* THE Boston Magazine, For FEBRUARY, 1784. Charaller of bis Excellency JOHN ADAMS, Efq; M R.ADAMS is defcended from one of the firft families which founded the colony of Maffachusetts-Bay. He was educated at Harvard College, and received the honours of that fociety in 1755 and 1758. He applied himfelf early to the study of the laws of his country; and no fooner entered upon the practice thereof, than he drew the attenti on, admiration and esteem of his countrymen, on account of his eminent abilities and probity of chara&er. Not fatisfied with barely maintaining the rights of individuals, he foon fignalized himfelf in the defence of his country, and mankind at large, by writing his admirable differtation on the canon and feudal laws; a work well worthy the attention of every man who is an enemy to ecclefiaftical and civil tyranny. It fhewed the author at an early period capable of seconding efficaciously the formation of republics on the principles of juftice and virtue. Such a man became moft naturally an object of Governor Barnard's feduction. The perverfion of his abilities might be of ufej in a bad caufe; the corruption of his principles might tarnish the beft. But the arts of the Governor, which had fucceeded with fo many, were ineffectual with Mr. Adams, who openly declared he would not accept a favour, however flatteringly offered, which might in any manner conne& him with the enemy of the rights of his country,or tend to embarrass him, as it happened with too many others, in the difcharge of his duty to the public. Seduction thus failing of its ends, calumny, menaces, and the weight of power were made ufe of againft him. They loft the effect propofed, but had that, which the fhow of bafenefsand violence ever produce on a mind truly virtuous. They increafed his honeft firmnefs, because they manifefted that the times required more than ordinary exertions of manliness. In confequence of this conduct, Mr. Adams obtained obtained the highest honour which a irtuous man can receive from the food and the bad. He was honour with the difapprobation of the Goernor, who refused his admiffion into the council of the province; and be met with the applaufe of his counHymen in general, who fent him to. lift at the Congrefs in 1774, in which ie was moft active; being one of the rincipal promoters of the famous reolution of July 4th, when thefe coloies declared themfelves FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, Mr. Adams having been fifteen months one of the commiffioners of the war department, and a principal ggeiler of the terms to be offered to France, for forming treaties of alliance and commerce, he was fent to the court of Versailles, as one of the ministers plempotentiary of the United States. After continuing fome time invented with this important Troft, he returned to America, where le no fooner appeared, than he was called upon by the State of Maflachu tts Bay, to affit in forming a fyf. m of government, that might eftaWith the rights of all on clear, just and permanent grounds. He was 137ver employed in a bufinefs more Agreeable to himself; for the happiness of his fellow citizens is his great object. He fought not honour in this arduous undertaking, but it ultimately fell upon him. He has gained it all over Europe. If he endeavoured to obtain it by the eleem and love of his conntrymen, he has fucceeded: For they know they are partly indebted to him, for the coudtitation of the State of the Maffachuterts Bay, as it flands at this dey. This important bufinefs being com. plested to the fatisfaction of all, be rel turned to Emepe, with full powers. from Congref, to affift at any conferences which might be opened for the Rablishment of peace; and he feat Sim foen alter, other powers ondego. ciate a loan of money for the ufe of the United States ; and to reprefent them as the Minifter P empotatiory to their H go Mightit effes, the Stres General of the United Provinces. Such important trufts thew, in what ellimation he is held by this country, and his manner of executing them, that that confidence is well placed. On his arrival in Holland, nothing could have been more un promifing to the nappy execution of his miffion, than were the affairs of that country. The Auence of the Court of St. Jame's, over a certain fet of men, the interen that many had in the funds and commerce of England, and the dread of her power, which generally prevailed throughout the provinces, obliged him to act with the utmoft circumfpection. Unknown and at first unnoticed (at least but by a few) he had nothing to do but to examine into the flate of things, and characters of the leading men. This neceffary knowledge was fcarcely acquired, when the conduct of the British Minifty afforded him an opportunity of fhewing himself more openly. The contempt, infult and violence with which the whole Belgic nation was treated, give him great advantages over the English Ambassador at the Hague He ferved himfelf of his rivals rafinefs and folly with great coolness and ability; and, by confequence, became fo particularly obnoxious to the prevailing party, that it was fomewhat dangerous for him to go to a village, fcarcely a day's journey from his refidence, but with the utmoft fecrecy: The fate of