Welcome. Im the director of the athenaeum and im delighted to welcome you to this, the third and final program in our wonderful collaboration with the poets theater. If you missed the earlier presentations, you will find. Ideos of those on our website at this point, it would be a perfect time to silence any noisemaking devices you might have with you. Just a note, there are illuminated signs that will lead you to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency. David is the playwright of this evenings performance. Professor emeritus of english at Simmons College and literary director of the poets theater, hes appeared in productions with the actors shakespeare project, the Harvard Center for the arts, the Repertory Theater committee drama club my National Public radio and many others. He holds a phd from the university of north carolina. Consumer of astute the rare materials in our library from all of which are available for anybody to see upon request. Think about inspiration you might take from this evening. Tonight, the actors will bring to light the literary legacy of one of americas founding families. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to david and the poets theater. [applause] it is a great pleasure for the poets theater to return to the athenaeum to conclude our Spring Season as Theater Company residents. Some of you have seen our poets and their predecessors in january. Others will have seen our boston abolitionist program in march. This afternoon, we bring you the voices and some dramatic stories of four generations of the adams family. Our show tonight runs about an hour and 15 minutes. Ive been asked by the assisting to announce something happening saturday at suffolk university. One nation indeterminable. It is five new place that have been written to confront the Current Situation that none of us can take our minds off. [laughter] one is by robert rubinstein. Another by james carroll. Poetstheater. Org. You will find all the information you need. I hope you get a chance to see one nation and determinable. One nation indeterminable. Upon the rich collection of books in this building. Language is to unearth wherever we can find it and perform it in a dramatic framework with professional actors who can make the words saying. Its been a privilege to expand our work in this Noble Building so full of great books and fine arts. We must thank our talented colleagues here for making these shows possible. The Museum Director mother director of education Museum Director, director of education and many others. We should point out that the room we are in at the moment is ,he sort of adams gallery including a bust of john adams, an oil portrait of john adams , a bust of John Quincy Adams and a bust of Charles Francis adams. These are all in the back corner there stage right house left. Take a while to appreciate the skill of these artists and in particular how much our fellow actor resembles Charles Francis adams. [laughter] it is quite uncanny. Charles Francis Adams was for a wild Vice President and then president of the boston athenaeum. Proprietorhad been a or shareholder. Wife was also a proprietor. The athenaeum and the adams family fit hand in glove. Manning grew up in dublin and was a childhood friend of another hero of hours. She worked with William Butler yates, who built bridges between poetry and drama at the abbey theatre. In 1930, molly came to cambridge, where she married a law professor. In the 1950s, helped found the poets theater. The first flowering of which survived into the mid1960s. She was known by molly howell. After professor howells death, she married samuel adams. She was our regardin guiding li. Manning, mollyry presentmolly adams, we four generations of the adams family. [applause] to begin at the beginning of our overview or eavesdropping on, four great generations of the adams clan of massachusetts, we must begin with a 1200 or so letters between the founding mother, abigail, and founding father, john. The first thing that strikes us is how many weeks, months, even years these two spent apart. From the marriage in 1764 to legalart of john adams career to the end of his term as president. , helping philadelphia to heard 13 rambunctious colonies into an unity to declare their independence from Great Britain. Braintrees in north tending the family farm, looking after the children and paying close attention to the increasingly warlike incursions of British Forces in massachusetts. And the preparations of local folks to resist them. Lets begin with abigail in the early years of their marriage. Johnny will become the sixth president of the United States. September 1767, my dearest tender i know from the affection you bear me and our little ones that you will rejoice to hear that we are well , our son is much better than when you left home and our daughter is asleep with the song of come public, come home to brother johnny. Day tos a more lonesome you afforded us your benign influence. My father brought me here last night. Tomorrow, i return home, where i hope soon to receive the dearest of friends and tenderness of hugs with that unabated affection which has for years vitalnd will while the spark lasts burn in the bosom of ms. R affectionate, a. Ada , dearest 1774 madeiras f end, i had rather give the consequence be that i eat one meal a day for these three weeks to come. When did i hear . My intelligence is collected from the newspaper and i can only reply that you arrived such i know your fondness for writing and your inclination to let me hear from you by the first conveyance which makes me that i hope some you have arrived in philadelphia. You will convey me some intelligence. In Early September of 1774, british soldiers made a raid on a storage site and removed all the gunpowder. The nervous colonists immediately began