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794 do farmer, of good education and culture. In her childhood she was very fond of writing and a close student, memorizing the works of Milton, Pope, Thomson, Young and others. She was a good Latin and Greek scholar and instructed divinity students who made their home in her family. In 1772, her father losing his property, the children were forced to provide for themselves. During the Revolutionary War, Miss Adams had taught school and after the close of the war she opened a school to prepare young men for college, which was very successful. She wrote quite extensively. One of her books, "A View of Religious Opinions" appeared in 1784, and passed through several editions in the United States and was also published in England and became a standard work. In 1799 she published her second work, "A History of England," and in 1801 "Evidences of Christianity." In 1812, her "History of the Jews" appeared, being followed by "A Controversy with Dr. Morse," and in 1826 "Letters on the Gospels." She spent a quiet, secluded life, and it is said her only journeys were trips from Boston to Nahant and from Boston to Chelmsford. Notwithstanding the many books which she published, her business abilities seemed to have been very limited and in the last years of her life she was supported by an annuity settled upon her by three wealthy residents of Boston. She was buried at Mount Auburn, being the first person buried in that beautiful cemetery.

Lydia Maria Francis was born in Medford, Massachusetts, February II, 1802. Her ancestor, Richard Francis, came from England in 1636 and settled in Cambridge, where his tombstone may be still seen in the burial ground. Her paternal grandfather, a weaver by trade, was in the Concord fight. Her father, Convers Francis, was a baker, first in West Cambridge, then in Medford, where he first introduced the article of food still known as "Medford crackers." He was a man of strong character and great industry. Though without much cultivation he had an uncommon love of reading and his anti-slavery convictions were deeply rooted and must have influenced his child's later career. He married Susanah Rand, of whom it is only recorded that "She had a simple, loving heart and a spirit busy in doing good." They had six children of whom Lydia Maria was the youngest. While her brother Convers was fitting for college she was his faithful companion, though more than six years younger. They read together and she was constantly bringing him Milton and Shakespeare to explain so that it may well be granted that the foundation of Miss Lydia's intellectual attainments was laid in this companionship. Apart from her brother's help the young girl had, as was then usual, a very subordinate share of educational opportunities, attending only the public schools with one year at the private seminary of Miss Swan, in Medford. In 1819 Convers Francis was ordained for the first parish, in Watertcwn, and there occurred in his city, in 1824, an incident which was to determine the whole life of his sister. Doctor G. G. Palfrey had written in the North American Review, for April, 1821, a "Review" of the now forgotten poem of "Yamoyden," in which he ably pointed out the use that might be made of early American History for the purpose of fictitious writing. Miss Francis read this article at her