om personal to patriotic
duties. He was an active participant in the first meeting called to
protest against the injustice and oppression of the British Government,
and elected one of the committee of fifty chosen by the people, to
decide upon a course of action: at his instance they recommended the
appointment of deputies from each of the thirteen colonies. Jay was the
youngest member of the Congress that met on the 5th of September, 1774,
and was selected as one of the committee to draft an address to the
people of Great Britain; in the next Congress he was one of the
committee to prepare the declaration showing the causes and necessity of
a resort to arms, and of that appointed to draft a petition to the
king--as a last resort before actual hostilities; he also wrote the
address to the people of Canada, Jamaica, and Ireland. The address to
the people of Great Britain opens thus:

'When a nation, led to greatness by the hand of liberty, and
possessed of all the glory that heroism, munificence, and humanity
can bestow, descends to the ungrateful task of forging chains for
her friends and children, and, instead of giving support to
freedom, turns advocate for slavery and oppression, there is reason
to suspect she has either ceased to be virtuous, or been extremely
negligent in the appointment of her rulers.'

It concludes as follows:

'It is with the utmost regret that we find ourselves compelled, by
the overruling principles of self-preservation, to adopt measures
detrimental in their consequences to numbers of our fellow subjects
in Great Britain and Ireland. But we hope that the magnanimity and
justice of the British nation will furnish a Parliament of such
wisdom, independence, and public spirit, as may save the violated
rights of the whole empire from the devices of wicked ministers and
evil counsellors, whether in or out of office; and thereby restore
that harmony, friendship, and fraternal affection between all the
inhabitants of his majesty's kingdoms and territories, so ardently
wished for by every true and honest American.'

These and other state papers, emanating, as Jefferson declared, 'from
the finest pen in America,' won the eloquent admiration of Chatham, and,
by their dignified, rational, and well-informed spirit, had a great
influence in securing, at the outset of the momentous struggle, the
respect and sympath