to remove all the powder they had access to and quietly distributed it to various militias and patriots. This event was known as the powder alarm. Abigail wrote about it to john. The governor she refers to is the probritish official appointed by the crown. The governor is making all kinds of warlike preparations. Such as mounting cannon up on beacon hill, digging entrenchments up on the back, placing cannon here and camping a regiment there. The people are much alarmed and the select men have waited upon him in consequence of it. In consequence of the powder , ang taken from charleston general alarm spread through many towns and was caught soon here. Onports here on friday sunday, a soldier was seen lurking about the comments. Supposed to be a spy, but most likely a deserter intelligence of it was communicated to the other parishes and about 8 00 is in the evening, there passed by here about 200 men preceded by a horse cart and marched down to the powder house from whence they took the powder and carried it to the other parish and their secreted it. I opened the window upon the return. They passed without any noise, not a word among them. Me, askedem preceded me if i wanted any powder. , as it was in such good hands. The reason they gave for taking it was that we had so many tories here, they dare not trust us with it. How warm your climate may be i know not, but i have to have my desk warm these two nights. Procure me some watermelon seeds and musk melon as i determined to be wellstocked with the next year. You will burn all these letters lest they should fall from your pocket and thus expose you are friend, a. Ionate adams. Philadelphia, september 14, 1774. My dear, i have written but once to you since i left you. To causes be imputed i cannot explain for ones time. It would fill volumes to give you an exact idea of the whole tour. My time is totally filled from the moment i get out of bed until i return to it. Visits, ceremonies, companies, business, newspapers, templates and so on. The congress will be well united. I hope willasures give satisfaction to the friends of our country. A tory here is the most despicable animal in the creation. Snakes are there only proper emblems. The massachusetts counselors and aggressors are held in curious esteem here. As you will see, the spirit, the firmness, the prudence of our province of massachusetts are vastly applauded and we are universally acknowledged as saviors and defenders of american liberty. The design and plans of the Congress Must not be communicated until completed. We shall move with great deliberation. Home atl come present, i dont expect my leave of this city these four weeks. My compliments, love, service where they are due. My babes are never out of my mind, nor absent from my heart. John adams. Philadelphia, september 18, 1774. My dear, i received a very agreeable letter and have received to others which gave me much pleasure. I have wrote several letters. Whether they have reached you i know not. Theres so much ross kelly rascality that im determined to write nothing of consequence. Except by conveyances which i can be sure of. The Esteem Committee affection, the admiration for the people of boston and massachusetts which were expressed yesterday that supportedshould be were enough to melt the heart of stone. I saw tears gushed into the eyes of the old, gray quakers of pennsylvania. Theres no idea of submission here in anybody. Do entreat every friend i have to write me. Every line which comes from our friends is greatly acquired after and our letters are a great service. Thank nabbie for her letter. Kiss all my sweet ones for me. John adams. Boston garrison to miss up to 22, 1774. Septembergarrison, 22nd, 1774. To see this much injured cow that i view it with much the same sensations that i should the body of a friend. Only put off its present glory for to finally rise to a more happy state. But donot despair believe that our cause being good, we shall finally prevail. The maxim in time of peace prepare for war, if this can be called a time of peace, resound through out the country. Next tuesday, they are warned at braintree, all above 15 and under 60 which will attend aut arms and train scheme which lays much at heart. There were still some slaves in massachusetts in 1774. Some of them saw a moment of opportunity. A squabble between nests between colonists there has been in town a conspiracy of the negroes. It was discovered by one who endeavors to dissuade them from it. Irishman to draw a petition to the governor telling him they would fight for him provided they arm him and liberate them. There is but little said and what states they will take in consequence of it i know not. Sincerely there was not a slave in the province. It always appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me, fight ourselves for what we are plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have. You know my mind on this subject. I long for the day of your return, yet look upon you as being much safer where you are. My father hurries me. Yours most sincerely, Abigail Adams. John adams himself always detested slavery. In a letter to his friend in his later life, he spelled it out. That there interpreted some of the inhumanity, the cruelty and the infamy of the african commerce of slaves so impressively represented to the public by the highest powers of eloquence but nothing i can say would increase the just odium in which it is and ought to be held. I have through my whole life held the practice of slavery in avenuepoor and such torrance that i have never owned a negro or any other slave. Rrence that i have never owned a negro or any other slave. Profit not inconsistent with their character. ,hiladelphia, september 25 1734. My dear come i would not lose the opportunity of writing to you, though i must be short. Tedious indeed is our business. We sit only before dinner, we dine at 4 00. We are crowded in the evening. 