Jay, John (1745-1829) to Robert R. Livingston
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07320 Author/Creator: Jay, John (1745-1829) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 May 1765 Pagination: 3 p. + addr 31 x 18.1 cm Order a Copy
Written in response to a letter from Livingston, who was still attending King's College: "I have often remarked Ambition to be one of your strongest Passions, and have as often been misprised that instead of attending to such Persons as are most capable of gratifying so noble a Passion, you seem [illegible] o counteract your own Purposes, and to destroy those very Hopes which you are desirous to establish...." Admonishes him to "reject the Invitations of Syren Pleasure, and fly with hasty Steps the flowerly Vale of Insubstantial Joys." Jay graduated from King's the year before.
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