During his visit at the Falls, Mr. Adams, on a Sabbath morning, accompanied by Gen. Porter, visited the remnant of the Tuscarora Indians, and attended divine service in their midst.  At the conclusion of the sermon, Mr. Adams made a brief address to the Indians, which is thus described by the letter-writer alluded to above:—­

“Mr. Adams alluded to his advanced age, and said this was the first time he had ever looked upon their beautiful fields and forests—­that he was truly happy to meet them there and join with them in the worship of our common Parent—­reminded them that in years past he had addressed them from the position which he then occupied, in language, at once that of his station and his heart, as ’his children’—­and that now, as a private citizen, he hailed them in terms of equal warmth and endearment, as his ‘brethren and sisters.’  He alluded, with a simple eloquence which seemed to move the Indians much, to the equal care and love with which God regards all his children, whether savage or civilized, and to the common destiny which awaits them hereafter, however various their lot here.  He touched briefly and forcibly on the topics of the sermon which they had heard, and concluded with a beautiful and touching benediction upon them.”

At Rochester immense multitudes assembled to receive Mr. Adams.  He was welcomed in an eloquent address from the Mayor of the city.  The following are a few extracts from the reply of Mr. Adams:—­

“Mr. Mayor and Fellow-citizens:—­I fear you expect from me a speech.  If it were in my power, oppressed as I am with mingled astonishment and gratitude at what I have experienced and now see of your kindness, to make a speech, I would gratify you with one adorned with all the chaste yet simple eloquence which are combined in the address to which you have just listened from your worthy Mayor.  But it is not in my power.  You may probably think there is some affectation on my part, in pretending inability to address you, knowing as many of you do, that I have often addressed assemblies like this.  But I hope for greater indulgence from you than this.  I trust you will consider that I have seen and spoken to multitudes like that now before me, but that these multitudes had frowning faces.  Those I could meet, and to those I could speak.  But to you, whose every face is expressive of generous affection—­to you, in whose every countenance I see kindness and friendship—­I cannot speak.  It is too much for me.  It overcomes my powers of speech.  It is a new scene to me.

* * * * * *

“Amongst the sentiments which I have expressed, and the observations which I have made during my brief tour through this portion of your State, it was impossible for me to forego a constant comparison with what New York was in other days, and what it is now.  I first set my feet upon the soil of the now Empire State, in 1785.  I then visited the city of New York,—­at that time a town of 18,000 inhabitants.