as he was, on one important question Mr. Adams made a speech, and it was a good one, clearly conveying by France. Mr. Adams wished to preserve a neutrality, but found this quite impossible. A navy was raised with surprising promptitude to pre-precisely what he meant. On hearing vent insolence and to chastise ag- this speech, short as it was, the ac gression. It had the desired effect, curate observer could have satisfac and France was taught that the tory proofs of what had been called Americans were friends in peace, but the characteristics of his eloquence were not fearful of war when it could in days gone by,-energy of thought not be averted. When the historian and expression. That sledge-hainshall come to this page of our histo- mer mode of striking at a subject, ry he will do justice to the sagacity, which was once pre-eminently his, is to the spirit, and to the integrity of refreshing, after hearing all the pre Mr. Adams, and will find that he tiness of oratory, which like sweethad more reasons and good ones for meats, soon produce satiety. his conduct than his friends or enemies ever gave him. He was delighted with all he saw and heard in this convention; there was more mind in it than he expected to find, and higher acquirements than he anticipated, fond and partial as he was to his native state. He listened to the debates of the con vention with the greatest attention and delight; for a race of first rate men had grown up, such as he wish ed to see, wise in the doctrines of constitutional law, and well acquail:ed with the history of their county. He found that their speeches were not wanting in learning, for preceden and illustration. The fire of youth illumined the eye of the patriarch when he heard the master spirits of that body, doing justice to the leaders of the revolution; fairly examining their deeds as matters of history, speaking with freedom upon all these topics which were so near and dear to him. "Thank God that I have lived to be a witness of this day's debate," was, at the close of a dis cussion upon some point that was ably treated, his emphatic exclamation. In 1801 he retired to his paternal acres and passed his days in literary and scientific leisure. His mansion house was always open to all visitors who called on him to pay their civilities to a great man. There, they were entertained in elegant simplicity, with kindness without any parade or ostentation. It was delightful to see the sage talking and thinking of the world as if he were then a busy actor in it. His memory, always retentive, was remarkably accurate to the most protracted year of his life. The style of his conversation was strong, manly, and classical to the last. He spoke of the dead of all ages as though he had lived with them and become imbued with their precepts; and all this without any attempt to display his learning. If there was any thing he hated it was a silly pretender to superior talents, and the world is full of such; they sometimes annoyed him, and his temper was not always under entire command; but no man could, and but few ever did display Although he had been for twenty the honors of hospitality with more years out of public life, still he was true kindness and polish than Mr. always a public man. His early Adams. He loved his native land; he works had been read in every part o dearly loved his own Massachusetts, the world where freedom had and she ought to be, and is proud of name, and his pen was not at res him as one of her distinguished sons. while he was in retirement. He saw In 1820 he was chosen by the error abounding and he grew indig town of Quincy, a member of a con- nant, and strove to set things right vention of Massachusetts, to revise and such was his honesty of charac the constitution, which, forty years ter, that if some were not prepared before had came from his pen. He to be convinced by his reasonings was elected president of that body, all were satisfied with his facts but he declined this honor, consider-These communications to the public ing his advanced age, for he was will be read with more interest in a now eighty-five; and Isaac Parker, chief justice of the commonwealth, was made the presiding officer. Old later period of our history than at present. They will be considered as those developments of minute cir cumstances that will be more wanted | did him reverence; from the little hereafter to elucidate some points of urchin trudging his way to an infant obscurity, than now, but at the pres- school, to the aged who had known ent time they are acceptable. The him when young, and rising to diglanguage of an actor in the scenes nity and honors in his country's he describes seems endued with life, cause, and who were now wending if he entered into them with zeal, their way with him to the grave. and in every thing leading to the This was not a hollow courtesy, it revolution and of accomplishing it, was from the heart, a true homage Mr. Adams was himself a part, and of their high respect for a great man. ? great one Most other men began He must have been virtuous, and their opposition to the mother coun- great, who has his monument erecttry from the course of conduct pur-ed where his cradle was rocked, and sued by her within the ten or dozen years preceding the bursting of the storm at Lexington; it was not so with Mr. Adams, he had looked at all the events that had transpired from the landing of his forefathers, and saw in them a connected series that would, to a moral certainty, result in a struggle for independence. Most of his compatriots were for putting off the evil day, he was for meeting it while he was in the vigor of life, in order that he might sit down under his own vine and fig tree, in the cool of the evening of life, and enjoy peace and independence. He was fully aware of the price that was to be paid for this, and was willing to risk property and life on the chance of success. His honor, he felt, was safe, whatever might ensue; a halter and rack had no terrors for him, notwithstanding they made such fearful impressions on the imaginations of many who wished to act with him. In looking at the nation, with a great and comprehensive mind, he did not forget that parts made up a whole. The welfare of his native state occupied no small share of his thoughts, and the town of his birth was never forgotten, as the whole course of his treatment of it shows. He extended to the people of Quincy his paternal care while living, and remembered them in his will also. He left no small portion of his moderate fortune to promote learning and religion where he first received the maternal precepts of duty and virtue, and they returned his solic tude with the fondest affection. They took a pride in having him among them, and were grateful to Heaven that his life was greatly protracted. When he passed the streets on a ride, or walk, as was his daily custom in warm weather, every one the people of his birth place are delighted to come and read his epitaph. Before Mr. Adams was called to close his eyes on the things of time, his heart was made grateful to Heaven, for being permitted to see his son elevated to the office of chief magistrate of the American people. How gratifying to a father, must this circumstance have been, knowing as he did how well he had been prepared by education and principles for the situation. The patriarch was sustained by a kind providence, notwithstanding his advanced age, until the half century from the day of signing the declaration of independence had come, and then, in the midst of rejoicings, his spirit departed to join the congregation of the just. On the same day, a few hours before him, another signer of the declaration of independence had departed. Mr. Jefferson died at noon on the fourth of July, 1826. This was considered as a most wonderful event, and in every part of the United States eulogies were pronounced in commemmoration of the lives and deaths of these worthies of the revolution. The nation, as it were, gathered round their hearse, and listened to the strange events of the age in which these patriots lived, and to the account of the share that each took in the affairs of that day. Precious facts were brought out which might have been lost forever, if not noticed at such a time, which are now treasured up for the historian, who may soon take them for his page; for truly great men make a part of history before they leave this theatre of action. The day we trust is at hand when we shall begin to think the reputations of our distinguished men make a part of our national glory. The former ages of our history have only treasured up a few facts concerning those who were men | to be rudely removed. He regarded of importance in their generation. what had been as rather what should The friends of a great man refrained be revised, than destroyed; and the through modesty, as it was then revolutions of the day as confirming called, from writing the life of their rather than derogating the law alrelation, and others after awhile did ready given. When some who had not think themselves sufficiently in- acted with him, were desirous of doterested to make exertions to searching away with the common law he for facts which the kindred of the de- came out in defence of it, with all ceased had suffered to pass away un- the lion-spirit that was within him; noticed. Mr. Jefferson's life has al- he had no Utopian notions, no sickly ready appeared. It abounds in inci- sentiments of duty. He felt like a dent. It furnishes much to be re- man of strong passions, and reasonmembered and some things to passed like a man of a strong mind. over in silence. The critical taste of some more distant descendant will expurgate some of the pages of this voluminous work, and then deliver it down to future generations. The life of Mr. Adams has not as yet appeared, but report says that it is in The person of Mr. Adams was an an advanced state for the press. index of his mind,-his frame was From a careful perusal of these co-compact, sturdy, and above the orHis countenance beampious biographies of the great actors dinary size. His answer to a letter addressed him by the president of the peace society speaks out the character of the man. His only method of keeping peace was to wear a sword and to use it when occasion required. in the revolutionary struggle, the ri-ed with intelligence, and moral as sing generations will have an oppor-well as physical courage. His walk tunity of forming a correct judgement was firm and dignified to a late peupon the whole subject. riod of his life. There are several likenesses of him from the pencils of distinguished artists; probably the best, is from the hand of Stuart, taken after the subject had passed his ninetieth year. The picture from which most of the likenesses extant were taken, was painted while he was president of the United States, and is a very good one. Mr. Adams was a friend to education, good sound education, such as taxed the highest effort of the mind to acquire; not that miscellaneous course formed from reading newspapers, novels, and mushroom plays, but such as laid the foundation strong and deep. Attention to mathematics, the classics, history, and political economy, was strictly insisted SAMUEL ADAMS, one of the earliest on by him; not that he neglected patriots of the revolution, was born the ornamental parts of education, in Boston, Mass., on the 22d of Sepbut they were no cultivated to the tember, 1722. He was descended exclusion of more solid matters. If from one of the first settlers of the his own could not be called a finish- Province of Massachusetts Bay. He ed education, it was a zobust one, it was educated at Harvard College brought forth all the faculties of his and was of the class of 1740. He mind, and taught them to act on all was educated for the Gospel ministhe business of life with energy and try, and although he never entered directness. He secured the Spartan into that profession, still he had an firmness with as much of the Athe-air of ecclesiastical solemnity in all nian polish as possible, but the frst, according to his creed must at all events be secured. He was so de termined to speak what he thought, that he was not always what the world called prudent. But there was such an honesty in all he said, that, on reflection, every one was satisfied with his candor and frankness, if at times they were a little disturbed at his freedom. He was ready to hail the improvements of the times, but would not suffer the old landmarks his actions, which gave him great his demeanor, which in connection with his poverty, gave a cast of antiquity to his whole character. He enacted Phocion, while his coadjutor Hancock, assumed the splendor of Alcibiades, without his profligacy, and dazzled the eyes of his fend, and generous countrymen, and at the same time elicited admiration by his taste, and secured confidence by his liberality. In American history, Samuel Adams does, and will for his pen as a political writer in his youth, and felt the weight of his country's wrongs on his shoulders, while others of his age, scarcely thought there were any evils to complain of. The zealous whigs supported him, and he labored with all his might to sustain them. The stamp act, and the imposition of dutics on the necessaries of life, gave him ample topics for complaint, and he used them with great effect. He behaved with great spirit, and deter-ages fill a great space. mination on the 5th of March, 1770, FISHER AMES, a man distinguished when the massacre was perpetrated for talents and patriotism in one of in Boston. He was the organ of the the most momentous periods of our people in insisting that the troops, history, was the youngest son of Dr. which had been quartered upon the Nathaniel Ames, of Dedham, in the town, should be removed; and by Commonwealth of Massachusetts. his energy that purpose was effected. Dr. Ames was not only a physician As a representative from Boston in of eminence, but also a philosopher, the general court, he was a leader in mathematician, and patriot. He for all the measures of that body, many years published the best Alagainst the Royal Government. manack in New-England. This is When the continental Congress was now, after a lapse of three quarters called, he was sent a delegate from of a century, a great scientific and Massachusetts, and immediately took literary curiosity. The numerous an active part in that body. He had astronomical calculations were accubeen so long active in the cause of rate; the remarks on husbandry liberty, that he, with John Hancock, and morals, interspersed in the work, was exempted from the general par- were judicious; and in political ecodon extended by executive clemency,nomy, the writer was half a century as it was called, to all others who before his contemporaries. had been active in the cause of free-number for 1745, he drew a picture dom. He saw with pleasure the of the thick coming glories of Ameridrama open at Concord, because he ca, what was then, probably, thought thought he saw the triumphant close, a romantic vision to amuse his readwhen his nation would rise into pow-ers, but which is now admired for er and prosperity. In 1776 he was the accuracy of its traits and the foremost in the ranks of those who faithfulness and beauty of its colorwere desirous of an opportunity, at ing. He knew the character of the once, of making a declaration of In-people, and he reasoned deeply upon dependence. On leaving Congress, their destinies. In the fervor of his he was constantly employed in his patriotic zeal, in 1762, he erected a native state, in some high official pillar of stone on the highway near capacity and was particularly active his mansion house, and surmounted in framing the Constitution of Mas-it with a bust of the great Chatham. sachusetts, under which he was cho-Time has destroyed the bust and sen Lieutenant Governor, and after-thrown down the pillar, but the in wards Chief Magistrate. His puri- scription still remains, and is easily tanical habits, his rigid tenets in reli-decyphered by the curious travelle gion, and his grave and solemn elo- who stops for a moment to pay a tri quence, united to unquestionable ta-bute of gratitude to the patriotism of lents, gave him a high and command-other days. This philosopher and ing authority in his whole progress to political eminence. He was corporally and morally brave, and when his acquirements might have failed, his intrepidity secured him success. He was just such a man, as was wanted in such a place and at such There was a simplicity in a time. In the patriot died in July, 1764, leaving a widow and five children. The subject of this memoir was then only six years of age. His mother was a woman of great energy of character, and by her industry and prudence, was enabled to give her darling child a liberal education. The boy was the prodigy of the village; the kind | honorable William Tudor, a gentleneighbors thought that his father's man of talents, of fine manners and Lantle had descended upon him in amiable disposition, moving in the his infancy-the school master joined first circles of fashion and intellect, in the belief, and the grave pastor of which connexion gave Ames an opthe parish saw even more than his portunity of becoming acquainted father's intellectual glories kindling with the best minds in the state. up in him. The good mother lived He was admitted to the bar in 1781, to see the widow's son wear the lau- and immediately commenced pracrel of learning, and the civic wreath tice in his native town. In 1780 the given to the benefactor of a nation, Commonwealth of Massachusetts esand lived too, to drop the scalding tablished their State Constitution, tear of age upon the premature grave and Courts were opened and the of her beloved child. By the assist- payment of debts were again enance of the school master, and the forced by the rules of law. The colpastor of the parish, he was prepared lecting business went on briskly, for for college when he was but little the harvest was large and the lamore than twelve years of age. borers were few. Every lawyer had Young as he was, he preserved his as much as he could do. Many virtue and purity, and sustained a cases were litigated with great pertihigh reputation as a scholar while at nacity, and as there were but few the university. He graduated in decisions of our former provincial 1774, at sixteen years of age, much courts that had been noted down too young to commence the study with sufficient accuracy to become of the law, the profession on which established precedents, there was his mind was bent. To fill up the then a more glorious uncertainty in years of juvenility, and to assist in the law than at the present day, supporting himself, he took a school when so many good decisions have and continued as an instructer for been reported. Ames soon became several years. At this time, and be- distinguished as an advocate, for he fore, and since, such a course was was well grounded in general princommon for some of our first young ciples, and argued with great fluency men on leaving college, and the very and eloquence the cause of his client; school which was taught by Ames, but later years proved that the bar had been under the care of several was not his field of fame. The dull young gentlemen, in succession, who might affect to think that he was afterwards filled the highest stations not profound in his law; but good in the community-Chief Justice judges have declared that but few Cushing, General Joseph Warren, young men who came to the bar at Governor Increase Sumner, and oth- that period knew so much of preceers, were instructers of the grammar dent or elementary principles, as school in Roxbury, which was one Ames did. No; the difficulties in of the first established in Massachu- his path at the bar, were not want setts, soon after the first settlement of talents or acquirements; they of our country. This occupation is were the delicacy and quickness of calculated to give habits of circum- his feelings, which made him shrink spection and attention to youthful from every thing like trick or bad minds; and has a very beneficial management in his client or oppoeffect on the future character of the sing counsel. The hesitation or terprofessional man, if not continued giversation of a witness would distoo long. At this time Ames review- turb him through a whole cause, and ed his classical studies, and indulged the moment he felt his side of the in the fascinations of general litera- question was wrong, his good genius ture. This was doing well, for the deserted him, and an evil one of giusual avenues of business were then gantic proportions stalked before closed; and beside the school room him, and named a future meeting, and the pulpit--and these at that not at Phillippi, but in that very place time were but scanty means for where the jury should bring in a bread, there was nothing open for verdict. It was in the deliberative young ambition, but the army; to assembly where Ames was born to this course he did not incline. In shine. This a sagacious public saw, 1778, he entered the office of the late and brought him into the convention |