only by prudence and by virtue. There are many invisible circumstances which are more important to enlarge our moral knowledge, than public occurrences. Thus Sallust, the great master of nature, has not forgot, in his account of Cataline, to remark that his walk was very quick, and again slow, as an indication of a mind revolving something with violent commotion."

After the surrender at York Town, while the Continental troops were preparing to receive the British, who were to march forth from the garrison and deliver up their arms, the commander-in-chief was heard to say, addressing himself to the division of the army to which he was attached, "My brave fellows, let no sensation of satisfaction for the triumphs you have gained, induce you to insult your fallen enemy; let no shouting, no clamorous huzzaing increase their mortification. It is sufficient satisfaction for us that we witness their humiliation. Posterity will huzza for us!"

Washington possessed great muscular strength of arm, and it was of unusual length. When young he threw a stone across the Rappahannock, and at the Natural Bridge he threw a stone higher than any person has since. An instance of his strength in this way occurred at the Pallisadoes up the North river, in 1789. Gen. Washington being at that post, on a temporary call with his staff, saw the officers attempting to throw stones from the high bluff, (which to the eye seemed almost perpendicular,) into the river below, but none were able to effect it. Washington alighted from his charger, and, seeking for a stone to his liking, took two or three quick steps, and giving it a jerk, (called the "Douglass cast," among the Virginians) he lodged it in the sounding water at least one rod from the shore. All the troops were so astonished and rejoiced that they gave three cheers.

An Indian, who was in the battle in which Braddock was defeated, afterwards used to say that he had eight fair shots at Washington. He concluded that he was specially preserved by the Great Spirit. Washington had four shot holes through his clothes. (See his letter to the Governor of Virginia.)

In 1772, at Kenawha, Col. Washington went to explore and survey with Dr. John Craik, Physician-General. They were there visited by an Indian chief and his party. This chief had fired at Washington at Braddock's defeat. He would not eat or drink, but said he came to see the young officer whom, sixteen years before, he had tried to kill, "as having an Indian wisdom." He had directed many of the rifles of his party at him, but said he, "He cannot die in battle: there is something, now I am old, bids me speak the voice of prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man and guides his destinies. He will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire." Dr. Craik often spoke of this.

At the battle of Monmouth, the general officers combined to ask Gen. Washington to spare his person; and Craik said it was invulnerable, especially when a ball threw the dirt on him from near his horse's feet; in this referring his confidence to the prophecy of the Indian.

I give the following verses to prove that Washington's mother formed

his character. It is by one (Mrs. Sigourney) who expresses_regret that she lies" without stone or name," in the burial place at Fredericksburg, Va.*

"Well may that realm confiding rest
Heroes and mighty chiefs to see,
Who finds its infant offspring blest
With monitors and guides like thee.

"A future age than ours more just
With his, shall blend thy honored name
And rear exulting o'er thy dust,

The monument of deathless fame."

The pediment of Washington's door I procured for the Masonic Lodge door, and the door itself is now in James Stokes's bank house in Germantown, the one down stairs which opens from the front into the back room, the largest door.

XXIV.-Extracts from Letters written by John Adams.
(Communicated by Mr John F. Watson.)

From a Letter dated June 8th, 1813.

"There are several things abroad which have been reported to have been intended to appear as pictures of me. I pretend not to judge of the merits of any of them, but there is not an approved likeness among them. My head has been so long the sport of painters, as my heart has been of libellers, that I shall make no objection to any use that may be made of either."

From a Letter dated December 17th, 1815.

"Dr. Rush, the last time I saw him in 1801, was as upright as a reed, and his countenance no less animated than intelligent. But his portrait which you have sent me, now exhibits the decrepitude of old age, and a costume of democratic plainness which my excellent friend too much affected. He thought it simplicity: I called it meanness."

From a Letter dated December 30th, 1815.

"Iwas born October 19th, 1735, in Quincy, then the north parish in Braintree. My father was John Adams, born in the same parish; my grandfather was Joseph Adams, Jr., born in the same parish; my great-grandfather was Joseph Adams, Sr., and my great-great-grandfather was Henry Adams, who came from England. These all lived and were buried in this parish, as their gravestones in the congregational churchyard distinctly show to this day.

"My mother was surnamed Boylston, a daughter of Peter Boylston,

The ladies of Vinginia have recently erected a monument over the remains of Mrs. Washington.

of Brokeline. I was educated partly at the public grammar school, and partly at a private academy under Mr. Joseph Marsh, both in this parish. In 1751 I entered Harvard College, in Cambridge. In 1755 I took my degree of Bachelor of Arts, and immediately undertook the care of the public grammar school in Worcester, where I lived in the family and studied law in the office of James Putnam till 1758, when I took my second degree at College, and the oath of an attorney in Boston. In 1761 I was admitted a Barrister at Law in Boston, in the Superior Court of Judicature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. In 1764 I married Abigail Smith, a daughter of the Rev. William Smith, of Weymouth. In 1767 my son John Quincy Adams was born in this parish. In 1770 I was a representative of the town of Boston in the Legislature of the province. From 1774 to 1778 I was a member of Congress. In 1778 I was sent to France as a Minister Plenipotentiary. In 1779 I was a member of the convention for forming the Constitution of Massachusetts, and in the same year, sent to Europe a second time, to treat of peace and commerce with Great Britain. In 1782 I signed the treaty with the States' General of the United Provinces; and on the 30th of November, the same year, the preliminaries, and on the 3d of September, 1783, the definite treaty of peace with Great Britain. In 1785 I was sent a minister to St. James' and remained there till 1788. In 1789 I was Vice President, and continued in that office till 1797, when I was chosen President. In 1801 I was turned out, and very nearly escaped being succeeded by Aaron Burr. For some years I was an unworthy President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Society for promoting Agriculture in Massachusetts.

"If these egotisms are not enough to satisfy you, I will answer any questions you will please to ask me. I would not have committed them to writing, if I had not been represented as a Spaniard, and in public volumes as a Scotchman, and in other writings as an Englishman, and as every thing else not what I am and always was.

"The late Governor, Samuel Adams, was not my brother. He was no nearer related to me than a second cousin. We had the same greatgrandfather. John was my father; Joseph, Jr., was my grandfather; the oldest son of Joseph Adams, senior, my great grandfather. Governor Adams was the son of Samuel Adams of Boston, the grandson of John Adams, of Boston, and the great grandson of Joseph Adams, senior, of this parish, now called Quincy, who was the common ancestor of us both.

In 1745, when Louisburg was conquered, I took a decided part against France and Great Britain too, for her ungrateful, unjust, contemptuous and insolent conduct towards my countrymen.

In 1755 I took a decided part against France and Great Britain too; thoroughly disgusted with the folly, the ignorance, the cowardice, the treachery of her conduct of the war against Canada. This indignation was much increased by her degrading treatment of our troops through the whole war.

Qu. narrowly?