This Day in History: December 2

The Secy. of F. Affairs communicated to me a few days ago his determination speedily to resign his office He asked me in the course of conversation whether I thought Mr. Jefferson would prefer the vacancy to his foreign appointment I answered him in the negative. He then asked whether I supposed he wd. accept the commission of Jay at Madrid in case the latter should prefer the secretariship of foreign affairs and be appointed to it. I told him I could not answer that question, but doubted much whether Congress would consent to part with the services of Mr Jay as a negociator of peace. [More]