I tarried, while in that city, at the house of John Jay—­a man whom I name, and whom all will remember, as one of the most illustrious of the distinguished patriots who carried our beloved country through the dark period of the Revolution.  Mr. Jay, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, under the Congress of the Federation, was laying the foundation of a house in Broadway, but which was separated by the distance of a quarter of a mile from any other dwelling.  At that time, being eighteen years of age, I received an invitation to visit western New York; and I have regretted often, but never more than now, that I had not accepted that invitation.  Oh! what would I not have given to have seen this part of this great State then, that I might be able to contrast it with what it now is. * * * * *

“It has seemed to me as if in this region the God of nature intended to make a more sublime display of his power, than in any other portion of the world.  He has done so in physical nature—­in the majestic cataract, whose sound you can almost hear—­in forest and in field—­in the mind of man among you, In what has been accomplished to make your city what it is, the aged have done the most.  The middle aged may say we will improve upon what has been done; and the young, we shall accomplish still more than our fathers.  That, fellow-citizens, was the boast in the ancient Spartan procession—­a procession which was divided into three classes—­the old, the middle-aged, and the young.  They had a saying which each class repeated in turn.  The aged said—­

  ’We have been, in days of old,
   Wise and gentle, brave and bold.’

The middle-aged said—­

  ’We, in turn, your place supply;
   Who doubts it, let them come and try.’

And the boys said—­

  ’Hereafter, at our country’s call,
   We promise to surpass you all.’

And so it will be with you—­each in your order.”

At Auburn every possible token of respect was paid to the venerable statesman.  A committee consisting of ex-Gov.  Seward, Judge Conklin, Judge Miller, Luman Sherwood, P. H. Perry, S. A. Goodwin, James C. Wood, and J. L. Doty, Esqs., proceeded to Canandaigua to meet Mr. Adams.  At half past nine o’clock in the evening, Mr. Adams, accompanied by the committee, arrived in Auburn.  He was received by a torch-light procession, composed of the Auburn Guards, the Firemen, and an immense concourse of citizens, and conducted to the mansion of Gov.  Seward, where he thus briefly addressed the people:—­

“Fellow-citizens:—­Notwithstanding the glow with which these brilliant torch-lights illuminate my welcome among you, I can only acknowledge your kindness, on this occasion, by assuring you that to-morrow morning, by the light of the blessed sun, I hope to take everyone of you by the hand, and express feelings too strong for immediate utterance.”

On the following morning at six o’clock, Mr. Adams visited the State Prison, and made many inquiries concerning the discipline of the prison, and its success in the prevention of crime and reformation of offenders.  At 9 o’clock he met the citizens in the First Presbyterian church, where he was addressed by Gov.  Seward, as follows:—­