“Gentlemen, in conclusion, I beg to express the delight which I feel, and propose to you as a toast—­May the United States be an example to the world; and may civil and religious liberty cover the earth, as the waters do the channels of the deep.”

A public dinner was also given Mr. Adams on his arrival in Boston.  Mr. Gray presided, and Messrs. Otis, Blake, and Mason, acted as Vice Presidents.  His father, the venerable ex-President John Adams, was present as a guest.  Among other toasts given on the occasion, were the following:—­

“The United States.—­May our public officers, abroad and at home, continue to be distinguished for integrity, talents, and patriotism.”

“The Commissioners at Ghent.—­The negotiations for peace have been declared, in the British House of Lords, to wear the stamp of American superiority.”

“American Manufactures.—­A sure and necessary object for the security of American independence.”

This occasion must have been one of great interest to the patriarch John Adams, then more than four-score years of age.  Nearly forty years before, he had said of his son:—­“He behaves like a man!” That son, in the prime of his days, had recently been called from foreign service, where he had obtained accumulated honors, to fill the highest station in the gift of the Executive of his country.  The people of two continents would now unite with the venerable sage, in repeating the declaration—­“He behaves like a man!” The patriarch stood upon the verge of the grave.  But as the sun of his existence was gently and calmly sinking beneath the horizon, lo! its beams were reflected in their pristine brightness by another orb, born from its bosom, which was steadily ascending to the zenith of earthly fame!

John Quincy Adams took up his residence at Washington, and entered upon his duties as Secretary of State, in September, 1817.

During the eight years of President Monroe’s administration, Mr. Adams discharged the duties of the state department, with a fidelity and success which received not only the unqualified approbation of the President, but of the whole country.  To him that office was no sinecure.  His labors were incessant.  He spared no pains to qualify himself to discuss, with consummate skill, whatever topics legitimately claimed his attention.  The President, the cabinet, the people, imposed implicit trust in his ability to promote the interests of the nation in all matters of diplomacy, and confided unreservedly in his pure American feelings and love of country.  Perfectly familiar as he was with the political condition of the world, Mr. Monroe entrusted him, without hesitation, with the management of the foreign policy of the Government, during his administration.