John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

26. VII: Wrote a short Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury; Mr Grubb called upon me twice— I made up a second packet for the Secretary of State, and sent it just in time for Mr Trumbull, who went down this day to Gravesend— The multitude of visitors and of applications that I have almost every day, renders it impossible to keep my Correspondence regular. I had this day visits from Commodore Barney, who came with a Mr: Barnes for a Passport— Mr Delprat and Buchanan came next—to take leave— Mr Delprat going to-morrow morning for Paris. Mr Buchanan the next day to Holland; to join Dr Eustis and to reside in his family— While they were here, Mr Schley came in, and brought me two Letters with a small packet of French Newspapers from Mr Jackson at Paris, a Sailor boy, a native of Richmond Virginia, starving and having no protection came to implore relief, complaining that he had been turned away from the Consul’s Office— I gave him a note to Mr Beasley. Mr Sanders came, and asked my opinion, and advice, about his project of going to St: Domingo— The primary object is to introduce the systems 299of schooling according to the plans of Bell and Lancaster, into that Island— Petion has sent over here to request that some person should be sent out to his part of the Country, for that purpose— Christophe, is represented, as equally earnest for the establishment of schools within his territory— There is a Society here instituted for the purpose of promoting these Schools, and it is that Society which engages Mr Sanders to go— Mr Wilberforce is one of its principal and most active members— Sanders asked me if he did not think he could promote useful relations between St: Domingo and the United States— He intimated that Mr Wilberforce had further projects for which he proposed to raise a Subscription, but I did not understand altogether what they were, nor perceive the propriety of taking any part in them— In the midst of this Conversation Mr Robert Fulk Greville came in— He announced himself as the brother of the Earl of Warwick, and as having married a Sister of Lord Cathcart— He said he was upon the Establishment of the king’s household (he is a groom of the Bed-chamber) and had been many years a member of Parliament, though not one at present— He said he was owner of the whole town of Milford-Haven; that is of the land upon which the town stands, and he appeared labouring with some project by which that place could be used as a Port for the commerce between the United States and this Country— He said and often repeated that he had no settled plan, and that he had no wish to injure the trade of Bristol, Liverpool, or any other place— But he now resided at Great Cumberland Place Number 2. A house which he rented of Lord Ranelagh for a year— If I would call upon him there, at any time when at leisure, he would shew me the Papers, and the proofs of the vast importance as a place of trade, which might be given to Milford-Haven— He hinted that he had now some proposals from the Ministry hereupon the subject, but did not explain to me what they were, not at all distinctly, what was the object of his application to me— I told him that I would call upon him some morning at his house— After dinner, I walked out with the boys, and assisted them in flying their kite in the Park.