Peter Jay to David Peloquin, 14 April 1763
[Rye,] 1763 Aprill 14 th –
My last was the 15 th February and I have now before me your kind favours of the 18 th . Novemb r . and 14 th . December last, at the same time I also receiv–d the Magazines, which I–m obliged to you for. 1
The very many Testimonyes, I–ve received, of your regard for me, give me the greatest reason to hope for the favour of your assistance again, in forwarding another of my Sons in the prosecution of his Learning. I have been, indeed, already too troublesome, but yet I–ll rely on your Friendship to plead an Excuse for my freedom–My Son John, now in our College, will pass his Degrees this time twelvemonth, and as he is determin–d to Study the Law, I–m under no inconsiderable difficulty to get him properly fitted here for the Practice of it in these Parts, where the Lawyers practice in the Capacity both of Attorney & Counsellor at Law, 2 and it–s therefore absolutely necessary for him to begin by writing, sometime, in the Office of an Attorney to get acquainted with that profession and what regards the Practice in the Courts. The advantage of acquiring this knowledge here, we are of late deprived of by our Practitioner–s ingagem t : to Each other, for a Term of years, to take in their offices no clerks who intend to practice as Lawyers, in view to prevent an increase of their Number, which is the reason I am now necessitated to be troublesome to you again, in requesting the favour of y r Assisting the Doct r : 3 (who I now write abo t . it,) with your good Offices in getting his Brother in the office of an Attorney in London, or very much rather, in your City, as he will then be within your Notice, and the Doct r – s continuance abroad being uncertain, tho– I have hitherto no Reason to doubt of his behaving Well, as he is a youth remarkably sedate, and is well disposed. but nevertheless it–s prudent to gard, as much as possible, ag st the danger of bad Company he would be exposed to in London, where he might probably be under no restraint–My youngest Son is now an Apprentice for 5 years to his Cousin M r . James Depeyster, who I account a compleat Merchant, is in full business and an extensive Trader, so that he is well placed for improvem ts .– 4 Having recover–d a small debt due to the Estate of late M r . Samu l . Piguenit 5 deceased, I beg the favour of you to pay to his Execut rs £8 –9s– 3-¼d Str: out of the inclosed Bill of £12 10 Sterling on Edward Pearsons in London, & pass the remaind r . to my Credit–My Wife and Children join me in assurances of our greatest Regard, to you and the Rest of our dear Cousins. I sincerely am