They
called out a violent retort from Colonel Pickering, who had been
secretary of State to Washington and Adams, till dismissed from office
by the latter; but though Mr. Jefferson was also severely handled in
them, they occasioned no interruption to the friendly relation which had
been re-established between him and Mr. Adams.

Those two leading actors in American politics, at first so co-operative
and afterward so hostile, again reunited in friendly intercourse, having
outlived almost all of their fellow-actors, continued to descend hand in
hand to the grave. Adams lived to see his son president, and to receive
Jefferson's congratulations on the same. By a remarkable coincidence,
they both expired on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence, in which they both had taken so active a part, Adams,
however, being the survivor by a few hours.

Of Adams' personal appearance and domestic character in his old age, his
grandson gives the following account: "In figure, John Adams was not
tall, scarcely exceeding middle height, but of a stout, well-knit frame,
denoting vigor and long life, yet as he grew old inclining more and more
to corpulence. His head was large and round, with a wide forehead and
expanded brows. His eye was mild and benignant, perhaps even humorous
when he was free from emotion, but when excited it fully expressed the
vehemence of the spirit that stirred within."

"His presence was grave and imposing on serious occasions, but not
unbending. He delighted in social conversation, in which he was
sometimes tempted to what he called rodomontade. But he seldom fatigued
those who heard him; for he mixed so much of natural vigor of fancy and
illustration with the store of his acquired knowledge, as to keep alive
their interest for a long time."

"His affections were warm, though not habitually demonstrated toward his
relatives. His anger, when thoroughly aroused, was for a time extremely
violent, but when it subsided it left no trace of malevolence behind.
Nobody could see him intimately without admiring the simplicity and
truth which shone in his actions, and standing in some awe of the power
and energy of his will. It was in these moments that he impressed those
around him with a sense of his greatness. Even the men employed on his
farm were in the habit of citing instances, some of which have been
remembered down to the present day."

"At times his vehemence became so great as to make him