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THE

HISTORY

OF THE

ADMINISTRATION

OF

John Adams, esq.

LATE PRESIDENT

OF THE

UNITED STATES.

BY JOHN WOOD,

Author of the Hiftory of Switzerland, and Swifs Revolution.

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Introductory Remarks....Biography of Mr. Adams.... Review of his Political Tenets....Causes of his Election.

THE United States of America enjoyed, under the administration of the illustrious Washington, all those advantages which result from the prudent policy of a virtuous magistrate. The peaceful system which he pursued, repaired, in a great measure, the injuries sustained by a long and expensive civil war. His interests and passions were the same as those of the people, and a constant communication of good offices kept alive their attachments. During the first four years of the present confederacy, the second station of executive public employment, and all of the third grade, remained in

A

the same hands; nor did any changes take place in the more subordinate, but from voluntary resignation and death. The public debt decreased in a much greater proportion than ever was known to take place in the same period, in any nation of the world....the expences of government were also much less, in proportion to wealth and numbers, than those of any kingdom in Europe. Affairs remained in this prosperous state until the conclusion of Jay's Treaty, which the growing propensity for commerce and interest had effected. Then, for the first time, those generous maxims of liberty which had established our independence, were observed to suffer....our towns and villages were immediately stocked with British agents, Nova-Scotian tories, and French royalists....the epithet of royalist became a distinction more powerful than merit, and the name of republican the most odious of titles. The voluntary resignation of Washington, who, probably, perceived the disorders which were to follow, and the election of a monarchical President, gave a four years triumph to this Hydra of despotism. Before I relate the tyranny and corruption which disfigured this period, it may not be improper to give a short account of the life of Mr. Adams, his political tenets, and the in cidents attending his election. This will form the design of the present chapter.

John Adams was born at Braintree, in Massachusetts, the 19th of October, 1735. General report states his father to have been a shoemaker,

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