Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-02
6eralo Of tl)e Gimcs
RHODE ISL AND Err;
NEWPORT.
Death of John Quincy Adams,


We learn from the Philadelphia papers, that
John Quincy Adams, died on Wednesday eve
ming, at about 7 o'clock lie lived much lon
ger than was anticipated when he was first ia
ken. But he has at last gone. He died in
the service of his country, with the harness
buckled on-in the Capitol itscli-for he was
not removed from the Speakers room until af-
ter he breathed his last.
We have thought that it would be Il source
of melancholy qualification to many of our rca-
ders to possess themselves at this moment ofa
brief though accurate record 0fthc leading inci-
dents in the long and eventful htc oi Nir. Ad-
ans, just closed in a manner sorcmarkable and
impressive. We have therefore transferred 10
our columns the biographical sketch published
several years ago, in the National Portrait Gal
lery.
JOHN QuIScY ADAMS was born in Brain
tree in Massachusetts, in that part Of the town
since incorporated by the name of Quincy. on
Saturday, July IL, 1867, and was baptlscd the
next day in the Congregational Church of the
frs, parish of Braintree. Iew named John
Quincy, in consequence Of the Interesting cir
cumstancc that his maternal grandfather
Of that name, who was the owner of Mount
Wollas,on, and leading civil and military
character of his time, i'll honor Of whom the
town Of Quincy received lis name, was actual
ly diving AT the hour of his birth. In the cleN-
cnth year of his age he accompanied his father
to France, who was sent by Congress, rs Jolnt
commissioners, with Benjamin Franklin and
I a. - tl,.,.
sailed from Boston in February, l77s. aud ar
rived at Bordeaux early in April While in
France he was put TO school and instructed in
the language of the country as well as IN Lat
in. After about eighteen months they return
ed to America in the French trgate In Sens'-
bic, in company with the Cheyaer de La Lu-
zernc, who came out rs Minister of France to
the United States. They arrived III Boston on
the first of August, l710
In November ofthe same year his father was
again despatched to Europe, for the discharge
of the diplomatic services which he rendered to
the cause of America with such memorable
ability and success. lie took his son out with
him. Ii seemed to be the determination of that
great patriot. not only to do and TO dare every
thing himself for his struggling country, but
TO keep his son continually at his side 50 that,
by sharing his perils and his tolls, he might be-
come embucd with his own exalted enthusiasm
in the cause of liberty, and be prepared to pro-
mote and vindicate it with all the energies of
genius and all the sensbty of his soul.
While the young Adams was receiving the
impressions made upon him by a participation
in the patriotic adventures and cXertlons OF hls
father, and lmbbing the wisdom and intrepid
energy of spirit for which the latter was so dis
tinguished, the same effect was heightened and
deepened by the nculcations and exhortations
to every public and private virtue contained i'll
the letters of his mother.
The opportunities and privileges Of an edu-
cation under such auspices were not thrown
away upon him, as the incidents of his subse-
quent career most amply prove.
In going to Europe this second time, he en-
barked with his father at Boston, in the same
French frigate, La Sensible, bound to l,rest :;
but as the ship sprung leak in gale of wind,
it was necessary to make the first port they
could, which was Ferol in Spain. They tray-
elled from that place TO Paris by land, and ar
rived there in January, 1870. The son was
Immediately put to school In July of that
wear Mr. Adams removed to Holland. There
his son was first placed in the pubcc city school
at Amsterdam. and aiterward in the Universe
tyat Leyden. In July, 1871, Mr.. Francis Dane,
who had accompanied John Adams as secretary
Of the embassy with which he was charged,
received the commission of Minister Plenlp0-
tentiary to the Empress of Russia, and took
John Quincy Adams, then fourteen years of
age, with him as his private secretary. Here
the young Adams remained until October, IL
80, when he left Mr.. Dane at 81. Petersburg
and returned through Sweden, Denmark,
Hamburg and Bremen, to Holland. Upon this
Journey he employed the whole winter, passing
considerable time, by the way, in Stockholm,
Copenhagen and Hamburg. lie reached the
Hague in April, 1888, and continued several
months in Holland, until his father took him to
Paris, where he was at the signing ofthc treaty
ofpeace, which took place in September Of
that year, and from that time TO May, 1885, he
was for the most part with his father in Eng
land, Holland and France.
At his own solicitations his father permitted
him, when eighteen years of age, To return TO
his native country. Soon after reaching Amer
lea he entered Harvard University, at an adyan-
ced standing, and graduated with distinguished
honor as bachelor of arts in 1881 lie then
entered the office of the celebrated Theophilus
Parsons, at Ncwburyport, ailcrward Chief JUS
tice of Massachusetts and after the usual term
Of three years passed IN the study Ot the law
he entered the profession and established HIM
self in Boston.
lie remained in that situation four years, oc-
cupyIng himself industriously in his Office, ex-
tending his acquaintance with the great prlnci-
pies of law, aud also taking part in the public
questions which then occupied the attention of
his counirymcn. In the Summer of 1871 h.
published a series of papers IN the. Boston Sen.
iincl, under the signature of Publicola, contain
ing remarks upon the first part of Paine's
Rights of Man They suggested doubts IN
reference Ia The favorable issue of the French
Revolution, At rms when most other mon