Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-05-26


JOHN JAY. Among the deaths in this
paper will be found that of the venerable
JOHN JAR, who has been gathered to his
fathers, full Of years and full of honours.-
The following sketch ofhis life and charac-
ter is copied from the Salem Gazette:-
.He was born on the first day of Decem-.
| Der (old style) l745, in the city OF New York.
I His family originated in France. Ills great
grandfather was Pierre Jay, an opulent mer-
chant of LA Rochelle. Being Hugonou,he
was obliged to fly his country on the revo-
cation of the edict of Nantz. At the age OF
fourteen MIR Jay entered Columbia College.
He pursued the study of law with MI. Als-
sam, and was admitted to the Bar In lIoo.
In IVA he married Sarah Livingston, the
daughter of that distinguished patriot, VIM.
| Livingston, afterwards GOVERNOR OF New
Jersey. The same year he was chosen by
the citizens of New-York one of their dele
gates to the first American Congress, and
/ he has been for a long time the last and ony
survivor of that Congress. The Address to
the People of Great Britain, reported by
committee consisting of himself, Mr.. Lee,
/ and Mr.. Livingston, was understood 10 be
his. He was reelected the two succeeding
years, and was chosen President OF Con-
gress in I776. He was in favour of the De-
claration of independence, but was at the
time of its adoption engaged IN urging on
his own State the measures required at that
critical period. In l777 he was member OF
the Convention that formed the constitution
of the State of New York. That constltu-
! ton was his draft. In 1878 he was appoint
ed Chief Justice of New-York, and IN l719
was again elected member OF Congress-,
and was second time chosen President OF
that august assembly of Patriots and Sages.
After John AdaTns' return from his first
mission, Congress had determined to send
out munster with full powers to conclude
a treaty of Peace with Great Britain. The
French government being hostile to Mr-Ad-
ans, those who felt disposed TO do every
thing to conciliate her, opposed the appoint
ment of Mr.. Adams, and the vote was equal
ly divided between Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Jay.
This happened whilst Mr.. Jay was Presi-
4 dent. A few days subsequent mission to
Spain was determined ON and Mr.. Jay was
appointed minister, and then Mr.. Adams was
appointed to the mission for concluding a
treaty of Peace. Mr.. Jay sailed in the Au-
tunn Of l779 in the frigate Confederacy,
and was compelled in consequence OF the
violence ofxhe weather to put into Martins
CO, where he left the frigate in disabled
stste, and sailed for Cadiz in the French fri
gate Aurora The objects of Mr.. Jays mis-
sion TO Spain were to obtain an acknowl-
edgement of Independence, to form treaty
of alliance, and TO procure loan. These
were defeated by the claims of the Spanish
government upon our territory, and dias-
greement as to the navigation of the Mssis-
ippi. The French ministry having opposed
, originally the appointment OF John Adams as
minister to conclude treaty of Peace, con-
tinued after his appointment to urge his re-
call. This Congress refused to do, but to
conciliate as far as they could with proprie-
ty their high ally, they joined with Mr.. Ad-
ans, for that purpose, in 1882, Mr.. Jay, Dr.
! Franklin, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr.. Laurens
] Mr.. Jefferson neyar. ems TI1d hot arrive in
| France until after the signature Of the first
! treaty. At the same time that this commits
sion was constituted, the commissioners were
idirected t" consult in all cases the French
ministry. Mr.. Jay wrote TO Congress, and
demonstrated against "his being obliged to
receive and obey, under the name of opin-
ions, the directions of those Oil whom no A.
merlcan minister ought to be dependents
and begged to be relieved from such situ-
alton. The part Mr.. Jay took in this nego
tlatlon will ever remain the proudest monu-
ment of his fame, and entitle his memory to
the gratitude OF the last generation of his
Icountrymen. France and Spain were in
! trlgmng with Great Britain not to make an
acknowledgement Of our independence pre-
llmlnary to treaty, deprive US of the fish
cries and the navigation of the Mississippi.
and to bound us by the Ohio. Still our min
listers were instructed to consult the French
Cabinet in all their measures, and DR.. Frank
( lin felt bound by his Instructions. Mr.. Jaw,
however, refused to obey his instructions.
He would not consult Cabinet who were
plotting against the essential interests of his
country, and he's a messenger to Lon
don, to respectable English gentleman at
tached TO the American cause, to confer
with the English Cabinet, and took other
Important measures without even consulting
his colleague DR.. Franklin. His other col
league, Mr.. Adams, was in Holland, and re-
fused to leave there until the British Cabinet
had consented to acknowledge our indepen-
dence preliminary to the treaty. He how
ever Kept up constant correspondence IN
til Mr.. Adams arrived in Paris, Oct 26. The
treaty was signed Nov.N3 80. "Mr Adams
and Jay concurred on every point, and CO.
operated with the>utmost cordiality" And
those who duly estimate the value, of our
Western Country, the navigation of theI
Mississippi. AN the fisheries, will know the
nature of the debt of gratitude due by their
countrymen to Jay and Adams, for their sue
cessful exertions in contravention of their
instructions, in obtaining these important
national acquisitions.
In May, l763,, Mr.. Jay wrote to Congress
declining to be considered candidate for |
mission to Great Britain, and advised the APP
polntment of Mr.. Adams to that situation
In the autumn of that year he resigned his
postas Minister to Spain, and returned home. |
lie was Immediately placed at the head of the
department of Foreign Affairs, an office
nIoa I-A-