From John Jay to Rufus King, 20 January 1803
To Rufus King
Bedford 20 Jany 1803
Dear Sir
I ought to have written to you long ago, but a Series of Occurances have for two Years past, left me little Leisure for epistolary Correspondence— I allude to Mrs. Jay’s long and painful Illness, and (when she appeared to be fast recovering) her unexpected Death—1 the Vicissitudes in my own Health— the Removal of my Family to this place, and the many things to be done for their Accommodation— the gradually increasing Indisposition of my Son, who is now on the ocean, going to Italy, to avoid the Winter here, &ca.—2 These are afflicting Circumstances; but considering where and what we are, Troubles of one kind or other, are to be expected, and to be borne with Patience and Resignation—
My Expectations from Retirement have not been disappointed; and had Mrs. Jay continued with me, I should deem this the most agreeable part of my Life—
The Post once a week brings me our news papers, which, with those you are so kind as to send me, furnish a History of the Times. By this History, as well as by those of former Times, we are taught the Vanity of expecting that, from the Perfectability of human nature and the Lights of Philosophy, the multitude will become virtuous & wise, or their Demagogues candid and honest. As G. Morris says “what is, is.”3 and we must make the best of it.— For the present they probably reason so in France— it would not however surprize me if future Irruptions from that Volcano should again desolate some of the neighbouring Countries. Viewing the french Revolution as a Tragedy I am inclined to think, that we have only seen the first Act concluded— You may live to see the next— but I shall doubtless by that Time be removed to a Theatre of a different kind—
Not having had Leisure to visit New York since my Removal from Albany to this Place, I cannot give you any particular Information relative to our mutual Friends there—Judge Benson4 is again at the Bar, and I regret it. If these are not upside down Times, they certainly are up and down Times— but Athens the City of Philosophers, and Rome the City of every thing, saw and felt much worse—
Remember me to Mrs. King to Mr & Mrs. Gore, and to Mr Trumbull with great Esteem and Regard I am Dear Sir Your most obt. Servt
John Jay
The Hon’ble Rufus King Esqr.
ALS, NHi: King (EJ: 00700). Endorsed: “J. Jay / Jan 20 1803 / Recd March 4—”. Dft, NNC (EJ: 12774). Endorsed: “To Mr. King / 20 Jany 1803 / enclosed to Mr White to forward—”.
1. See the editorial note “The Death of Sarah Livingston Jay,” above.
2. PAJ suffered from a “pulmonary complaint,” and on the advice of his physicians, spent the winter of 1802–3, travelling in Italy and the Mediterranean, and then Paris. See PAJ to JJ, 14 May 1803, below.
3. “Whatever is, is,” is apparently a variation on “Whatever is, is right,” or “Whatever is, is for the best,” which are concepts used by Alexander Pope, in his Essay on Man (Epistle 1, line 293), by Gottfried Leibniz in his Theodicy, and by Bernard Mandeville in his Fable of the Bees, and satirized by Voltaire in Candide. See, for instance, GM, Diaries, 2: 153–54. Both GM and Robert Morris applied the idea to the notion that one cannot fundamentally change things, but only adapt to or turn to advantage what exists. See, for example, GM to JJ, 10 Jan. 1784, , 3: 541–42; PRM, 9: 17–18; and Robert Morris to TJ, 25 Feb. 1784, PTJ, 6: 558–64; and PRM, 9: 136.
4. JA had appointed Egbert Benson to lead the U.S. Circuit Court for the Second Circuit on 18 Feb. 1801. Benson served in this capacity until the court was abolished on 1 July 1802. He then resumed his private law practice in New York City. National Intelligencer (Washington, D.C.), 20 Feb. 1801.