married a daughter of Mr. Wayles, || rebuked the cold cunning of Liston and the rash ardor of Genet. His reports on money and weights and measures; on the fisheries, and on the restrictions of commerce, are ample attestations of the enlarged views of the Philosopher and the financier. In 1797, he was elected Vice-Pre In private life, Mr Jefferson displayed a mild, easy, and obliging temper, though he was somewhat cold and reserved. In person, tall and of a slender make, fresh complexion, clear penetrating eyes, hair inclined to red, and possessing a very modest and affable deport an eminent Counsellor in Virginia, a lady since dead, with whom he lived in great harmony, and by whom he had two daughters. In 1774, he published A Summary of Views of the Rights of British America,' and was chosen one of the delegates from Virginia to the "Old Congress," which proclaimed Amer-sident, and four years after, Presiica Free. The distinguished part dent of the United States. For eight he performed in that body, will for- years he conducted the government ever associate the name of JEFFER- with a strength, a talent, a purity of SON with LIBERTY, wherever she may purpose, a respect to constitutional find an abiding place In 1775, he principles, which might serve as a is said to have been the author of model to his successors.* In 1809, the protest against the propositions he retired to Monticello to spend of Lord North. From 1777 to '79 his time in a more retired life, (for certain portions of those years) || though it may be truly said, he has he was occupied with Wythe and constantly devoted it to the best inPendleton, in revise the Laws of terests of his country. Virginia. In 177 he succeeded Patrick Henry as Governor of the State. In 1781, he composed his "Notes on Virginia," than which no work of equal dimensions has ever attained to greater reputation. In the summer of 1782, he was in Congress at the moment when the Virginia Legislature were framing a State Constitution.. The draft of the instrument, which he transmitted on that occasion, was not received till the day when the committee were to report the result of their labors. They were so much pleased with his Preamble, that they adopted it as a part of their Report; so, that as it is now well understood, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution were from the pen of George Mason; the Preamble was Thomas Jefferson's. In 1784, he left the United States being associated in a plenipotentiary commission with Franklin and Adams, addressed to the several powers of Europe, for the purpose of concluding treaties of commerce.In October, 1789, he obtained leave to return home; and on his arrival was made the first Secretary of State under Gen. Washington. His correspondence with the French and English Ministers is a proud monument of his genius; he alternately ment. * In these different offices with scarcely any interval between them, he has been in the public service over 61 years; and during the far greater part of the time, in foreign countries, or abroad from his native state. The Richmond Enquirer says, that Mr Jefferson was requested on a particular occasion to state some of the circumstances of his life. In compliance with this request, after enumerating the different stations he had sus tained, he observes, "If legislative services are worth mentioning, and the stamp of liberality and equality, which was necessary to be impressed on our laws, in the first crisis of our birth as a nation, was of any value, they will find that many of the leading and important laws of that day were prepared by myself, and carried chiefly by my efforts; supported indeed by able and faithful coadjutors. The prohibition of the further importation of slaves was the first of these measures in time. This was followed by the abolition of entails, which broke up the hereditary and high-handed aristocracy, which, by accumulating immense masses of property in single lines of family, had divided our country into two distinct orders of nobles and plebeians. But, further to complete the equality among our citizens, so essential to the maintenance of republican government, it was necessary to abolish the principle of primogeniture: I drew the laws of descents, giving equal inheritance to sons and daughters, which made a part of the Revised Code. The attack on the establishment of a dominant religion THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE Beg leave to state, in answer to the inquiries made by the Common Council, that, by their regulations adopted in December, 1823, no children are admitted into the Grammar Schools, unless they are of seven years of age, nor unless "they have been made acquainted with the common stops and abbreviations, have been exercised in some judicious spelling book, can tell the chapters and verses, and can read fluently and spell correctly in the New Testament;" that these regulations "were established and still maintained," because there is a large number of primary schools supported at the public expense, in which children between the ages of four and seven years are instructed in all the branches required to give them admittance into the grammar schools, and because some uniformity is necessary in the qualifications for admission, in order to establish convenient classifications in these schools. The School Committee would remark in regard to the number of children over seven years, who are not qualified for admission, that an advertisement was inserted by this Board in four newspapers for thirty days, requesting that the names of such children might be left at the Mayor's office, and only seven names from was first made by myself. It could be carried at first, only by a suspension of salaries for one year, by battling it again at the next session, for another year, and 90, year to year, until the public mind was ripened for the bill for establishing religious freedom, which I had prepared for the Revised Code also. This was at length established permanently, and by the efforts chiefly of Mr Madison, being myself in Europe at the time, the work was brought forward. I think I might add the establishment of our University. My residence in the vicinity threw of course on me the chief burden of the enterprise, as well of the buildings as of the general organization and care of the whole. The