John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

9. VI:15. I had intended not to go into London, until next Tuesday, but the expectation of meeting Mr J. A. Smith there, and several Letters which I received this morning induced me to change this determination. I could therefore only write half a page of my Journal. The Letters were three enclosures from Mr Grubb— The first a packet from Messrs: Alexander Glennie, Son and Co. with a Despatch from the American Department of State—a Letter from Mr Stephen Pleasonton, a Clerk in that Department, written in the absence, but by the order of Mr Monroe, instructing me to apply to the British Government, for restitution or indemnity, to Mr Karthaus a Citizen of the United States for the capture of a Vessel called the Baltimore, at St. Andero within the territorial Jurisdiction of Spain, in the year 1812. by boats from British Ships of War, in that harbour— The application is to be made to the British Government, on account of the unsettled state of our political relations with Spain. There is a Protest signed by the Captain and Mate of the Baltimore; a statement by Mr Karthaus of the value of the vessel and Cargo, with his Affidavit before a Notary Public that they were his property—the sentence of condemnation by the Court of Admiralty at London, and a written opinion of Mr W. Pinkney as Counsel to Mr Karthaus, recommending an application to the British Government for redress.— The Letter from Messrs: Glennie, requests my immediate attention to this affair, and proposes that Mr Karthaus should call upon me to take my advice concerning it— The second and third enclosures were packets 356from Mr Beasley— One containing a long Letter from him on the subject of the Sailors, in reference to the Note from Lord Castlereagh, of which I sent him some days ago a copy— The facts stated and the suggestions contained in his Letter, made it necessary for me to have some Conversation with him, and to postpone the answer to Lord Castlereagh’s Note— The answer itself must also be a different one, from that which I had prepared— The other enclosed a Letter to Mr Beasley from Mr Cobbett, the Editor of the Political Register— It refers him to a plan which Cobbett has formed of sending out a person to New-York, to establish a regular literary communication between the United States and this Country; the details of which plan, he says are published in this day’s Register. But he says that he and his Son, intend at the same time to send out some works, of which they wish to have Copy-rights in America; and he asks two questions with regard to the Law of the United States, concerning copy-rights.— Mr Beasley being unable to answer these questions asks me to give him the information requested— I went into Town, with the view of meeting Mr J. A. Smith— Mr Grubb said a Gentleman had called about half an hour before I arrived— He had a parcel of American Newspapers for me; but had neither mentioned his name nor where he lodged. He had taken the direction of my house at Ealing, and said he would come out to morrow Morning— Mr Grubb wrote by my direction to Mr Beasley, mentioning that I would call upon him at his house in Harley-Street, at Noon on Tuesday; or if that should not suit his convenience requesting him to call at my Office in Charles Street at two O’Clock the same day—or if not, to let me know when and where he could see me. Mr J. C. Gray called at the Office— He has been on a tour into the Country since he was here before, and has just returned— He said that Mr Very had called at his lodgings before he left London; but he was out and did not see him— He had left word however that I had lent him money; which he Gray would repay me— I told him I had not meant to call upon him for the repayment, and Very had given me a draft upon his own father at Salem— Mr Gray proposes to go shortly to France, and asked me for advice, concerning his travels, which I accordingly gave him.— The weather being fine, I ordered the Carriage to come to the Office at four O’Clock— I left it myself at three with directions, that the Coachman should follow and overtake me on the Brentford Road— He did overtake me at the Corner of the Street from Brentford; but having walked thus far, I chose to complete the walk home, and came from the Office to my house, nine miles and a few rods, in precisely two hours and a half— The weather, and roads were as favourable for walking as possible— I found George’s Company all assembled— His Schoolmates Buttanshaw, Chambré, Flexnay, Hamilton, Jackson, Patch, Sheaffe, Turner, & Wright dined and spent the Evening with us— The four Miss Nicholas’s came to tea, and we had music and singing by the two eldest but Mrs Adams, who had been very unwell the whole day, found herself immediately after dinner so ill that she was obliged to quit the drawing-room, and retire to bed. The boys had leave to stay till ten O’Clock, but it was past eleven before the party broke up, and we sent them all back to school together, except Wright, whose Uncle, Sir James Wright, lives in our neighbourhood, and sent for him soon after ten— Sir James is the Son, of the last Royal Governor of Georgia; and was born in America— Our sons John and Charles stay this Night at home.