In giving the powerful aid of his political knowledge in the formation of the Constitution of this his native State, which Constitution became in a great measure the model of those which were subsequently formed:

In conciliating the favor of foreign powers, and obtaining their countenance and support in the arduous struggle for independence:

In negociating the treaty of peace, which secured forever the sovereignty of the United States, and in defeating all attempts to prevent it, and especially in preserving in that treaty the vital interest of the New England States :

In demonstrating to the world in his defence of the constitutions of the several United States, the contested principle, since admitted as an axiom, that checks and balances in legislative power, are essential to true liberty :

In devoting his time and talents to the service of the nation in the high and important trusts of Vice President and President of -the United States :

And lastly, in passing an honorable old age in dignified retirement, in the practice of all the domestic virtues, thus exhibiting to his countrymen and to posterity an example of true greatness of mind and of genuine patriotism :

Therefore, Resolved, that the members of this Convention, representing the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do joyfully avail themselves of this opportunity to testify their respect and gratitude to this eminent patriot and statesman, for the great services rendered by him to his country, and their high gratification that at this late period of life, he is permitted by Divine Providence to assist them with his counsel in revising the Constitution which forty years ago his wisdom and prudence assisted to form.

Resolved, that a committee of twelve be appointed by the chair to communicate this proceeding to the Hon. John Adams, to inform him of his election to preside in this body, and to introduce him to the chair of this Convention.

NOTE O.

Dr. Franklin, Samuel Chase, and Charles Carroll, commissioners to form a union between the people of the United Colonies and those of Canada, left New York in the beginning of April, on their way thither. As the priests have been prevailed upon to refuse the sacrament to those of the Canadians who are deemed rebels, and as it acts powerfully against the American interest, a priest is gone from Maryland to perform all the needful services of the Romish religion.-Gordon.

35

FAMILY, WILLS, &c.

As every thing relating to these great men, will be interesting to the world, we subjoin at the request of a friend whose judgment we value highly, all we can learn (in season for this publication) of their families, &c.

Mr. Jefferson was married January 1, 1772, to a daughter of Mr. Wayles, an eminent lawyer in Virginia. Mrs. Jefferson died in the autumn of 1782, leaving two daughters. One of these daughters married John W. Eppes, a distinguished member of Congress from Virginia. Mrs. Eppes died, leaving two children, one of whom alone survived in 1817-who we believe has died since. Mr. Jefferson's other daughter married Thomas Mann Randolph, late Governor of Virginia. Gov. Randolph possessed an estate near Monticello, but his family generally formed part of that assembled at Monticello. Mrs. Randolph "has had, I understand, eleven children, two or three of whom have died. She had two daughters married; she lost a married daughter last winter, Mrs. Bankhead. Her son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, the executor of his grandfather, is about 24 or 25 years old; he has, I think, but one brother." Mr. Jefferson mentions in his will, two grand-sons-in-law, Nicholas P. Trist, and Joseph Coolidge of Boston.

Mr. Jefferson gave his Library to the University of Virginia, and his valuable manuscripts and papers to his grandson and executor, Thomas Jefferson Randolph.

The University of Virginia has requested permission to erect a monument over Mr. Jefferson's remains.

None of our Presidents have had sons, except John Adams and his son John Q. Adams. Neither Washington nor Madison had any children. Jefferson and Monroe only daughters.

John Adams was married in 1764, to Abigail, the second daughter of the late Rev. William Smith, the respectable clergyman of Weymouth. She died Oct. 31, 1818.

Their eldest child was a daughter now deceased. She was married in England in 1785, to Col. William Stevens Smith, who had served in the army as assistant inspector general and Aid to Washington, but was then Secretary of legation. Three of their children survive, two sons, and one daughter, the wife of John P. Dewint, of Fishkill, N. Y.

Their second child was John Q. Adams, married in London in 1797, to Louisa Katharine, daughter of Joshua Johnson, Esq. of Maryland, then Consul at London. They have three sons, George Washington, now representative from Boston in our Legislature, and two younger sons. The second son, John Adams, private secretary to the President, was born July 4.

Their third child was Charles Adams, now deceased. He married the sister of Col. Smith, now living, and left two daughters.

The one the wife of Alexander B. Johnson, Esq. of Utica, N. Y. who has several children; the other, the widow of Charles T. Clark, Esq. who has a daughter, and who resided with her grandfather.

Their youngest child was the Hon. Thomas Boylston Adams, late Judge of the Common Pleas, and member of the Executive Council, who married the daughter of Joseph Harrod, Esq. of Haverhill, and has six children, all minors, two daughters and four sons. They lived in the family with the late President after the death of Mrs. Adams.

Mr. Adams bequeathed to his son John Q. Adams, his mansion house and valuable papers. He gave to the town of Quincy a valuable lot of land, estimated at 10,000 dollars, to erect a granite house, for the church of which he was a member for sixty years. He also bequeathed another lot of land to the town for an Academy, and his Library of more than 2000 volumes for the use of that Academy.

LETTER

From Mr. Jefferson to Mr. Adams, on the death of his Wife. MONTICELLO, November 13, 1818. The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of October 20th, had given me ominous foreboding.

Tried myself in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connexion which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost,-what you have suffered,—are suffering, and have yet to endure. The same trials have taught me, that for ills so immeasurable, time and silence are the only medicines. I will not therefore, by useless condolences, open afresh the sluices of your grief, nor, although mingling sincerely, my tears with yours, will I say a word more, where words are vain; but that it is of some comfort to us both, that the term is not very distant, at which we are to deposit in the same cerement, our sorrows, and suffering bodies; and to ascend in essence, to an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and whom we shall still love, and never lose again. God bless you and support you under your heavy affliction." THOMAS JEFFERSON.

EULOGY,

PRONOUNCED AT PORTSMOUTH, NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

August 10th, 1826.

BY EDWARD TURNER.

We have assembled, my Friends and Countrymen, to discharge duties of no ordinary character; duties, which concern not only ourselves, but our children, and our country, even to the most distant generations. We have convened, to render to the illustrious dead, the public honors, which liberal feeling and lively gratitude demand. We have come to this place, to transcribe from the roll of fame the names of two of the most eminent men of our country, and register their characters on the tables of our hearts. We are here to offer them a tribute, which to withhold would be a criminal neglect, the guilt of which would bear a direct proportion to the civic virtues they possessed, and to the political blessings they were instrumental in procuring for, and confirming to the land of their birth. To eulogize departed worth, is not to be considered as an act of mere ostentation, or as an unmeaning or unimportant service; nor do we engage in it from a servile compliance with custom. Our obligations are of a higher character; we have nobler ends; we are actuated by purer motives. The voice of reason, and of the nation commands, that the record of the deeds of our sages and patriots should not perish, when their bodies are consigned to the earth; and the period, when the public sensibility is most powerfully excited, is justly considered the most favorable to those impressions, which it is a nation's honor to receive and retain.

Scarcely had the cheerful peal, that proclaimed our national jubilee, ceased to sound, than the knell of death an