedford, 28 April 1817, to Peter Van Schaack, American of Dutch descent and English loyalist. Jay responds to an inquiry made by Schaack about the land of Lord Amherst which had been sold for taxes in 1814. Under the stipulations of the original sale contract, the land was redeemable by Lord Amherst within a given term and in 1815 Jay advised Amherst to do so. Jay discusses the controversies that have presently arisen: "If his agent recd. instructions to redeem it before the Term for Redemption expired, there would have been no Difficulty in effecting it. If on the other hand, he did not recieve such Instructions until after the Expiration of that Term, nothing remained for him to do, but to ascertain as nearly as could be done, the value of the Land -- to inquire whether the Purchasors would restore it to Lord Amherst, and at what Price." Schaack's involvement in this business has evidentally been called into question, but Jay approves of his actions: "As to the Propriety of your conduct relative to this Business -- nothing has, nor in my opinion will ever come to my knowledge, to render it questionable." Jay ends the letter by discussing the health of Mrs. Banyer and his family. Slight matstaining, old scotch tape remains on verso. Framed with engraved portrait.
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