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d at the same time his greatest misfortune； that Otis permitted this political controversy to have such an absorbing and despotic command of his attention that melancholy consequences gradually appeared and left little hope of his final restoration。 His excitable and passionate temperament allowed the fire to be soon kindled； and nourished the flame in which his intellect； strong as it had been； was ultimately destroyed。
Otis's mental malady first appeared in a form which was mistaken for mere eccentricity of humor； and some time elapsed before his oddities of fancy and conduct deepened into acknowledged insanity。 An incident which might have aroused the suspicions of his friends occurred during the legislative session of 1769； when at the close of a powerful and ingenious speech by Brigadier Ruggles in which he had made a deep impression； Otis at once arose and in an impassioned tone and manner which struck awe upon all those present； exclaimed； 〃Mr。 Speaker； the liberty of this country is gone forever； and I'll go after it；〃 and turning round immediately left the House。 Some members stared； some laughed； but none seemed to suspect the true cause of this odd behavior。
How； after the encounter with Robinson； this mental disease made inroads on his fine powers； we best know from John Adams； who on September 3； 1769； wrote： 〃Otis talks all； he grows the most talkative man alive； no other gentleman in company can find space to put in a word。 He grows narrative like an old man。〃 On September 5th occurred the encounter with Robinson； one of the Commissioners of Customs； at the British Coffee House； which greatly aggravated his mental disorder。 From this time on he was a subject of some perplexity to the Whig leaders； though the spell with which he influenced the people was long in breaking。 On January 16； Adams again wrote： 〃Otis is in confusion yet； he loses himself； he rambles and wanders like a ship without a helm； attempted to tell a story which took up almost all the evening。 * * * In one word； Otis will spoil the club。 He talks so much； and takes up so much of our time； and fills it with trash； obsceneness； profaneness； nonsense； and distraction； that we have none left for rational amusements or inquiries。 * * * I fear； I tremble； I mourn； for the man and for his country； many others mourn over him with tears in their eyes。〃
In connection with Otis's charge against Hutchinson as to rapacious office…seeking the following extract from John Adams's diary is of curious interest。 After detailing certain detractions of which he had been the victim； the diarist breaks out testily： 〃This is the rant of Mr。 Otis concerning me。 * * * But be it known to Mr。 Otis I have been in the public cause as long as he； though I was never in the General Court but one year。
I have sacrificed as much to it as he。 I have never got my father chosen Speaker and Counselor by it； my brother…in…law chosen into the House and chosen Speaker by it； nor a brother…in…law's brother…in…law into the House and Council by it； nor did I ever turn about in the House； and rant it on the side of the prerogative for a whole year； to get a father into a Probate office first Justice of a Court of Common Pleas； and a brother into a clerk's office。 There is a complication of malice； envy； and jealousy in this man； in the present disordered state of his mind； which is quite shocking。〃 （Oct。 27； 1772。）
In this incapacity of Otis； who at last had to seek confinement； Samuel Adams came to the front of the opposition to Hutchinson as representing the government policy； and in nothing did he show more adroitness than in the manner in which he humored and exploited the colleague； whom； though sick； the people would not suffer to be withdrawn； as is shown by the following resolution：
RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT A TOWN MEETING IN BOSTON； MAY 8； 1770。
〃The Honorable James Otis having； by advice of his physician； retired into the country for the recovery of his health； Voted； That thanks of the town be given to the Honorable James Otis for the great and important services； which； as a representative in the General Assembly through a course of years； he has rendered to this town and province； particularly for his undaunted exertions in the common cause of the Colonies； from the beginning of the present glorious struggle for the rights of the British consituation。 At the same time； the town cannot but express their ardent wishes for the recovery of his health； and the continuance of those public services； that must long be remembered with gratitude； and distinguish his name among the patriots of America。〃
During short periods of sanity； or of only partial aberration； Otis's wit and humor； rendered more quaint and striking by the peculiarities of his mental condition； made him the delight of a small circle of friends。 The following anecdote； admirably told by President Adams； presents in a very graphic manner the peculiarities of his character：
〃Otis belonged to a club； who met on evenings； of which club William Molineux was a member。 Molineux had a petition before the legislature； which did not succeed to his wishes； and he became for several evenings sour； and wearied the company with his complaints of services； losses； sacrifices； etc。； and said； 'That a man who has behaved as I have； should be treated as I am； is intolerable；' etc。 Otis had said nothing； but the company were disgusted and out of patience； when Otis rose from his seat； and said； 'Come； come； Will； quit this subject； and let us enjoy ourselves； I also have a list of grievances； will you hear it？' The club expected some fun； and all cried out； 'Ay！ ay！ let us hear your list。'
〃'Well； then； Will； in the first place； I resigned the office of the Advocate…General； which I held from the crown； that produced mehow much do you think？' 'A great deal； no doubt；' said Molineux。 'Shall we say two hundred sterling a year？' 'Ay； more I believe；' said Molineux。 'Well； let it be two hundred； that for ten years； is two thousand。 In the next place； I have been obliged to relinquish the greatest part of my business at the bar。 Will you set that at two hundred more？' 'O； I believe it much more than that。' 'Well； let it be two hundred； this； for ten years； is two thousand。 You allow； then； I have lost four thousand pounds sterling？' 'Ay； and much more； too；' said Molineux。
〃'In the next place； I have lost a hundred friends； among whom were the men of the first rank； fortune； and power； in the province。 At what price will you estimate them？' 'Dn them；' said Molineux； 'at nothing： you are better without them than with them。' A loud laugh。 'Be it so；' said Otis。
〃'In the next place； I have made a thousand enemies； among whom are the government of the province and the nation。 What do you think of this item？' 'That is as it may happen；' said Molineux。
〃'In the next place； you know； I love pleasure； but I have renounced all amusement for ten years。 What is that worth to a man of pleasure？' 'No great matter；' said Molineux； 'you have made politics your amusement。' A hearty laugh。
〃'In the next place； I have ruined as fine health； and as good a constitution of body； as nature ever gave to man。' 'This is melancholy indeed；' said Molineux； 'there is nothing to be said on that point。'
〃'Once more；' said Otis； holding his head down before Molineux； 'look upon this head！' （Where was a scar in which a man might bury his finger。） 'What do you think of this？ And； what is worse； my friends think I have a monstrous crack in my skull。'
〃This made all the company very grave； and look very solemn。 But Otis； setting up a laugh； and with a gay countenance； said to Molineux； 'Now； Willy； my advice to you is； to say no more about your grievances； for you and I had better put up our accounts of profit and loss in our pockets； and say no more about them； lest the world should laugh at us。'〃
This whimsical dialogue put all the company； including Molineux； in a good humor； and they passed the rest of the evening very pleasantly。
One of the few fragments in Otis' handwriting now extant； is a memorandum made during the two years of transient sanity just preceding his tragic death。 Returning one Sunday from public worship； he wrote： 〃I have this day attended divine service； and heard a sensible discourse； and thanks be to God； I now enjoy the greatest of all blessings； mens sana in copore sano〃 （a sound mind in a sound body）。 But this gleam of reason was as transient as others that had preceded； and with Bowen we willingly draw a veil over the sad record of this most terrible misfortune of our hero。 〃To be among men； and yet not of them； to preserve the outward form and lineaments of a human being； while the spirit within is wanting； or is transformed into a wreck of what it has been； is surely one of the most impressive and affecting instances of the ills to which mortality is exposed。 It enforces with melancholy earnestness the moral lesson； that the only objects of the affections are the character and the intellect； and when these are destroyed； we look upon the external shape and features only as on the tomb in which the mortal remains of a friend repose。 We even long for the closi