The Whig standard., 1843-11-29
MR.. ]. Q. ADAMS.

reception in his recent journey. The following
is taken from the Washington Reporter:
At six o'clock in the evening, Mr.. Adams vi
sited the Female Seminary, which was ilumi-
mated from top TO bottom, in honor of the distin-
guished guest, where he was addressed by Miss
Foster, the Principal. Although we could not
| find room for the addresses of the gentlemen,
yet we should display a great want of gallantry
| to leave out the address of the lady, which is
indeed gem Of beauty. Mr.. Adams was usher
ed into the spacious Hall of the Seminary, in
presence of the ladies, by the Committee. where
he was welcomed by the Principal, in substance
as follows:
ADDRESS OF Miss S. r. FOSTER.
! Revered and honored sir On my own be-
half, on behalf Of the ladies of Washington, and
the teachers and pupils of this institutions most
cordially welcome you to this Hall. In you,
dear sir, we behold connecting link between
| the present and the past-running back through
| the vista OF time, to period antecedent to the
revolution. Your civic virtues, eminent states
manship, and distinguished public services, have
endeared you TO your country, and associated
with your name all that is good, and wise, and
great, IN the character Of the Patriot, Phlan-
thropisl, and Christian. Your revered father
formed one Of that bright constellation which
Illuminated the gloomy pathway Of the Revolu-
ton. His dauntlcss courage, and unchanging
fidelity to the great cause Of human liberty, in
the darkest hour of that country's history, has
found an illustrious imitator in you, sir, upon
whom his name and his virtues have descended
Eventful, indeed, has been your life, and the
measure Of its greatness is full. The history of
your family is inseparably blended with the his
tory OF our country your father having been
prominent actor IN the great drama of the Revo-
luton, and yourself, sir, having performed an
important part in all the great events which have
| its name throughout the world.
Again, | welcome you to our Hall, where
| your presence is hailed with emotions Of lively
| pleasure, as well from consideration of your
venerable character and illustrious virtues, as
from the fact, that Literature has ever found in
you devoted friend and patron.
| REPLY OF MR.. ADAMS.
| MIR. Adams was so deeply affected by the ad-
/ dress OF Miss Foster, as to be for sometime in
audible. When heard, he spoke as follows:
This, however, is the first instance in which
a lady has thus addressed me personally and |
trust that all the ladies present will be sufficient
ly ready to enter into my feelings to know, that
! am more affected by this honor than any other
| could have received.
| You have been pleased, Madam, to allude to
the character Of my father, and the history OF
my family, and their services to the country. Ii
IS indeed true, that from the beginning of the ex-
stence OF the republic as an independent nation,
my father and myself have been in the public
service Of the country, almost without Interrupt
tlon. came into the world as 4 person having
| personal responsibilities with the Declaration Of
independence, which constitutes us nation.
a n af hot L,l IL IL
the greatest blessing that can be bestowed ou
mana mother who was anxious and capable to
form her children to what they ought to be-
From that mother derived whatever instruction
religious especially, and moral-which has
pervaded long life, | will not say perfectly,
and as it ought to be; but will say because it
Is justice only TO the memory of her whom re-
we're, that if, in the course of my life, there has
been any lmperfectlons, or deviatons from what
she taught me, the fault is mine, not hers.
With such a mother, and such other relations
with the sex, of sister, wife, and daughter, il
| has been the perpetual instruction Of my life to
love and revere the female sex. And in order to
carry the sentiment Of love and reverence 10 its
| highest degree of perfection, know of nothing
that exists In the human society better adapted to
produce that result, than institutions of the char
acter have now the honor to address.
| | have been taught, as | have said, through
wv eouioC VI llic, W iOVe ana 10 revere the
female sex; but | have been taught, also-and
that lesson has perhaps impressed itself on my
mind even more strongly, it may be, than the
other-l have been fought not to hatter them.
II is not unusual in the intercourse of man with
the other sex-and especially for young men
to think, that the way to win the hearts of ladies
is by flattery. To love and to revere the sex, is
what think the duty of man but no, to f1atter
them; and this would say to the young ladies
here; and II they, and others present, will allow
me, with all the authority which nearly four
score years may have with those who have not
yetattalned one score-l would say TO them what
have no doubt they say TO themselves and are
taught here, not TO take the natlery Of men as
proof of perfection.
am now, however | fear, assuming too
much OF character that does not exactly belong
to me- | therefore conclude, by assuring you,
Madam, that your reception of me has affected
me, as you perceive, more than | can at all ex-
press in words: and that | shall offer my best
prayers, till my latest hour, to the Creator of us
all, that this institution especially, and all others
OF similar kind, designed to form the female
lt,,,,, j. Il