50 gentlemen meeting together, all strangers, are not acquainted with each others language and ideas, views or designs. They are therefore jealous of each other. Fearful, timid, skittish. 29,adelphia, september 1774. My dear, i shall be killed with kindness in this we go to congress at 9 00 and there we stay engaged on the debates until 3 00 in the afternoon. Then we adjourned. We go to dinner with some of the nobles of pennsylvania at 4 00 and feast upon 10,000 delicacies burgundy untilg 6 00 or 7 00 and then go home. Company and care. October 7, 1774. My dear, i have advised you before to remove my office from boston to braintree. It is now absolutely necessary. Let the best care be taken of all books and papers. I long to behold but i cannot say when that i will never leave the congress until it rises. When it will rise, i cannot say. Oftenming quaker girl god blesskindly and you and yours. Which is an praise without ceasing what john adams wishes and praise without ceasing, john adams. , i darech loved friend not express to you at 300 miles difference how ardently i long for your return. I have some very miserly wishes and cannot confess to you spending one hour in town until i have had you at least 12. Idea of nerves my hand while i write and awakens all the tender sentiments that you have increased and matured. They were every day dispensing to you. The whole collective stock of 12 weeks absence knows not how to will break forth and flow like my pen. Your most affectionate, Abigail Adams. On april 18 of 70 to five, the events of lexington and concord changed everything. On bothd been shed sides of the conflict and the rebel colonists began more serious preparations for war against england. Abigail begins to sign her , alluding torsche porsche and julius caesar. Hartford, may 2, 1775. My dear, our hearts are bleeding for the old people of boston. What will or can be done for them i cannot foresee. Godserve them preserve them. Surrounded as you are by people manytoo susceptible fears and jealousies and imaginary dangers will be suggested to you. I hope you will not be impressed by them. Take a real danger of which you cannot fail to have as previous intimations fly to the woods with our children. Give my tenderest love to them and to all. Braintree, may 2, 7035. I received by the deacon to letters from you this day by hartford. The distresses of the inhabitants of boston are beyond the power of language to describe. There are but very few who are permitted to come out during the day. Hour t from hour to write me every opportunity, everything that transpires. Porsche. New york, may 8, 1775. I had an opportunity to write you a line. We all arrived last night in this city. It would take many sheets of paper to give you a description of the reception we found here. The militia were all in arms and almost the whole city out to meet us. They have associated to spend by continental and conventional congress that such a spirit was never before seen in new york. The union of the colonies promising indeed. Yet, i feel anxious because theres always more smoke than fire, more noise than music. Our province is nowhere blamed. The accounts of the battle are exaggerated in our favor. , johnny neddie papa will come home before long. Philadelphia may 29, 1775. His deathck since sends his servant john hancock sends his servant from congress. He is a kind, humane and clever fellow. Supportress will massachusetts. There is a good spirit here. We have an amazing field of business before us. When shall i have a joy of meeting you and the little ones i know not. The military spirit which runs through the continent is truly amazing. This city turns up 2000 men every day. Mr. Dickinson is a kernel a colonel. Colonel washington appears in and is ofn uniform much service. Oh that i was a soldier. I will be. Im reading military books. Everybody must and will and shall be a soldier. John adams. 1775, Abigail Adams and her sevenyearold son, johnny, walked the short distance of their farm to the , were theys hill heard of the canons and observed the smoke and fire at the battle of bunker hill. The flames were consuming charlestown. The children of dr. Joseph physician,eir family had been staying with abigail and her children. Sunday, june 18, 1775, the day perhaps the decisive day has come on which the fate of america depends. Ive justeart heard that our dear friend, dr. Warren, is no more. But fell gloriously fighting for his country, saying better to die honorably than insidiously hang upon the gallas. Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement by courage and fortitude, leading the soldiers on by his own example. Charlestown is laid in ashes. The battle began upon our trenches upon bunker hill saturday morning about 3 00 and has not ceased yet. It is now 3 00 sabbath afternoon. This expected they will come out a dreadful battle must ensue. Almighty god, cover the heads of our countrymen and be a shield to our dear friends. How many have fallen we know not. The constant roar of the canon is so disrupting but we cannot eat, drink or sleep. I shall stay here until it is thought unsafe for my friends. Your brother has kindly offered me i cannot compose myself to write any further at present. I will add more as i hear further. I am most sincerely yours, 31, 1776. You have declared a independent state. By the way and the new code of laws i suppose it will be necessary for you to make. Beesire that you would and more generous to women than your ancestors. Do not put Unlimited Power in the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not given to a lady we are prevented to form a rebellion and will not hold ourselves found by any law in which we have no voice and representation. That your sex is naturally dispute,l is to know for those of you which wish to be happy give up the title of masturbated master. Thethen not put it out in power of cruelty and dignity. Incensed ofy, men all pages of poor those concepts which treat us as vassals of york sex. Regard us as human beings. Protectionder your and under imitation of the supreme being use that power only for our happiness. Philadelphia, july 3 1776. July, 1776, it will be the most memorable date of history and america. I have asked that it would be celebrated as the great anniversary. