New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-24
NEW PUBLICATICJN
,,pNo1ps OF yoHN QUT,cy ADAMS.

J.. B. IN
rba nresent insufficient of Mr. Adams's personal
,ourna covers ore of the most interesting periods IN
the history of The United States, commencing about
three wears previous TO Mr. Madisons war, and
reaching 70 the negotiations for peace in 1874 III
not only contains an ample record of the leading po
Itical events of that day. but furnishes curious
and instructive illustration of the private character
and intellectual habits of the writer. Mr. Adams
was in many respects. what is vaguely enough
called a self-made His early education was
desultory subject to frequent interruptions i'o'i
change of place. and affOrding no reinarkapie au'"
tapes for the DEVELOPMENT and cultivation oil smen
tai powers But while yet boy he formed inc ho -
study and acquired taste for books which lhcieSeu
with his advancing years His whole subsequent
life uas devotfd TO the work of selt-lmproNeheh''
He cherished lofty sense OF duty, whlch Iorodue
him 70 assume any responsibility without cOhsuh-
,nate prenaration At the same time. he entertained
a modest opinion of hls own capacity ana attaih-
ments and never presumed upon any fancied supe
riority 70 avoid the efforts which are the CONDITIONS
ofexceilepce. There was something almost wonder
fnl in his industry. He was never daunted ny lne
prospect of labor In the discharge of his many
49, no was intent only on their faithful perform
ance never seeking an opportunity to evade thelr
demands Not moment of time was wasted
IN idle or frivolous pursuits and even MS
hours Of recreation were MADE suoseINleh'
TO his purposes of improvement. lie accom-
plished a vast amount Of reading, devotlng himself
TO the perusal of standard works in various IAN
euages and arranging his manifold acquisitions jill
harmonious system. The record of his studies almost
reminds one of the diligence of GibbOn If he dad not
pretend to rival the great historian III the extent OF
his cndition. Like him. he " hived up wisdom with
each studious year." although more intent on the
practical good of life than on the indulgence OF
literary speculations.
LIS journal on shipboarl during the long voyage
TO Russia in the Summer of 1909 abounds with proof
of his devotion to study even under the most unfa-
vorable circumstances. Thus the eighth day out he
records: Head winds and fogs continually rising
and dispensing read over again Plutarchs Life OF
Lycurgus and made some minutes from IT, In
the afternoon also read two sermons OF MasSlon-
on the forgiveness of injuries and the love of God
This record is accompanied with several apt crit-
cisms on Massillon, showing the alertneSs aud vigil
lance with which he read in spite of rolling waves
and tickle deck The next day he writes: 81 made
minutes ON the two sermons of MaSsillOn which read
Yesterday: and on PlutaTchs life of Lycurgus read
also his life of Scion. Yet II seems TO me
that do not employ my time to the best advantage.
My Thermometer is an amusement-a celestial globe
would also be agreeable companion-and Lace
peGe's Natural History of Fishes PinkertOns Geo
graphy. aud MAYORS little collection of Voyages an
I
several weeks varied with Paley's Horp Pauline,
and with constant comments and critical sugges-
tIOns.
After a voyage of seventy-fiye days from Boston,
lIr Adams arrived at St. Petersburg, to which
court he was accredited as Minister PenipOtentiary
from the United States. The journal kept at 81.
Petersburg presents minute record of the daily in
rdents of his diplomatic and his private life, with
frequent descriptions of Russian society, which at
that time was u greater novelty to American visitors
than il is. One OF the most interesting sketches
is account of a Russian funeral, as follows:
MIR Martin Glukof the elder, the Russian merchant
They we're by CARDS nom his sous. Martin ana Alex
auder Glukof ana contained also an lnvitatlon to
Consult, who considers unhecomibg to 40 into Rus
sIan merchants mouse, Glssudded iron Attending
this funeral and told tha as 10 the dinner II was
not usually expected that the persons invited
s,Hs were inyiied, aud Preparations made for
HARMS to Russian merchants ANA intending
to return cynty OF ATTENDANCE for the cylty OF
invitation, concluded To attend the funeral, but TO de
cline tAs dinner: which l regret. IL appears
tacre ample preparation made Tor ali tue COMPANY
invited as perceived that Mt GuSOh the son was
declining tue invitation 10 dinner which lie
personally repeated 10 me at the monastery.
Al nine IN the morning we went TO tne mouse ana
introduced 10 a Large hall, winch Wis dhrkened
hung euurely round with black cloth. Here the
corpse % the deceased lying IN STATE GU bed, IN
IoScoyrr' and Was fixed over the lower or cradle
part wuen the procession moved. AT the top aud
bottom and on the Two stles OF the collin were large
Grape. having them wax tapeIs OF proportion
able size AbOuwO feet distant AT Tie foot OK the coma
$1,000 papa OF priest WIN sauu before hlH on which
boon, chanting low, solemn anu plantive
tone IA tie Russian language, something winch could
moi UNDERSTAND. On one sue OF the hal sat row OF
perhaps twenty women al mourning allure On the other
ot higher rank thau the onslatg pope two of whom
wore the decoration OF the red nbbOu. There were also
empty chairs, IN one oil which seated myself
by Mr. GuKOf's invitation. The hall was nearly iu
OF other company standing. The priest continued
his low chant neariy ball an hour 1neh appeared the
Metropolitan, look his stand at the same spot ana
hold OF them kissed his hand ol receiving
from ann Iney then ranged themselves round the
any and tue metropolitan made what look 10 De
snort prayer TINS concluded tue ceremonies at tue
house. The upper then Fixed over the cORl.
Aftcr the and daughters hdd gone NJ aud kissed
cheek VI the deceased aud the dOmeScs his hand
The company afterwards. Tue corpse was followed by
the men oil the family and some OF the priests with
rIaaes aud the procession went from the Vastly
Osirof the Udge, aud through the great Per
specuVe, 10 the Monastery VI -. Alexander Ne~skf
Here M the small chapel the entrance, found
tue corpse again lana In state, and ceIcmOhy com
tneuced which lasted nearly two hours. The MetrOpO-
au AL the priests, cnor OF Singers Oficiated at
ths which presume was'the celebration OF solemn
mass. of tnis a carpet was laid and two
benches cushions placed Oh II, back OF the
head OF cJihn. Tue metropolitan AMI
another of the titled priests came aud sat down
the benches Ide metropolitan aeaih distributed
lighted tapes each of them, ana they kissed his hand;
lighted tapers also given 10 every person attend
Ing and after some inrther Singing, paper was given
60 the Metropolitan, which he read, and winch was
then put into me collin with the corpse ~ Is sald 70 De
recommendation VI the deceased 70 Inc keeper OF
Heavens passport 10 be presented 10 81 Peter
drops OF some liquor, perhaps c0nsecrated Oll
also poured luto the cOn' Inc relations ana ue
pendents again went up and kissed the check or tue
hand the deceased The coffin was again closed with
Ihe upper cover carried into the graveyard beside the
chapel deposited in grave perhaps eight or niue
beet deep Tue persons who attended threw "a ittle
aust and sup o pine branch win wMch tne chapel tue
from 70 the grave and to the street ana all the