Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-06-12
:WtsrelIaneous.
ADAMS AND IEFEERsoN

extracted from the Familiar Letters on Public
Characters.'-
"Mr. Adams, on the day of his in.
auguration, March A, 1872 was in
his Cad year. He was dressed in q
full suit of pearl colored broad cloth,
with powdered hair. He was then
bald on the top of his head. Mr.. Adams
was of middle stature, and full person;
and Of slow, deliberate manner, unless
he was excited; and when this happen
ed he expressed himself with great en-
ergy. Mr.. Adams was a man Of strong
mind, of great learning, and of eminent
ability TO use knowledge both in speech
and writing. He was ever man of
purest morals: and is said to have been
firm believer in Christianity, not
from habit and example, but from dill
gent investigation of its proofs. He
had an uncompromising regard for his
opinion; and was strongly contrasted
with Washington in this respect. He
seemed to have supposed that his OPT.
MON could not be corrected by those
of other men, nor bettered by any CON-
parison.
"He had been from early manhood,
Jealous patriot, and had rendered
most essential services to his country,
at home and abroad. These he seems
to have had in mind. He well re-
membered the painful struggle expe-
rienced in Europe, to obtain aid for
the patriots at home, and an acknowl-
edgment Of independence, from gov
ernments there, while the war was yet
regarded, by England, as rebellion.
He ought to have known, as would
seem from his own writings, in what
manner public services are estimated.
''An individual can easily remem.
Der how much good he has done to a
community; but those who are benefit
ted. as easily forget. IF public ingrati-
tude is common it is very natural. 1t
is not improbable that Mr.. Adams was
impatient in finding how much more
the easily understood services of mill
tary men were appreciated, than were
the secluded, though no less important
ones of diplomatic agency and cabI.
net counsel. So made up, from natu-
raj propensities, and from the circum-
stances of his life, Mr.. Adams came to
the presidency at the time when more
forbearance, and discretion were re.
quired, than he is supposed to have had.
He seems to have been deficient in the
rare excellence of attempting to see
himself as others saw him; and he
ventured to act as though every body
saw as he saw himself. He considered
only what was right in his own view;
and that was to be carried by main
force, whatever were the obstacles.
"When Mr.. jefferson came to Phila-
delphia, in March, 1907, he was about
fifty-four years of age. His personal
appearance, as now recollected was
this: He was tall man, over six feet
in stature; neither full nor thin in body.
His hair was of reddish tinge, comb
ed loosely over the forehead; and at
the sides, and tied behind. His CON-
plexion was light or sandy. His FORE
head, rather high and broad. His
eyebrows long and straight; his eyes
blue, his cheek bones high, his face
broad beneath his eyes, his chin long,
and his mouth large. His dress was
black coat, and light under clothes.
He had no polish of manners, but a
simplicity and sobriety of department.
He was quiet and unobtrusive, and yet
a stranger would perceive, that he was
in the presence of one who was not a
common man. His manner of convers-
ing was calm and deliberate, and free
from all gosticulation; but he spoke
like one who considered himself entitled
to Difference; and as though he mea-
sured what he said by some standard
of self.complacency. The expression
of his face was that of thoughtfulness
and observation: and, certainly not
that of openness and frankness. When
speaking he did not look at his auditor,
but cast his eyes towards the ceiling,
or any Wnere Dut at lle cSo vi MS
auditor. He had already become a
parsonage of some distinction, and an
object of curiosity; even to a very
young man. These personal descnp-
lions are from memory, after the lapse
of many years, and may not accord
with those Of persons, who had more,
and better opportunities to observe;
and are not, therefore, offered with
confidence, that Mr.. Jefferson is here
| in all respects, justly described"
nJJsERIES OF HUlIAN LIFE.