John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

17. V. Went into London early this Morning and called upon Mr Shaw at his lodgings, N. 3. St: Albans Street. I found him just rising. Took him in the Carriage, and we went to the Mansion House, after calling at his Solicitor’s. N. 68 Chancery Lane, for the Papers— There were two Affidavit’s drawn up, stating the Circumstances of the Execution of the two Deeds, and that I was sworn, according to the form of my religious Profession— The Lord Mayor was in a Black Silk Judge’s Gown, and was going to hold a Court. His Secretary administered the Oath to me; and in the first instance offered me the Book. I observed that as the Affidavit expressed that I was sworn according to the form of my own religious Profession, it was not upon the Book, but with the lifted hand— I was so sworn accordingly— The Lord Mayor said he had never seen the Oath so taken before— The City Recorder, who was present, said he had seen one instance of it, in the time of Lord Mansfield— It was a Scotch Presbyterian, and the Clerk of the Court, not knowing the form of the Oath, Lord Mansfield, who was himself a Scotchman and acquainted with it, administered the Oath himself— Our Ceremony was over 330in a very few minutes, and on quitting the Mansion house, Mr Shaw left me, having Lord Lowther’s Gig and Servant in attendance upon him— I called at the lodgings of Mr C. W. Apthorp, who had left at my Office, the Letters and pamphlets from America which I had found there on Saturday. They had been brought by Mr Cary, who came in the New Packet to Liverpool, and with whom Mr Apthorp was a fellow passenger. Mr Apthorp came down and spoke to me. He said that Mr Cary was on the way from Liverpool to London, but being very ill, travelled slowly, and would probably not arrive here in less than a fortnight— I called also at Mr T. M. Jones’s lodgings, but found that he was gone, last Evening for Birmingham. Went to the Office in Charles Street; and being unable to write walked to Newman Street, to call upon Mr West the Painter— He is absent from town, at the isle of Wight, and not expected to return for several weeks— I returned again to Charles Street, where Mr Shaw soon after called.— He had drawn up a Letter as from me to Lord Lowther, which he requested me to sign, assuring his Lordship in the most positive terms that the two Deeds which I had witnessed were perfectly valid and legal to convey to him in fee simple, the Estate of Lowther in South-Carolina— I declined signing this Letter, and told Mr Shaw, that I hoped both he and Lord Lowther had understood me as expressly stating that the legality of the Conveyance could be established only by a decision in the judicial Courts— That none such had to my knowledge taken place; and I could not presume to say what it would be— That it would only lead Lord Lowther into an error, if I should express an opinion that the conveyance was complete and legal, and he should rely upon it— I returned home about half past six in the Evening.— George began reading the Old Testament in French, this morning.