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance and acts of devotion to god almighty. With a pop and per rate that bonfireses, sports, and illuminations from one end of the continent to another forevermore. It would transport me with enthusiasm but i am not. Toilsell aware of the that it will cost us to maintain this declaration. To support and to defend these states. Through all the gloom i concede the race of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all of the meanspirited means. I trust in god that we shall not. Greatest question was decided, what ever was debated in america whatever will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without any dissenting colony that these United Colonies are and have a right to be free and independent. Have and they ought make war,ll power to establish peace, have commerce and all the other acts that every state may do. You will see in a few days a declaration that havent compels us with this mighty revolution. It reasons that will justify , and the sight of god and man. Are two part two, John Quincy Adams. Had a front row seat at what was challenged and expanded. Set andis brother watched the battle of bunker hill. Company in europe, he treasuryed to serve as for russia. Petersburgent to st. As a teenager to serve. In subsequent years he held various diplomatic posts. Towas also the u. S. Minister prussia and england. He negotiated the treaty of floridad help acquire and draft the monroe doctrine. Inserved in the senate and 1825 he became president. Despite all that during most of his adult years John Quincy Adams felt his life to be a failure. My whole life has been a succession of disappointment. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success to anything i ever undertook. I have heard it said that the adams family has a hereditary streak of depression, with alcoholism and generalized selfdestructive behavior running to the generations. That is only partly true. They have a peer at 10 work unrealistically high standards for themselves and their children. They have cared about their standing in society which made growing up a very stressful assignment. How could you ever reach the bar set by your father, your grandparents or your great grandparents . They have tragic family lives. Yes, when John Quincy Adams married the daughter of the u. S. It was for england love. During their long and difficult married life she gave birth to 12 children only three of whom survived longer than the age of two. One committedrs suicide at the age of 28 and another drink himself to death at the age of 31. The previous instance happened to a previous generation when another son drink himself to death. There is plenty of sorrow to go around. No need to postulate of a family curse. Francis adams said the history of my family is not the one to remember it is one of great triumph in the world but deep groans within. There is deep corroding mortification. Particularlyy was bitter. As president of the United States he said no one knows the agony that i have suffered there have been circumstances not by my volition that i was dismissed by that station from the failure of my a reelection. It is true he was reelected after winning you are votes than Andrew Jackson but more than henry clay. Four one the 100 34 electoral votes needed to read decision went to the house of representatives. When clay through his voice behind jackson there were cries of a corrupt bargain and a soulless election. Forces projackson controlled congress. Policy centered on infrastructure, education, he hated the necessary compromises although it failed historically over and over. Is thaturious thing while he deeply disliked being president his wife became the most famous position in washington. Ass woman who was mark miscarriages over and over. She attended parties that everyone wanted to attend. There were bells, matrons, madams all belonging to her. She had a wicked sense of humor. After Gilbert Stuart painted her picture he said she looked like she had just been attacked by the first wheel of death. 24 features disappeared into tupper. Later took up like of a gentleman farmer, he still found himself elected to the house of representatives. So far only time a expresident has been a sitting member of congress. John quincy adams labored tirelessly in congress. 1848 as his son dining at his post on the floor of the house of representatives. Of a successful part of his when then at age 64 president began a long stint in the house of representatives. He was more involved with congress and in the white house. When they talk about his old age and venerable miss they say he knows better. Cardinalsof those old that throws away his crutches and crookedness and is straight as a boy. Someone who must have sulfuric acid in his tea. Instead of listing his failures we would focus on this remarkable life and have chosen to instances to celebrate. His fight against the gag rule. As well as the famous amistad case. Let us remember that both of these episodes center on the issue of race and it was during was1840s that abolitionism gaining moral legitimacy in the north well on the other hand the south became more strident in their defense of slavery. Talks of the Southern States defending the union became entirely