 Ellsworth was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, and served until 1800, when he resigned due to poor health.Few cases came before the Ellsworth Court, and he is chiefly remembered for his discouragement of the previous practice of "seriatim" opinion writing.He simultaneously served as an envoy to France from 1799 to 1800, signing the Convention of 1800 to settle the hostilities of the Quasi-War.