The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-23

the editor notes for our delectation,
was superintendent of the asylum for
deaf mutcs at Hartford.
OF the two distinct offerings Of these
letters, the historical and the bio
graphical, while IL Is not reasonable
to compare them as to value. II must
be said that John Quincy Adams writ
ing instructions to diplomats or him
self conducting a diplomatic corre-
spondence with Britain Is not so live a
John Quincy to the modern reader az
he who pens the four letters which
We shall now group Ii typical OF his
personality. First. one to his father.
from London. March 81. 1917. with
comment on the hero Of the ma
POLICEMAN" upheaval Of Europe. who.
chained to his rock. is at this moment
more dreaded inc detested. and at the
same time more admired and beloved
than when he vas at the summit Of
his power: and enclosing a pamphlet
by the Poet Laureate Southey: "a
bundle Of combustibles. Of materials
the most worthless. mere stubble. At
for nothing but to kindle a blaze. with
out substance enough in itself to burn
longer thar time enough to light up
other inf!ammable matter" And how
he did relish "the piquant OF the mat
ter Southey. ex-Jacobin. applying to
the Lord Chancellor for an injunction
against the publication OF his own
book. Wat Tyler: "As Southey has
become n OF the most useful. because
n Of the basest literary scavengers
Of the party in power. they cannot
prosecute him" And having to swal-
low "Wat Tyler" they must swallow
with it n mess Of other publications
difficult to get down but harmless in
comparison with IT,"
To Alexander Hill Everett. who.
through some z and general in
situations to your disadvantage" (from
Mr.. Eustis). has as secretary OF
legation left as charge d~'affaires in
the absence Of his superior incurred
the displeasure OF President Monroe
and Secretary Adams. he promises APP
pointment as charge d'afYaires at the
Court OF the Netherlands. but writes
November l6. 1sI7) a mighty sharp
letter;
You viii Justly conclude that I do nv
y" means advise YOU either to com. 10
: Washington yourself, or 20 write TO tho
President. unless IL be TO atone 20 him
'n- The injustice. you have done him in
YOUR last letter to me. an injustice which
! feel the more keenly because while my
huty TO him would urg. mo to make IL
known 10 him. my friendship for YOU still
more impcriously constrains me 20 with
hold the knowledge 81 II from him. I
pray YOU never again 20 Indulge your
angry feelings IN such reflections upon
him while writing 20 me-,o consider the
relation in which 7 stand 10 him rs well
a. the kindness tina, I feel for yourself.
! advise you, as You still look to a diplo-
matte career. to acquire a iit;ie diplo-
matte phlegm-to bear a little con,rad,c-
t!on with coolness. 20 meet momentary
and necessary DELAYS with patience. 20 eS-
ercise a little of YOUR disc.rnment in dis
tirguishing your friends from your enc
mics. and In your Just adherence Of In
gratitude TO reserve a iit;le Of your kind
ness Tor those TO whom Il IL no more han
kindness In return.
The two other letters are one TO his
mother. asking for her prayers rather
than her praises. and one 10 his son.
in which his affection is expressed with
much less emphasis than his inten-
ton to perform fully the m%onitorial
part of the parental duty.
On Christmas day in ISL? Mr.. AL
ans wrote tn President Monroe. II
on December 20 to Nice-President
Tompkins. abou complaints that he
had been cuipably negligent in his
social duties as n member OF the Adj
ministration, in emitting 10 pay at
every session ~ Congress a frs, visit
of form to every member of the Senate
Of the United States" and that Mrs.
adams had been equally guilty in not
calling upon the senator's wives. He
acknowledged tho fact. but pleaded
that when Il" had served in the senate
the Cabinet members had not called at
his house. and that while the Senate
Of the United States. Independent; Of
it, importance and dignity. is Of all the
associations of men upon earth that
10 which | am bound ny every and the
most sacred and indissoluble ties Of
personal gratitude" he vas "yet not
aware Of any usage which required
formal visits from me a. a member OF
llc administration To them as Sem
atorS." Moreover. he has learned that
compliance with the expectation of the
senator would cause jealousy among
the Representatives uuless they were
included. And what would become Of
the affairs Of the Department il it's
head spent his time making formal
calls? II have invariably considered
the Government of the United states
as a Government for the transaction
OF business and that no ceremonial for
the mode or order Of i0terchanginS
visits bet wcen the persons belonging to
the respective departments in il had
ever been established In one branch
of 1t at least the Hon. John Quincy
Adams's diplomacy was a failure.
Especially valuable among the pa
pers in this sixth volume OF a waltz
able work are those which zeal upun
the country's relations in these years
with Spain and South America, and
Mr.. Adams's endeavors To raise our
diplomacy from the colonial level to
one of due dignity. respect and iniu-
ence. A letter to \. II. Everett, De-
cember 20, 1877, is OF special interest
at this time BECAUSE of its text and
the conclusions therefrom: III our
peace societies should fall into the
fashion Of corresponding upon the OBJ
jccts of their institutions with foreign
cmperors and kings they may at some
future day find themselves under the
necessity of corresponding with attor-
ney-generals and petit juries at home
and because of its utterance upon our
attitude toward South American revo-
lut,onaries.