plausible. Timeve dramatized that when we surveyed the stirring language of the boston abolitionists. John quincy adams was a congressman from massachusetts when william like garrison was also right here a few blocks from the athenaeum starting with antiabolitionist violence by the yellow press of boston. As early as the 1820s John Quincy Adams had written itas temporary as the union may be necessary. Is precisely the question that it ought to be. They gag rule even in our own senators urge to shut up when she asked about race. She was given a explanation unless she persisted. The case of John Quincy Adams is more complicated when he began his career as a congressman, he was by no means a abolitionist. Senators demanding the abolition at first one was easy about meeting them on the floor of the house. He feared this would provoke mutual hatred between slave provoke upmight even uprisings among the slaves. Congressy members of fought censorship against the mass mailings of abolitionist runcible to the more southerners try to silence this the more the antiamerican slavery several System Society flooded congress. Members of the house were outraged by this movement and prepared to have all such petitions banned by the committee. The voice of reason has not been heard, i urge to speak in her name. She will be trampled underfoot if i do not. What can i do . It soon became clear that the former president was more than willing to take up the challenge. He accused her of his opponents of violating the constitution after their constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of speech, freedom of press and even freedom of religion because this is a religious question. Inthis all comes to a head 1836 and is complicated by a move by the jacksonian immigrants. Away frombroken mexico where slavery was prohibited and declared independence as well as their determination to allout slaves. House johnch in the quincy adams found this intolerable. Stealing texas from mexico would lead to conflict. You are marching into a war of conquest. Commenced by aggression on your part where it has been abolished. , the manner of freedom will be devoured by mexico. They will be the banners of slavery. Futurearned that the would of congress interfere with the particular institution of slavery and other istes which of course exactly what happened in the 1860s. He later made 81 hour long and with one universal shout of applause. In any case Andrew Jackson left Office Without ever proposing thats texas the admitted to the union. The Lone Star State became a bird in the saddle of the republic. Speech isfter his other dominated house declared a resolution saying congress had no right to interfere with slavery. Tabledditions should be without being read or even printed. When he rose to object the speaker of the house came forward and denied him access to the floor. Your motion is out of order sir. Called his name was during the vote of the resolution of former president of United States rose and said say they are indirect fire relation of the constitution of the end stakes. The rule of this house is the right of my constituents. Struggle went on for eight years and it went on for the house to censure him. The former president fought doggedly. This is a cause which i am entering in the last stage of my life. My career must go leaving my cause at the threshold. To open the way for others is all that i can do. Great. Se is good and in fact he had another dazzling decade or so in front of him. Late in life he found his voice and found his cause read he was slowly but surely moving closer to the abolitionist movement. His enemy caused him called him the massachusetts madman. A number of americans called him old man eloquent. One was silent about slavery anymore on either side. In the 1840s and 1850s as the republic move closer to cracking apart slavery was particular the question of that was about to be raised. Just as he had warned. For the homicide case we have to back up before the gig rule. John quincy adams joined the defense team in october of 1840. 39 people had been kidnapped, chained up, packed into a spanish ship and sent to cuba to become slaves. Docked in havana and en route to go elsewhere the africans rose up and commandeered the ship. They killed the captain and a crew member and amended that the remaining standards spaniards the socalled rulers were sent back to africa. They pretended to go a long with this but sailing north through the night. Stopped offhip was of long island the africans were arrested and awaited trial of piracy and murder. Wantedspanish government them acknowledged as property and to be sent back for trial. Elected byburen waslavery southerners and anxious to give the spaniards their property back to them. That way the whole affair would disappear from public view. Then they were tried in hartford, their lead attorney declared that it is not murder for a free man to kill his kidnapper. Wereudge agreed that they born free, kidnapped and unlawfully sold as slaves. He ordered them released and sent back to africa. The government itself the appeal to the Circuit Court which upheld the decision then it moved to the Supreme Court. Disappearing as Martin Van Buren wished it became a highly celebrated case. Convincedionist camp John Quincy Adams to lead the defense, he wondered if he was up to the task. How can i do justice to this case . He identified the task before him. To defeat and expose the abominable conspiracy of this government against the lives of these wretched man. , andhe danger before me losing my self position. The deliberations before the Supreme Court began in march of 1841. The chief justice officiated. It was the same chief justice the decisionte rightsng africans had no which the white man was bound to respect. Because they were never intended to be citizens of