As the States General of the United Provinces haveacknowledged the independency of the United Statesof North America, and made a treaty of commerce withthem, it may not be improper to prefix a short account ofJohn Adams, Esq; who, pursuing the interests of hiscountry, hath brought about these important events.
Mr. Adams is descended from one of the first familieswhich founded the colony of the Massachusets Bay in 1630.He applied himself early to the study of the laws of hiscountry; and no sooner entered upon the practice thereof,but he drew the attention, admiration, and esteem ofhis countrymen, on account of his eminent abilities andprobity of character. Not satisfied with barely maintainingthe rights of individuals, he soon signalized himselfin the defence of his country, and mankind at large, bywriting his admirable Dissertation on the Canon andFeudal Laws; a work so well worth the attention of everyman who is an enemy to ecclesiastical and civil tyranny,that it is here subjoined. It showed the author at an earlyperiod capable of seconding efficaciously the formation ofrepublics on the principles of justice and virtue. Such aman became most naturally an object of Governor Barnard'sseduction. The perversion of his abilities might be of use ina bad cause; the corruption of his principles might tarnishthe best. But the arts of the Governor, which had succeededwith so many, were ineffectual with Mr. Adams, whoopenly declared he would not accept a favour, however[Pg 2]flatteringly offered, which might in any manner connecthim with the enemy of the rights of his country, or tendto embarrass him, as it had happened with too manyothers, in the discharge of his duty to the public. Seductionthus failing of its ends, calumny, menaces, andthe height of power were made use of against him. Theylost the effect proposed, but had that, which the show ofbaseness and violence ever produce on a mind truly virtuous.They increased his honest firmness, because theymanifested, that the times required more than ordinaryexertions of manliness. In consequence of this conduct,Mr. Adams obtained the highest honours which a virtuousman can receive from the good and the bad. He washonoured with the disapprobation of the Governor, whorefused his admission into the council of the province;and he met with the applause of his countrymen in general,who sent him to assist at the Congress in 1774,in wh