Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-05-15
THE GAzEgT :.
MAY Is, 1923.
R,sgrebAieal Sketch IF John Q4tney .1dasns
TcoSrTNukD.

sr;fh distinction, i'm nedI2teiy entered upon the
.,ndy of the Law in the Office of Theophilus
Parsons, then residing at Newburyport, one
Of he most celebrated plesders of his day, ard
afterwards Chief Justice of the State of Mas
s,cbuse,ts Judge Parsons was eminently quail
] fed Tor the duties of legal nstructor, being
not less distinguished bv an enthusiastic devo
ton to his profession, than for his laborous
habits. and the extent and accuracy of his re.
4 searches into the elementary grounds and prin
cpes of the Law. The American "precedents
Of Declarations" with the digest annexed q
york generally sscribed to him, is a production
Of the highest excellence, and eyinces the per
Ect acquaintance of its author with The difficult
and obstruse doctrine of Special Pleading.
We are furnished with no accurate details of
4 she manner in which Mr.. Adams spent his time
! during his residence in Newburyport--what
portion Of the day was devoted TO literature
] and science and what to his Professionalism
] he adopted the strict regulations Of Sir William
Jones, or the more strict and puritanical in
functions of Sir Edward Coke. We can easily
however imagine that to a mind constituted as
4 his, the Science of Jurisprudence must have
4 afforded rich theme OF intellectual enjoyment
I Already prepared for a proper comprehension
I Of its principles by an extensive examination
intO history. considerable acquaintance with
She World, and no little familiarity with ancient
and modern tera iure--hIs discriminating and
inquiSitive mind muet have feasted with pecu
1 Mar delight upon the classic and luminous pages
OF Blackslone--the accurate and philosophical
reasoning of Mansfield, and the msssy and stu
pendous labours OF Coke. Comyn and Hale
The character Of his intellect naturally subtle,
discriminating and strong, was admirably adap
sed 10 the lasouF and intensity of legal research
His progress during this period must have been
considerable, for although the greater part of
bis future life was absorbed in the more busy
and engrossng sPeculations of politics, we Can
occasionally trace him in the Supreme Court of
the United States, instructing even that angus,
and enlightened tribunal by the immense stores
of his erudition, and the gigantic force of his
reasoning.
After completing his Law studies at Newbu
ryport, where he resided three years, MIR.
Adams moved to the Capitol of Massachusetts.
However qaalhed for his profession, il does not
sPpear tina, he met with that encouragement,
due to his superior talents and hia uuremitted
attention TO his office. He was doomed for few
years to experience that neglect in business,
what is not unfrequentIy the fate of many of the
most gifted and accomplished of his profession
Hsrgrave and Fearne fingered in obscurity in the
dirty allies of London, while the ethereal es
sence Of their minds illuminated the profound.
est decision of the Lord Chahceilor's Bench
Mr. Adams, however, did not spend IN idleness
That portion OF his time which was not engaged
IN professional occupations. He employed
many of his ieizure hours, in specializing in the
public journals. upon the leading political topics
OF The day. The important events then agita.
ong the civilized world were well calculated TO
a''lse tbs reflections and elicit the specuationS
Of an ardent mind The French Re olution had
burst forth, Spreading terror and dsmay. over
"'e G'ohe, and giving the moderate and reflect
ing OF every nation just cause of alarm for the
existence of order, civilization and liberty. A
SCI OF principles and opinions too, about this
period, boldly proclaimed subversive of all law,
morality and religion were deemed proper to
0e met With argument or encountered with the
p'Snani sallies of wit, rldicue and sarcasn.-
n series Of papers published about this time by
MI Adams, under the signature of Pubicols
questioning the infalGbihty of the French Re
'Oa'on and commenting with severity upon
'ae writings of Paine, attracted universal a, ten
o'o and were read with avdity in this country
ARdin Europe.
I'm April 1898, on the first information tina
war between Great B itain and France had beer
o'e''Fed, Mr.. Adams published short series
VI papers, the object of which was, to prove
WAX 'ae duty and interes, of the United States
CURED them to remain neutral IN the contes
=, "'s' papers were publ shed, before Genera
"4''nS'oas proclamation OF neutrality, with