New-York tribune., 1869-04-13
MINISTER TO AUSTRIA.
JOHN JAY.

Mr.. Jay is of Huguenot descent his ancestors
having come 10 America after the revocation OF the
Edct of Nantes. In the political history of America
probably no family occupies more prominent posi-
ton, or enjoys the reputation of such useful career
as that of Mr. Jay. His grandfather, John JAY held
the post of President of the First Congress- and that
of Minister, respectively TO Spain and England. He
was also one of the Commissioners who
negotiated the treaty Of peace. His son,
Judge William, the father of the present
John Jay, married a sister of the late Prof.
McVieker and was one of the earliest and
most prominent leaders Of the Constitutional Anti
Slavery movement. John Jay, our new Austrian
Minister was born in 1877 ard graduated at Colum-
bia College in 1896. After of study Of the
law with the late Daniel Lord during which Attor-
ney- General w. NJ. Evarts was among his fellow
students, he was admitted to the bar in 1889. He
continued in active pursuit Of his profession until
the death of his father, after which event he
removed to the family estate at Bedford. Among
the more noted cases in which Mr.. Jay was profes-
sionally engaged were the Marie Field Will case; the
case of Williamson agt. Field argued by him before
the Supreme Court of the United States with Daniel
Webster as the leading opposing counsel; in re
Kirk one of the earliest slave cnses in New York.
which created at the time profound excitement; in
re Da Costo two Brazilian slaves, who, pending the
hearing, escaped from the Eldrdge;st. Prison; the
celebrated Lennon trial. on the original hearing
before Mr. Justice Paine where eight Virginia slaves,
brought TO New-York en- route to Texas. were de-
clared free and dispatched to Elgin. in Canada, to
farm there prepared for them in re Bret which itl-
CATION was made the basis of an appeal in the United
States Senate for additional legislation In behalf of
Slavery. Mr.. Jay became manager of the New-fork
Young Mems Anti-Slavery Society in 1894 and from
tka oho hv mi
age of the Constitutional AmendmeDt-of which he
made o report to the Union League Club in 1S65-he
was an active supporter of the cause. In the
Episcopal Convention of the Diocese of New-York
he carried the admission of the Colored Church
of ST. Philips after vigorous struggle extending
over a period of nine years He twice preside over
the NewYork State Convention of the Free Soil par
ty and we believe in 1853 was their candidate for
Attorney General Mr. Jay has twice visited Europe
the first time in ls4S, which occasion he passed
some months in England where he was cordially re-
ccived by large and influential circle and again in
1865 and Co. when he presidedat Thanksgiving din
ner at the Grand Hotel Paris-the first reunion OF
Americans subsequent to the war. The speeches
there delivered were reported in full by The london
Times and widely commented by the European
press He also presided at breakfast given in
Naples on the 22d of February, III celebration of
Washington's birthday.
It was dnring that tour that Mr.. Jay elected \
President of the Union League Club. an office to
which he has three distinct times been reelected
with marked unanimity. The services Of the Club !
during the war are now an important item In history,
and its influence in the late Presidential campaign.
as we'll as since, in discovering the frauds by
which Mr.. Griswold was defeated, are familiar to
the country. Throughout the war Mr.. Jay was
an active member of the Union League Club, fre-
quenty advising with Mr.. Lincoln and his Cabinet.
Mr. JAY married. in 1887. the daughter of Mr.. Nickson
w. Field-now residing in Rome-the Oldest sur
yiving member of the Chamber OF Commerce
His son, Col. VIM. Jay. served throughout the war.
chiefly upon the staff Of Gen. Meade. Three of his
daughters are married respectively to Mr. Henry e.
CHAPMAN. Major VIM. II. Schiefclin and E. Ran
dolph Robinson, esq. of the New-fork bar. Apart
from his professional and public career, Mr.. Jay has
succeeded in earning for himself afar-fnmed renown
and has nobly maintained the traditional reputation
of his distinguished family, by the publication OF
numerous literary productions, which have more par
ticuary been devoted to the discussion OF questions
of public interest. .......r..r .m