The New York herald., 1873-11-23
LIT Il r A r u r z i.
JOHN ADAMs.'

Quincy Adams, and completed by his grandson,
Charles Francis Adams has been revised ana
corrected aud is now published In one volnmc by
J. b. hppincott 4 Co. In its present shape H. IL
practically new work, and 1t WIN find many read
ers not among those Who are desire Us OF form
ing correct notions oi tue men and motives oi the
Revolution, oui w.th tGGsr also VINO are curious to
see now the han oi affection has painted tie first
OF a great family 81 ali american families none Is
as thoroughly typical and represen tatlve OF the
Republic as the Adams family. Descended from
the old Puritan STOCK poor bu, respectable, taught
In all the ealnioc OF New England OF the last Gen.
fury, ana trained especially for theological nro-
yersy, Mr.. Adams was slow In making the
determination to pursue the law instead Of
divinity. This is muca to be wOn-
dered at when it Is rcmemb red that pre-
vious to the Revolution the divine was
held in the highest esteem, while the LAWYER re-
ceived neither countcnance nor favor. Under the
circumstances 1t would have been only natural
that a man OF John Adams cast and character OF
should nave pre- erred the pulpit 20 the forum,
and, in tact, the country would nave lost his vaua-
Bile services before, during ana after the Revolu-
ton, had it not been for the harsh and cruel dog
mas Oh Cavinism 1t was only through the doc
trine OF preJcsfination that joan Adams was fore
ordained to become au American patriot and
statesman. But the religious element was very
strong one in his character, and through his whole
lie it mellowed MS craftsmanship. even when 1t
failed to modify his politics. Indeed, 1t was
through this element that he became the erudte
lawyer that he was, lOr in province Ike Massa-
chusetts there were few or no inducements toward
the acquisition OF iegai learning. Mr.. Adams
found tnat mental occupation the study OF the
abstruse principles OF the law which ne would
otherwise have soughtn the controversial books
nf I w. 10
from the beginning OF his pubic life his station was
such that 1t required him to be great constitu-
tlonal and International lawyer, and his studies
had exactly fitted hlm Tor his career
Mr.. Adams public lie may b. said To have begun
with his services IN the Congress at Philadelphia in
1874. He was also member oil the Continental
Congress Of the next year, and assisted in pro.
noting ana framing the Declaration Of lndepend-
ence. Toward the c ose OF l777 he was appointed
commissioner TO France and. except at intervals,
continued ais country abroad till after the
the close or the war. While Mr. Adams was in the
Continental Conaress he spoke often, besides con-
tributing frequently to the public press. Abroad
his labors we're incessant, and his services we're
always pure and unsellish. AS often happens in
trOublous times, he did not escape the tongue OF
malice, SANDER and jea 0uSy. Even When the Con-
gress was delberatns on the measures which led
to the Declaration OF Independence and the separa-
tion from Great Britain the publication OF two OF
his private letters, which lel into the hands OF Gem
eral Cage at Boston, exposed him to both the
ridicue and haired OF his compecrs. lie
was denounced favoring independence,
while Jonathan Dickinson and others still
clung to the hope Ol accommodation. In France
his efforts we're parayzeu 10 some extent
count Of the distrust manifested toward him by
vergennes, the French Minister Of Foreign Al
fairs, aud his success, especially in negotiating the
Dutch loan, was accom- pushed in spite OF this un-
friendly feeling. In 1855 Mr. Adams was sent as
Minister to England, where he remained until 1888.
Upon the adoption ol the federal constitution,
wnen Washington became President, MIR. Adams
was chosen Wee President, ami. at the close OF the
first Presidents second term, nc was elected az
Washngton's successor. During their service in
the Continental Congress Adams and Jefferson
were united in their political opinions but while
the former was President OF the Senate ne sup
ported the organic measures of Washington's ad-
mlnisr ration, frequently by ms casting vote, and
he especially differed with Jefferson IN favoring
American neutrality during the French Revolu-
tionary period. These differences made Adams the
leader Of the federal party, previously championed
by Hamilton, and gave Jefferson his great political
prominence as the founder or the organization
which has SO long existed under the name OF the
democracy. SO bitter did this rivalry become that
there were doubts, affected doubts In the public
mind as to whether Adams would yield up the
Chief Magistracy at the expiration OF his Presi-
dental term. Mr. Adams left Washington IN q
"huii'' several hours before Jencrsons inaugura-
ton. lie lived in retirement at quincy the rest OF
his lie, dying on tne 4th Of July 1926, within few
hours OF the death OF Thomas Jefferson. His last
words, Jefferson still survives" show how deep
were the feelings with which he regarded the rival
statesman.
Only a small part OF this work is from the pen OF
Jonn quincy Adams. For the bulk OF 1t the country
is Indebted TO the present representative OF the
family, Charles Francis Adams. In style it is
strong and vigorous without being either ornate
or captivating. John Adams himself generally
united in his writings both force and strength, but
he was too apt to display learning anl philosophy
that were painfully sophomore The same quail
ties appear in The writings OF his son and OF his
grandson. John Quincy Adams parades feeble
letter written by Jonn Adams TO his friend and
kinsman, Nathan Webb, while he was yet under
twenty. as characteristic OF the head and heart
Of Its writer" and contnues:-"Had the political
part Of 1t been written oy the Minister OF State OF
a European monarchy at the close OF long life
spent In the government OF nations, 1t would have
been pronounced worthy o the united penetration
OF a Burleigh Suiy, or an Uxens'iern. Had the
Ministers who guided the destlnies OF Great
Britain, had chatham nltnsell Deen glited Win tne
ntuitive foresight OF distant iuturity winch marks
the composition OF this letter. Chatham would have
foreseen that his conquest or canada in the nelds
or Germany was after all but a shallow policy, aud
that divided colonies and the turoulent Gallics
were the only electua guardians OF tile British
Emnire in Amerlcan Whlle we cannot agree
with praise so partial we eau warmly endorse the
sentence which follows :"lt was the letter o. an
original, medtative mind; mind as yet aided only
BY the acquisitions then attaiuable at Harvard
College, but formed by nature Tor craftsmanship of
the highest order.n The letters OF John Adams are
however, the most interesting things In the work.
and give US an insight into the man and the times
not other wise attainable. II the present volume
extremely valuable in the shape in which It is now
presented was issued for the first time, most