John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

14. VI: The journal employed me until the breakfast hour— Mrs: Adams is unwell, and was not with us at breakfast, yesterday or this Morning. I attended Church with John and Charles— Mr Carr read prayers— The Sermon was by Mr Milman, a new comer, a very young Man, son of Sir Henry Milman, and just entering upon his Career. It was his very first performance. The Sermon was very short— The text Psalm XIV.1. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God— With many marks of youth in the composition, there was good sense, reasoning, and eloquence, the promise of future merit— The delivery was bad, both in pronunciation and in Action. a canting utterance—a stiff and aukward continual shake of the head; and utter ignorance of the modulation of the voice— Mr Carr gave notice that next day Thursday was appointed as a day of Thanksgiving for the termination of the War against France.— I was precluded from my walk before dinner, by the rain. Wrote two Letters to Mr Maury; and a Note to Lord Castlereagh, requesting an interview with him; to be sent into town to-morrow. I see by the Sunday’s Observer of this day, that Anthony M’Kenrot, the man who has twice written me strange Letters, and who was indicted for a forgery, has been acquitted at the old Bailey, by a verdict finding him not guilty, on the ground of insanity. George is still recovering, and this day first dined with us, since his confinement.