New-York tribune., 1867-09-19
NEV PUBLICATIONS.
/, TN, oF IosIAU QUINCY.


nors& Fields. -.
The external life of Josiah Quincy was distin
suished by singular combination OF fehatous on.
rumstances. Rarely indeed has human pe,ns ~,
surrounded with the conditions so iavor''o,o 1O-
prosperous career as the fortunate man whose
pby is recorded with such fidelity ana ei"e jno.
admirable volume His own mind was oeeply -
~.a.a ,.,th a sense of reeuliar privilege, which,
without ministcring In the slightest oee@e " e.,
Tao,natn vanity was often the subject OF gra'elui
and tender recognition. .s.o, - oona
Without uhduly prizing the aoN"n'"eoo - 80
b,r4b avery man might count cholce eiiIVi ii"
e. nave descended from such an ancestry as tna' Ci
N, Oniney. The first members OF ms paterhai sVVcA
an tbs country were men otigh character ana dlsth
rushed position among the fathers OF the nc" coiH
monwealth Their names are found IN connection
with the most responsible Offices of trust ana honor
and from the beginning they appear TO have been
bela in signal repute for ability and worth. The
father of Josiah Quincy, though dying npon the
threshold of early manhood, has left beautiful ana
fragrant memory among the early patnots OF the
Revolution Endowed with the gift OF sweet and
smpassioned eloquence, with ripe wisdom beyond
bisyears and remarkable graces of person and man
ner he exercised an influence in the pubhc ahars OF
his day inferior 10 that OF James Otis and joseph
Warren, although like those brilliant barblngefs oi
the dawn of Independence, he passed away Deioio
the cOnSuInmatlOn OF his elIOIie HI Lho SoNsD--S
of American freedom. Josiah was but little more
than three years old when his father died. Ills
mother was the fit companion for such a man. n
woman of unusual mental endowments OF pecuiiar
loveness Of disposition and great force Of character
,be was admirably adapted TO take charge of the or
phan son. who was thrown upon her sole guaIulan-
phip. The place Of father was as far as possible
supplied by her unerring good sense, her feminine
hisinterestedHess and the tender maternal aneetOh
which was the strongest instinct OF her nature
She was so scrupulously careful lest the passionate
fondness of young widow for her only son should
sverow ina huItful indulgence, that she even re-
Trained as he used to tell from the caresses ana en-
aearments which young mothers delight 10 lavish
upon their children"
To her the growing boy was indebted for the foun-
dation of the extraordinary health which he enjoyed
during the whole of his long e and for the correct
physical habits which made him such an exemplary
hiscipe'of the religion of the flesh" Her discipline
might be considered severe even at the present day
of hygienc rgor but it doubtless contributed to the
manly perfection of which her son was such con-
ypicuous model in after years. Among other apph-
snces for hardening the body, she caused hlm, when
not vet four years old to be taken from hls warm
he'd. in Winter as well as Summer and carried down
30 cellar kitchen and there dipped three times IN
tub of water cold from the pump. The effect of this
was utter indifference to wet feet usually the terror
of anxious mammas, in which he sat more than half
the time during his boyhoOd without the slightest
IN consequences.
The temperance and fortitude thus instilled into
his early years, remained with HIM till old age. AT
o time when it was the genial custom of gentle
men to import and lay down pipe of Madeira every
year" he abstained even hom the most moderate IN
dulgence.l IN wine At morning and night. ne limited
himself to the plainest meals, never exceeding
l.Y1. 4l.o4c oxlo, fn1 fxyaa
- demanded by nature. and no more. lie had antlcl-
pated the teachings of modern physiologyin arriving
at the knowledge of the importance of the skin IN
the animal economy and hence paid great and regu-
lar attention to that function long before the COS
Del of baptism was widely preached and SC geneI
ally received as now" He attached great value 10
the air bath and to careful grooming with the esn
brush and hair gloves, which last III ms lew' was
aa GOOD for Christians for cattle" As hls habits
were entirely sedentary and he never walked or rode
merely for exercise in his life, he invented system
of light gymnastics" which he practiced IN bis
fressng-room until nearly the close Of life Winter
and Summer he rose every morning at four o'clock,
although this in early hours, like every other
excess brought It's natural penalty along with II. He
was sure to drop asleep wherever he might be when
his mind was not actively employed. This was me
case even in company if the conversation were not
especially animated, ard always soon as he took
his seat in his gig in which he used TO drive himself
to town.
was good luck and the good instinct Of ls horses
that carried him safe through many years MOrseas
well known 10 successive generations Of students first as
btagecoachman and aferward as omnbus-drver, as Old
Hobson the carrier 10 those OF the English
aSdes sbSSt ts & oSSne eSped
tiOns he orse) had than nearly upset the
Quincy Adams, who addicted 70 the sane vice OF In
was visiting my father who invited him to 60 into Judge
stoys and hear his lecture 70 his law class
two friends in this particular and would insist that
was amore excellent way to take out ones allowance OF
be himself most Sssuredly always was The Judge re-
ceved the two Presidents gladly and placed them IN the
and proceeded With his lecture II was not long before
glancng his eye aside to see how his guests i'm
them sound asleep and he that the class h too
Psasng moment in his swift career Of speeeh he point
warning "GeDtemen, you see before you melancholy
laughter With which this judicial 60iter daa was re-
ceived eectualy aroused the seepersi and Is 70 be
hoped that they heard and prOed by the remainder Of
the discourse.
But it was not only for his hardy physical coAsti-
tuition that young Quincy was indebted to the admir-
able counsels and example of his mother. She was
fully imbued with the spirit of the times The death
of her husband was regarded as an offering to the
liberties Of his country. Her sorrow at his loss was
marked by q pathos and vehemence which were
sottened only by her devotionto her son. Love and
reverence for the memory of bis father were early
wrought into bis mind by her sadness and tears She
taught him to repeat passages from the poets that
were in unison with her feelings, thus blending the
impulses of affection with the images Of fancy The
remembrance Of the father was deeply stamped
on the heart of the boy,,and proved potent tails
man amidst the temptations Of youth. He passed
through his course Of education at Andover academy
and Harvard College, without stain. Graduating
st the early age Of eighteen he received the highest