knowledge of foreign countries, and of the language and etiquette of courts and diplomacy. All this pointed out to Washington's quick and most accurate judgment, the man he wanted for a foreign minister; and when he found it was his vicepresident's son, who was yet but a young man, who had written so wisely, he did not hesitate on accunt of his few years, but appointed him minister to the Netherlands. His commission was given him July 11, 1794, the day he completed his twentyseventh year.

FOREIGN MINISTER.

Mr. Adams left Boston in September, and reached London in October, where Messrs. Jay and Pinckney were negotiating a treaty between England and the United States. After fifteen days in London he sailed, October 30, for Holland. Holland almost at once fell into the hands of France, and his intercourse was about as much with the conquering as the conquered country.

In October, 1795, he was directed by the secretary of state to repair to England, where he found he was appointed to ratify Jay's treaty with the British government. After fulfilling this mission he returned to Holland.

In August, 1796, he received the appointment of minister to Portugal, but his credentials did not reach him till his successor came, the next July. He at once repaired to London, to find that an appointment to the court of Berlin had superseded the other. While waiting for instructions, he fulfilled an engagement of marriage with Miss Louisa Catharine Johnson, daughter of Joshua Johnson, American consul at London. The marriage took place July 26, 1797. They proceeded to Berlin where Mr. Adams faithfully discharged the duties of his high office till 1801, when they returned to the United States.

BEGINS ANEW.

Mr. Adams returned to Boston and to the bar, but without practice. When he left the bar, seven years before, his practice had just become assured. But now, after seven years abroad,

he must begin anew. He had now a family to support; his finances had suffered by the failure of foreign bankers; but, nothing daunted, he again sought practice. He applied himself diligently to read up the new statutes and to acquaint himself with the new conditions of law and society in his own country. He was but started in this study when the Boston district elected him to the Senate of Massuchesetts.

In Massachusetts the federalists were in the majority. While he had been absent his father had been president, and lost his re-election by the division of his party and the rise of the democratic party, under Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Adams was not a politician by nature, and had had no part in the party differences of the time. His first public act as a senator was one of political justice and conciliation. He was elected by federalists, but when the governor's council was appointed he moved that a portion be appointed from the minority party, on the ground that the minority had rights that the majority were bound, in justice, to respect.

In 1803 Mr. Adams was elected to the Senate of the United States by the Massachusetts legislature. He was now thirty-six years of age. The country, at this time, was fearfully embarrassed, both by home distractions and foreign complications. Party spirit was almost a craze; one party affiliated with France, the other with England; the people had not learned to be stable citizens, nor what belonged to good citizenship; many of their leaders were distracted by foreign theories and Utopian schemes; war was appealing to the belligerent spirit of the young nation. The president, Mr. Jefferson, was dreaded and hated by many of the federalists as a French Jacobin.

When these perils and embarrassments were thickening in and about the young republic, Mr. Adams took his seat in Congress, elected by federalists. The next year, 1804, Bonaparte became emperor of France. All Europe seemed falling under his sway. England alone withstood him. In 1807 England issued the "Orders in Council," which forbade all trade with France and her allies. Bonaparte replied with the "Milan Decree," which prohibited all trade with England and her

colonies. American commerce became a prey to both these belligerent nations. As a last resort, Mr. Jefferson determined on an embargo to save the remnant of American commerce. Massachusetts opposed the Embargo act; Mr. Adams supported Mr. Jefferson, for which he was roundly abused by his constituents. It was a characteristic of his whole life not to be a partisan. He was a national man and could not step to party orders. As a result, he was often charged with corrupt affiliation with the opposite party. He was ofton the best abused man in the whole country. For the several things which he did contrary to the will of his federalist constituents, a small majority elected another person to be his successor at the close of his term, so in March, 1808, he resigned his seat in the Senate.

In 1805 he sought to have Congress levy a duty on the importation of slaves, and thus began his strong public opposition to slavery, which ended only with his life.

