John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

27. I called this morning on the Accountant of the Navy, upon Mr: Beale’s business— He gave me a warrant on Mr: Tucker as Treasurer of the Navy, for the balance due on the wages of John Robinson, Mr: Beale’s indented apprentice; and whom he had left on board the Constitution Frigate— I carried the warrant to Mr: Tucker; who after taking my signature to a receipt endorsed on the Warrant; signed it himself, and gave it me to receive payment at the Bank, which I did— Called also on Mr: Nourse, the Register, respecting Mr: Brooks’s business— He found the interest due on $800. in the names of James Taylor, J. Ingersoll, and Rebecca Parks Exors: of Warham Parks; and went with me to the Bank, where we found the Interest was due for two Quarters 30. June & 30 Septr: 1803— I received also this money. I then went to the Comptroller’s Office, but did not find him there— Next I called at Dr: Thornton’s Office; acting under the Secretary of State as Commissioner of Patents; to speak with him concerning the application of a Mr: Jacob Welsh, from whom I received some days since a letter, requesting my attention to this business— Dr: Thornton had got the Patent nearly made out; but told me he thought it not a new invention— Which indeed he says is the case of almost all the applications for Patents— And others are for things impossible— In the present stat e of the Law, a Patent cannot be refused to any person, who takes the Oath, and pays his thirty dollars— The Doctor told me of many egregious impositions on the public, under this system— One particularly by a Clergyman of Bordentown, New-Jersey, named Burgess Allison, who has a patent for improving Spirits by filtration through charcoal, which had been known and practised for many years— Remainder of the day at home— Finished reading Caustic to the Ladies.