the unpopularity of acts adopted during his administration, and suffering under the charge of being an enemy to revolutionary France, and a friend of monarchical England, was distanced and defeated by his competitor.  Mr. Jefferson was elected the third President of the Republic, and was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1801.  One of the last acts of John Adams, before retiring from the Presidency, was to recall his son from Berlin, that Mr. Jefferson might have no embarrassment in that direction.

CHAPTER IV.

MR. ADAMS’ RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES—­ELECTED TO THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE—­APPOINTED U. S. SENATOR—­SUPPORTS MR. JEFFERSON—­PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC AND BELLES LETTRES—­APPOINTED MINISTER TO RUSSIA.

John Quincy Adams returned to the United States from his first foreign embassy, in 1801.  During the stormy period of his father’s administration, and the ensuing presidential canvass, he was fortunately absent from the country.  Had he been at home, his situation would have been one of great delicacy.  It can hardly be supposed he would have opposed his father’s measures, or his reelection.  Yet to have thrown his influence in their behalf, would have subjected him to the imputation of being moved by filial attachment rather than the convictions of duty.  From this painful dilemma, he was saved by his foreign residence.  He came home uncommitted to party measures, untrammelled by party tactics or predilections; and thus stood before the people, as he could wish to stand, perfectly unshackled, and ready to act as duty and conscience should direct.

Arriving in the United States with distinguished honors gained by successful foreign diplomacy, Mr. Adams was not allowed to remain long in inactivity.  In 1802 be was elected to the Senate of Massachusetts, from the Boston district.  During his services in that body, he gave an indication of that independence, as a politician, which characterized him through life, by his opposition to a powerful combination of banking interests, which was effected among his immediate constituents.  Although his opposition was unavailing, yet it clearly showed that the integrity of the man was superior to the policy of the mere politician.  But higher honors awaited him.

In 1803, he was elected to the Senate of the United States, by the Legislature of Massachusetts.  Thus at the early age of thirty-six years, he had attained to the highest legislative body of the Union.  Young in years, but mature in talent and experience, he took his seat amid the conscript fathers of the country, to act a part which soon drew upon him the eyes of the nation, both in admiration and in censure.

The period of Mr. Adams’ service in the United States Senate, was one in which the position and the interests of the country were surrounded by embarrassments and perils of the most threatening character.  The party which had supported his father had become divided and defeated.  Mr. Jefferson, elevated to the Presidency after a heated and angry contest, was an object of the dislike and suspicion of the Federalists, The conflicts of the belligerent nations in Europe, and the measures of foreign policy they severally adopted, not only affected the interests of the United States, but were added elements to inflame the party contests at home.