Title
[Document, 1810 July 18]
Library Location
Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Name
Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833 (Author)
Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Addressee)
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
July 18, 1810
Language
English
Physical Description
12 pages
Subjects
United States--History--1809-1817; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
He and his family have moved from Clapham Common to a more rural area, yet within easy distance of Westminster. Will send all the reports of the African Society, that John Jay might distribute those which he does not wish to keep. Slave traffic continues in both countries despite abolition laws. The American ministers are cooperative and occasion hopes for suppression of the trade by means of armed vessels of both countries taking slave ships of the other as well as of its own. Is pleased at the favorable relations between Britain and America; more Americans would be favorably disposed toward the British if they were to live in England awhile. Is happy about Jay's contentment at retirement; any person who has acted creditably in public life may render mankind a great service by his pen, for instance by bearing testimony to the position that honesty is the best policy. He himself plans to retire in the near future after thirty years in Parliament. Asks how Jay would vote if he were in the House of Commons on the issue of Parliamentary Reform and his reasons, without entering into great detail. One of his own reasons for supporting such a motion was to lessen the power of bad men to misrepresent and defame the constitution and to mislead the less acute. Cobbett and his followers are a case in point at present. The attitude in Britain towards reform is that it is better not to go far enough than to go too far.
Identifier
columbia.jay.09277