In 1804 he was urged to accept the presidency of Harvard university, which he declined, but, instead, accepted the chair of rhetoric and belles-lettres, which he filled to great acceptance.

His lectures were very popular and attended by large crowds from Boston. They were afterward published in two volumes.

MINISTER TO RUSSIA.

In March, 1809, Mr. Adams was appointed minister to Russia. It was a critical and important time. The republic was drifting toward a storm with England; and the president, Mr. Madison, was preparing for the worst. It had demanded the abrogation of the "Orders in Council" and the "Milan Decree." France complied; but England hesitated, haggled, put off, and although she finally complied, she did not do it till the embroilment was on the verge of war, which Congress had declared before the news of England's compliance reached this country. It was important that a strong man had charge of our affairs with Russia. Washington had predicted that the younger Adams would in due time be at the head of our foreign ministry. That time was now approaching.

Mr. Adams was received with marked respect at the court of St. Petersburg. His familiarity with the French and German languages the former the diplomatic language of Europe-his literary acquirements; his perfect knowledge of the political relations of the civilized world; his plain appearance and republican simplicity of manners, in the midst of the gorgeous embassies of other nations, enabled him to make a striking and favorable impression on the Emperor Alexander and his court. The emperor, charmed by his varied qualities, admitted him to terms of personal intimacy, seldom granted to the most favored individuals.

Twenty-eight years before, when a boy of fourteen, he was there as Mr. Dana's private secretary; now he had returned in the prime of manhood, a diplomat of his nation.

While there, the aged Russian minister of the interior estimated the value of all the gifts he had received while in office; and paid the sum into the national treasury. It was an act which Mr. Adams greatly honored. About this time, a Russian bookseller sent him an elegant copy of the scriptures. He kept the copy, but returned the full price of it in money. He believed that public officials should be free from bias, and so should refuse all presents.

While at St. Petersburg, Mr. Adams wrote a series of letters. to a son at school in Massachussetts, on the bible and its teachings, which after his death were published in a volume. Through his life, he was a careful and devout student of the bible. Its precepts of wisdom and morality were always the guide of his life. He took great pleasure in studying the scriptures in the different languages he had learned; and held them in profound respect.

While Mr. Adams was at his court, the emperor proposed to mediate between England and the United States, to secure a cessation of hostilities. England refused the emperor's offer, but proposed to meet American commissioners at London or Gottenburg. Mr. Adams, and Messrs. Bayard, Clay, Russell and Gallatin were appointed. In conducting the negotiations which followed, the American commissioners, with Mr. Adams at their

head, displayed a knowledge of national rights and laws, a justice, firmness and magnanimity, which was profoundly respected by the nations of Europe; and which led the Marquis of Wellesley to say in the House of Lords that, "in his opinion, the American commissioners had shown the most astonishing superiority over the British, during the whole of the correspondence."

After six months of negotiations, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent on the twenty-fourth of December, 1814.

The commissioners proceeded to London, where on the third of July, 1815, they signed a treaty of commerce with England. Thus was effected permanent relations of good will between these two great nations.

MINISTER AT THE COURT OF ST. JAMES.

Before going to London as a commissioner, Mr. Adams had been appointed resident minister at the court of St. James. He remained here till 1817, attending faithfully to the duties of his high position; and reflecting great honor to his country, by his learning, wisdom and exalted character.

SECRETARY OF STATE.

On the fourth of March, 1817, James Monroe was inaugurated president of the United States. He came into office when party spirit had for a long time run high. It was somewhat abated by the war, but was still in the way of a proper demonstration of the principles on which the republic was founded. It was his great purpose to conciliate the parties and bring domestic peace to his country. He looked about for the most able and acceptable men for his cabinet officers, who were most pronounced for their non-partisan patriotism and their broad wisdom. He fixed on John Quincy Adams for his secretary of state-the man of all others who could give the most commanding dignity to his administration, in the foreign world's estima

tion.

As soon as Mr. Adams received his appointment, he closed his affairs in England and took passage for New York, where he landed August, 1817. A great public dinner was given him in