Dorillar was before his eyes. Having been therefore, under the neceffity of refiding at Amfterdam, for protection against the malice of the times, he foon gained the good opinion of the magiflrates, by his prudent condu&t as a private citizen. The bad policy of England, enabled him to step forward As fuch he as a public chara&er. prefented to the States General his famous memorial, dated the 19th of Apri, 1781, wherein the Declaration of the fodependency of America, on the 4th of July 1776, was juftified; the unalterable refolution of the United States to abide thereby, afferted; the interest that all the powers of EuTope, and particularly the States Ge néral, have in maintaining it, proved; the political and natural grounds of a commercial connection between the two republics, pointed out ; and information given that the memorialift was invefied with full powers from Congrels grefs to treat with their High Migh- The Calamities of War, and timeffes for the good of both coun tries. on thould confider the matter tho The first object was, that the nati roughly; it being evident the more it was ruminated on, the more obvious would be the advantages and neceffity of a connection between the two countries. When therefore, the memorial was taken by the States General AD REFERENDUM, the firft point was gained; the people thought of, and reafoned on the matter fet before them; many excellent writings appeared, and they made the greatest impreffion. Mr. Adams feized the occafion which the public difpofition afforded Aim, and prefented his ulterior addrefs of January 9, 1782, referring therein to his memorial of April 19 1781, and demanding a categorical anfwer. The towns, cities, quarters of the feveral provinces, took the whole matter into immediate confi deration, and inftructed their feveral deputies, in the States General, to concur in the admiffion of Mr. Adams, in quality of Minifter Plenipotentiary of the United States of North America. This was done by a refolution paffed by their High Mightineffes, the 19th of April, 1782; and on the 224 of the fame month, Mr. Adams was admitted accordingly, with all the ufual.ceremonies. They who know Mr. Adams,trace in his features the most unequivocal marks of probity and candour. unites to that gravity, fuitable to the character with which he is inveffed, an affability which prejudices him in your favour. Although of a filent tura, as moft great men are, who engage in important affairs, he has ne. vertheless a natural eloquence for the difcuffion of matters which are the abjects of bis milion, and for recommending and enforcing the truths, measures, and fyftems, which are didated by found policy. the Effects of unbridled Paffion. Wentered into, and humanely AR, however unavoidably carried on, maft from its very nature, occafion many diftreffing fcenes, many heart-rending partings. The voice of patriotifm informs us, there is fomething ennobling, and which raifes us above the fear of death, in the idea of fuffering in the caufe of freedom, and dying for the public good. But, when the father, hufband or fon is fnatched from us, our feelings will not permit us to give fuch fpeculative reafonings their full force, but we efteem ourselves peculiarly unfortunate, in being compelled to fuftain fo great a fhare of the common calamity. Such are the confequences of war confidered in the best fight, but when ! malice, rancour and revenge add their baneful influence, when the leaden death comes aimed from the hands of a brother, or fill more fhocking, from that of a fon, the diftrefs must be greatly aggravated; it would be in vain to attempt to defcribe the hor-i ross of fuch a war; it may then indeed be called the reign of the fures. The following tale may ferve to il Fuftrate the foregoing remarks. Mirtins, an amiable and accomplished. youth refiding in the capital, came of age precifely at the time, when the port bill and the violence of the fol diery made the defigns of the British Miniftry plain to every jealous lover of freedom; being interrupted in his commercial views, he inflantly deter mined to exert himfelf on the imme diate fervice of his country Having obtamed a fubaltern commiffion, he endear'd himfelf to our illustrious Commander in Chief,by his exertions in difciplining the irregular multitude which had flocked together at the fir cry of diftrefs, and by his active, frid and intrepid conduct difplayed in fe veral actions, was thought worthy of being promoted, by gradual advances to the command of a troop of horfe This flation at the fame time that in enlarged enlarged the Sphere of his duty, ferved to call forth thofe great military powers which he poffeffed, and there were few actions, where fecrecy, firm nefs and skill were difplayed, in which he bore not an active part. Thus far we have confidered him in a military character, in the domesic line he was not lefs worthy of imi tation. Martius and Sophia had lived in the greateft intimacy from their childhood, conflant companions in youth, when the paffions are, undifguifed; a mutual tenderness had fubfified between them, which, increafing with their years, had ripen'd into Love. To her tall and graceful form, nature had join'd a moft pleafing counteinance, which with a mild blue rolling eye, and a complexion the juft combination of the lily and rofe, heightned with a conflant fmile, confirmed the truth of the affertion, that beauty and her attendant graces have fixed their refidence in this capital.