In the most abstruse sciences he was equally at home.  His report to Congress, while Secretary of State, on Weights and Measures was very elaborate, and evinced a deep and careful research into this important but most difficult subject.  That report was of the utmost value.  Adopting the philosophical and unchangeable basis of the modern French system of mensuration, an arc of the meridian, it laid the foundation for the accurate manipulations and scientific calculations of the late Professor Hassler, which have furnished an unerring standard of Weights and Measures to the people of this country.  In a very learned notice of “Measures, Weights, and Money,” by Col.  Pasley, Royal Engineer, F. R. S., published in London, in 1834, he pays the following well-merited compliment to Mr. Adams:—­

“I cannot pass over the labors of former writers, without acknowledging in particular, the benefit which I have derived, whilst investigating the historical part of my subject, from a book printed at Washington, in 1821, as an official Report on Weights and Measures, made by a distinguished American statesman, Mr. John Quincy Adams, to the Senate of the United States, of which he was afterwards President.  This author has thrown more light into the history of our old English weights and measures, than all former writers on the same subject.  His views of historical facts, even where occasionally in opposition to the reports of our own Parliamentary Committees, appear to me to be the most correct.  For my own part, I confess that I do not think I could have seen my way into the history of English weights and measures, in the feudal ages, without his guidance.”

To his other accomplishments Mr. Adams added that of a poet.  His pretensions in this department were humble, yet many of his productions, thrown off hastily, no doubt, during brief respites from severer labors, possess no little merit.  A few specimens will not be uninteresting to the reader.

  Life of John Quincy Adams. 237

The following stanzas are from a hymn by Mr. Adams for the celebration of the 4th of July, 1831, at Quincy, Mass.:—­

  “Sing to the Lord a song of praise;
     Assemble, ye who love his name;
   Let congregated millions raise
     Triumphant glory’s loud acclaim. 
   From earth’s remotest regions come;
     Come, greet your Maker, and your King;
   With harp, with timbrel, and with drum,
     His praise let hill and valley sing.

* * * * *

  “Go forth in arms; Jehovah reigns;
     Their graves let foul oppressors find;
   Bind all their sceptred kings in chains;
     Their peers with iron fetters bind. 
   Then to the Lord shall praise ascend;
     Then all mankind, with one accord,
   And freedom’s voice, till time shall end,
     In pealing anthems, praise the Lord.”

The lines which follow were inscribed to the sundial under the window of the hall of the House of Representatives, at Washington:—­