JOHN JAY, STATESMAN AND JUEIST 251 



cial robe fell ou Joliu Jay, it touched nothing less spot- 

 less than itself." America owes a lasting debt of grati- 

 tude to this great jurist and statesman, one of the greatest 

 gifts France made to this country through the persecution 

 of her Protestant citizens. 



The following " Reflection of John Jay " concerning his Jay on his 



'^ .^ o Ancestry 



ancestry is giveu in his biography : 



After what has been said, you will observe with pleasure and grati- 

 tude how kindly and how amply Providence was pleased to provide 

 for the welfare of our ancestor, Augustus. Nor was his case a soli- 

 t'ary or singular instance. The beneficent care of heaven appears to 

 have been evidently and remarkably extended to all those persecuted 

 exiles. Strange as it may seem, I have never heard of one of them 

 who asked or received alms ; nor have I any reason to suspect, much 

 less to believe, that any of them came to this country in a destitute 

 situation. The number of refugees who settled here was considerable. 

 They did not disperse and settle in different parts of the country, but 

 formed three societies or congregations, one in the city of New York, 

 another at Paltz, and a third at a town which they purchased and 

 called New Rochelle. At New Rochelle they built two cliurches, and 

 lived in great tranquillity. None of them became rich, but they lived 

 comfortably. 



UBEKTY HALL, BIRTHPLACE OF MRS JAV.. 



