THE

LIFE

OF

JOHN JA Y:

WITH

SELECTIONS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE

AND

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

BY HIS SON,

WILLIAM JAY.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

NEW-YORK:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. & J. HARPER,

NO. 82 CLIFF-street.

1833.

[Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by William Jay, in the Office of the Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.]

PREFACE.

THE generation by whom the independence of these United States was established and secured, is rapidly passing away; and before long, we shall seek in vain for a patriot of the Revolution to receive our homage, or to answer our inquiries respecting the important events in which he participated.

It would be doing injustice to the American people to suppose, that they do not take an interest in knowing the characters and actions of those to whom they are indebted for the liberty and prosperity they enjoy. The lives and writings of several of these distinguished men have already been published, and it is to be wished that more may follow.

In the ensuing pages, an attempt is made to delineate the character of one, who was not the least among those who devoted themselves to the service of their country, and acquired a title to its gratitude.

The relationship of the author to the person he describes may have influenced his opinions, but he has stated facts truly, and from them the reader will form his own conclusions.

The biography of public men cannot be well understood without a knowledge of the public affairs in which they were concerned; and hence it has sometimes been found necessary to encroach on the province of history. This, however, has been done no further than the subject required; and pains have been taken, by means of anecdotes and private letters, to introduce the reader to a familiar acquaintance with Mr. Jay, throughout the whole course of his political The information thus afforded will, it is hoped, compensate for the interruptions of the narrative which it necessarily occasions.

career.

Many of the papers and letters appended to the Life are important, and all, it is believed, will be found interesting, as throwing light either upon individual character, or upon the circumstances of the times to which they relate.

Bedford, April, 1833.