President of the United States for four years from the 4th of March, 1825. A Committee was then appointed to wait upon him with information of the result; who, the next day reported the following in reply. “Gentlemen :—In receiving this testimonial from the representatives of the people and States of this Union, I am deeply sensible of the circumstances under which it has been given. All my predecessors in the high station to which the favor of the House now calls me, have been honored with majorities of the electoral voices in their primary colleges. It has been my fortune to be placed, by the divisions of sentiment prevailing among our countrymen on this occasion, in competition, friendly and honorable, with three of my fellow-citizens, all justly enjoying, in eminent degrees, the public favor; and of whose worth, talents, and services, no one entertains a higher or more respectful sense than myself. The names of two of them were, in the fulfilment of the provisions of the Constitution, presented to the selection of the House in concurrence with my own; names closely associated with the glory of the nation, and one of them further recommended by a larger minority of the primary electoral suffrages than mine. In this state of things, could my refusal to accept the trust, thus delegated to me, give an immediate opportunity to the people to form and to express, with a nearer approach to unanimity, the object of their preference, I should not hesitate to decline the acceptance of this eminent charge, and to submit the decision of this momentous question again to their determination. But the constitution itself has not so disposed of the contingency which would arise in the event of my refusal; I shall therefore repair to the post assigned me by the call of my country, signified through her constitutional organs; oppressed with the magnitude of the task before me, but cheered with the hope of that generous support from my fellow-citizens, which, in the vicissitudes of a life devoted to their service, has never failed to sustain me; confident in the trust, that the wisdom of the Legislative Councils will guide and direct me in the path of my official duty, and relying, above all, upon the superintending Providence of that Being" in whose hands our breath is, and whose are all our ways." "Gentlemen: I pray you to make acceptable to the House the assurance of my profound gratitude for their confidence, and to accept yourselves my thanks for the friendly terms in which you have communicated their decision. 66 "JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Washington, 10th Feb., 1825." The administration of Mr. Adams, like every other portion of his life, was too crowded with matter for history to admit of comment here. That it met with severe opposition, open and secret, all know, who are conversant with the records of the times. That, in reality, it was eminently dignified, moderate, conciliatory towards foreign powers, and the country, will be made manifest, we wisely regardful of the future welfare of are equally certain, by the pens of historians in another generation. Retiring from the Executive Chair in 1829, Mr. Adams, for the first time in a period of thirty-six years, passed into the quiet of a private life. It is impossible, however, for such men to hide away from the public eye. In 1831, the suffrages, nearly unanimous, of his native Congressional district, remanded him back to the service of the Commonwealth, electing him to a seat in the House of Representatives. The venerable ex-president accepted the appointment, and has since filled the office for fourteen successive years-not more, perhaps, from a fervent desire to serve the Republic, than from the fact, that his whole life, from the merest boyhood, having been passed before the world, among stirring movements, and events, it has become to him, in a manner, the mode of existence. It might very well be doubted if he would enjoy half as good health or spirits in complete retirement. But though thus, in his 78th year, still actively engaged in the public service, Mr. Adams yet pays the most diligent every-day attention to books. He has practised this, indeed, at all periods of his life, in the midst of the most important and engrossing occupations. A striking illustration, among many others, may be taken from the period of his administration. Harassed, as he was at that time, in addition to the usual Executive duties, with unremitting and violent opposition, distracted with various dissensions at home, as well as very difficult foreign relations, Mr. Adams still found time to draw up, for the improvement of his son, then a student at law, the most elaborate abstracts of the chief Orations Pascal. With such diligence, joined to a of Cicero, and the Provençal Letters of mind discursive yet perpetually observant, it is not wonderful that he should have acquired so vast a store of various information. The fields of knowledge which his intellect has traversed, and to which his memory can recur-especially in ancient literature, in history, and the many forms of philosophy-are immense. He has, above all, the most