Litchfield enquirer., 1845-05-29
A SKETCH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

close Of the year 1777 John Adams, his father, was
appointed Joint Commissioner, with Benjamin
Franklin and Arthur Lee, to the Court of Versail-
les. John Adams sailed from Boston for France in
FEBRUARY ITS, and took with him his son, John
Quincy Adams, then in his ninth year. During
their stay in France, about IS months, young Ad-
ans was kept in French school study ing the lam
guage and the classics. The diplomatic arrange
ments having been brought to fortunate close,
the father and son returned to America. They ar
rived In Boston on the LIST Of Aug. TITO. Three
months afterwards John Adams was despatched a
gain to Europe by Congress, and he took his son.
John Quincy, with him. The Frigate they sailed
in was commanded by Commodore Tucker. When
on the voyage it was pursued by British man-of-
war. AL hands were piped for action. 1t was on
this occasion that John Adams, casting aside his
diplomatic character, stationed himself with the
sailors by the side of cannon, resolved to fight to
the last rather than suffer the ship to be taken.
The American vessel escaped, and having sprung
leak they were forced to put in to port in Spain,
and from thence John Adams and his son pursued
their journey by land to Paris. From Paris they
went to Holland. Theyounger Adams was placed
in a school in Paris, afterwards in Amsterdam, and
finally in the University Of Leyden. g5
In July, 1851, Francis Dana. Gather to the poet
r. III. Dana,) who was Secretary to the Embassy
of John Adams, was commissioned as Plenipoten-
tiary to Russia, and he took with him John Quin-
cy Adams, then only IA years of age, as private
Secretary. His letters thus early, displayed mar
ked intelligence and power of observation. Here
manned in Russia till 17S2, when he left st. Peters
burg and returned alone through Sweden and Dem
mark to Holland, spending the winter on the route
and stopping sometimes in Stockholm, Copenhagen
and Hamburg. In Holland he stopped some months
and left with his father for Paris, where he was
present at the signing of the treaty of peace in
1884, and from that time till 1885 he was with his
father in England, Holland, as well as in France.
While in England he had frequent opportunities
of being present in the British Parliament, and OF
listening to the eoqnence of Burke Pitt, Fox, Sher
idan, and other British orators of that day, whose
wonderful talents adorned the British nation. In
his 18th year he returned to his native land
tered Harvard University, and graduated in 1767
with distinguished honor. He then entered the
office of Theophilus Parsons, at Newburyport.-
After completing his profession, he commemorative
practice Of law in Boston, and remained there four
years. In the summer of 1901 he wrote series of
articles which appeared in the Centinel, under the
signature of Psbiicola. containing remarks upon the
LIST part of Paine's Rights ofsMan. These pieces
were reprinted in England. In April, 1893, before
Washington had published his proclamation of Neu-
trality. or it was known he contemplated doing so,
Mr.. Adams published three articles under the sig
nature OF Marceiiss. taking strong ground that the
United States ought to assume that ground. His
| THOuO was, ONlON dHiUuS UuFSStVCSs disA 1NDEFEN'
pENcE of all entangling alliance with Foreign pow
ers' In the winter Of 1904 he published another
series of papers, vndcating thecou Of President
Washington in reference to the French Minister, &C.
net.
In 1894 he was appointed by Washington, Minis
ter to the Netherlands. This was done without
the knowledge Of his father. 1t is said that Mr.
| jefferson was one who recommended the appoint
ment. From 1894 to 1901 he was iii Europe, il
diplomatic missions to Holland, England and Prus
sia, and concluded an important treaty with III
tration he returned home, landing in Philadelphia
in September, 1901.
In 1902, he was elected from Boston member
of the Massachusetts, Senate, and soon after was
lected by the Legislature U. S. Senator from the
4th Of March, 1903. While Senator in Congress,
hesxas appointed Professor ofRhetoric and Oratory
id Eard University. His lectures were publish
ed i02 volumes. They were delivered during the
recesses Of Congress He resigned his seat in the
Senate in 1908. In 1909, Madison sent him Minis
ter to Russia. While in Russia he wrotea series Of
letters, which were published in the Port Folio.
titled s.Journal Of tour through Silesa." They
were republished in England, reviewed IN the lead
ing journals Of the day, and afterwards translated in
to French and German. a.4.
BY his fundamentally the Emperor Of Russia
| was induced to mediate for peace between Great
Britain and America. President Madison named
him at the head of the Commissioners to negotiate
treaty which brought the war Of 1912 to close
This celebrated transaction took place at Client il
4 December, 1914. His colleagues were Henry Cha,
and Albert Gallatin. Mr.. Adams was then appoin
ted Minister to England In 1917 he was callet
home by President Monroe to be in his Cabinet. a
Secretary of State. This was the close of Mr.. Ad
ANS career as a foreign Minister. 1t was perhap
| the most brilliant as it was the most varied, por
tion of his life. No Representative Of our Govern
ment has at all approached him in the length AM
variety of his services, or the importance Of thos
servicesto his country.
1 The Department ofState was held BY Mr.. Adam
during the whole Of Mr.. Monroe's Presidential life
| years. Mr.. Adams was one Of the four candidate
! for President in 1924. There was no choice in tn
Electoral College. Gen. Jackson had 90 votes, Mr.
Adams S4, VIM. H. Crawford Al, and Henry Cla,
81. The election devoved upon the House Of Rep
resentatives. They were to select from the tire
highest candidates. Although Gen. Jackson hat
4 received more electoral votes than Mr.. Adams, We
Mr.. Adams had received as large popular vote a
jackson. Thirteen States were necessary to
choice By the House. The ballots were thrown, ant
| Mr.. Adams was elected President Of the Unite,
States. He received the votes of the six New Eng
land States, with New York, Maryland, Ohio, Ken
lucky, illinois, Missouri, and Louisana-thirteel
! in all. e6s r
| Mr., Adams was President years He retire.
from ttlS w AlUuSS Az IVOHl lUT
1 hero of New Orleans. For the first time in 81
years, he retired TO private life. In 1881. he wa
elected by nearly an unanimous vote. member O
Congress, by the voters Of his native district
which post he has continued to hold and to adorn
unto this day.
We have thus briefly sketched, from an article il
the American Review, few of the promnen
points in the career Of this lustrious statesman ant
patriot. Mr.. Adams is the most wonderful man o.
the age. His career as statesman, commences
with the revolution, and has continued with but
short period Of Iepose, until now. What stores 0
knowledge he mast have garnered up in the vas
treasure-house Of his mind. He has been grea
from the beginning Of his career. Great in the pc