"Be not surprised that I am turned politician. This whole town is immersed in politics. The interests of nations and all the dira of war make the subject of every conversation. I sit and hear, and after having been led through a maze of sage observations, I sometimes retire, and by laying things together, form some reflections pleasing to myself."

Mr. Adams did not evidently consider the schoolteacher's calling a very desirable one, or his chances of greatness very certain in its pursuit. In one of his letters he remarks:

"The school is indeed a school of affliction. But Dr. Savil tells me, for my comfort, 'by cultivating and pruning these tender plants in the garden of Worcester, I shall make of them plants of renown and cedars of Lebanon.' However this may be, I am certain that keeping this school any length of time would make a base weed and ignoble shrub of me."

Although in one of his letters, written at this time, he freely discusses the chances and character of the three so-called learned professions, medicine, law, and divinity, he concludes by saying that "the man who lives wholly to himself is of less worth than the cattle in his barn," and adds: "However, I am yet very contented in the place of a school-master. I shall not, therefore, very suddenly become a preacher."

On the 22d of August, 1755, he wrote in his Diary :—

"Yesterday I completed a contract with Mr. Putnam to study law under his inspection for two years. I ought to begin with a resolution to oblige and please him, and his lady in a particular manner. I ought to endeavor to oblige and please every body, but them in particular. Necessity drove me to this determination, but my inclination, I think, was to preach. However, that would not do. But I set out with firm resolutions, I think, never to commit any meanness or injustice in the practice of the law. The study and practice of law, I am sure, does not dissolve the obligations of morality or of religion.'

It does not appear from these reflections that Mr. Adams then had a very exalted idea of the profession he was about to enter, but he certainly struck the keynote to the way of making it or any other calling noble, by doing no meanness, and in no way losing the sense of moral and religious obligation. He was starting in the royal road to an honorable position in the legal profession.

At the time of engaging to study under Mr. Putnam, he also agreed to teach the school at Worcester during the two years' term of that engagement. This was his only means of support at the time. He was also to board in the family of Mr. Putnam, and hence he felt the necessity of pleasing the lawyer's wife. But in announcing his disposition to please everybody, he was at the outset putting forward one of the great elements of success in his character, to which, however, he did not always adhere in after-life.

Although the legal profession had stood very low in this country, partly by reason of the method of conducting matters of law and justice by the British king, and partly from the little need of lawyers which had been felt; yet at the time he made choice of pursuit, against the desire of his family and friends, who preferred his entering the ministry, the law profession was becoming of more importance in the Colonies, and many of the leading young men of the country were entering it, believing it the most extended field for the exertion of talent, and rising to public consequence; some of these being Mr. Adams's more favored friends. A letter written to Charles Cushing, dated Worcester, October 19, 1756, sets forth in a decided tone Mr. Adams's preference for the course selected,

and indicates some of his reasons for rejecting the one desired by his friends. He wrote as follows :

"MY FRIEND,-I look upon myself obliged to give you the reasons that induced me to resolve upon the study and profession of the law, because you were so kind as to advise me to a different profession.

"When yours came to hand, I had thoughts of preaching, but the longer I lived and the more experience I had of that order of men, and of the real design of that institution, the more objections I found in my own mind to that course of life.

"I have the pleasure to be acquainted with a young gentleman of fine genius, cultivated with indefatigable study, of a generous and noble disposition, and of the strictest virtue; a gentleman who deserves the countenance of the greatest men, and the charge of the best parish in the Province. But with all these accomplishments, he is despised by some, ridiculed by others, and detested by more, only because he is suspected of Arminianism. And I have the pain to know more than one, who has a sleepy, stupid soul, who has spent more of his waking hours in darning his stockings, smoking his pipe, or playing with his fingers, than in reading, conversation, or reflection, cried up as promising young men, pious and orthodox youths, and admirable preachers. As far as I can observe, people are not disposed to inquire for piety, integrity, good sense, or learning, in a young preacher, but for stupidity (for so I must call the pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces), irresistible grace, and original sin. I have not, in one expression, exceeded the limits of truth, though you think I am warm. Could you advise me, then, who you know have not the highest opinion of what is called orthodoxy, to engage in a profession like this? But I have other reasons too numerous to explain fully.