--With the confent of their immediate connections on both fides, they were led willing victims to the altar of Hymen, and we may affert that a more accomplished and affectionate couple has never graced his temple. Soon after their marriage his duty Jobliged him to join his corps, and he ufed every argument to perfuade her to continue with her friends; he reprefented to her, to what fhocks her Keelings and delicacy would be expofed in attending a camp, that wi enever he was abfent from her, and efpecially when in action, so apprehenfive would he be of danger and fearful for his fafety, that her mind would be kept in a continual Hate of alarm. On her fide, fle urged at the molt af ang certainty could not be equal to that cruel ftate of foftace, in which at a diftance from him, the muft unavoidably he nvolved; that the thought of adniftering in the leaft to his comfort er convenience, in her mind fully over bailanced any hardships the muft be expofed." let me accompany you," faid he, "if you are fortunate it will be an agreable tour, if not, if any misfortune fhould befall you, I will by my conduct endeavour to prove, that the virtues of refolution and patience under fufferings are not confined to your fex" Indeed the met with many hardships to exercife her patience, but one particular ly affecting, ferved to put her fortitude and magnanimity to the hardest proof. One day as Martius was upon his ftation, advanc'd from the main army, he was surprised at the fudden appearance of a body of horsemen, who by their uniform, he knew were of thofe men, who, from miftaken notions of loyalty, had taken up arms against their country; nor was the futprife less on their part, they had inadvertently approached nearer the out pofts than they had intended, their party being fmall, they inftantly betook themselves to flight, and Martius and his followers, urged on by a thirst for mil tary glory, haftily purfued them; the foremost of the purfuers had almoft came up with the rear of the purfued, when a young man, who appeared to be their leader, with the fury of a tyger turning upon his hunters, fuddenly facing round, difcharged his carbine in the breaft of Martius !! His faithful followers would have revenged the fall of their favourite chief, by the immediate death of the whole party, who were compelled to fubmit themselves prifoners at difcretion, but our hero, with a feeble voice, charged them to abftain from violence, They then conveyed the almoft breathless body of their friend to the door of his tent, and the youth, by whom he had received the mortal wound, foftened by the noble manner, in which he had reftrained the juft indignation of his followers, and already repenting of his rafh act, accompanied them. The melancholy fight of an officer carried by two foldiers, drew the attention of Sophia, and the freely be flowed her pity upon the unfortunate fufferer, but little did the fuppofe that the herself was fo nearly concerned in the calamity; language can not exprefs her feelings when her bofom friend was laid almoft lifelef as her her feet, and his laft figh, which was poured out upon her bofom, feem'd to rend her very heart afunder; but how was the shocked when in the perfon of the youth who had occafioned her diftrefs, the recollected an only brother: He had early in life warmly efpoufed the caufe of the British government, and with the rancor common to thofe whole friendhip is changed into the bittereft enmity, had fought every opportunity of diftreffing his countrymen; the warmth of his paffions had led him into the unjuftifiable action which had thus involved h s fifter in diftress, and the fame ungovernable temper would now have led him to an act which could only aggravate her fufferings and entail on him everlafting ruin; viewing himself as the caufe of thefe complicated calamities, he fuddenly fnatched a piftol, and would have finished his life by his own band, but was reftrained by his fifter's entreaties and the influence of the furrounding multitude. Here then was an occafion for the difplay of female fortitude and magnanimity, to pay the tribute of her tears andforrow to the mem ory of her husband; and at the fame time, to avoid driving to defpair, by her exceffive grief, a brother, who, in fpite of his faults, he loved; this was a difficult task, but which by her prudence and felf command the effected. We will not detain the readers attention on this diftreffing fubje&t longer than to add, that Sophia fpends her time in an agreeable retirement, inftilling into the mind of an infant fon, the only image of her loft Martius, the virtues which his parent fo eminently poffeffed, and to him alfo her brother endeavours to fupply the place of a loft father, by his inftructi ons, and by warning him against induiging ANY PASSION to excefs, as it will infallibly be a means of rendering him and his connections unhappy through life. From an English Magazine. us with an oddity, and yet certainly there are ftill remaining a Dick Cautious is now a bachelor H.s keeps |