ADAMS (John, second President of the United States), 1735-1826. "_Independence forever!_" He died on the Fourth of July, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; and it is thought that his last words were suggested by the noise of the celebration. Some say his last words were, "Jefferson survives;" if so, he was mistaken, for Jefferson passed away at an earlier hour the same day. ADAMS (John Quincy, sixth President of the United States), 1767-1848. "_It is the last of earth! I am content!_" On the twenty-first of February, 1848, while in his seat in the Capitol, he was struck with paralysis, and died two days later. ADDISON (Joseph, poet and essayist), 1672-1719. "_See in what peace a Christian can die!_" These words were addressed to Lord Warwick, an accomplished but dissolute youth, to whom Addison was nearly related. ADRIAN or HADRIAN (Publius AElius, the Roman Emperor), 76-138. "_O my poor soul, whither art thou going?_" Adrian wrote both in Greek and Latin. Among his Latin poems (preserved by Spartianus, who wrote his life), are these lines addressed to his own soul: Animula vagula blandula, Hospes comesque corporis, Quae nunc abibis in loca? Pallidula, rigida, nudula, Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos. Soul of me! floating and flitting, and fond! Thou and this body were house-mates together; Wilt thou begone now, and whither? Pallid, and naked, and cold; Not to laugh, nor be glad, as of old. Adrian is known in history as one of the greatest of the Roman Emperors. It is hardly too much to say that, by his progress through all the provinces and his policy of peace, he was the consolidater of the empire founded a century and a half before by Augustus. He was the author of the Roman Wall between England and Scotland; he beautified the city of Athens; he founded the modern Adrianople; he built for his own mausoleum what is now the Castle of St. Anglo at Rome. He was also a patron of the fine arts and of literature. Of the famous lines, "The Dying Adrian's Address to His Soul," no fewer than one hundred and sixteen translations into English have been collected, the translators including Pope, Prior, Byron, Dean Merivale, and the late Earl of Carnarvon. It should be added that Pope's familiar version, beginning "Vital spark of heav'nly flame," is a paraphrase rather than a translation. I quote Prior's version: "Poor little, quivering, fluttering thing, Must we no longer live together? And dost thou prune thy trembling wing, To take thy flight thou know'st not whither? "Thy humorous vein, thy pleasing folly Lie all neglected, all forgot: And pensive, wavering, melancholy, Thou dread'st and hop'st thou know'st not what."