in the first Continental Congress, but for the disinterested part of Joseph Hawley, whoever waiving his own claims to distinction countenanced the selection of his friend. The delegates of the Whigs met at Philadelphia, in 1774, for consultation only. The middle and southern Colonies had few immediate or apprehended wrongs of their own to be redressed, and hence it became a question of vast moment to ascertain how far they would commit themselves; and Mr. Adams was convinced in due time, that, were prudent measures pursued, they would stand by "the Massachusetts, or perish with her." And, as we trace his movements subsequently, we are satisfied that, whatever his censures of some of his associates because of disputes and delays, he planned, spoke, and acted upon the firm belief that New England would in no event be deserted. It is due to the memory of Christopher Gadsden, of South Carolina, to say, on every occasion like the present, that, "a decisive genius," he was a man after John Adams's own heart, and with him, with Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams, feared, as early as the first Con gress, that far graver duties than conferences, or the framing of petitions and remonstrances, would devolve upon them and their successors.

There is much in these two volumes not to be found elsewhere, so far as we are aware, with regard to public affairs anterior to the Declaration of Independence. We must, however, omit everything beyond a meagre outline. His notings from day to day of the transactions in Congress, and of his own particular acts, in session, out of doors, and in committee; his plain-spoken praise of the brave, and rebukes of those whom he deemed wavering, wayward, and timid; and here and there a glimpse behind the curtain, to assure us that what we call wire-pulling, or adroit political management, was not then wholly unknown, are all full of interest to the painstaking inquirer into the past. So, also, his notes of the debates, mere skeletons as they are, cast some light upon the fears which agitated, the hopes which animated, and the reasons which influenced the memorable Congress that proclaimed the dismemberment of the British empire. These sketches, however unsatisfactory, are among the few that are known to exist.

Could our fathers have anticipated the value to their posterity of every written scrap and every stray leaf relating to the "Rebellion" which they led, and to the Revolution which they consummated, uncertain as they were of their own doom, and slight as were their opportunities of perpetuating their speeches, compared with those of the present day, — we are sure they would not have left us to regret, as now, the want of full and accurate reports of their proceedings.

Mr. Adams was a keen observer of men, and he was fond of recording his impressions of those with whom he mingled. Of some, his remarks were sufficiently piquant. Thus, of the Massachusetts gentlemen of mark, Robert Treat Paine* appears in the record possessed of wit and learning, but an impudent, ill-bred, conceited fellow; Andrew Oliver, a very sagacious trifler; Timothy Ruggles,† a man of quick apprehension, of strict honor and above meanness, but proud and lordly, and one whom people approached with fear and terror; Jeremiah Gridley, very learned, a sound reasoner, and of majestic manner, yet stiff and affected; Benjamin Kent, full of fun, drollery, humor, flouts, and jeers; Harrison Gray, of delicate sensibilities, and extremely timid; Thomas Cushing,§ steady and constant, and famed for secrecy and shrewdness in procuring intelligence; Benjamin Gridley, one of the best story-tellers of the time, a man of fancy, wit, and observation, but an idler in bed, inattentive to business, and a lover of drink and frolic; Judge Oliver, better bred than any of his associates on the bench, for all the others were at times indecent and disagreeable companions; Samuel Adams,* zealous and ardent, yet always for gentle measures when others were not necessary, with a most thorough love of liberty, of unbending integrity and sin

*A signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The leading Tories or Loyalists of Massachusetts were Ruggles, President of the Stamp-Act Congress in 1765; Gray, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts; Gridley, barrister-at-law and Attorney-General of Massachusetts; Oliver, Chief Justice of Massachusetts; and Auchmuty, Judge of Admiralty. All were proscribed and banished. Ruggles died in Nova Scotia; all the others went to England.

He went to Halifax, N. S., in the Revolution, and died there. § A Whig, and Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts.

cere piety, of pleasing manners, a correct and skilful writer, and one who, as he himself said, had never looked forward in his life, never planned, laid a scheme, or formed a design of laying up anything for himself or others after him"; Robert Auchmuty,* always scolding about the lowness of the fees, always heavy, dull, and insipid as a pleader, — “volubility, voluble repetition, and repeated volubility, fluent reiterations and reiterating fluency."

On his way to attend the first Congress, Mr. Adams stopped at New York. He found, he states, that the Delanceys† and the Livingstons were the great families upon whose movements the politics of the Colony turned; and we have what he heard and what he thought of the leading personages there. Thus, William Smith, ‡ the historian, appeared to be a plain, composed man. Morin Scott, the great advocate, kept a chariot, owned an elegant seat, was reputed one of the readiest speakers on the continent, was very sensible, but not remarkably polite, and could "sit up all night at his bottle, yet argue to admiration next day." Mr. Adams saw several members of Congress. Of these, Alsop was a soft, sweet man, a merchant of good heart, but supposed to be deficient in talents for the place; Low, a gentleman of fortune, in trade, whose sincerity was doubted; § William Livingston, || neither elegant nor genteel, plain, tall, black, and no speaker, yet learned, and a ready writer; Duane, ¶ artful and insinuating, a plodding body at the bar, with a feeble voice, and unhappily involved in land speculations nearly to the extent of his fortune; Philip Livingston, ** "a great, rough, rapid mortal," with whom nobody could converse, who blustered away, and

*See note on preceding page.

