New-York tribune., 1881-09-11


she of the world that she would be in the power of
every printer to whom she might apply. Still she
had pluck enough TO go on, enlarging the scale of
her compilation and including few of the reasons
which the various denominations give in defence of
their different religious systems. But while she
was abridging what appeared to be the most plausi-
bic arguments for every denomination she suffered
extremely from mental indecision AS she went
from controversial writer to another each in turn
came near to convincing her, and she remarks
quantity; Reading much religious controversy
must be extremely trying to female" and especially
to female debilitated by romances and travels"
After varions difficulties met and overcome the
view of Religions" went to press in 1874, printer
having been found willing to work without money
Immediately paid" -Four hundred copies of the
wnb bad been subscribed for but the printer took
all the money. Miss Adams only received fifty
copies. which she managed to sell; but she thought
to the last evidently, that the printer cheated her.
He informed her soon after that he about to
print second edition; but, she had secured
copyright under the State law of 1888, she forbade
him to go on with his design. If there to be
second edition, why should she not have the benefit
of itS See what picture she of her situation
at that time 81 was entirely destitute of pecunary
resources, ignorant of the world incapable of con-
Quoting business, and precluded from almost all in
tercourse with persons of literature and information
and consequently destitute of friends who able
and willing to assist me-" Still she worked on. She
bad, taking all the responsibility upon her small
shoulders, sent a personal petition to Congress,
asking for general copyright law. She wrote to
printers for their terms, but their answers were
"various, prox and ambiguous Finally she ac-
cepted the terms of one who offered 800 in books
for edition of 900 copies We get here glimpse
of that excellent man. the Rev. James Freeman. of
Kings Chapel, Boston, whose sermons much
admired by Southey that he commonplace long
extracts from them. DIR. Freeman, who appears to
have been the very soul of benevolence, began at
once to exert himself in a lively to promote
the sale of this second edition of the "Vlew of Re-
lgions." He volunteered to transact the business
with the printer He got out subscription papers.
suppose that in his mild, persuasive way he made
his rich Boston friends put down their names for
copies. The second edition a great success.
There came money enough from it to pay off all
debts, and to put out small sum upon interest.
This success encouraged and animated Miss
Adams, and she formed the lattering idea that
she might not only help herself, but benefit the
public" So she went cheerfuly to work upon her
Summary History of New-England" She thought
that attention to such anti-poetical subject
would have tendency to keep her mind in
healthy state thanI he perusal of works calculated to
excite the feelings" There no history of New
England extant except Mathers Magnaa" " and
"Neales History" There was no authentic account
of Rhode Island except that of Calendar Miss
Adams applied herself diligently to her task She
collected manuscripts; she studied ancient news
prints and State papers; when, alas! her sight
failed her. The prescriptions of physicians rather
increased than diminished the dtculty but the
application of audanum and sea-water to the eyes
proved successful. The work on the history was
resumed, and it went to press in 1899. She was.
after all, obliged to borrow money print it, and
derived very little profit for all her labor But
third edition of the View of Re gous largely pro-
NOTED by the amable Dr. Freeman, who made n
good bargain with the printer, brought in some
money. The " View of the Christian Religion " was
next Published. She says of this book that consid-
erable part of it was written i'll booksellers shops.
She /" went TO make visits in Boston in order to
suit books in this way which it was impossible to
buy borrow" She abridged the History of
New-En gland for the use of young persons" and
it introduced textbook into the principal
schools of Boston copy of this little book boston.
1907 is before me as WRITE yellow with age, and
well-thumbed, perhaps by some Boston school-boy.
There difficulty with "a reverend gentle
man" who got out abridgement of his own.
Miss Adams extremely grieved" but sin
cerelyhopcs," like a dear, amiabc old lady, that
"the painful affair may be recalled to his
prejudice" Unfortunately the printer of the
abrdgement failed while it was in press, and she
lost the money which she expected. The printers of
the second edition also failed. / have their names
publishing them Printers, as well authors, in
those days in Boston, probably had hard time of il
Miss Adams next undertook to write a History
of the Jews" beginning with their state under the
Persian Monarchy, after their restoration from
the Babylonsh captivity. Never was SO great
work undertaken with such small materials.
She admits, candIdly, that to begin
with, she had only ,Josephus and
Basnage-a much smaller outfit than Milman had
when he undertook the subject. Miss Adams
obliged to compile from dcsultory publications
and manuscripts" But at this time she had % the
privilege of corresponding with the celebrated Gre
gore" He was the man. it will be recOected, who
demanded in the convention that Louis Capet
should be brought to trial. but ne afterward claimed
that he endeavored to the life of the King by
said of him that he tried to Christianize the Revo
luton.o In the first Constitutional Assembly he had
sought to procure the rights OF citizens for the Jews
He had written a history of Christian sects which
perhaps had been useful to Miss Adams; and he sent
her writings in favor of the Jews which in
creased the interest she felt in this oppressed people,
She went on writing at her history in Dedham,
helped by occasional money donations, and finally
number of benevolent Boston gentlemen settled
annuity upon her. Everybody to
have felt kindly toward this hardworking and
distressed gentlewOman. and one is not surprised
to find President Quincy foremost among the bene-
factors. The library Of the AthenGum opened
to her; the Rev. Mr.. Buck minister, that sweet and
eloquent preacher who died all too soon. also gave
her the of his books She says that the entbu-
sasn with which he inspired her, and the pleasure
of conversing with him upon subject with which
he was intimately acquainted rendered the time in
which she was writing the History of the jews
aoffb lu,,p Of han 90 Mr. D,,o1