of immortal fame, and should have been content if that moment had been my last." B. 1735. JOHN ADAMS. D. 1826. JOHN ADAMS cannot be reckoned as unconscious of his claims to greatness. To show how he felt after his defeat by Jefferson, and when he was not even cordially supported by the Federalists, I take from a letter, written by him in 1808, the following extract: "If my actions have not been sufficient to support my fame, let it perish. No higher ambition remains with me than to build a tomb upon the summit of the hill before my door, covered with a six-foot cube of Quincy granite, with an inscription like this: Alexander Hamilton supported John Adams for a re-election to the Presidency, but evidently with much reluctance, and preferred Mr. Pinckney, as he made known to many of his Federal associates. In a letter of Mr. Hamilton—not to be found in his published 1 I know of no more remarkable heredity of talent than that exhibited in the Adams family, continuing conspicuously even to the fourth generation, but all equally "constitutionally incapable of fidelity" to any political party. works-on "The Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq., President of the United States," A.D. 1800, besides some cogent arguments adverse to Mr. Adams, Hamilton seems glad to record several illustrative examples of vanity, some of which he says appeared in a journal of Mr. Adams that was sent by the Secretary of State to Congress, perhaps by accident, the reading of which was stopped on the ground that it bore the marks of a private and confidential paper. Hamilton recalls to his recollection the following: Being among the guests invited to dine with the Count de Vergennes, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Adams thought fit to give a specimen of American politeness by conducting Madame de Vergennes to dinner; in the way, she was pleased to make retribution, in the current coin of French politeness, by saying to him, "Monsieur Adams, vous êtes le Washington de negociation." Stating the incident, Mr. Adams makes this comment upon it: "These people have a very pretty knack of paying compliments.” "He might have added," says Hamilton, "they have also a very dexterous knack of disguising a sarcasm.” B. 1743. THOMAS JEFFERSON. D. 1826. GREAT and important as were the services of Thomas Jefferson, he was a bitter partisan, and by his resolutions of '98 came near to planting a States right obstruction in the pathway of the young Republic which threatened to end its career; but, instead, ended the career of John Adams, and made Jefferson his successor, which may, perhaps, have been the chief part of the original design. Jefferson, as well as John Adams, put a high value upon himself, and pursued his political opponents with vitriolic hatred. His "Anas"-the publication of which is to be lamented sputter and smoke with charges and insinuations against Hamilton; and he treated Aaron Burr as his friend until Burr's power to serve or injure him was gone forever. The question asked by himself, whether the world was better for his having lived, he answers by a statement in detail of what he had done. That he should have been so embarrassed in his extreme old age as to ask the Virginia legislature for authority to dispose of his property by a lottery, is a melancholy fact; and here again he catalogues his services, truthfully perhaps, but very stoutly. Though he had not escaped the virulence of criticism, he had certainly received more than compensatory public applause during his life, and was now diligent lest "the dull, cold ear of death" should escape being soothed by it afterwards. Here is one of his items, partly italicized by us: "If legislative services are worth mentioning, and the stamp of liberality and equality which was necessary to be imposed on our laws, in the first crisis of our birth as a nation, was of any value, they will find that the leading and most important laws of that day were prepared by myself, and carried chiefly by my efforts; supported, indeed, by able and faithful coadjutors from the ranks of the House, very effective as seconds, but who would not have taken the field as leaders." The acquisition of the mouth of the Mississippi and of the Louisiana Territory, which he might justly have claimed as one of his measures, does not appear in his list, but practically it was the highest in merit. B. 1742. ETHAN ALLEN. D. 1789. THE conflict of the Green Mountain Boys with the "Yorkers" was as loud in words as in acts. Ethan Allen was not wont to bridle his tongue, especially when flushed with success, and his abuse of Clinton was a torrent that always roared. His bravery in action is not to be disputed; but it may be questioned whether his big words were not always bigger than even his rashest deeds. "Had I but the orders," said he, "I could go to Albany and be head monarch in three weeks, and I have a good mind to do it." His answer, when asked for his authority to his demand for the surrender of Ticonderoga, "By the authority of the Continental Congress and the Great • Jehovah," is well known. An incident in Allen's life in reference to the capture of Ticonderoga has been often related, and, whether true or not, it has not been held to be slanderous of the old hero. On the Sunday following the capture, Parson Dewey, in his long prayer, thanked the Lord for the great deliverance. "Parson Dewey, Parson Dewey," was heard in a whisper by those sitting near Allen; but the clergyman was too much absorbed in his own thoughts to notice. interruptions, and only continued to thank the "Great Deliverer." "Parson Dewey!" was then heard all over the church by every one except the preacher. Allen could stand it no longer, and shouted in his stentorian voice, "Parson Dewey, just mention that I was there!" B. 1758. FISHER AMES. D. July 4, 1808. As his biographer says, "Mr. Ames was distinguished among the eminent men of our country, and this eminence is as apparent in his letters as in his brilliant congressional speeches. He was one of the great leaders of the Federal party, among such prominent figures as Alexander Hamilton, Timothy Pickering, Josiah Quincy, and others." Mr. Ames was by no means a vain man, but doubtless much too clever not to know his own power. In 1795 the great contest was upon the funding plan of Hamilton, and the opposition showed their hostility by attempting to strike out the resolution to prolong the temporary taxes to the year 1801. "This at last," writes |