to adapt them to the "late change" in the principles of the government, and make them "more congenial to the republican spirit." The completion of this work in June '79, established his reputation as a great law maker, and gave a permanent stamp to his liberal and philanthropic principles. The prohibition of the "execrable commerce" in slaves; the foundation of schools for general education; the recognition of the right of expatriation; the abolition of entails and the right of primogeniture, and the establishment of religious toleration, are among the striking characteristics imparted to it by Mr. Jefferson.

His occupation in this arduous task, so necessary to the security and prosperity of his native State, induced him, it is presumed, to decline in '78 the acceptance of a mission to France.

Virginia, proud of distinguishing this favorite son, in the turbulent years of '79 and '80 placed him, as the successor of Patrick Henry, in the highest office of the State. And in '81, willing to serve his fellow-citizens in any station, we find him descending from the chair of chief Magistrate and occupying again a seat in the Legislature.

It was during this anxious period that his habits of industry and vigor of intellect enabled him at intervals, to draw from his public avocations the time necessary to compose his celebrated "Notes on Virginia." This work, the merits of which are too well known to authorise me to dwell on them, happily displays the refined taste and varied resources no less than the liberal and enlightened principles and character of its author. I will only mention that, in the " Defence of the American Constitutions" by Mr. Adams, he seeks occasion to advert to this performance of his compeer—a fact which seems to fall in, strikingly, with that coincidence between them consummated on the fourth day of last month.

The year '82 would again have found him closely associated with Mr. Adams in the important mission for concluding a treaty of peace-thus giving to these statesmen the honor of

terminating a war they had so conspicuously aided in commencing and prosecuting-but the news of the signing of the preliminaries of peace arrived at the moment he was about to embark.

Thus accidentally kept at home, his fellow-citizens, as if there could be no interval in his public services, returned him as a member of Congress for the year '83.

By recurring to Mr. Adams and briefly tracing him to this ? od, we shall immediately find these unwearied patriots close association, and performing important offices

Jad.

Mr. Adams' labors in Congress were closed at the end of the year 1777, by his becoming our Minister to France. He soon however returned to America; and the short succeeding interval at home was filled up by his taking a principal part in framing a new Constitution for Massachusetts, and in communicating his views to Congress upon the importance of an alliance with France.

He was suffered to remain but a short time in this comparative retirement, when he was again sent to Europe as a commissioner to the States General of the United Netherlands; and in this character rendered most timely and essential services to his country by the large loans of money which he obtained, and by the treaty of amity and commerce of 282.

In this year he was one of the Ministers of the U. S. who negotiated and signed the preliminary articles, and in the next year the definitive Treaty of Peace with Great Britain. The highly favorable terms of this treaty excited the surprise even of the frier lly European powers, as well as a vehement clamor in Great Britain. The interests of our country were faithfully attended to, and the zeal, wisdom, firmness and diplomatic address of the American negotiators universally acknowledged. From us a peculiar expression of gratitude seems to be due to them since we know that a struggle was necessary in order to obtain the ample western boundary, and

the free navigation of the Mississippi, eventually secured by the Treaty. Mr. Jefferson, as has been stated, was not a party to it. But does the wonderful parallelism of conduct to which we have so often referred, cease here, and leave Him with no corresponding claim upon the affections of the West? Not so. Who can cast his eyes towards the Pacific, or the Gulph of Mexico; can contemplate the deep and spreading stream of population-of wealth-of universal plenty and happiness---the boundless theatre opened for the exercis government on the principles of the Revolution:, wh witness all this without a benediction on him who acqu for us that vast territory, and paid toward the considerat not one drop of his country's blood? How happy, too, the contrast between the policy of Mr. Jefferson and that which shortly before our deliverance had refused to allow the Colonists, at their own hazard and expense, to settle the beautiful valley of the Ohio! But let not a grateful impulse lead me too far from my task as an humble annalist.

und

Continuing in Europe, Mr. Adams was joined with Mr. Jefferson in a general commission for making treaties of commerce with European powers; and under this authority they concluded treaties with the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Morocco.

In 1785, whilst Mr. Jefferson was Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of our early ally, the ill-fated Louis XVI. Mr. Adams filled the same honorable station in Great Britain, appearing as the dignified representative of a free people, before a Monarch who but a short time before had contemptuously withheld from him and them the rights secured to the meanest of his other subjects.

Thus, alike intrusted with the maintenance of the honor and rights of their country abroad, they met in London, upon the subject of the commercial interests of the United States; but, owing to the nature of our then confederation, failed to form the desired connections.

In '88 Mr. Adams returned home, and was met by this most flattering resolution: "Resolved, That Congress entertain a high sense of the services which Mr. Adams has rendered to the United States in the execution of the various important trusts which they have, from time to time, committed to him; and that the thanks of Congress be presented to him for the patriotism, perseverance, integrity and diligence with which he has ably and faithfully served his country.".

The succeeding year of '89 brought Mr. Jefferson from Paris, and restored him to his grateful country. He was received with open arms; and hardly had he set foot on the shores of Virginia, when he was met by the commission of Secretary of State, from General Washington.

Thus again, in the first administration under the new fedcral compact, and during that trying period which involved the preservation of our just and dignified neutrality, he is once more placed directly by the side of Mr. Adams, then the first Vice-President of the United States.

The purest honors and the highest exaltation await them. A great and delivered Nation, mindful of the perils they had encountered and the imperishable benefactions they had bestowed, by its free choice raises each of them successively to the second and to the first office of the Republic. And after each had given upwards of forty years of active service to his country, they withdraw, followed by the admiration of the good and the wise, to the place of their birth, and to the bosom of their families, at different periods, but at the same venerable age. Released from the harassing cares of government, they become, in private life, the rejoicing spectators of their own great works, and the happy examples of every domestic and social virtue.

What an admirable illustration is thus furnished of the principles which they had avowed at the outset of their career! They retire without commotion, and undisturbed by one feeling of disappointed ambition. The transition from the high

est earthly distinction to perfect privacy, is as tranquil as an ordinary domestic transaction.

Yet such men could not look upon public affairs with cold indifference. They could never weary of well doing. Dur ing the late war, they watched with the liveliest interest the principles and progress of the contest. The elder of the two, when upon the verge of four-score years, put out a paper in defence of Seamen's Rights, irresistible in argument, and powerful as the work of his younger days. Mr. Jefferson, reverting to his early love of literature and science, is found the active patron of both, and in the office of Rector of the Virginia University, anxiously providing for the adequate education of the future Statesmen and Patriots of our country. But amidst these soothing occupations he, too, was roused by the hostile tread of the enemy on our shores. We are informed, that, amongst his papers, is the copy of a letter which he addressed to the then President of the United States, on occasion of the capture of Washington City, and which is represented to be a master-piece of eloquent and patriotic enthusiasm. We may imagine some of its spirit-stirring topics: Its reference to the experience of the Revolution-to the capture of Philadelphia in 1777—to the gloomy anticipations of that period and to the bright result which finally rewarded the steady and undismayed exertions of the patriots of that day.

But, the splendor of military achievement, it may be said, does not surround the names of Adams and of Jefferson. True, it does not; and what better evidenee could be offered of their extraordinary merit, than the homage universally proffered to men, the arduous scene of whose labors has so few comparative charms for the eye and the imagination? Their Country kept them from the field. It assigned to them other duties of a most critical and arduous character. But, though they did little of the manual labor of fighting, their spirit was infused into every part of the contest. And when permitted, we find them promptly and resolutely encountering every per