XXII Dr. Kirkland’s Discourse in Commemoration of 
I would say a word upon Mr. Adams as an author and writer. 
His productions are a multitude of official papers, numerous letters, 
published and unpublished, periodical essays, “The Defence 
of the American Constitutions,” and the “ Letters on Davila.” His 
compositions are the expressions of an enlightened and opulent 
mind; instructive and generally interesting. His style is per- 
spicuous and forcible, often undisciplined, with occasional peri- 
ods of negligent construction; his epistolary writing, easy, 
diversified, and agreeable. Passages of great power are found 
in all his productions, which not merely enlighten and instruct, 
but are fitted to affect, excite, and touch the reader. The 
“Letters on Davila” exhibit ingenious views, the philosophy of 
history, and many passages of great force and beauty. We 
have often heard of his great resources in speaking, his fer- 
tility in argument, sentiment, and illustration. 
Let me remind you of his patronage and promotion of that 
good learning, of which he had so large a store. 
We owe to Mr. Adams the first proposal of this Association. 
When he travelled from Boston to Philadelphia in 1774—5, he 
several times visited, at Norwalk, a curious collection in natural 
history, of American birds and insects, made by Mr. Arnold. This 
was afterwards sold to Sir Ashton Lever, in whose apartments at 
London Mr. Adams saw it again, and felt a new regret at our im- 
perfect knowledge of the productions of the three kingdoms of 
nature in our land. In France his visits to the museums and other 
establishments, with the inquiries of the Academicians and other 
men of science and letters respecting this country ; their encomi- 
ums on the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, and on some 
of the papers in their Memoirs, suggested to him the idea of en- 
gaging his native state to do something in the same good but neglec- 
