The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Extract of a letter to the Editor of the Boston Courier, dated Washington City, Dec. 21, 1826.

The great question, who shall be the next President, like Aaron's rod, swallows up all others. From present appearances, one would think Mr. Adams was gaining ground, not only in various parts of the country, but at Washington also: in truth, Congress may be said to reflect public opinion rather than to direct it now-a-days. Mr. Adams is in himself a host; bred a politician, he knows all the movements of parties as soon as the machine is in motion: cautious, intelligent and decisive, he looks ahead, and makes shrewd calculations to defeat plans in opposition to his own. Every thing abroad or at home is known to him far better than any of his predecessors knew them. Like Pitt, during his administration, he is master of all his agents: they never become his masters by superior industry or watchfulness.

The morning dawn and the midnight lamp are subservient to his ends and aims. No man rises earlier and retires later than the President of the United States. No sanctified commentator on Holy Writ was ever more persevering than John Q. Adams. No one can cheat or deceive him, for he knows more than those around him. His Cabinet may advise him often, but will seldom control him. He exacts much and will yield but little. He shrinks from no responsibility and assumes no extraordinary prerogative. He lavishes nothing in fondness and indulges in no provoking partialities. If he does not, like some great politicians, steal into the affections of men, he perhaps does better by securing the dictates of their understandings. I some prefer another, but few dare attack him. Such a man is not easily dispossessed when in power.

The following character of the President is from the pen of M. M. Noah, Esq. Editor of the New-York Enquirer, a thorough-going oppositionist:-

"Light House in the Skies—A writer in the Washington Telegraph attempts to show, that Mr. Adams is profoundly ignorant of astronomy. Mr. Adams understands a little of every thing, and a great deal of human nature also. You think he is stargazing when he is looking deeply and intensely ahead: You think that he is ignorant of what is going on in the busy world, because you see him move according to system—free from bustle or confusion—cold, and apparently unmoved. You mistake your man. He has the most unwearied patience—a balm too often neglected by politicians—he makes no rush towards the goal—he walks calmly and solemnly towards it—he takes years to accomplish his designs, and never retrogrades. He is the most expert man in the field in promoting dissensions among rival politicians, which, by reaction, is to benefit himself; he knows how to split hairs in States—when to talk and when to remain silent—he moves by no sudden impulse, and never speaks without a motive—you imagine he is staring at the light-houses of the skies—'he is looking at you full in the face, and reading your very soul. He would be a dangerous man if he were constitutionally dishonest; but he is a sore enemy to the old democracy because he revenges family wrongs and destroys us with our own weapons."