Page:History of the Supreme court of the United States (IA historyofsupreme00myeriala).pdf/201



To the puzzled astonishment of the general public, Chief Justice Jay, after presiding over the Supreme Court of the United States for five years, stepped down from that office to go to England, as the plenipotentiary of the United States, and execute a new treaty.

This happened in April, 1794. "… No appointment," wrote Jay on April 17 of that year to his wife, referring to his selection as special envoy, "ever operated more unpleasantly upon me; but the public considerations which were—urged, and the manner in which it was pressed, strongly impressed me with a conviction that to refuse it would be to desert my duty for the sake of domestic concerns and comforts."

As the sequel proved, Jay's quitting the Chief Justiceship amounted to a de facto resignation, although he did not formally resign until June 29, 1795, after his return from England. Jay did not again sit on the Supreme Court; and indeed it would seem that President Washington did not expect his return to that office, for in a secret and confidential letter, Washington, on April 29, wo4, asked Jay whether he would not consent to become the resident Minister of the United States at London after his mission as envoy was concluded. Washington's intermediary on this occasion was Jay's former