Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-22
Biographical.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
BY JAMES PARTON.

fit were possible to make a man great
aud wise by giving the best advantages OF
education and training, then John Quincy
Adams would have been one of the great
est and wi>est of human beings. Few per
sons have ever enjoyed early advantages SO
numerous and desirous as his His mother,
one Of the few intellectual women Of her
time, would have been distinguished for
her talents and worth at any time. HIS
father position gave him opportunities
for study, reading, travel, and intercourse
with the best minds of both continents, such
as no other young American has ever bad.
Moreover, he was in the public service, IN
various capacities, from his fifteenth year,
with occasional intervals, until his eighty
first, period Of sixty SIX years.
He was born in 1867, at BraIntree, II
Massachusetts, and at eleven years of age
accompanied his father to France, in the
American frigate Boston. The voyage was
as beneficial to the boy as 1t was interest
ing
my son" records the envoy, in his
diary, is treated very complaisantly by DR..
Noel, and by a captain and lieutenant of ar
tillery who are board-all French gentle
men. They are very assiduous in teaching
him French And again: l set les
son 20 my son in the French grammar, and
asked the favor of Dr. Noel to show him
the precise critical pronunciation of all the
French words; sylables and letters, which
the Doctor very politely did, and Mr.. John
is getting his lessons accordingly, very much
pleased.
The frigate had many adventures and mar
row escapes. 1t gave chase to ships Of the
enemy, made some valuable prizes, and
encountered most violent storms. In the
midst Of one fearful gale, flash Of light
ming prostrated three Of the crew, and in
iured twenty more, besides splitting the
maiu t0pmast
Il thought myself in the way of my du-
ty, wrote the robust and valiant ambassa-
dor, and did not repent of my voyage.
confess l often regretted that | had brought
my SON was not so clear that 1t was my
duty to expose him as myself; but | had
been led to it by the child inclination, and
by the advice Of all my friends. Mr.. John.
ny behavior gave me satisfaction that
cannot express; fully sensible of our dan
ger, be was constantly endeavoring to bear
1t with manly patience: very attentive to
me, and hls thoughts constantly running in
a serious strain.
On arriving in Paris, 81 AIr. JOHNNY was
placed by his father in a French boarding
schoo., with several other American boys,
the sons and nephews Of American resi-
dents in the service of Congress. Every
Sunday all these boys we're invited by Doc
tor franklin to dinner, which was attended
also By all the principal Americans then in
Paris The boy, as boys usually do, learn
ed the language of this foreign couutry
much more rapidly than his father, SO that
when they returned home after year 5 res
idenee, the lad became himselfa teacher of
English to the French gentleman on board
the ship. There is one other passage Of
Mr. Adams's diary which exhibits to US a
pleasant scene in the cabin of the return
ing ship.
''The Chevalier de la Luzerne and ~
Marbois are in raptures with my son. They
get him to teach them the (Euglish) Ian
guage, / found this morning the ambassa-
dor Seated Oh the cushion in our state-room.