† Tories or Loyalists.

A Tory finally. He removed to Canada, and was Chief Justice of that Colony.

This suspicion was well founded. He fell off, joined the royal side, and went to England.

|| Afterwards Whig Governor of New Jersey. Mr. Jay married his daughter. First Mayor of the city of New York, after the evacuation by the British army, and first Judge of the United States District Court.

** He signed the Declaration of Independence, notwithstanding the opinion here expressed.

declared, that, "if England should turn us adrift, we should instantly go to civil wars among ourselves."

As Mr. Adams entered the city, he wrote in his Diary that he designed to make it a subject of much speculation. Having visited every part of it, worshipped in the churches, rode to the gentlemen's seats in the country, breakfasted, dined, and supped with persons of the first consideration, admired the beauties in full dress, and gazed upon the rich plate and gorgeous furniture, he records the result:

"With all the opulence and splendor, there is very little of good breeding to be found. We have been treated with an assiduous respect; but I have not seen one real gentleman, one well-bred man, since I came to town. At their entertainments there is no conversation that is agreeable; there is no modesty, no attention to one another. They talk very loud, very fast, and altogether. If they ask you a question, before you can utter three words of your answer, they will break out upon you again, and talk away."

This is sufficiently explicit, certainly; for a man who had been feasted to the point of surfeit, somewhat ungracious, and indicative of strong local prejudice. But the Fifth Avenue had not then been opened.

For the curious eye that would see many prominent Revolutionists in a group, and at a single view, we collate and condense his notices of several of the persons with whom he was officially associated at Philadelphia. "There is in the Congress," he said, in 1774, "a collection of the greatest men upon this continent, in point of abilities, virtues, and fortunes." Let us take a glance at these, and at the more celebrated "collection," two years later. We select almost at random. John Rutledge is said to have been a good lawyer, not excelling in learning; in speaking, he dodged about his head, and spouted out his words in a rough, rapid torrent; he was of unpromising appearance, without keenness of eye or depth of countenance. Bland † is learned and bookish, and

* He studied law at the Temple, London; was Governor of South Carolina during a large part of the Revolution; and was appointed Chief Justice of the United States by Washington. A cabinet officer wrote, at the time of this appointment, that Rutledge was "a driveller and fool." He was not confirmed by the Senate. † Writer of one of the three political essays published in Virginia, while the Revolutionary controversy was pending.

so zealous as to declare that he would have attended Congress had it met at Jericho. Harrison* is indolent, luxurious, and of no service in session or in committee, but a great embarrassment in both,-"another Falstaff, excepting in his larcenies and robberies: his conversation disgusting to every man of delicacy or decorum." Heyward* is an excellent member, generally silent in debate, yet always to be depended on for sound measures. Rush had been much in London, is elegant and ingenious, and "a sprightly, pretty fellow." Jay† is a young lawyer of twenty-six, a superior man, a hard student, and a good speaker. Deane is possessed of talent, but with more ambition than principle, of plausible readiness of tongue and pen, of ostentatious habits in dress and living, without reflection, solid judgment, or real information. Middleton, the "hero of Quaker and proprietary politics in Congress," is poorly informed, and feeble in argument, rude, and sarcastic; still, "an honest and generous fellow." Carroll* is very sensible, supposed to possess the first fortune in America, with an annual income of some fifty thousand dol lars, and great expectations as an heir besides. Johnson § is well read in law and trade, a man of clear, cool head, a solid thinker, but not a shining orator. Wythe* is an eminent lawyer, and "one of our best men." Hopkins,* a man of threescore and ten, has great humor and extensive reading, keeps everybody in spirits with his stories and jokes, and at the same time is useful in matters of business, because of good judgment and long experience. Dyer is "long-winded, round-about, obscure, and cloudy," yet worthy and wellmeaning. Hall and Gwinnett are intelligent and spirited. Rodney "the oddest-looking man in the world" — is tall, thin, pale, and slender as a reed, with a face "not bigger than a large apple," still, with sense, fire, and wit. Nelson is fat, yet lively and alert for one so heavy, and a speaker. Gads

*

* A signer of the Declaration of Independence.

† Governor of New York, special envoy to England, and Chief Justice of the United States.

He fell off, and his sun went down in sorrow and destitution.

He became Governor of Maryland, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.