and her relations with foreign nations, placed on conditions most favourable and honourable to our country.

President Monroe retired from the chief magistracy on the fourth of March 1825, and is now like his illustrious predecessors, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, in the decline of life, enjoying as a private citizen, those inestimable rights and privileges, which were in a great measure, through his and their exertions, secured to their common country.

The mind of Mr. Monroe is plain, but strong. His imagination has no influence whatever over his understanding. He patiently listens to advice, but is solely directed by his own judgment. He has been described as a man of ardent feelings, but possessed to a remarkable degree, of the faculty of restraining them, even on occasions the most provoking. He is a determined friend with little of bitterness or animosity. "If we survey the whole of his administration, it will be difficult to fix upon a real blemish. He was not able to satisfy all the cravings of ambition; he did not listen to the claims of mere party men; and therefore he has ben traduced. Futurity will make manifest what is here predicted, that the people will one day readily admit, that James Monroe, whatever trifling errors he may have committed, has been the benefactor of his country, and an able and upright statesman."

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, ESQ.

Sixth President of the United States.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, the son of John Adams, late President of the United States, was born at Braintree in the state of Massachusetts, July 11th, 1767. It may well be presumed, that under the parental care of such a father, no pains or expense were spared in the cultivation of his mind, in his early years. In 1778, being then only in the eleventh year of his age, he went with his father to France, who was at that time, a joint commissioner with Dr. Franklin and Arthur Lee, to that court. He was not long afterwards placed in a school at Paris, where he continued for some time. His father, however, being called to Holland, in pursuance of his official duties, took his son with him, and first obtained for him a situation in a public school at Amsterdam, and afterwards, at a suitable time, sent him to the celebrated University of Leyden. It may easily be imagined what rapid improvements he must have made of the advantages of education he enjoyed, from the circumstance that as early as 1781 he accompanied, as private secretary, the late Judge Dana to St. Petersburgh, who had been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Empress of Russia. Mr. Adams continued more than a year in this situation, when he left St. Petersburgh, to rejoin his father in Holland. He remained in various parts of Europe until 1785. About this time, his father was appointed Minister to the Court of St. James, and he returned to this country. He was soon afterwards admitted to an advanced standing in Cambridge University, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1787. Having completed the usual period for the study of the law, he was admitted to the bar, in the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and commenced the practice in Boston, where he remained about four years, highly distinguished both for classical and legal acquirements.

It was not, however, owing to these qualifications only, that at so early an age he attracted the attention and admiration of those who knew him. From the course of his education, both at home and abroad, and his various situations and employments in Europe, he had, although so young, acquired, from research and observation, most of the essential requi

sites of a statesman. His society and information was eager ly sought after, both by the old and the young; and at that period, he was considered and pronounced as the best educated man of his age in New-England.

Such qualifications for public life could not be overlooked by his country. In 1791, being then but twenty-four years of age, he was appointed Minister to the United Netherlands, by General Washington. After having performed the duties attached to this embassy, to the entire satisfaction of his government, he again returned to the United States. He was afterwards, while in Europe, again nominated by Gen. Washington as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Lisbon; so highly was he held, in the estimation of that sage and illustrious patriot. Upon the accession of his father to the presidency, his destination was changed, and he was appointed Minister to the Court of Berlin. This appointment entitled him to the outfits of a minister plenipotentiary, which would amount to the sum of nine thousand dollars. But as he was already in Europe, he generously relinquished that amount, and received only a sum which, together with what he received as minister resident at the Netherlands, constituted the usual amount allowed to foreign ministers. This last appointment being made by his father, considerable jealousy was excited at the time, that parental partiality predominated over all other considerations. These feelings, however, were not long entertained; the distinguished talents of Mr. Adams, connected with public services already performed, were considered, by a great majority of his fellowcitizens, as justly entitling him to this important trust. And that the appointment was made, solely with a view to the public good, may be justly inferred, from the recommendation of General Washington, contained in a letter to John Adams, then President of the United States, on this subject. It equally proves the delicacy of the father, and the merits of the son. The letter is as follows:

MONDAY, 20th February, 1797. "Dear Sir :-I thank you for giving me the perusal of the enclosed. The sentiments do honour to the head and heart of the writer, and if my wishes would be of any avail, they should go to you in a strong hope, that you will not withhold merited promotion from Mr. John Quincy Adams, because he is your son. For, without intending to compliment the father or mother, or to censure any others, I give it

as my decided opinion, that Mr. Adams is the most valuable public character that we have abroad, and that there remains no doubt in my mind, that he will prove himself the ablest of all our diplomatic corps. If he was not brought into that line, or into any other public walk, I could not, upon the principle which has regulated my conduct, disapprove the caution which is hinted at in your letter. But he is already entered. The public, more and more, as he is known, are appreciating his talents and worth; and his country would sustain a loss, if these were to be checked, by over delicacy on your part.

"With sincere esteem, &c. &c.

Mr. Adams remained in Berlin from 1797 until April 1801, during which time he concluded a treaty of commerce with Prussia, which has been continued inviolate to the present time. By this, and other important services, rendered the United States, he abundantly proved himself to be not unworthy of the high estimation in which he was held by the Father of his Country. He was then recalled, and returned to America in September, 1801, a few months preceding the commencement of Mr. Jefferson's administration. Soon after his return he was elected a member of the senate of his native state, and continued in that capacity for one year, when he was chosen a senator of the United States for six years, from the fourth of March, 1803. When elected, the spirit of party raged with considerable virulence throughout the country; and Mr. Adams was supported by the federalists, who were strongly opposed to the general course of policy pursued by Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Adams, for several years, warmly supported the views and principles of his constituents. But in 1807, when the great national question, as to the expediency of laying an embargo on all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States, came before congress, he advocated that measure, and thereby became obnoxious to the legislature of the State, which had conferred upon him the station he held in congress. He, therefore, in 1808, sent to the legislature his resignation, accompanied by a letter, of which the following is a copy :

"To the Honourable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

"GENTLEMEN:

"It has been my endeavour, as I have conceived it my duty, while holding a seat in the Senate of the Union, to support the administration of the general government, in all necessary measures within its competency, the object of which was to preserve from seizure and depredation the persons and property of our citizens, and to vindicate the rights essential to the independence of our country, against the unjust pretensions and aggressions of foreign powers.

"Certain resolutions, recently passed by you, have expressed your disapprobation of the measures to which, under the influence of these motives, I gave my assent. As far as the opinion of a majority in the legislature can operate, I cannot but consider the resolutions as enjoining upon the representatives of the state in congress, a sort of opposition to the national administration, in which I cannot, consistently with my principles, concur. To give you, however, an opportunity of placing in the Senate of the United States a member who may devise and enforce the means of relieving our fellowcitizens from their present sufferings, without sacrificing the peace of the nation, the personal liberties of our seamen, or the neutral rights of our commerce, I now restore to you the trust committed to my charge, and resign my seat as a senator of the United States, on the part of the Commonwealth. "I am, with perfect respect, gentlemen, your very humble and obedient servant,

"Boston, June 8, 1808."

"JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

This event, however unpleasant, at the time, it might have been to his feelings, did not interrupt the career of his public life, for which he was so pre-eminently qualified. The acquisition of a man, possessed of such superior endowments, to a party, was not to be neglected by government; and in the year 1809 he was appointed, by Mr. Madison, Minister Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of Russia. In the discharge of this important trust, he acquitted himself with his usual ability, and by his efforts contributed greatly to those amicable relations which have, and in all probability will long continue to exist, between that powerful nation and the Unit ed States.