ath canonized such a character: 'A halo of
veneration seemed to encircle him, as one belonging to another world,
though lingering among us: the tidings of his death were received with
solemn awe.'

Jay cherished a firm belief in Providence, confirmed by his long life of
varied experience and thoughtful observation. Proverbially courteous and
urbane, he was, at the same time, inflexible in the withdrawal of all
confidence when once deceived or disappointed in character. Clear and
strong in his religious convictions, he was none the less free from
intolerance; he enjoyed communion with a Quaker neighbor as well as
correspondence with clerical friends of different persuasions, though
himself a stanch Episcopalian.

Underlying a singularly contained demeanor and aptitude for calm and
serious investigations, there was a vein of pleasant humor which
enhanced the charm of his intimate companionship; bold, independent, and
tenacious in opinion, when once formed, he was perfectly modest in
personal bearing and intercourse; his mind was more logical than severe
in temper, more vigorous than versatile, judicial in taste and tone,
with more precision than eagerness; and his temperament united the
gravity of a cultivated and thoughtful with the vivacity and amenity of
a harmonious and cheerful nature. Like Washington and Morris, he was
fond of agricultural pursuits; and like them, his example as a statesman
seems to acquire new force and beauty from the long and contented
retirement from official life that evinced the plenitude of his own
resources, and evidenced how much more a sense of public duty than
political ambition had been the motive power of his civic career. It is
this which distinguishes the first-class representative men of our
country from the mere politicians; we feel that their essential
individuality of character and genius was superior to the accidents of
position; that their intrinsic worth and real dignity required no
addition from fame or fortune--that they are nobler than their offices,
superior to their popularity, above their external relation to the
parties and functions illustrated by their talents, and made memorable
by their integrity.

FOOTNOTES:

[13] 'Life and Letters of Washington Irving,' by Pierre M. Irving. New
York: G. P. Putnam.

[14] Elements of International Law. By Henry Wheaton. Edited by W.B.
Laurens. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.

[15] The Federalist. Edited by H. B. Dawson. New York: