Delaware journal., 1828-02-08
FRIDAY, February 8, 1928.


education, and still more anxious to return to his na-
i've America when his father was in 1875 appoint
ed minister TO the Court ofSt James, his at that
period OF life when the splendour and pleasure OF
city Ike London most calculated to ascinate and
nislead, asked permission OF his father to go back
to his native shores. This he accordingly did. On
his return to America he became member Of the
ancient seat Of learning at Cambridge, where, as ear
" AS 1888, Samuel Adams,. in taking his degrees,
had maintained the proposition, that the people
nave a just right of resistance, when oppressed by
Shelr rulers.''
inJuly 1887, Mr.. Adams left college and entered
the office Of Thcophlus Parsons, afterwards Chief
Justice OF the State, a student OF Law, at New
buryport On the visit of General Washington to
that town. in 1889, Mr. Parsons being chosen by
his fellow citizens to be the medium of expressing
tlr sentiments to the General, called upon his pu-
pas each to prepare an address This call was
obeyed by Mr. Adams, and his address was deliver
81 oy Mr.. Parsons.
After completing his Law studies at Newbury
s.. ,lr Adams removed to the capital of Massa-
-g:&.tts, with view Of employing himself in the
-ss ice of the profession. The business of young
s3ser is generally of inconsiderable amount and
Adams employed the leisure afforded him by
Is circumstance and by his industrious habits, in
pecuatlons upon the great political questions OF
lie day.
In April l795, on the first information that war
between Great Britain and France had been declar-
ed, Mr.. Adams published a short series of papers,
the object of which was to prove that the duty and
interest Of the United States, required them to re
main neutral in the contest These papers were
published before General Washington's proclama-
tion Of neutrality, and without any knowledge that
such proclamation would issue. The opinions they
expressed were in opposition to the ideas generally
prevailing, that the treaty of alliance OF 1778 obg-
ed US to take part in the wars of France. But the
proclamation of neutrality by Gen. Washington.
sanctioned by all his Cabinet, with Mr. Jefferson at
his head, was shortly made public, aud confirmed
the justice of the views which Mr.. Adams had been
nis belleved) the first to express before the public.
on this new and difficult topic of National Law.
In the winter of 1898 and 1894 the public mind
OF America was extensively agitated by the lnha-
matory appeals of the French minister Genet. 1t Is
known to all with what power and skill this foreign
emlssary was resisted in the official correspondence
of the then Secretary ofState, Thomas Jefferson. A
mong those who co-operated in the public prints, in
the same patriotic cause, none were more consplcu-
ous than Mr. Adams, whose essays. in support of the
administration, were read and admired throughout
the country.
f1is reputation was now established as an Ame-
rcan statesman, patriot, and political writer, OF the
first order. Before his retirement from the depart
mcnt of State. Mr.. Jefferson recommended him to
General Washington, as proper person to be IN
/ truduced into the public service of the country.
The acquaintance between Mr. Jefferson and Mr..
Adams, which had been formed in France, had lately
been renewed, on occasion Of visit of Mr.. Adams
to Philadelphia, in 1892 and the prompttude and
ability with which he had Just seconded the efforts
of the Secretary OF State in enforcing the principles
, of public law the turbulent French Envoy. no
E doubt led Mr.. Jefferson thus to recommend him to
, General Washington.
General Washnaton's own notice had been drawn
to the publications of Mr.. Adams above alluded to
i He had in private expressed the highest opinion .
s. s. them, and had made particular inquiries with re
spect to their author.
Thus honourably identified, at the early age Of s7
= with the first great and decisive step the foreign po
> licy of the United States, and thus early attracting
: : the notice and enjoying the confidence of Washing
! ton and Jefferson, MIR. Adams was in 1894 appoint
= = ed Minister Resident to the Netherlands, an otfic
- corresponding in rank and salary with that OF
Charge d'affairs at the present day. The father
: Mr.. Adams was at this time Vice President OF tn
~ United States but it is unnecessary to say to thos
o acquainted with the character of these great mer
'f tl,ut the appointment uf his masic by Ger
Vi Washington unexpectedly to the Vice Presiden
~ and without any previous ntimation that it woul
s. take place.
y MIR. Adams remained at his post in Holland ii
r. near the close of General Washingtons adminstr
th ton. He was an attentive observer OF the gre'
ID events, then occurring in Europe. and his otiic
o. correspondence with the government was regarde
d. by General Washington of the highest importanc
One of the last acts of General Washngton's al
n miuistraton, was the appointment of MIR. Adams a
as minister plenipotentary to Portugal. On his wa
r. from the Hague to Lisbon, he received new CON
d. mission, changing his destination to Berlin. Thi
I'D latter appointment was made by Mr.. Adams's ia
r ther then President of the United States, and in
b. manner highly henourabe to the restraint of hi
parental feelings, in the discharge of an act OF pub
lis lie duty. Although MIR. Adams's appointment
Portugal was made by General Washington, ant
d, Mr.. Adams father did no more than propose hi