The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-17
PROPOSALS. BY LITTLE Il BROWN
FOR PUBLISHING BY SUBSCRIPTION
THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ADAMS


THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ADAMS,
Second President Of the United States.
EDITED BY HIS GRANDSON, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
THE public will be glad to learn that the publica-
ton OF the works of JoHN ADAMS, 50 long de-
layed, Will now be commenced ade
ouate subscription shall have been obtained. 1t is
intended to embrace in the proposed collection the
works Of Mr.. Adams Government, already pub
ilshed but now out OF print, and selection from
most voluminous mass of manuscripts which have
never seen the light.
The collection is to be made and edited by the
Hon. Charles Francis Adams, the depository of all
the manuscripts well of John Adams as of his
father the late John Quincy Adams and is intended
as the hrst OF two great publications, Calculating
the history of the rise and progress of these United
States, from the year l76, in which the revolution
airy struggle first began, down to the year lS4S
when the younger Adams died.
The materials for the first of the two works are
much more ample than has generally been sup
posed. John Adams, during nearly all his life,
scrupulously preserved his papers, and among
them are found many of a curious and singularly
interesting character. Probably the most remark
able at least In the eyes Of the world will prove to
be Diary, commenced by him early as 1855,
portion of his public career. This Diary will be
found to contain great amount of valuable matter
connected with the early movements Of the Revolu-
ton in Massachusetts, and to throw good deal of
new light upon the proceedings of the great Con
crosses of 74 l775, and l776, at Philadelphia, in
which the writer conspicuous actor. There
are also notes of the debates during portion of that
period, which, in the dearth Of all knowledge of
them will be highly valuable to posterity.
1t is well known that an intention was long en-
tertained by the younger MIR. Adams to write a
memoir of his father. This, although not entirely
executed, was commenced. A most interesting
fragment remains in perfect state, and will be
prehxed to the present publication. The unexe-
cuted portion will be carried by the editor aided
by the discovery OF an photographed fragment
OF John Adams himself, which will be woven into
the body of his work
The great difficulty will be in the abundance of
the materials TO be gathered out of correspondence
carried on for half century, well out of un
published treatses OF various kinds, rather to bring
them all within reasonable limits for purchasers,
than come short of what will interest the students
OF the national history
It'll proposed TO issue the work in ten octave vol
umes. These will include the Essay on the Canon
and Feudal Laws, the Defence of the American
Constitution, the various editions of which have
been long since exhausted, and the Discourses on
Davila; TO all of which illustrations, drawn from
the unpublished writings of Mr.. Adams, or sup
piled by the editor from other sources, will be
added
Such selections will be made from the Diary and
from the private papers, may be considered most
likely to promote a better acquaintance with the
times IN which MIR. Adams lived and acted than is
yet possessed after all the valuable contribu-
tons which have already been furnished from
other quarters. On the whole, the publishers con-
hdently believe that there is work relating to
the revolutionary history of the United States and
indeed of the times in which Mr.. Adams lived, that
surpasses in historical and political value the vol
umes now offered to the patronage of the Ameri- |
can people. And they strongly hope that they |
shall find themselves well sustained in this great
enterprise as to be encouraged TO go and perfect
the other and latter part Of it, the Life and Works
of the no less distinguished son, John Quincy !
Adams.
The works will be brought out from time to time !
commencing during the autumn OF lS49 and com
pleted within reasonable period, consistently
with proper attention tn tho high character de |
signed TO be given TO them, and In the following
order:
|. Works upon Government.
= Political papers, including Controversial Pub /
locations OF the Revolution.
8 Messages and Public Papers.
4. Diary.
.. Private Letters Public Subjects, I774 to
1901.
8. Private Letters from 1856 TO 1926
T. Life, by John Quincy Adams, continued by /
the editor.
;. Original unpublished Letter, Of Franklin
Jay, Jefferson, the Lees, Laurens, Gerry |
Dana, lard, and other eminent patriots Of
the Revolution.
The work will be beautifully printed in ten vol |
umes, IN the octave form, each volume containing |
from 900 TO 600 pages, and put up in cloth, at the
price Of 50 rs volume.
limited number Of copies will be struck off on |
argepaper, and put up in the same style Of bind
ing, price SO a volume.
Subscriptions and orders are respectfully solicit.
ed by the propnetors.
LITTLE BROWN,
Aug 29-3tawtf ll2 Washington st., Boston.