effect of this institution on the future faine, fortune, and prosperity of our country, can as yet be seen but at a distance. But an hundred well educated youths, which it will turn out annually, and, ere long, will fill all its offices with men of superior qualifications, and raise it from its humbled state to an eminence among its associates, which it has never yet known, no, were obtained in this way; several gentlemen, however, visited every part of the city; and made a return of the names of three hundred and eleven. What proportion of these were the children of persons who had recently removed here, cannot now be determined with certainty, for that fact is stated only with regard to the first one hundred and fifty-three, of which number eight alone had become within a short time reIf the same rule sidents in the city would apply to the rest, there would be but about eighteen in the whole number, who had lately become inhabitants, the remaining two hundred and ninety-three having of course had it in their power to attend the primary schools, which, it should be recollected, have been in operation eight years. It may be also proper to remark, that one hundred and eight of this number, viz: forty-four girls and sixty-four boys, were, at the time the return was made, under eight years of age. How it was ascertained that these children were not qualified for admission to the grammar schools, is not known to this board; it is presumed however from a return made within a few days by the masters of these schools, that a very small part of them only were ever offered for admission. By this return it appears that from January 6, 1826, to not in its brightest days. Those now on the theatre of affairs, will enjoy the ineffable happiness of seeing themselves succeeded by sons of a grade of science, beyond their own ken. Our sister states will also be repairing to the same fountains of instruction, will bring hither their genius to be kindled at our fire, and will carry back the fraternal affections, which, nourished by the same Alma Mater, will knit us to them by the indissolublę bonds of early personal friendships. The good Old Dominion, the blessed mother of us all, will then raise her head with pride among the nations, will present to them that splendor of genius, which she has ever possessed, but has too long suffered to rest uncultivated and unknown, will become a centre of ralliance to the states, whose youths she has instructed, and, as it were, adopted. I claim some share in the merit of this great work af regeneration. My whole labors, now for many years have been devoted to it, and I stand pledged to follow it up, through the remnant of life remaining to me!” Eliot Boylston do 1, 1, making a total of from 30 to 36 only who have been refused admission within a period of four and a half months, and this the Masters think is about the average for several years past. From this fact it would be inferred that but a small proportion of them would ever seek admittance to any school, much less to one established avowedly for the purpose of receiving the outcasts of other schools. Besides, the fault rests in most instances with the parents themselves, and it is presumed that neither this Board nor any other have power to compel the attendance of children against their inclination or that of their parents. The School Committee are of opinion that the following plan would remedy the evil without adding to the expense of our school system. All children might be allowed to remain in the primary schools, for a limited time, say three years, until they were eight years old, and for the same term, all above that age, who are not qualified by the present regulations might enter the Grammar Schools and there be formed into a distinct class, If the whole number reported should be admitted, some temporary inconvenience might possibly be the consequence, but it is not believed that one quarter part of that number would ever present themselves, or that the slightest embarrassment would be experienced from the adoption of this plan. It would provide at once for all who are destitute of the means of instruction, without holding out any encouragement to negligence, and the recurrence of the evil can only be averted by urging on all the importance of availing themselves at the proper time, of the opportunities of education, which are so abundantly offered to all classes in our city. May 23, 1826.. It is believed also that an additional school would only increase the negligence and inattention of those In School Committee, 20th May, 1826. parents who do not avail themselves It was Voted, That the above Report be of the present means of education, accepted, and that it be sent to the Chairby encouraging the opinion, that, man of this Board, to be by him, transmitif their children did not qualify them-ted to the President of the Common Coun selves at the proper period for the grammar schools, this school would be open to them at all times, and that their children could be admitted to it at any age and without any qualifications. It is also believed, that if any additional means of instruction are to be provided, one school would not be sufficient, not from the number of pupils that would offer, but from the fact that they reside in such remote parts of the city, being scattered through nearly all the streets from the neck to Charlestown Bridge, so that it would be impossible for all of them to attend any one school, let the location be where it might. cil. JNO. PIERPONT. In the Board of Aldermen, June 6, 1826. Read and sent down. JOSIAH QUINCY, Mayor. NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY. The New England Society for the Promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts, has obtained, from the Government of the State, an Act of Incorporation, by which it is authorized to hold Public Exhibitions of the Products of the Arts-to award and grant Premiums for new and useful Inventions, and for the best Specimens of the Skill and Ingenuity of Manufacturers and Mechanics-and to adopt such mea sures as the Corporation may think || : and Manufacturers become, within the last fifteen years, that there is scarcely a town in New-England, which is not interested in securing their prosperity. It is hoped that the Community, as well as those more immediately