the United States. It was before this court that the son of one of those framers would join the African Defense team and argued her case. With a counter attack made against the africans by the attorney general. Against thei make executive administration that in all of their proceedings related to these unfortunate men. With this justice that they were bound no less to the court that they are served may have sostituted empathy with white and sympathy to the black. Sympathy to the executive branch they were in and that of the slave traders they can have these defenseless africans. That was the cause and foundation of all of these proceedings that they marked up before your honors. One of the judges who proceeded and some of the surviving trials call this a anomalous case. This is indeed anomalous. I am not at liberty to argue code, no treaty applicable to the proceedings of butexecutive or judiciary the backbone of the declaration of independence copies which are forever before your eyes and office. That of myow the law fathers on which our place their own national existence. He spoke for four hours nonstop. The court adjourned and through the night one of the justices died in his sleep. Closing was delayed until march 1 read. That ile bit i imagine would have the right to appear in this court. Myh has been the dictate of destiny. As i pass my eyes along obc to honor, public trust now held up by you. One ofe conveying for these honorable people to listen to my voice. Close, washington, johnson, livingston, where are they . Gone, all gone. Taking leave then, my final leave to help this honorable only further a position that every member must go to his final account with birthplace frailty to answer for as only the illustrious dead. After a long and virtuous career in this world receive that the portal of the next with the approving sentence will be good and faithful servants to enter. It was joseph story who read the courts decision that these as they be deemed free only exercised the ultimate right of all human beings in extreme cases to resist oppression. Ruinous force against forces. Government refused to supply a ship back to africa so a coalition of abolitionists raised the necessary funds to sent them home send them home. After his melancholy speech John Quincy Adams may have been thinking of his own impending mortality. In fact he would fight the good fight for another seven years until the old warrior died serving the country defending the principles he loved. He doesnt sound much like a failure he always thought he was. Part three, Charles Francis adams. When Abraham Lincoln went to the adams sonquincy arrived he found that england was officially neutral to the civil war that had begun. He had been sent to guarantee it remained so. It is fragile, many english people from workers to investors depended on that cheap labor for their goods. Many british people found themselves in sympathy for the confederacy for economic reasons. So the kings content as it was called would play a crucial part for the final outcome of the civil war. They were pretty cocky about constant power. Visited the foreign minister eight year full that it your full at the start of the war. We have only cut off your cousins apply for a few weeks and we can create a revolution in Great Britain. Million of your people dependent on us. If those miserable yankees try yourockade us you can send ships. That is that how it happened, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president. One month later he slapped a blockade on all southern ports. Steep reduction in the textile architect in lankershim, a single county that received 85 of all the cotton cloth in the world call this a cotton famine. Within one year 400,000 textile workers have been laid off or had their hours reduced to starvation wages. Wereer 1. 5 Million People forced to expect handouts of food. As the Prime Minister put it bluntly we do not like slavery but we want cotton. As a paper put it, england must break the blockade. That was the situation asrles Francis Adams faced they tried to convince Great Britain not to take sides. With the defeats on the battlefield such as the battle of bull run. Saying the battle should be renamed yankee run. Think that the english are pleased with our misfortune. You would keep these views to yourself. To benot advisable quoted. The British Press followed the news with great tension, Public Opinion going back and forth from north to south. Said es Francis Adams asnothing shines so dazzling success. Despite union setbacks the british remained officially neutral despite the call from the textile industry. Of 1861 alonger came the trent affair. Getse rms trent which boarded by charles wilkes. Forbid byontraband the blockade. Were on their way to england to convince those grant theto confederacy recognition. The captain decided to take them to boston to be imprisoned. Consulted that their flight has been finally servicethere interrupted. They demand apology and the release of them. Lincoln refuses, there is talk of war, the secretary of state sense Charles Francis adams on a ambiguous dispatch saying he acted on his own without borders. The British Government cannot consider more aggressive language. Prince albert sick with typhoid fever rises from his bed and pens a compromise saying he obviously acted without authority and is certain that the United States never intended to put such a insult im Great Britain. Died shortly after writing this document. Meanwhile all over london confederate sympathizers had rebel banners. Blue the stars and bars alongside the union jack. Feeling he has been kept out washington of policy itself is divided and uncertain about the next steps in cooler heads prevail and slidell and mason offer england a warship with no apology from washington. The trent affair is over. The