Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-02
John Quincy Adams.

In our Daily Herald of Saturday,we publish
ed entire an interesting biographical notice Of
this venerable deceased statesman, which APP
peared originally, some years ago in the Ma
iional Portrait Gallery. 1t is full and accurate
as to the details of his political life down TO De-
cembcr 1881, when he took his seat in the
House Representatives of the United States,
but deficient, We think, in facts and illustra-
tions as TO his personal habits and character,
which, after all are matters OF as much interest
as the incidents and tendencies of his public ca
reer, with which we are most Of US familiar -
One of the intimate friends of Mr.. Adams,
(Joseph T.. Sprague Esq. of Salem, Mass. J
having furnished to the Register, of that city,
of Thursday, Feb. cath, well written, if moi
thoroughly discriminating character Of the
deceased, we are enabled to supply to some ex.
tent by our extract from the article, the def.
cheney to which we refer.
! After warm commentator OF Mr.. AS con
due, as public man, Mr.. S. adds, in coa,inu,
alton:
As controversial writer, no man Of the age
could cope with him; and all who dared to
measure lance with him were not only un-
horsed, but slain. His habits were pure, sim,
| pie, and unostcntatious even to awkwardness.
: lie always arose before day, and, when in
health, made his own fire. lie used great ex-
erci.e, and was peculiarly fond Of bathing and
swimming. No one ever was more industri-
ous, or sacrificed less ofhis time. lie was one
of the most proiic writers olthe age. His
journal, which he kept from early lie, and
which embodies all his conversations with dis
inguishcd men of his own and other countries,
is, no doubt, the most valuable document in be-
ing, and a richer legacy 10 his children than the
ample fortune he leaves. This fortune is not
the result of 4 niggardly economy, Uor Mr..
Adams always spent more than his official IN
Gomez but of two successful speculatiOns, and
n great rise in value Of his patrimonial estates.
MIR. Adams leaves also copies ofeycry letter he
ever wrote, and amongst his yolumlnous pro-
ductions are most able Eulogics on Madison,
Monroe and Lafayettc His own Eulogy
should be pronounced before our own Logisa
ture, at its present session, by a statesman and
scholar Of as industrious life, pure patriotism
and unspo.ted private character as his own, the
President Of Harvard University.
Mr.. Adams was a devoted and true disciple
Of Jesus Christ, whose Gospel was his daily
study, and his life was illustrated by every
Christian virtue. His letters to his son and
his lecture on Faith cas-, blast on Infideiity.
and brcathcd iu.o the Christian the breath oi
he.
Mr. Adams leaves widow, to whom he
was married in Loudon, in 1897. She was the
daughter Of Col. Joshua Johnson, then Consul
at London, and the niece Of his brother, Gov.
Johnson, of Maryland a Judge of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, and sgncr of the
Declaration of Independence. Mr.. Adams
leaves also his youngest son, Charles /. who
married daughter of Hon. Peter &. Brooks,
of Boston, and who has several children and
the widow of his eldest son, John, (who is also
the niece of Mrs. Adams,) with one or two
children. He owned and occupied the mansion
house Of his father, IL Quincy.