interested in its success, will aid this Society in its future operations. Similar institutions exist, are patronized, and prosper in Europe, and in our sister States of New-York, and Pennsylvania. It is hoped that the NewEngland States will be found to be equally alive to their great interests, and equally ready to assist in their promotion. The great object of this Society is to advance the interests of Mechanics and Manufacturers: It is confidently believed that this will be done here, as it has been elsewhere, by bringing them together once or twice in every year, at extensive, well conducted Sales and Exhibitions, which all will be desirous to attend who feel interested in the success of domestic industry;-by enabling every Mechanic and Manufacturer to compare, at such Exhibitions, the products of his own skill with those of others; and by creating a spirit of emulation, that may tend to raise still higher the character of our Manufacturers, and enable us, with greater certainty of success, to enter into competition with others. The Annual Exhibitions will particularly benefit the ingen-William Lawrence, ious Mechanic, by enabling him to present the result of his labour and study to judges competent to decide on their character and usefulness, and by opening to him a Market for their Sale, where the number, as well as character and interest of those present, will secure to him a fair and liberal reward for his inventions and improvements. The terms of subscription are $2 paid annually, or $25 to subscribers for life. Gentlemen holding subscription papers, are respectfully requested to return them to the Treasurer of the Society. THE OFFICERS FOR THE PRESENT His Excellency LEVI LINCOLN. It is obvious that the success of such an Association must depend on the opinion, which Mechanics, Manufacturers, and the Community itself, may have of its objects, and the means used for attaining them.-We say the Community-for so extensive has the business of our Mechanics Joseph Story, Nathan Appleton, Patrick T. Jackson, Francis C. Gray, William Shimmim, Jonas B. Brown, Treasurer-Benj. T. Pickman. July 13, 1826. It is stated that Discoveries of beds of Pure White Clay continue to be made at Martha's Vineyard. ADAMS' TOMB. The following inscriptions, copied from the grave stones at Quincy, furnish the parentage of him, whom to honor, is the pleasure of every true friend to American Liberty. IN MEMORY OF HENRY ADAMS, Collection of Coincidences.-There are many surprising coincidences in regard to the lives and deaths of Mr Adams and Mr Jefferson. They commenced their political lives together-both rose gradually-both became foreign ministers of the highest grade, and both were subsequent who took his flight from the Dragon, persecution, in De-ly elected to the highest station in vonshire, England, and alighted with eight sons, near Mount Wollaston. One of the sons returned to England; and, after taking some time to explore the coun try, four removed to Medfield and the neighboring towns, two to Chelmsford.-One only, Joseph, who hes here at his left hand, remained here, who was an original proprietor in the township of Braintree, incorporated in the year 1639. This stone and several others have been placed in this yard by a great-great-grandson, from a veneration of the piety, humility, simplicity, prudence, patience, temperance, frugality, industry, and perseverance of his ancestors, in hopes of recommending an imitation of their virtues to their POSTERITY. DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF JOSEPH ADAMS, Senior, who died Desember 5th, 1697, and of Abigail, his wife, whose first name was Baxter, who died August 27th 1692, by a great-grandson, in 1817. IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH ADAMS, son of Joseph Adams, Senior, and grandson of Henry and of Hannah, his wife, whose maiden name was Bass, a daughter of Thomas Bass and Ruth Alden, parents of John Adams, and grand parents of the lawyer John Adams. Erected December 1823. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF Mr. JOHN ADAMS, who died May 25th, A. D. 1761, aged 70, and of Susannah, his consort, born Boylston, who died April 17th, 1737. Aged 88. The sweet remembrance of the just Should flourish when they sleep in dust. The last named, says the Patriot, were the parents of the late JOHN ADAMS. This record unfolds another coincidence incidental to the more memorable events which have been noticed. The mother of John Adams survived, a widow, to see her son President of the United States, and that son lived, a widower, to behold his son, John Quincy Adams, elevated to the same high and honorable trust. The Empress Elizabeth, of Russia, died on the 10th of May, on her way from Taganrock to Moscow. the nation. They were the only two who signed the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, 1776, who were alive on the same day in 1826. Both were on the committee who drafted that document. One of them was the writer, and the other the seconder of the motion for adopting it. Political events subsequently made them rivals, and bitter enemies of each other. Both were the leaders of opposite and powerful political parties. Both were the most prominent objects of the bitterest invective of their foes, and the most boisterous praise of their friends. Both, after retiring from the high stations the contention for which had estranged them, found themselves in the same political ranks, became friends-and both died on the same day, on the 50th anniversary of the important event in which they were engaged together. Mr Jefferson died the same hour in the day during which the declaration was adopted, and Mr Adams on the same hour in which it was promulgated to the people. And both were natives of the only States which have ever furnished the Union with a President. They both died within a few rods of the spot where they first breathed the vital air. A further remarkable coincidence is the fact, that our ExPresidents; John Adams was eight years older than Thomas Jefferson; Thomas Jefferson eight years older than James Madison; James Madison eight years older than James Monroe and James Monroe eight years older than John Quincy Adams. Mr Adams was the only Pressident who has been succeeded in the highest office by his son,& he was the only President who had a son to succeed. |