prosouthern and pronorthern camps persist. Because of suspicion in washington that the British Government is secretly colluding with the confederacy or not so secretly. Is hard ata shipyard that is strongs enough to puncture the prow of a enemy ship. Built forearly being the confederacy and not just for combat before blockade running as well. Adamant that is continuing good relationships with Great Britain depends on the release of those warships. The alabama is already a key part of the Confederate Navy wreaking havoc. It would be on constable unconscionable to add more to the fleet. Adams had a phrase that would become famous. If they are releasing the confederacy than new york could be bombarded. It would be superfluous of me to point out that this is war. If her majestys government have not the power to prevent the harpers and towns from being destroyed by a vessel built by british subjects and equipped and is that from her harbor them all International Obligations are not worth the paper they are printed on. Want war with the United States and our hard at work looking for a legal means overterfering that employs 500 british workers. His letter complicates their task. The government finally decides that neutrality requires them to stop the construction of the ramp. In the u. S. Any british sympathy for the south is roundly attacked. Further,al goes even at present the generation would never forgive them for having a blockade. The feeling was never so universal. In trying to curry favor with our people the english have made a enemy of 30 million. Isis very sad but the fact there have been no other point in which americans are so thoroughly agreed. Charles Francis Adams remained until 1868. He and his soner went back to england and u. S. Ssfully negotiated claims for Union Merchant shipping by the ironclad alabama. He carried on his legacy of service to the country. With his family oriented judgment. Only perfectly balanced mind in the country. Michael part four. Im sure of his own legacy John Quincy Adams had written that there is no passion as a longing for posterity to support my fathers name. For this i have done my part, my sons must do theirs. Adams sought public office. Which includes a nine volume set. There are two books of a written new the end of his life, the education of henry adams. Both were printed to friends, the latter only published after the writer was that. A latenight person committed energy. The author of the great works show howan literature dissident and deeply personal where these books. In certain you could never ,easure up to the great founder most of your life was sent weighing your work. He describes it as the habit of doubt. They all caps diaries, we know they were capable of writing firstperson thoughts. Education, henry adams refers to himself in the third person always henry adams. First, as if he was sending off from himself up raising himself with a critical and clinical opinion. Years afterwards when we look back on this knowledge he asked himself if fortune or cardsead ever dealt the to vote for Abraham Lincoln on the same day. He automatically thinks of his life in terms of his forefathers. Look at what follows . None of his forefathers could have written this. Footballounded like a tossed into space by a a noun energy as a cap place with mice. Notice how it is no longer about him and his ancestors. What was that unknown energy . More like the chaotic on seeable forces of history. And he hadstorian spent his life thinking about medieval france and the United States. This was personal. Bothreatgrandfather had hated slavery. His father had fought the good fight on the floor of the house. Fromather had cap england supporting the confederacy. Family were at the slavery by birth as their name was adams and their home was quincy. Michael the education of henry adams, chapter seven. In england. Tter off henry adams found himself looking at education as both unwise and ignorant. The abolitionists were certainly unbalanced, with other victims with morbidtion excitement. The cotton planters where provincial to a degree. With the new fountains of power like aaves that acted oil on water. And which excess of held by in adequate hands. In washington of 1861 as a u. S. Minister was taken to the court of st. James as his father had been before him. What can we say about his time in london . Favorable with the american campaign. At times there were these anonymous articles. Like the two provocative novels he published anonymously, do we see a pattern here . Errands heth his felt socially ostracized. Had not yet won a private acquaintance. These have been given by antislavery aristocrats, he hated these events. Broken the trent affair he and the other young men on were happy they could finally leave england. Friende was one lifelong his happens after litigation in the civil war. Where he had spent more at home than in england. I think we must talk about cooper adams his wife. He died so long. Clover,one called her she came from the prosperous Cooper Family of boston. She came in 1872 and they began their honeymoon on a riverboat. Say she was the model for his portrait as a lady. Was a history of mental instability in the family. Amateurme a skilled photographer. Along with Clarence King they the fiveemselves parts. She adored henry and supported he in her work even when surrounded himself with young assistance. Even when there was a public young women. In a letter to her sister that wrote thatent she henry is more patient and loving than words can express. He has these hopes hour after hour. He is beyond all words, tender and better than all of you, they had no children. Of 1885er died in april she became deeply depressed and in december of that year she swallowed potassium cyanide. Henry found her body. Hehael after her death almost never spoke her