Life and Public Services of John Quincy Adams | Page 2

serving a French, Spanish, or Portuguese monarch.
Jacobin Radical or extreme leftist. Radical republican during the French Revolution.
meed Fitting recompense. Merited gift or wage.
mensuration Process of measuring. Measurement of geometric quantities.
mole Massive stone wall constructed in the sea as a breakwater to protect an anchorage or a harbor. Anchorage or harbor enclosed by a mole.
munificence Liberal in giving; generous. Showing great generosity.
Nestor Hero celebrated as an elderly and wise counselor to the Greeks at Troy
obsequies Funeral rites or ceremonies.
octavo Page size, from 5 by 8 inches to 6 by 9-1/2 inches, of a book composed of printer's sheets folded into eight leaves. A book composed of octavo pages.
odium Strong dislike, contempt, or aversion. State of disgrace resulting from hateful or detestable conduct.
panegyric Formal public compliment. Elaborate praise.
parsimony Unusual or excessive frugality; extreme economy or stinginess.
patronymic Derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor.
pertinacity Persistent determination.
Plenipotentiary Diplomatic agent, such as an ambassador, fully authorized to represent his government.
Presbyterian Church governed by elected elders.
probity Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness.
proconsular Provincial governor of consular rank in the Roman Empire.
pusillanimity Cowardice.
recusant One of the Roman Catholics in England who incurred legal and social penalties in the 16th century and afterward for refusing to attend services of the Church of England. Dissenter; a nonconformist.
Sabine (River) River flowing into the Gulf of Mexico just East of Houston, Texas.
sagacity Discerning, sound in judgment, farsighted; wisdom.
Silesia Region of central Europe in southwest Poland and northern Czech Republic.
sinecure Position or office that requires little work but provides a salary.
spoliations Despoiling or plundering. Seizure of neutral vessels at sea by a belligerent power in time of war.
stivers Nickel coin used in the Netherlands and worth 1/20 of a guilder (about 0.4 Euros in 2006). Something of small value.
TETE D'ARMEE Head of the Army.
thrall (thraldom) Held in bondage; servitude; intellectually or morally enslaved.
tittle Small diacritic mark, such as an accent, vowel mark, or dot over an i. Tiniest bit; an iota.
umbrage Offense; resentment. Something that affords shade or shade itself. Vague indication; hint.
unction Anointing as part of a religious, ceremonial, or healing ritual. Ointment or oil. Something that serves to soothe; a balm. Affected or exaggerated earnestness, especially in choice and use of language.
Unitarian Believes in the oneness of God as opposed to the Trinity. Historic Unitarians believed in the moral authority, but not the deity, of Jesus. Free thinkers and dissenters, evolving their beliefs by rationalism and humanism.
usurpation Usurping, especially the wrongful seizure of royal sovereignty. Wrongful seizure or exercise of authority. Encroachment.
vicissitudes Change or variation.
vituperation Abusive censure. Sustained, harshly abusive language.
votaries Persons bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service. Devout adherents of a cult or religion. Persons fervently devoted to a leader or ideal; faithful followers. Persons filled with enthusiasm, as for a pursuit or hobby; enthusiasts.
[End of Transcriber's notes]

[Illustration: Portrait of John Quincy Adams.]
Engraved from a Painting by A.B. Durand.
John Quincy Adams

L I F E AND PUBLIC SERVICES of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
WITH THE EULOGY DELIVERED BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK.
BY WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
"THIS IS THE END OF EARTH--I AM CONTENT."

AUBURN: DERBY, MILLER AND COMPANY. 1849.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by DERBY, MILLER & COMPANY, In the Clerk's Office for the Northern District of New York.
STEREOTYPED BY THOMAS B. SMITH, 216 WILLIAM: STREET, N.Y.
TO THE
FRIENDS OF EQUAL LIBERTY
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD,
This Volume
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Publishers apologize for the delay in issuing this volume, which was announced by them as in press, more than one year since, shortly after the decease of its illustrious subject. Gov. Seward, in undertaking its preparation, was well aware of the engrossing attention which his professional duties required, but looked constantly for relaxation from his multiplied business engagements, in the hope that he might be able to complete the work commenced by him. It however became necessary for its timely completion, to obtain the literary assistance of an able writer, who has, under his auspices, completed the work. The Publishers confidently believe, that it will in all respects, be received as a faithful and impartial history of the Life of the "Old Man Eloquent," and worthy a place in the library of every friend of liberty and humanity. AUBURN, April, 1849.
PREFACE.

The claims of this volume are humble. For more than half a century JOHN QUINCY ADAMS had occupied a prominent position before the American people, and filled a large space in his country's history. His career was protracted to extreme old age. He outlived political enmity and party rancor. His purity of life--his elevated and patriotic principles of action--his love of country, and devotion to its interests--his advocacy of human freedom, and the rights of man--brought all to honor and love him. Admiring legislators hung with rapture on the lips of "the Old Man Eloquent,"