New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-13
NEW PUBLICATION.
JOHN JAYS LETTERS.

PHpERs OF. JOHN JAY. l7si;is2s. Edited ate by
Henry p. Johnston. Vol. ~. Large eo'' PIP
b32 G. r. Putnams sons
A sumptuous edition Of this valuable work is
competed with the fourth volume. As only
limited number of copies have been printed.
these volumes will not have wide circulation,
Int they will find their natural place on the
shelves of public libraries and in every COM
plete collection Of books relating to American
history In these days of literary condensa-
ton when the book stores are overstocked with
outline histories and comprehensive studies OF
epochs, such work cannot be read without
sense Of refreshment and recreation III con-
tains in detail the correspondence OF one OF the
most distinguished figures of the Revolutionary
period and reveals the dignity and quaint
stateliness of his private and public relations
with men of his time There are few eXpIana-
tory notes, and the editors hand is Judiciously
concealed. The letters are arranged in chrono-
logical order, and printed in large type, with
wide margins. 1t is edition for book lovers
Of refined taste and elegant leisure. rather than
for q vorkaday world The letters explain
themselves and reveal the nobility and purity
of the writer's character and the graces of old
time courtesy and friendship in public life
The fourth volume is largely occupied with
rorrespondence respecting the negotat tons when
resulted in the treaty of 1894. The sympathies
of the American colonists. who had gained their
independence were divided between France ana
Great Britain in the foreign complications arls-
ing from the revolutionary movement and
Washington. after issuing a proclamation OF
neutrality intrusted Mr.. Jay with the delicate
duty of averting war with England lie was
appointed Envoy Extraordinary to Great Brit
ain while he Chief Justice OF the supreme
Court and was commissioned to obtain an
eouitable and satisfactory settlement of all
grievances and controversies between the two
countries Nearly all the public papers relat-
ing to this mission collected in this vol
ume. and these are supplemented by his pri-
vate correspondence with English and Ameri-
can friends. After the negotiation Of the treaty
he returned to America. having declined an APP
pojntment as Minister Resident in London. He
was welcomed with popular reclamation, and
was elected Governor of New-York. His clos
ing years were passed in retirement at his
farm in Bedford. where his health gradually
failed. Selections from his correspondence
while he was at Albany and in retirement are
made with panstaking care and excellent Judg-
ment While less important as a contribution
TO history than his letters in and from Eng
land they reveal the wide range of his SYM
pathies the maturity of his judgment on pub
lie affairs and the depth of his religious
convictions.
Gouverneur Norris the most entertaining
letter-writer of his day in America, when cor
respondence studied an art and con-
Quoted with rigorous regard for form and pro-
priety At time when all his contemporaries
were overshadowed by the seriousness of poti-
cal responsibility and social etiquette he wrote
with mercura humor, cynical fIankness and
sparkling vivacity. But not even Gouverneur
Morris ventured to take any liberties with John
law One of the shortest letters in this colec-
ton is from him and contains request that his
venerable friend should be one of the containers
of his newborn boy True it is he added that
according to the usual course you may not be
able to perform the duties of that office; but, my
friend should you be mingled with the dust
he shall learn from the history OF your lie that
a man must be truly pious to be truly great
The religious faith which impressed Gouveneur
Morris is an undertone running through John
Jaws correspondence Never ostentatiously or
extensively displayed, it was the motive OF MS
public career. 1t found unaffected expression
in his affectionate letters to his WIFE in which
his faith in divine protection and his thankful
ness for many blessings are invariably recorded
1t drew from him in correspondence with Will
lam Wherefore and many of his closest friends
the most positive avowals Of his belief in the
Bible which had been assaied by Paine and
the most practical evidences Of humility, charity
and loving kindness
Jays letters. like Washingtons. are stately
and formal. They are always dgnhed and
serious and never hippant or playful. In read
ing them one wonders whether he ever found
anything in the world to laugh at, whether
In the privacy of home he ever relaxed the
eolemnity of his manner or in the hours Of re-
tirement ceased to regard the tendencies of pub
lie affairs at home abroad with statesman
like caution and apprehension. Always intensely
serious and never by any chance forgetting
the dignity of correspondence he was modest
and simple in manner and invariably thoughtful
and reasonable.