The hall--brilliantly lighted up, and gaily attended, as was, and perhaps is still, the custom at the beginning the last evening of a session--had become cold, dark, and cheerless.

Of the members who remained, to prevent the public business from dying for want of a quorum, most but himself were sinking from exhaustion, although they had probably taken their meals at the usual hours, in the course of the day.

After the adjournment, I went up to Mr.Adams' seat, to join company with him, homeward; and as I knew he came to the House at eight o'clock in the morning, and it was then past midnight, I expressed a hope that he had taken some refreshment in the course of the day, He said he had not left his seat; but holding up a bit of hard bread in his fingers, gave me to understand in what way he had sustained nature." [Footnote: Edward Everett.] The following reminiscence will further illustrate Mr.Adams' habits of industry and endurance at a later day, as well as show his views in regard to the famous "Expunging Resolution." "On a cold and dreary morning, in the month of January, 1837, I went to the capitol of the United States, at a very early hour, to write out a very long speech I had reported for an honorable gentleman, who wished to look well in print; and on entering the hall of the House of Representatives, I found Mr.Adams, as early as the hour was, in his seat, busily engaged in writing.

He and myself were the only persons present; even the industrious Mr.Follansbee, the then doorkeeper, had not made his appearance, with his assistants and pages, to distribute copies of the journal and the usual documents.
"As I made it a rule never to speak to Mr.Adams, unless he spoke first, I said nothing; but took my seat in the reporters' gallery, and went to work.

I had written about half an hour, when the venerable statesman appeared at my desk, and was pleased to say that I was a very industrious man.