The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-10-16
Thomes Jefferson and John Adams.

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Thomes Jefferson and John Adams.
There is no chapter in American history
which can be read with more unalloyed pleas
ure than that which tells us of the friendship
which marked the last years of thos, devoted
patriots. They had been rivals-the heads of
contending, excited parties. Each in his turn
had been preferred by the American people to
the other for the highest office within their Gift.
They themselves had partaken of the bitter
ness OF the conflict; so much so. that when Mr..
Jefferson was elected to the Presidential chair
IN place OF Adams. (says cotemporary.) the
latter broke over all ordinary rules of courtesy.
so far as to leave Washington suddenly, on the
evening of the third of March, because he
would not remain to witness the inauguration
OF his rival on the fourth. Yet these men, (says
the same writer,) these American patriots,
when their political campaigns were over, and
they had retired, the one to his Monticello and
the other to his MOntiZillO. and were passing
quietly down the vale of years. these former
foes turned to each other with mutual esteem
and affection, and looked upon each other as
brother patriots and fellow laborers in the
great cause OF their country's freedom and
prosperity.
While thus in their retirement walking
thoughtfully
g On the silent, solemn shore
Or that vast ocean they must sail so soon,''
the following beautiful and touching cores
pondence passed between them 1t was about
three years before their simultaneous DEATH
which occurred on the 4th of July, and the fifti-
eth anniversary of our independence.
The letter of Mr.. Jefferson was written soon
after an attack upon him by Native of Vir-
glnia," and when there was a strong cXpccta-
tiOn of a war between Russia and Turkey this
will explain some illusions in the letters
FROM MR.. JEFFERSON TO MIR. ADAMS.
MONTICELLO, June l. 1922.
at is very long, my dear sir. since have
written to you. My dislocated wrist is now be-
come so stiff that l write so slowly and with
pain and, therefore, write as little as can-
Yet it is due to mutual friendship to ask once
in while how do we do? The papers tell us
that Gen. Stark is off at the age of ninety
three. ***f*f still lives, at about the same age,
cheerful, slender as a grasshOpper, and so much
without memory that he scarcely recognizes
the members of his household. An intimate
friend called on him not long since 1t was
difficult to make him recollcct who he was and
sitting one hour he told him the same story
four times over. Is this life-with laboring
step
"To tread our former footsteps . pace the round
Eternal ?-to beat and beat
The beaten track-to see what We have
To taste the tasted-o'er paates to descant
Another yintage."
at is at most the life of cabbage, surely
not worth wish. When all our faculties have
left, or are leaving us one by one, sight, hear
ing, memory, every avenue of pleasing sensa-
tion is closed, and athumy, debility, and NAL
aise left in their places. when the friends of
youth are all gone, and generation has risen
around us whom we know not, is death an
evil?
"when one by our ties are torn,
And friends from friends is snatcled forlorn;
When man is left alone to mourn,
Oh, then, how sweet it is to die
When trembling limbs refuse thei, weight,
And films Slow gathering dim the sight;
When clouds obscure the mental light,
'Tis natures kndest boon to die %
II really think SO. l have ever dreaded a
doating age ; and my health has been general
ly so good that dread it still. The rapid de-
cline of my strength during the last winter has
made me hope sometimes that see land Du-
ring summer l enjoy its temperature but l
shudder at the approach of winter, and wish l
could sleep through it with the dormouse, and
only wake with him in the spring. if ever
They say that Stark could walk about his
room. l am told you walk we'll and firmly. I
can only reach my garden, and that with scnsi-
BILE fatigue. ride, however, daily ; but read
ing is my delight. should wish never to put
pen to paper and the more because of the
treacbcrous practice some people have of pub
field declared it a breach of trust and nnnisha.
hia hu la'r thnl IL sho',,d i,a a"u Pn,an
leiohy ye' you Miil nave seen that they nave
drawn me out in the arena of newspapers. AL
though know 1t Is too late for me to buckle on
the armor Of my youth, yet my Indignation
would not permit me passively to receive the
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