New-York tribune., 1874-12-01
EEW PUBLICATIONS.

pp S66. j. b. Lippucou Co.
The present iustallmeut of Mr' Adams u'ary ean-
braces the period from August 1914 10 June, io,'
,no,,a,, his diplomatc services as one OF the
American commissioners for the negotiation ot peace
with Great Britain during the war of lSl@' ana nus
,esdence in London as United States minister at the
Court of ST James previous TO his accession 10 the
ice of Secretary of State under President Monroe
The proceedings of the Commission at Ghent are dc
scribed with remarkable frankness ana at great oc
tail The situation was by no means Deo Oh roses'
lint was constantly disturbed by freaks OF temper
and disputes on points of etiquette: MT Auais ap
pears for the most part to have preserved grave
serenity though not wanting in natural Venenenoe'
and often sorey tried by the impeuosiy oil MS COL
leagues His irritable disposition, however, couio
not alwavs be kept within due bounds, ana their
disoussions exhibited more heat than moderation.
The napers drawn up by Mr.. Adams were always
made the subject of severe criticism. Objections
were frequently brought against almost every word
that he wrote. Although he proposed more origlhal
matter than most of the rest of his colleagues put
together not more than fifth part of the articles
as adopted from his hand lie takes no onense
at this but ascrbes the trouble to the fault OF his
composition which he shall endeavor TO correct.
Mr. Adams's account of the daily routine OF his
life in Gbeut affords striking illustration of his
characteristic industry His usual hour for rising
wac between five and six in the morning. lie at
once lighted his candle and kinded his fire. and read
and wrote two or three hours before breakfast. AT
two o'clock in the afternoon the Commission met
and generally continued in session until four which
was the dinner hour. After dinner, which lasted
till betweens six and seven he went once week to
the theater and did not come home much before
eleven He sometimes passed the evening III COM
pany, or walking in the public square. lie seldom
read or wrote after dark, and was usually in bed
lo4v 4.r, audoI II uas his habit TO begin
the day with reading several chapters IN the Bible.
Mr. Adams remained in Ghent about seven months,
which he regarded as the most memorable period
of his life. He left the city with grateful sense OF
the hospitality he had received, and started for
Brussels in the latter part of the month of January
1915. 1t the cOldest day of the season. and the
ground was covered the whole way with one sheet
of snow During his short stay in Brussels, he found
time TO visit celebrated private collection Of pic
tures. of which lie gives an agreeable description:
We we're two hours in surveying Mr.. Burtin's collec
ton which the choicest private collection that ever
saw He himself thorough connoisseur IN painting.
and very proper object for painter. lie is 70 years
of age and began by asking me II was an amateur Ge
looking good pictures but that could not assume
the petensOn OF being an amateur He sad ne could
minutes the secret which he had been 30
Years IN learning. and which he had fully disclosed in
he R0Hed WoEiG by my means become known in Amer
Since the English had got IN here they had taken
left The French considered his work the first upon
subject, though lo had treated the Freucn school
harshly and Mr.. Matehrun the critic, had styled him
cODnOisseur tresecaree uge severe mas Impartial, dc
Pecoe Francaise His secret 10 look at every pic
tue If the original was Dehnd you and you saw u IN
mirror II il appeared natural TO you as an object re-
geCG picture II not yOu might as cerdiny pronounce
Il one. AS 10 the French school, could boast of
only one good painter. Eustaehe LIS Sueur. asked him
f"Tmrd ait"rrt6er in IsIy How Of Claudel "Why
his very name" said he, "was of Lorraine and all
his Of painting he learnt at Rome" But Rubens."
SAID studied likewise ln Italy" Yes; but ne was
painter before he went You VIII IL all
explained at large in my book You See said he; " tins
books upon the art OF painHg anG e1cepihg & tnese w
prices all the rest, that my bookss published
may thrown into the fire. There is nothing further
10 be got from them" After tins introduction we went
and looked at the pictures and the chambers were
cold Mr.. Burtin left with his housekeeper pretty
pictures as wen a. 9I nj res III He nrides himseif
upon not having one indifferent painting in the whole
collection. Beside the standards OF the Dutch AMI
Jan steen Van dyke and Rubens, there four capital
portraits by HolOcn three pictures OF Albert Durer
one of Michael Angelo and small portrait OF TITAN,
painted by himself The large pictures appeared TO me
The least remarkable Ihe %aterptCes mowers, no S ceaa
game living animals, ana inside views oL c4urcnes,
were like in all good collections OF the Flemish
hens ana one admirable portrait By the master.
Several landscapes like most others and singular pOr-
his disciple Casper Nescher and upon William ILL., the
two hours Burtn sent his maid with us to see his
four finest pictures in separate chamber They were
crime the masterpiece of Van Dyke; ST. Francis, by
RuDens; "A Christ bearing his Cross. by Leonardo da
Vnc; and last and most exQuisely beautiful OF all,
Holy Family. Dy Guido. Ii 1t was mine. would not
give for all the OF The collection. Tne most per-
feet ideal head OF the virgin that was perhaps ever
painted. l took copy of Sir Burtins book, and re-
turned home.
MI Adams arrived in Paris on the 4th of February
1875 where he remained during the Hundred Days
after the return of Napoleon from Elba. He at once
called upon Mr.. Crawford. who at that time was
American minister at Paris. and by whom he was
presented the next day TO the king and the royal
family OF this ceremony we have the following
brief account
Athafpast eleven O'Clock called at Mr. Crawford's
Mlliean Mr.. Todd after assembled aud we all
proceeded together Just twelve, the Tuileres.
Most these gentlemen had already been presented
fortnight ago and again. Mr.. Bdyard did not
now attend We waited only few minutes IN the intro
ducory hail. where found an Old acquaintance OF mine,
the Chevaler Brlto, Cnarse dAnares rom PortuShl,
whom had known at the Hague. l was Introduced to
Gen WaltersdUr1 the Danish Minister who told Inc he
had been IN America. and had known my father there
aud was also recognized ny Cen Fdgcl, whom had
6eTe I was introduced to Mr. Dargainaraz. the Kings
la cOndulte deS AmOaSsadeurs. and 10 Mr.
presented hrs to the kug ana theh successVe TO the
duchess and Duke dAngOulene, and then 10 Monsieur
Comte dArtOls. and lastly 10 tue Ddke DO Berri. We
presented BY MI Crawford as aceOrdlnS 10 tue
etiquette OF this Court strangers are presented by the
Ministers OF their respective countries Tue King
Princes. and Prlncess seldom speak 70 any per
son presented 10 them. Tho King. however, asked
me # IL was IN any way related to we e. eae- s
that to the former President OF the United
States The Prince. also spoke to Ine each few words
ail in English' excepting the Duke GAngoueme; who
epoke IN French. The Duchess fAngouten no dd not
speak to any OF the persons presented Lord FIGroy
Somerset had beea previously presented at a private
audience and delivered las credentials rs British MS
Penpoteuary siuoe tue departure OF tho Duke OF
Wellington. TIE EmOassador do presented several En-
glIsh gentlemen at the circle Count Nicholas Pahleu
presented by Mr. Lalve. there being only Russian
Charre dAGires at this Court who according TO the
etiquette docs lot prosea returhod komc absut two