"The students in the law are very numerous, and some of them youths of which no country, no age, would need to be ashamed. And if I can gain the honor of treading in the rear, and silently admiring the noble air and gallant achievements of the foremost rank, I shall think myself worthy of a louder triumph than if I had headed the whole army of orthodox preachThe difficulties and discouragements I am under are a full match for all the resolution of which I am master. But I comfort myself with this consideration, the more danger the greater

ers.

glory. The general, who at the head of a small army encounters a more numerous and formidable enemy, is applauded, if he strove for the victory and made a skillful retreat, although his army is routed and a considerable extent of territory lost. But if he gains a small advantage over the enemy, he saves the interest of his country, and returns amidst the acclamations of the people, bearing the triumphal laurel to the capitol. I have cast myself wholly upon fortune. What her ladyship will be pleased to do with me, I can't say. But wherever she shall lead me, or whatever she shall do with me, she can not abate the sincerity with which I trust I shall always be your friend."

The dis

The term orthodoxy, as Mr. Adams uses it here, has a sense somewhat peculiar to the time, and was more general in its application than at this day. Many orthodox Christians now are Arminians. They are found even in the Church of England. solute habits of many of the clergy of the Established Church had much to do in determining the course Mr. Adams took, as also the great dearth of morals and religion in the Church.

He again wrote as follows, farther describing his course, and the difficulties which surrounded him :

"Between the years 1751, when I entered, and 1755, when I left college, a controversy was carried on between Mr. Bryant, the minister of our parish, and some of his people, partly on account of his principles, which were called Arminian, and partly on account of his conduct, which was too gay and light, if not immoral. Ecclesiastical councils were called, and sat at my father's house. Parties and their acrimonies arose in the Church and congregation, and controversies from the press between Mr. Bryant, Mr. Niles, Mr. Porter, and Mr. Bass, concerning the five points. I read all these pamphlets and many other writings on the same subjects, and found myself involved in difficulties beyond my powers of decision. At the same time, I saw such a spirit of dogmatism and bigotry in clergy and laity, that, if I should be a priest, I must take my side, and pronounce as positively as any of them, or never get a parish, or, getting it, must soon leave it.

Very strong doubts arose in my mind, whether I was made for a pulpit in such times, and I began to think of other professions. I perceived very clearly, as I thought, that the study of theology, and the pursuit of it as a profession, would involve me in endless altercations, and make my life miserable, without any prospect of doing any good to my fellow-men.

"The last two years of my residence at college produced a club of students (I never knew the history of the first rise of it), who invited me to become one of them. Their plan was to spend their evenings together in reading any new publications, or any poetry or dramatic compositions that might fall in their way. I was as often requested to read as any other, especially tragedies, and it was whispered to me and circulated among others that I had some faculty for public speaking, and that I should make a better lawyer than divine. This last idea was easily understood and embraced by me. My inclination was soon fixed upon the But my judgment was not so easily determined. There were many difficulties in the way.

"Although my father's general expectation was that I should be a divine, I knew him to be a man of so thoughtful and considerate turn of mind, to be possessed of so much candor and moderation, that it would not be difficult to remove any objections he might make to my pursuit of physic or law, or any other reasonable course. My mother, although a pious woman, I knew had no partiality for the life of a clergyman. But I had uncles and other relations, full of the most illiberal prejudices against the law. I had, indeed, a proper affection and veneration for them, but as I was under no obligation of gratitude to them, which could give them any color of authority to prescribe a course of life for me, I thought little of their opinions. Other obstacles more serious than these presented themselves. A lawyer must have a fee for taking me into his office. I must be boarded and clothed for several years. I had no money; and my father, having three sons, had done as much for me, in the expenses of my education, as his estate and circumstances could justify, and as my reason or my honor would allow me to ask. I, therefore, gave out that I would take a school, and took my degree at college undetermined whether I should study divinity, law, or physic.

"In the public exercises at commencement, I was somewhat remarked as a respondent, and Mr. Maccarty of Worcester, who was empowered by the selectmen of that town to procure them a

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