John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

17. V:30. Received at breakfast this morning a Note from the Prussian Minister, Baron Jacobi-Kloest, requesting me to obtain authentic information concerning a native of Berlin, named Czeyka, who died at Hagarstown in the State of Maryland, in the year 1813— One Braun has written to the Chief Consistory at Berlin, that Czeyka, who had a wife, but no children in America, and who died leaving an Estate of about 4000 dollars, did upon his death-bed declare to him, Braun, that he had a wife and children living at Berlin, who were to be the heirs of his property. The American wife had a daughter, by a former husband, whose Son, named Drawinger took possession of Czeyka’s Estate at his decease; but upon Braun’s oath to the above Circumstances it was placed under the Care of the Orphan’s Court at Hagarstown to await the Claims of the lawful heirs— Braun writes from Philadelphia, asks for a Power of Attorney from the heirs to receive the money, which he offers to remit to a house at Altena; claiming a portion himself as joint-legatee, which he says Czeyka promised him as a reward for this service— Upon the enquiries made at Berlin, collateral relations of Czeyka have been found, but no traces of a wife or Children— And I am requested to obtain authentic information from America, to ascertain whether the relations at Berlin have any claim to the Estate— I was immersed all day, deep in the fisheries— Mr Mares one of the Masters at Dr Nicholas’s School, who teaches Greek and Latin called upon me. He had given private Lessons to George during part of the last Term, and was to have given them at his house, to the three boys during the vacation— But he has been absent until this day— And now, George is so unwell that he will probably not be able to resume his Studies before the Commencement of the next Term at School, and the Vacation is so far advanced that I did not think it worth while to send the other two boys to Mr Mares— I told him however I should wish him to give private lessons again to George, when he returns to School. I walked through Brentford to the Windsor Turnpike— While at dinner Mrs Adams received a Letter, from her Sister, Mrs Smith, at New-York; and I had one from Mr Gulian Ludlow of the same place. Both dated 11 Decr. and both marked Ship-Letter-Gravesend— The Letter from Mr Ludlow was upon business and enclosed a Bill of Exchange upon Minets and Stride, for £58:11:9.— In the Evening, Charles was reading in Mrs Hannah More’s Sacred Dramas, which I have given him. George rode out this morning—the first time since his confinement. [symbols]