John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

25. Moderate breezes and fair weather with occasional showers of rain. A heavy swell from the Northwest occasioned so much rolling of the vessel that I could neither write nor read much— A loss of sleep, almost total for the three preceding Nights also disqualified me for application or reflection— I read however the life of Marcellus in Plutarch; and the parallel between him and Pelopidas— And in the Evening I read Absalom and Achitophel— The principal difference between Dryden’s part and Tate’s, is the aptness of Dryden’s scriptural allusions— The resemblance between the two parts is much too great— And the wit is too coarse and vulgar— We had cards in the cabin this Evening— Latitude by Observation 55:36.— Long: 28:20.— Water 54. Air 56. Saw nothing but a Grampus.