New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-13
NEV PUBLICATIONS.
op JOHN ADAMS.

or THE uN,1 IN Islusra BY his Grand. n,
O~.'..: ff s1.ss H Co
30 A;"~,.uby of President John Adams, al
80 - a the first volume Of the edition OF
-. 1su.cted works, is actually the last in the date
- ,ublcstiou and has accordingly been partly an
e;pa.ed by the singary interesting Autobiography
-, details in his copious journals aud correspond
ecee. The personal "reminiscences which form, to
a great extent, the peculiar charm Of biography
.re therefore wanting in this volume, and the
Utter has mainly confined himself to an exhibition
s al. poltical career Of the illustrious subject OF
a. work. A succinct account of his youth and
.lncation is taken from the fragmentof abography
lsf, nv the late John Quincy Adams, in which the
narrative is brought down to the time OF the Boston
Massacre. March 5, ITO, which date may be re-
..rdeA AZ the commencement of his public services.
The principal portion of the volume Is from the
nen of the editor, Charles Francis Adams, VINO mas
evidently brought to the performance OF MS TASK an
active and observant mind, a conscientious hdelity,
m impartial diligence in the investigation OF author
es and the habit of consderate and exact compost
Son. His style is uniformly elaborate for popular
eject. appealing rather to the good sense of rehec
tive readers than to the taste OF those who are IN
search of intellectual entertainment. The views
which he presents of the policy OF the European
Governments during the Revolution, and OF the
subsequent administration Of Mr.. Adams, the author
yroposes 10 rest on evidence which has been brought
to light since the preparation Of the original frag-
pent by John Quincy Adams, and to derive from
them new impression of many of the events OF
The last century and of their causes. The historical
student will in these find an important subject OF
examination. In the present article we can only
exhibit rapid summary of the statements OF the
author, without attempting critical discussion
of their evidence and validity.
JOHN ADAMS was descendant Of one Of the
original settlers of the Massachusetts, Colony. He
was born at Brantree, October 49, 1875, and after
graduating at Harvard College at the commence
xncnt Of 1755, became the teacher OF the Grammar
School in the town of Worcester. Until then, his
experience of the world had been limited to the
walls of Harvard College, and the paternal mansion
h small rural village of New-Eng.and. His new
situation brought him into intercsuse with the prin
sipal inhabitants of the place. and called attention
to the peculiar qualities of his mind and character,
among bis associates. But the occupation ofteacher
WAS not suited to his disposition. 1t gave him but
scanty emoluments, and was irksome to his inquis.
tive and energetic temperament But it did MT
suppress his native activity. His letters, written
during this period, are marked by great liveliness
and sagacity and are now fondy reverted to by his
friends as anticpations of his future greatness. In
August, l756, he commenced the study of law in
A. & " Dufua O hor If har in
Worcester, but still retaining the charge of his
school. He had previously thought of devOting
himself to the profession of theology, but was led
70 relinquish the purpose by his dissent from the
prevailing religious opinions of the day. His feel
ngs on this subject are described in strong language
h the biographical sketch by John Quincy Adams.
His disgust at the doctrines of Cavinism," says
John Quincy Adams, twas perhaps riveted by the
"opinions which he found disseminated in the social
- circles into which he had been introduced. The
Calvnistic doctrines of election, reprObatiOn, and
tho atonement, are so repulsive to human reason
"that they can never obtain the assent Of the mind,
shut through the medium Of the passiOns-and the
"master passion of orthodoxy is fear. Calvinism
has no other agent The terrors OF eternal damna-
"tion are the only propagators of the faith; and
"when they prove neficacious, the Calvinist kin
sdes the fagot on earth to their aid. The bigoted
" and gloomy doctrines of Cavinism, though deeply
rooted in the thrtynine articles of the Church of
sEngand, had been gradually eradicated from the
(" actual creed of her hierarchy. They still bur-
" rOwed, however, in most of the dissenting
"ehurches Of New-E England, and it was their dom-
sneerng and persecuting spirit which drove John
~Adams from the profession of divinity to that Of
CLAW" In October, 1853, Mr.. Adams completed
his law studies under the direction Of Mr.. Putnam,
closed his school SWorcester, and was admitted to
eAe bar. From that time, he resided at his fathers
house in Brantree until his marriage in 1854.
From the period of the Stamp Act may be dated
Mr.. Adams's entrance upon the theater of politics.
He took an active part in the proceedings of his
towsmen against the measures of the British Per-
which resulted in scenes of violence. At this time
he was chosen by the town of Boston, one of the
counsel, to sustain their memorial to the Governor
against the closing of the courts Of justice. His
colleagues were Jeremiah Gridley and James Otis
He accepted the appointment with ssarity, and
determined to exert bis utmost power in behalf of
his clients. The cause was heard December a.
l765. His argument on this occasion, though not
successful, was favorable to his reputation. His
Business rapidly increased and in the Spring Of
l76S he removed his residence from Braintree to
Boston. During this period, Mr. Adams, although
sherishng warm devotion to the cause of free
dom, was deeply imbued with conservative prin.
;,.t,