St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-02-17
JOHN ADAMS.
A LECTURE BY THEODORE PARKER.

The lecturer commenced as follows ::
In 1854, the general Court of this Col
ony, made a grant of land at Mount
Wollston to enlarge the Town Of Bos-
ton, and in 1886 the inhabitants of
Boston granted some of this land in
lots to individual settlers or non-rcsi-
dents, who presently formed church
and settled a minister. In l6i0 they
were organized into Il town called
Braintrce. | find 40 acres of land
granted to Henry Adams. He died in
l646, and left an estate which was
appraised at So l3s. 1t consisted
of land, barn and q house, which
contained one kitchen, one parlor, and
one chamber in the attic, wherein
dwelt the eleven persons that made
up the family. The inventory men
tions three beds, which, suppose con-
tanned them all at night. He left,
likewise, one COW, one heifer, swine,
some old books, and a single silver
spoon. He was grandfather's grand
father to the second President of the
United States. 1t was not very con-
spicuous family then, though il has
borne two Presidents, and is still
strong and nourishing, promising |
know not how great future glorics
Applause. On the other side Of the
sea, antiquaries find the family old
and baronial. Indeed, the name would
Justify larger genealogical claim,
for certainly the Adamscs ought to be
an old family and a great according
to received accounts, they arc the first
in the world. APPLAUSE.
John Adams was born the 10Th Of
October, 1885. | have not much time
to speak of Mr. Adams character, but
will briefly refer to it, dividing it for
convenience sake, into his intellectual,
moral and religious nature.
lie had great mind quick, com.
prehensivc, analytical, not easily sat,
isiied save with ultimate causes te-
nacious of its treasures, his memory
did not fail him until he became old
With the exception of Franklin, !
think of no American in the eighteenth
century who was intellectually his su,
perior for though Hancock and JEFF
terson, nay, Jay, Madison and Marsh.
all, really surpassed him in some high
qualities, yet none seems quite So
great, on the whole. His understand,
ing was ample. Though constitu,
tionally avcrse to regular, serious, and
long-continued attention, he yet easily
gathered what lay before him, and
tittingly reproduced it when occasion
required. He gathered great amount
of various knowledge, for he was q
sharp observer of human affairs. Yet
he attended but little to the world OF
matter; and save for the economical
purpose of agriculture, or for the i'm
mediate enjoyment of its beauty, he
never attended to the world of matter
about him. He had no eye for science
no taste for it, except when stimulat
ed by the presence of Franklin.
But he lacked method in his intel
lectual processes. He had not that
genius which is its own method, noi
yet the sober, systematic habit oI
work, which, though seemingly slow
is found at last SO swift and sure
He did things hclter-skeltcr." Ii
his administration as President, there
was no rule for anything. lie had ;
fair imagination above the average O
the educated men of that time, but no
equal to his understanding. Besides
he had small opportunity for cultivat
ing it in early life, or developing it i.
later.
His philosophical ard metaphysical
turn appears in all his writings. ii,
was bold in abstract speculation al
ways bottomed his work on ultimat,
principles of nature. He is often pro
found in his remarks | think no Amer
lean politician has ever uttered NOR,
profound truths than fell from the NIGH
ty mind of John Adams. He certainI,
had not mind of the highest class
If he was the first American of tha
day after franklin, he was second t
him by long interval, and he hat
sevaral competitors, not very far be
hind. He was not quite well bal
anced lie tipped this way now, thel
that.
John Adams had great moral vii
tues and great vices. Able-bodied