name. Her, herd about destroyed all of her letters and most of her photographs. We have no photograph of her. For some reason he destroyed his own diaries from his youth. Ace after his death he sent one of her prized pieces of jewelry to the augustus saint garden grade. He instructed them not to inscribe her name. Were big erasures, these absences. Her andow that he loved that she loved him. Ita letter that she wrote january of 1886 in one packet of letters i was only discovered a few years ago. Even now i cannot get rid of the feeling that she will come back. That i had better way for her. I have is to get all of the fun you can have out of life. Is thosething i regret days when i was not actively happy. If i could have managed to get more out of 12 years then we got. To be as happy as was possible. The best way to understand henry adams and his againith over is to hear where he personalizes the architecture and offers a unemotional a parable. Of all the elaborate symbolism that can be suggested for the garden what is most is the springble of the arch. Effort that can show strain. Us forget that heaven is lost. Of the restless vault. Buttresses, the uncertainty of logic. The inequalities of syllogism. The irregularities of the mirror , all of these hunting nightmares are expressed as cathedrals the gothic with the cry of human suffering. As no emotion had ever been expressed before we would see that expression again. Expirationfe of the is one to the sky. Doubt buried in the earth as his last secret. Read out of this, what ever pleases you. This is all. Saying he is drawn to the gothic cathedral because it echoes his own life. The life of his life as a writer, all of the joint and careful planning and unforeseeable collapse. Dreams and nightmares. That is one way to put it. With thee identified medieval worship of the virgin. Of a slow communal multigenerational extension of energy within this. He sets up a contrast to what he describes as the dynamo of industrialism and capitalism. A dangerous science. What does he do it the rest of his life . Until hears after her dies like his father and grandfather at the age of 80 . Visits oldls and friend. World,ers all over the going from the south seas and japan. In the 1890s he has fallen in love with cuba. Cuba, what is that about . Desire ofs that human independence from spain. Had a informal Meeting Place for revolutionaries. He tells Elizabeth Cameron the president is hostile to cuba as he is to every instinct. Would be a great field for his greed. I am a pure and simple anarchist my machine is busy running cuba. Headquarters, i appear benign and talk latitudes. Here is our closing view of the four generations. A image of henry adams and cuba from the 1890s, he writes to Elizabeth Cameron. Of all the dirty holes in the world havana is the dirtiest and noisiest. It is amusing. Dust andheat and the we have enjoyed ourselves in a exemplary tourist way. We slept when we could. I know a little more of havana than i did. I smoked the most delightful and a scene that would discuss a pagan. Rents following winter he a villa in the high country above guantanamo. Climbed in 1775 to see the battle of bunker hill. To climb henry adams the cuban hills four hours before he arrives at the villa or he can see all of san diego in the bank above him. By san diego it was beautiful. Clear that these are my longlost home. Words can exaggerate their perfection in the winter. Scorpion, yet seen a a centipede, a torrential a or anything vicious. The hill is not far away but it will be four years before Teddy Roosevelt disturbed the tranquility of the place. 30 years before fidel castro would be born a bit north. Let us go tobeing the widower henry adams at home at last in cuba. Smoking his cigar in the shade wondering what they will produce for lunch. With the mixing of all the thenl fruits together adding all slavers he can lay his hands upon. Despise my own it narrow born under the shadow of boston. My beans without saffron. [applause] today beginning at 6 00 p. M. Eastern on American History tv robert ohara talks about the a civil war general. At 10 00 p. M. Drill americans show advocacy domes about road safety. Tougher traffic regulations to promote travel. We are talking of safe driving, cars have improved but that driver must improve to create. Just how can communities go about to create is a program . On american artifacts from behindthescenes of the Smithsonian Castle on the national mall. The u. S. Commission on civil rights marks the anniversary of the americans with disabilities act with a report on the history and the work that remains. American history tv all weekend, every weekend only on cspan3. Cspan where history unfolds daily. 1979 cspan was created as a Public Service by american Cable Companies and his front to you today by your cable or satellite provider. Sunday night on q and a this was brought to the issues that black men have, to lock us up and put us in cages. To stop and frisk us, to treat us as people that are not respected. Georgetown University Look at thekes a criminal Justice System and the impact on African American men in his book. Or has never been a time has beenmunity anywhere near good. For a longtime if you are a black person and you called the if you were the victim of police would not pay that much attention to it. Now there is a sense that police are overwhelmingly in africanamerican communities to protect them or lock people up. Sunday night. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the battle of qualcomm now during romar to create world war ii. The author argues that without the navys help on water the lost theay have campaign on land. This was recorded at the 2012 writers symposium at norwich that afternoon that afternoon. Introduceleasure to james one pressure hornfis cher. Is from the rocky