For without intending to compliment the father or the mother, or to censure any others, I give it as my decided opinion, that Mr.Adams is the most valuable public character we have abroad; and that there remains no doubt in my mind, that he will prove himself to be the ablest of all our diplomatic corps.

If he was now to be brought into that line, or into any other public walk, I could not, upon the principle which has regulated my own conduct, disapprove of the caution which is hinted at in the letter.
But he is already entered; the public, more and more, as he is known, are appreciating his talents and worth; and his country would sustain a loss, if these were to be checked by over delicacy on your part.
"With sincere esteem, and affectionate regard, "I am ever yours, "GEORGE WASHINGTON." This letter is characteristic of the discernment and nobleness of Washington.

Appreciating at a glance the perplexed position of Mr.Adams, and wisely discriminating between the bringing forward of his son for the first time into public service, and the continuing him where he had already been placed by others, and shown himself worthy of all trust and confidence, he frankly advised him to overcome his scruples, and permit his son to remain in a career so full of promise to himself and his country.

President Adams, in agreement with this counsel, determined to allow his son to continue in Europe in the public capacity to which he had been promoted by Washington.
Shortly previous to the close of Washington's administration, he transferred the younger Adams from the Hague, by an appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to Portugal, but before proceeding to Lisbon, his father, in the meantime having become President, changed his destination to Berlin.

He arrived in that city in the autumn of 1797, and immediately entered upon the discharge of his duties as Minister of the United States.
In 1798, while retaining his office at Berlin, he was commissioned to form a commercial treaty with Sweden.
During his residence at Berlin, Mr.Adams, while attending with unsleeping diligence to his public duties, did not forego the more congenial pursuits of literature.