From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 24 December 1808
To Timothy Pickering
Bedford (West Chester County) 24 Decr. 1808.
Dear Sir
Accept my thanks for your friendly Letter of the 10th. Inst:1 and for the Papers2 which you was so obliging to send me; and which I assure you did not “intrude on my Retirement”.
When I withdrew from public Life, I carried with me the same cordial attachment to the Honor and Welfare of our Country, by which I had uniformly been activated. From early Youth it was my Desire and Intention to live in the Country as soon as Prudence and Propriety would permit me. I rejoiced when that Period arrived; and having since lived very much as I had long wished to live, my Retirement has afforded no Reasons for Regret.3
Knowing both from History and Experience, that Men and other Creatures will generally act according to their real Characters, I have met with few Disappointments in that Respect. The Esteem of the estimable is certainly of great Value— but the transient Praises of the multitude, blown on and off by the passing Breeze, can weigh but little. Popular fluctuations resemble those of the Ocean— they both depend on Wind and Weather; and are too natural and common to afford much matter for Surprise or Irritation. Republics are frequently to be pitied rather than blamed when, mistaking Demagogues for Patriots, they suffer from the Demerit of those whom they appoint to manage the public affairs.—
The Proprieties attached to a Situation like mine, assign certain Limits to active Interferences in political concerns— I attend every Election, even for Town officers; and having delivered my Ballots return home, without having mingled in the Crowd, or participated in their Altercations. In this Town however, Elections cause but little Dispute— the great majority having been firm whigs during the war, and decided Federalists since the new Constitution.—
on reading your Speech I observe Sentiments which manifest your Esteem, and demand my acknowledgmts. I find that very interesting Topics are discussed in it with Perspicuity and Force. It is desireable that no Errors be permitted to prevail, either at present or in future, relative to the Enducements and objects of the Embargo, or relative to the Consequences resulting from it. A full fair and able Exposition of the origin and Progress of our national Embarrassments would be useful. The “further Investigations” which you contemplate, would doubtless make strong Impressions; and the more so, as you are equal to the Task. If the House should go into a Committee of the whole, on the State of the nation, there would be a fine Field for the Display of Talents and Information.—4 With great Esteem and Regard I am Dear Sir Your obedt. Servt.
John Jay
P. S. my Health, about which you kindly inquire, is delicate—
The Honb: Timothy Pickering Esqr.
ALS, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04809). Endorsed: “Mr. Jay—Decr. 24. 1808 / recd. January 3d. (illegible) / Embargo— Speeches &c.” Dft, NNC (EJ: 09520). TP, who had frequently exchanged letters with JJ during his term as Secretary of State, had reopened correspondence on 12 May 1808, forwarding JJ his pamphlet defending his character and actions, while criticizing Massachusetts Governor James Sullivan (1744–1808), for his support of the Embargo of 1807. JJ responded with a note attesting to his opinion that TP was “a virtuous man; and a firm, able, and valuable Patriot”. FC, with Dft of JJ’s reply, NNC (EJ: 09517); AL, 24 May 1808, marked “Dup[lica]te.”, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04807); AL, 28 May 1808, endorsed as “… Recd. (I suppose as a dead letter / from the post office) / Jany 4. 1809,” MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04808). For TP’s pamphlet see Interesting correspondence between His Excellency Governor Sullivan and Col. Pickering; in which the latter vindicates himself against the groundless charges made against him by the governor and others (Newburyport, 1808; Early Am. Imprints, series 2, no. 16269).
1. TP to JJ, 10 Dec. 1808, ALS, NNC (09518); Dft, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04846). In his letter, TP remarked that he had received the “duplicate only of the letter” sent on 24 May.
2. With his letter of 10 Dec., TP enclosed speeches given in the U.S. Senate by James Hillhouse of Connecticut, on either 21 Nov. and, or, 29 Nov., and by TP on 30 Nov., criticizing the embargo, and by William B. Giles (1762–1830), of Virginia on 24 Nov., supporting it. Annals, 17: 20–27; 93–126; 161–75, 175–94.
3. JJ is here responding to the following passage from TP’s letter of 10 Dec.: “As you have withdrawn yourself from the bustle of a public and a city life, with ample cause of disgust toward an ungrateful people, who banishing the good, have raised bad men to power, may also have abstracted yourself from political discussion, I do not know but I intrude on your retirement, in presenting ^to^ you some of the debates in the Senate, on the subject of the embargo.”
4. In his reply, TP reported that he intended to draft a public address defending his conduct and countering recent attacks against him made by John W. Eppes (1773–1823) of Virginia, who had stated in the House of Representatives that TP had withheld dispatches from JA, and thereby had nearly caused a war with France. JJ advised that TP could best sway public opinion in his favor by taking the time to write a measured and thorough response. TP continued to keep JJ abreast of congressional debates regarding the embargo, forwarding a publication that included a speech by Tennessee Senator Joseph Anderson (1757–1837), on the repeal of the embargo. TP thanked JJ for his support, informing him that he had not yet written his public address, but that he intended to publish a pamphlet. TP’s addresses and writings revived debates on earlier foreign relations with Britain and France, thereby launching further correspondence that discussed JJ’s role in the peace negotiations and the Anglo-American Treaty of 1794. See JJ to TP, 19 June 1800, above; 30 Jan. 1809, ALS, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04810); Dft, NNC (EJ: 09519); a copy of this letter included in his letter of 24 Mar. 1809, ALS, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04811); Dft, NNC (EJ: 09522); 9 and 26 Feb. 1810, both below; 12 Feb. 1811, below; 26 Feb. 1816, below; and 17 May 1819, ALS, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04818); Dft, NNC (EJ: 09532); TP to JJ, 17 June 1800, above; 13 Jan. 1809, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09521); 23 Feb., ALS, NNC (EJ: 09523); Dft, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04841); 25 Apr., ALS, NNC (EJ: 09524); Dft, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04842); 26 Feb. 1810, below; 5 Feb. 1811, below; and 27 Apr. 1819, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09531); Dft, MHi: Pickering (EJ: 04840); WJ to TP, 24 June 1826, below.