Daily National Intelligencer

A good one!—About a week before our line of battle ship, the Independence, sailed for the Mediterranean, the venerable John Adams, now fourscore years of age, was invited by the commander to visit his ship. He was accompanied by a number of gentlemen of his neighborhood, and among them was Josiah Quincy, Esq.

Mr. Adams reviewed and examined the ship with admiration, contemplated her uncommon strength of structure, and had the false story of her being too low in the water cleared up to him; and was convinced, from his pretty thorough knowledge of ships, the structure of which had been a favorite study, that she was, in several respects, superior to any ship of any other nation. Beside the structure and fine arrangement of the Independence, he viewed with delight her healthy, hearty, well dressed, and cheerful looking crew, as he walked the gun decks, on which were arranged 600 brave and smiling American sailors: the tear stole from his eyes—when, after recovering himself, he turned round to the gentlemen accompanying, and said, with his characteristic emphasis—

"Let Mr. Strong say what he will, these are the bulwarks of our religion"

On which 'Demosthenes,' who was at his elbow, blushed, and hemmed, and choaked, and tried to speak, but could not; while all the rest clapped hands, and the sailors snickered from stem to stern. We pledge ourselves for the truth of this anecdote.—Yankee.