wide and thorough acquaintance with the social and political progress of the human race. It may safely be affirmed, that Mr. Adams knows more of the public and secret politics of all nations for the last hundred years than any man living. As we have not attempted to write the biography of this remarkable man, so we would not attempt to portray his character. These belong to the future historian. Posterity will take sufficient care that these be not neglected. Whether every particular act of his, in a public life of half a century, any more than the whole career of any other man who has moved many years before the people, is completely defensible, may then be determined. That, however, notwithstanding the various jealousies, the personal and party asperities-ripening too often into bitter animosities-which have arisen from time to time in the turmoil of political contests, Mr. Adams has a larger share, than any man among us, of the affectionate respect of his countrymen, has been evinced, we think, by the universal public voice. Men who warmly differ with him, on great national or sectional questions, cannot fail to venerate him for his extensive knowledge, his eminent abilities, his long public services, his earnest integrity, and the fervent purity of his moral character. No better proof of this could be adduced, than the welcomes which greeted him everywhere, from city to city, on his journey to the West, some months since, to take part in a scientific celebration. Mr. Adams is still in equable health and vigorous, walks with a short but firm and elastic step, and remains in perfect possession of all his intellectual faculties. No person who should see him breasting at sunrise the waters of the Potomac, as is his custom every day from the middle of spring till the middle of autumn, or traversing on foot, as he frequently does in the morning, before the sitting of the House commences, the entire distance of a mile and a half from his residence, near the President's, to the Capitol, would suppose that nearly eighty years of a most laborious life have passed over him. Certainly, any one listening to him speaking, fluently and clearly, an hour at a time on the floor of Congress, or conversing a whole evening without cessation, must be convinced that the powers of his mind are altogether unimpaired. He has a residence in Washington, and generally stays there till May, though the session may have closed before. In the summer and autumn he remains in his ancestral mansion, at Quincy. May he continue yet many years in the land he has so long honored, and go down to future time under that affectionate and venerable title, accorded him by his country-" THE OLD MAN ELOQUENT.” servative minds of the country, far more numerous, and more powerful, have had no organ of the kind through which to utter their sentiments, and spread a healthier influence through the community. Besides these considerations, it is evident to all that our literature demands place on a higher basis than hitherto it has occupied, and the character of the nation a more honorable defence against foreign malignity and arrogance. It is time we should free ourselves from literary dependence and the flood of trash inundating the country, and repel the hostility of Europe with the dignity that belongs to a great and prosperous people. It is thought expedient, therefore, to establish a Magazine or Review, which, discarding all sectional and sectarian influence, shall aim to defend the great and true interests of the Republic; to harmonize, in a kindlier acquaintanceship, the different sections of the country; to set forth more clearly the inexhaustible resources of our territory; to elevate the morals of the people; to withstand pusillanimity at home and indignities abroad; to promote American science, and diffusé throughout the land a higher order of taste in letters and the arts. Above all, it is, under God, the design of this Review to put down and demolish, by whatever weapons of reason or ridicule, the specious theories and doctrines assiduously sown among the people by Jacobin demagogues, and unprincipled, or visionary, organs of the press-holding forth in their place the only safe principles-liberty under law, progress without destroying, protection to every thing estab lished worthy of national honor. This periodical will be published monthly in the city of New-York, to be called "The American Review-a Whig Journal of Politics, Literature, Art and Science." The price of the Magazine will be FIVE DOLLARS a year; to be paid on receiving the first number. Single numbers fifty cents. Each number, containing about a hundred and twelve pages, printed in double columns, on fine paper, will consist of a leading political article, with a variety of literary miscellany, in history, biography, criticism, fiction, poetry, statistics, science and the arts. Every third or fourth number will also present a likeness of some distinguished man of the Republic, executed in the highest style of the art, together with an earnest and truthful biography, which may stand as a part of the history of the nation. In addition to the Congressional