respond to his, a sympathy equal to his
highest aspirations, a proud feeling and an enjoyment of it equal to his
own, she added what is not always found in such company, a flexibility
sufficient to yield to his stronger will without disturbance to her
serenity or his, and without the least compromise of her own dignity or
her husband's respect and deference for her. While she was not ignorant
of the foibles of his character, and knew how to avail herself of them
when a good purpose was to be served by it, yet her admiration of his
abilities, her reliance upon his judgment, her confidence in his
goodness, and her pride in his achievements, made her always ready to
yield and to conform. His happiness and honor were always her leading
object. This union was blessed with children well calculated to add to
this happiness.

Just at the moment of his retirement from office private grief was added
to political disappointment by the death of his second son Charles, who
had grown to manhood, had been married and had settled in New York with
flattering prospects, but had died under painful circumstances, which
his father speaks of in a contemporary letter as the deepest affliction
of his life, leaving a wife and two infant children dependent on him.
Colonel Smith, an officer of the revolution, who had been Adams'
secretary of legation at London and who had married his only daughter,
did not prove in all respects such a son-in-law as he would have wished.
Smith's pecuniary affairs becoming embarrassed, his father-in-law had
provided for him by several public appointments, the last of which was
that of the surveyor of New York, which position he was allowed to hold
until 1807, when he was removed from it in consequence of his
implication in Miranda's expedition. Nor did Thomas, the third son,
though a person of accomplishments and talents, fully answer the hopes
of his parents.

But all these disappointments were more than made good by the eldest
son, John Quincy, who subsequently to his recall from the diplomatic
service abroad, into which Washington had introduced him and in which
his father, urged by Washington, had promoted him, was chosen one of the
senators in congress from Massachusetts.

All consolations, domestic or otherwise, at Mr. Adam's command, were
fully needed. Never did a statesman sink more suddenly,--at a time too
when his powers of action and inclinations for it seemed
unimpaired--from a leading position to m