Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-27

told ba. ~ IL vac. shougssh he boa'sea that they
nocked TO his STANDARD. none cOmbined To lo'D
him from . longing for AL improved cgLdilion or
even from III will to their masters.
The extract we introduce below ~ the best anal
ysis of the character OF John Adams thalws have
over seen ;--of = man who ives the very incarnn.
ton Of tho revolutionary ideas Of the North; the
soul and spirit Of resistance 10 British tyranny.
Possessing many excellencies. his otherwise lofty
character was blurred by some striking defects
whilst he has been more generally misunderstood
hy his countrymen than any other prominent
statesman of his day. II he bad done nothing
else to win the confidence and respect Of his coun.
trymcn, tho wise forecaste he manifesied in moy-
ing the appointment of Washington to the Office
oil commander. in. chief, and tho zeal with which
ho PRESSED his nomination. should have secured
him these. We have space Tor but q small portion
Of Mr.. Bancroft's delineation:
His nature was robust and manly; now he was
in the happicst mood 1T mind for asserting tho
Independence Of his country. lie had confidence
in the ability Of New England to drive away tho
enemy in Washington. ms u brave and prudent
commander in his vile, who cheered him with
the forttude Of womanly heroism; in tie cause
ii his country. which seemed 50 bound up with
the welfare OF mankind, that Providence could
not suffer its defeat in himself, for his conyic-
tions were clear his will fixed, and his mind pre-
pared tn let his little property and his life go,
than the rights OF his country.
Looking into himself he saw weaknesses
enough but neither meanness, nor dishonesty,
nor umIdity. His oyerweening sell. esterm was
his chief bemisL; and il he pared himself with
1 nj fpt Inv luln wa mn nj
which he was superior to any one Of them; lie
had more learning than Washington. or any Ame-
rlcan statesman OF his age; better knowledge OF
nLerty rs founded in law than Samuel Adams;
clearer insight into tho constructive elements OF
Z ,vcrnnent than Franklin; more power in debate
than Jefferson more courageous manliness than
Dickinson; more forco in motion thnn Jay 30
that, by VARYING and contning his comparisons,
he could easily lancy himself the greatest of them
all. lie was capable Of thinking himself the CEN
tra OF any circle, OF which he had been more
taan tangent; his vanity was in such excess
HAT in manhood it sometimes confused his judg-
ment and n nge bewildered his memory but the
SIAM did not reach beyond the surface; 1t lnpai-
red tho lustre. not tho hardy integrity Of his chm
ractcr. lie was humane and frank, genrrp aud
81 'mcnt; yet no wanted TINT snrit Of love which
rct.Dncil's TO being outdune. He could not look
with compiacen'y on those who excelled him. and
regarded another bearing away the pnm us
wong t. himself; ho never Sat pncidly under
the -baio al II greater population than his own,
aud could try to jostle aside the prcsnmpruous
i.lssessur Of recognized superiority but his en-
". though it laid opon how deeply his love
WAS wounded, had hardly tnge of ,naigmty,
AID never led him to dercllctions for Tx sake oi
revenge. lie did his fame in u-lics when later
n lir, lie represented himself as suffering rom
pr1eecuiions on account OF his early zeal for in,
dependence; hn was no wcakling to whine ahnut
injured feelings he went to his task, bright aud
turrry. and brave he was tho hammer aud not
ihe anvil and it was for o,hors to fear his PROV.
es< aud shrink uGder his blows. His courage
WAS uunchinG in debate aud everywhere else
h. never knew what fear is and had he g ne IN
IL the army IA he longrd to do, he wonid have
taken there the virtues ot temperance decision.
and intrerdty. To his latest old age his spirit
was robust, huoyant. and Joyous; he saw ten
/ mes az much pleasure pam in the world and
alter his arm quiverod ami his eye grew dim, he
MS ready to begin Ike anew and fsht it~ hattie
ever again.
The h volume under notice. concludes with
Tho adoption Of ito Declaration of lnIcpend-
nnce.
lIlsroRY OF THE LIFE AND TINES of JAMES M,pl-
ron. By WILLIAM G. RvEs. Volume |. Bos-
ton Llttle. Brown X Co. 1859.
We arc under obligations to the publishers for
i copy of this work also, gotten up in the same
excellent style rs the others. 1t is n valuable
contribution to the historic literature of the coun-
Try; aud ns the author in his preface observes,
belongs more. perhaps. to the department Of
History than of Biography. tho.ssi partaking of
30 character "a notn. From the nature Of Mr..
Naasons career, it was impo ,sible to isolate him
I'm tie public events Of tho times in whrh he
we'd and acted and a copious development #
esntcmpornry transactions hns been of,cn fnn,l
tn'ispcnsahle to display. in it's proper ljght. the
! art he bore in these transactions" Nhl>t it
lts been universally conceded that Mr.. Madison
j. '@csscd commanding talents, and bore n promi.
"rot part IN tho great public events comprised
within the limits If his long political career; we
1u'nk TINT tho reader will rise from the perusa of
MS volume, with his idea Of the abilities of Mr.
N,lison hcightencd and with a more earucs.
conviction of the Importance Of the great drama
throughout which the distinguished statesman
I"1c himself 81 conspicuousy 1t is an elegant
an scholarly production; the tribute Of n Twin.
T. deceased statesman, and we sincerely trust
Il It our almost neghbor MIR. Rives, will live to
complete the great work he has undertaken.
An Interesting Case.
The following letter will be read with very great
luttrCst by those nprs ns who ara sufferipr fran,