Jay, John (1745-1829) to Sarah Livingston Jay
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01220 Author/Creator: Jay, John (1745-1829) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: Wednesday March 1776 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 33.4 x 20.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Jay as a member of the Continental Congress to his wife Sarah, who he refers to as "Sally." References Sarah's letter of 17 March 1776 (date of creation inferred from this reference), which gave news of her and their son's improved health. Tells the story of the "Conch Shell Beauty" - a beautiful young woman he met in November 1775. Said he was traveling with Lewis Morris and that the good weather and roads induced them to walk to Gray's Ferry to dine. As they were having a fire made in a private room, they sat in the common room and spoke to people coming back from the market. They were talking when a beautiful 17-year-old girl in a coarse dress arrived to warm herself. She was "tall, extremely well made, and of most delicate and well proportioned features." He goes on to praise her features and personality further. They proceeded to have a flirtatious conversation in which she blushed repeatedly. Morris told the girl that he had a son close to her age and that he would like to send him to her for a visit, if she approved. She said it couldn't be true because she had no fortune. Jay replied by saying "that Industry, Beauty, and Innocence composed a Fortune more valuable than money, and that in those she was far from being poor." They then went to dinner, but could not convince her to join them. They then left on good terms, very pleased with her. They then made a pact to not tell the name of the girl when they told the story because they feared others would seek her out to steal her virtue. So they nicknamed her the Conch Shell Beauty because her complexion was as beautiful as the inside of a conch shell.
My dear Sally
Your Letter of the 17. Inst. made me very happy by informing me of your Health and our Son's Recovery, which I hope is by this time perfect. Tho your Tenderness in concerning his Indisposition merits my Thanks, yet be assured that I shall never hesitate more in sharing your anxieties, than in partaking of your Pleasures.
I am glad to hear Mrs. Lawrence was in such good spirits as to entertain You with the Story of the Conch shell Beauty, which together with its Embellishments, I dare say afforded much mirth & amusement to the Company. This little Incident happened in November last, and at the Time was the Subject of Wit and Raillery in the little Circle of our acquaintance; but soon growing thread - bare it ceased, like other Matters of the same
kind, to be the object of attention, and I don't remember it once presented itself to my Recollection during the Time I spent at Elizabeth Town. However as the story has excited your Curiosity, and may contribute to your Entertainment, I will acquaint you with such of the Particulars of it as I can now recollect.
on a Saturday in November last, Coll. Morris and myself, invited by Sunshine and good Road took a walk to Grays ferry with Intention dine and spend the Day there. On our arrival we ordered Fire to be made in a private Room, and while it was preparing, sat down in the common Room with many Travellers and Country People who were returning from market, with whom we entered into familiar Conversation about Whigs and Tories and Beef and Butter and Congress. [2] We had not been long engaged on this Way, before a most beautiful country Girl about seventeen, in a coarse but clean Dress, alighted from a Waggon and came in to warm herself. She was tall, extremely well made, and of most delicate and well proportioned features; an uncommon Sweetness [strikeout] was Diffused thro' her Countenance, and that Kind of truley virgin modesty which Innocence and [strikeout] simplicity of mannors inspire, marked her whole Deportment - Her Complection beggared all Description, nature had exerted her utmost Skill in forming it. her teeth were as good and her Eyes of the same Colour and almost as fine, as those of my fair Correspondent. An object so charming immediately diverted our attention from the Herd around us. The Coll. asked her very politely which way she was travelling She blushed and answered, that she had been to Town and was returning Home. A conversation [ensued], [illegible phrase] each Sentence borrowing Eloquence and Grace from Lips on which even a Right Reverend Audience would readily consent to hang; every Reply was accompanied by Blushes, which alternately rising and retiring, and each varying in Degree, formed a sweet Succession of [strikeout] such pleasing Shades, that one would be inclined to suspect that Beauty had chosen the Countenance of this lovely Girl, as a proper Field for showing the vas Variety of Modes, in which she could display her numerous Charms. After a few compliments the Coll. told her he had a Son, a little older than herself, whom he would be happy to marry to a pretty Country Girl that would not be above minding the Business of the Farm, & would not (like [struck: for] [inserted: some] more fashionable Ladies) attend to nothing but Dancing & Dress - that he was much pleased with her, and would, if she had no objections [3] send him to pay her a Visit - She blushed, she smiled, her Eyes sparkled and her whole Countenance became agreably confused - She replied that she could not believe him to be [inserted: in] unearnest - she was sure such a Gentleman's Son would not marry a poor Country Girl without a fortune. I observed that Industry, Beauty and Innocence - composed a Fortune more valuable than money, and that in these she was far from being poor - She was embarrassed, and Humanity forbid us to encrease it. The Waiter soon after called us to Dinner, to which we retired after having in vain invited her to partake of it. We [inserted: indeed] inquired her Name and Place of abode, of both which she informed us. we then parted after wishing her all the Happiness, which the Possession of so many Charms seemed justly to Claim -
This pretty Girl furnished Conversation for us the whole afternoon - Coll. Morris thought she bore a great Resemblance to the Lady who will open this Letter, and I assure you his opinion was not ill - founded, which probably was the Reason of my being the more pleased with her.
Before we left the Ferry, we considered of the Propriety of saying any thing about her, [struck: but] [inserted: &] finally agreed to do Justice to her merit, but to conceal her name and Place of abode, lest by being exposed to the Flattery and Snares of those who admire and caress only to destroy, her Innocence [inserted: Beauty] and Simplicity might be instrumental to her Ruin.
But you may ask, how came she to be called the Conch Shell Beauty - it happened thus - In speaking of her Complexion, which really exceeded any I had ever seen, I compared it to the Inside of a Conch Shell, which is of the most exquisite Flesh Color in the World.
You will readily imagine that on our Return to Town we [4] were not parsimonious of Praise. We were asked her name & where she lived, both of which Questions we declined answering - The Curiosity of our friends was increased by this Refusal, and they rallied us not a little on the motives they assigned for our Secrecy. All which we cheerfully submitted to, rather than suffer her to be visited by a Swarm of Beauxs who, like so many Bees, often find a way to the Bosoms of the fairest new blown flowers, and after robbing them of their Sweets, ungratefully neglect and forsake them.
This is the History of the Conch Shell Beauty, which I have endeavored to render as minute as possible, and I am persuaded you will think it very particular, considering the little Time we were with her - A further acquaintance or even a second [strikeout] [inserted: Interview] would probably have discovered to us many other Graces which must then have escaped our Notice -
I have more to say, but it is so late and I am so sleepy, that I must bid you a good night and; [strikeout]
Adieu my dearest Sally
I am your afft. Husband
Wednesday Night John Jay -
March 1776
Thursday Morning
This Letter was put on [strikeout] [inserted: a] Chair near your fathers Bed last night after he was asleep - He left us early this morning and forgetting to take the Letter with him, I have taken off the [strikeout] Cover, & shall send it to the post office. remember me to you Mama Sisters & Brothers -
[docket]
J. Jay
March 1776
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.