names above, a number of writers, both political and literary, from all sections, and acknowledged to be among the ablest in the community, have been secured is permanent contributors; and it is confidently believed that this periodical will be inferior to no other at any time issued in this country. The conduct of the Review will be under the control of George H. Colton, associated, however, especially in the political department, with other gentlemen of known standing and attain ments. That no person may hesitate in the matter of subscription, assurance is given that the permarent appearance of this Review will be put beyond contingency. It is earnestly requested of every one willing to be interested in this design, especially Whigs, to obtain as many subscribers as possible, transmitting them with their places of resílence, to the Editor in New-York, through the postmaster. If each would only procure, or be he means of procuring, one subscriber-and many could easily obtain a number-it is seen at once that most important aid would be extended to this Review with little trouble, and some serrice, we believe, to the great interests of the country, That this may be entered into the more readily by Committees, Societies, Clubs, &c., the folowing liberal terms are offered :-Five copies for $20; the amount to be remitted in current New-York funds; or any person becoming responsible for four copies, will receive a fifth gratis. Persons in the country, remitting the amount of subscription, can receive the work by mail, trongly enveloped, or in any other way arranged by themselves. One thing is particularly asked of all who wish to aid the work-SUBSCRIBE DIRECT TO THE EDITOR, G. H. COLTON, 118 NASSAU-STREET, NEW-YORK. It will save an agency discount of 20 r 30 per cent. By Law, remittances for all periodicals may be made free of expense, by mailing them in the resence of the postmaster. All communications to be addressed, post paid, to the Editor, G. H. Colton, 118 Nassau-street. The following are some of the testimonials of the Press, given on the appearance of the Feb. uary Number: # The American Review "is the work which the Whig Party have long needed. It is able, it s judicious, it is dignified. Let the Whigs wisely, generously step forward, and lace the Review on a basis of security and conscious power. Ten thousand subscribers would o this, and a fourth have already volunteered."-TRIBUNE. "The second No. of this new Monthly was promptly on our table with the first morning of he month. The Number is a capital one, and much the ablest and most valuable monthly vhich February has sent us. The work supplies a want which has long been deeply elt.-COURIER AND ENQUIRER. # "Our friends of the Democratic must nib their pens anew. This month their Whig rivals re clearly masters of the field. Indeed, we have never seen an abler number of any American Magazine, than this second Number of Mr. Colton's Review."-NEW WORLD. "The second Number of this excellent Magazine is received, and its Table of Contents is ich indeed. It is conducted with that measure of ability, we think, which must insure its sucess."-EXPRESS. A NEW SELECTION OF EASY AND CLASSICAL GREEK, PRINCIPALLY FROM THE EARLIER WRITERS; WITH COPIOUS NOTES AND REFERENCES TO THE GRAMMARS MOST WIDELY IN USE, OF E. A. SOPHOCLES AND PROF. BULLION : BY J. O. COLTON, FORMERLY TUTOR IN YALE COLLEGE: TO BE CAREFULLY REVISED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE EDITOR PREPARED BY E. A. SOPHOCLES. This Reader has been extensively introduced into schools and colleges throughout the country, and its merits generally acknowledged. When thoroughly revised, it will be a work peculiarly adapted, beyond any other of the kind, to induct the student, easily and by degrees, into a knowledge of the Greek language. Its great merits will be, that the Greek selected will be mostly of the pure style of the earlier writers; that it will not be too difficult for the learner, but lead on from the simplest passages to those less easy; that the notes will be ample but concise, not distracting the attention from the text by a display of unnecessary information; that there will be, from page to page, the fullest references to those Grammars which are most generally used through the country; and that the Lexicon will be particularly adapted, by its full definitions and forms of inflection, to make the acquisition of the language easier to the student. To the excellence of the former edition, many valuable testimonials have been given, chiefly from authorities in our first Colleges. It had, however, several defects, such as are incident to the first publication of a Classical work ; and it was intended by the Author to revise the work thoroughly for new editions. This having been some time since prevented by his unfortunate and early death, the revision will go on under other but careful hands; and it is believed that this Reader will be an aid to the rapid acquisition of the Greek language far superior to any other before the community. It is designed that the new edition shall be made ready for publication during the winter and spring. |