The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-06
From the Ne,o York Euening Post.

Il q
Some time ago proposals were issued by NIessrs
Little & Brown, publishers in Boston, for the pub
lication of the Life and Works of John Adams, in
ten octave volumes. These were to include the
Essay on the Canon and Feudal Lao, the D.t fence
Of the dmfrican Constitution, the various editions
OF which have been long since exhausted, and the
DscOurses Dauila, TO all of which illustrations,
drawn from the unpublished writings Of Mr.. Ad
ans, or supplied by the editor from other sources
were 10 be added. The volumes to embrace
also Political Papers, including Controversial Pub
locations Of The Rsooution; Messages and Public Pa
perS; Diary; Pripate Letters Public Subjects from
774 to 1901; Priuote Letters from 1856 to 1926; Ori
ginal Unpublished Letters Of franklin Jefferson Jay
Isdrd, The Lees, LaWens, Gerry, Dana, and other
eminent Patriots Of The Revolution. This compre-
hensive collection furnishes materials of an au-
thcntic character for the political history Of the
country, and we happy to announce that vol
ume has already been stereotyped, and will
This is The second volume, containing the diary
of John Adams, from carly life, through all the
| struggles in Massachusetts leading to the revolu-
! ton; and also in early Congresses, with come por-
tons OF an autobiography, and notes of debates in
| the early Congresses. The constant abors of Mr.
Adams, his carly devotion to ms Country, and his
ardent support of the cause of independence, when
here abaia1sesE W manifest The work has been
edited with care and skill by his grandson, Hon
Charles Francis Adams. The present volume will
be followed by others, containing the works above
mentioned The first volume, embracing the life
of John Adams, and continuation by the editor,
will be published last
Through the kindness of the publisher, have
had an opportunity of informing ourselves of the
character and value of this contribution to the his
tory of our country and we gratefully avail our
selves of the privilege of laying some extracts
from the volume before readers in advance of
its publication.
! No part of the work, we venture to say will be
read with greater interest than the diary and
biography, which upfts the curtain which has
heretofore concealed many of the most important
scenes of the revolution We will first invite the
attention of our readers to the following passage
from the diary for l765, illustration of the
characteristic irmness of the Adams family, and
of the general cowardice Of the bar at that time:
THE STAMP ACT.
GLOW long wcare to remain in this langud con-
diton, this passive obedience TO the stamp act is
| not certain. But such pause cannot be lasting.
| Debtors grow insolcnt creditors grow angry; and
it is TO be expected that the public Offices will very
| soon be forced TO open, unless such favorable
counts should be received from England TO drive
away the fears of the great, or unless greater
dread of the multitude should drive away the fear
! of censure from Great Britain.
! cit is nay opinion that by this inactivity we dis
cover cowardice, and too much respect TO the act.
This rest appears TO be, by implication at least an
Acknowledgment of the authority of Parliament to
tax And if this authority is once acknowledged
and established, the ruin of America will become
| inevitable. This long interval Of Incidence and
/ idcncss will make large chasm in my affairs il
il should not reduce me to distress, and ncapaCi-
tate me TO answer the demands upon me. But
must endeavor, in some degree, to compensate the
disadvantage, by posting my books, reducing my
accounts into better, and by diminishing my ex-
penses-but, above all, by improving the leisure
Of this winter in diligent application to my
studies.
s'The bar seems to me to behave like n flock of
shot pigeons they to be stopped the net seems
to be thrown them, and they have scarcely
courage enough left 10 flounce and to futter. So
sudden an interruption in my is very unfor-
tunate for me. I was but just getting into my
gears, just getting under sail, and an embargo is
laid upon the ship. Thirty years OF my life arc
passed in preparation for business; have had pow
erty to struggle with, envy and jealousy and NAL
ice of enemies To encounter, friends, but few
to assist me; so that have CROPPED in dark obscu-
rity till of late, and had but Just become known and
gained small degree of reputation, when this ex-
ccrable project was set on foot for my ruin, well
as that of America in general, and OF Great Brit
ain"
POLITICIANS IN 1865.
December -, sunday.-At home with my fam
lily, thinking.
''Dccember %, Monday. ay.-went to Boston. After
dinner, rambled after Messrs. & ridley and OTIS but
could find neither. Went into Mr.. Dudlcy's, MIR.
Dana's, Mr.. Otis's office, and then To MIR. Adams,
and went with him TO the Monday night club.
There found Otis, Cushing, Wes, Pcmbcrton,
Gray, Austin, two Waldos, Inches, DIR. Parker, and
spent the evening very agrecably indeed Polti-
clans all at this club. We had many curious an
ecdotcs about governors, counscllors, representa-
tives, demagogues, merchants, &c.
"The behaviour Of these gentlemen is very fami-
liar and friendly to each other, and very polite and
complainant TO strangers. Cray has very tender
mind, is extremely timid. He says, where ne meets
a man of the other side, he talks against him;
where he meets a man of our side, he opposes him;
that he fears he shall be thought against every
body, and 80 everybody will be against him. But
he hopes TO prepare the way for his escape, at
May, from employment that neither his abil-
ites, nor circumstances, nor turn Of mind, are
fit for.
Gushing is steady, and constant, and busy in
the interest of liberty and the opposition, IL famed
for secrecy and his talent at procuring intelligence
adams tSamuell is Jealous, ardent, and keen
in the cause is always for sottncss and dclicacy,
and prudence, where they will do, but is staunch,
and stiff, and strict and rigid, ana nfexible, in
the
"Otis s fiery and fcverous; his imagination
flames, his passions blaze lac IL liable 10 great nc
qualities of temper; sometimes in dependency,
sometimes In a rage. The rashncsscs and impru-
dencies into which his Of zeal have formerly
transported him, have made him enemies, whose
malicious watch over him occasions more caution,
and more cunning, and more ncSphcabc passages
in his conduct than formerly; and, perhaps views
at the chair or the board, possibly more expand
ed views beyond the Atlantic, may mingle now
''The II Penscroso, however is discernible on
the faces of all four.
adams, believe has the most thorough un-
dcrstanding of liberty and her resources, IN the
temper and character of the pcoplc-though not in
the law and constituton-as well as the most ha-
bitual radical love of IL, OF any Of them, well as
the most correct, gentcel, and artful pen lie IL
site humanity, gcntccl crudition, obhging, cngag
ing manners, real well proiosscd picty, and
universal good character, unless II should be adj
mittcd that he j. too attentive TO the public, and
not enough TO himself and his family.
"The gentlemen were warm to have the courts |
opened Gridlcy had advised to wait for judi !
cIal opinion Of the judgcs was for sting OF
the governor that the general court might Assem- |
be at the time to which they stood prOrogucd |
and if the town should think ht, TO request the
trajudical opinion of the judges.
II was for petitioning the governor and council !
TO odetermine the question fret as supreme ordinary
Gridlcy will be absent, and so shall l. But think
the apparent mpatiencc of the town must produce |
some spirited measures, perhaps more spirited
than prudent.
Harrison Gray was the treasurer Of the province |
OF his vacation, here depicted, the editor remarks
that il terminated, as il usual in such cases, by
taking the side Of authority. Thomas Gushing |