John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

2. V:30. Answered the Letter from Mr B. Galloway, of Hagerstown Maryland, concerning, Mr W. P. Dana, and his daughter, after having postponed it for sometime in expectation of having his Letter which I gave to Lord Kinnaird returned to me— I think it best however to delay no longer— Received a Letter of 29. March from General Scott at Liverpool, and one of the 30th: from Mr Maury— The General had received my despatches, and the Packet for Mr Ludlow at New-York, and promises to dispose of them as I requested in my Letter— Mr Maury’s Letter says the General sailed on the 29th. in the Franklin for Baltimore.— Went into London with Mrs Adams— Called at Count Munster’s house 21. Piccadilly, to see and converse with him, at the request of Mr Bussche-Hünnefeldt, but the Count was not at home— Went to the Office at Craven Street, and Mrs Adams went to visit Mrs King and Mrs Bourke, the Danish Minister’s Lady.— At the Office I found a Letter from Baron Rehausen, the Swedish Minister, recommending to me a Swede named Charles Hammelin late a subaltern officer in the Swedish service, who was sentenced to be shot for rashness in sacrificing lives by defending an untenable Post. He was pardoned, but dismissed from the service, and wishes to go to America, to enter the Service of the United States— The man came, himself, and appeared to be in great distress— But he understands not a word of English and scarcely a word of French. I told him that though very desirous to serve him, I could not see the smallest prospect of his obtaining a Commission in America— He went apparently much disappointed. There was also a Petition from William Webb, stating himself to be a native American Sailor, and a convict on board of a hulk at Woolwich; sentenced to seven years transportation, for stealing some fowls worth half a guinea; but he says he bought them— He prays me to interpose with the British Government to obtain his pardon, and then to send him to America— Also a Letter from Captain Stuart requesting a French Passport which was sent him. Mr Bennet of Alexandria came, and mentioned that he expected to go in about a fortnight to France previous to returning to America. I enquired of him what his prospects were, with regard to his petition to the Lords of the Treasury for indemnity, on account of the plunder of Alexandria, by the British frigates in 1814— He said they gave him fair words, and that they had now referred the memorial to Captain Gordon (the pillager) to report upon the facts— He evidently yet flatters himself that he will get something— Mr Caldecott came at three O’Clock the time I had appointed— He is a Surgeon, Apothecary and Man midwife,—who wishes to remove with a wife and five children to America— He came for advice and information, what his prospects of thriving by his profession would be— I gave him all the information that I could, and particularly urged him not to form sangwine expectations of success, if he should go—and reminded him how much the medical department was already crowded in America— He asked if there would be any chance of his obtaining employment in that line in the American army or navy.— I told him none during the Peace, and probably none even in case of War, which would comfortably maintain himself, a wife, and five children. I referred him to Mr Bennet who was present, and whose opinions were not more favourable to the prosecution of the project than mine— He said he would reflect further upon the subject, and if he should finally conclude to go, he would apply to me again. He asked me, if I would give him in case he should go a letter of recommendation, to some person who might advise him, and I promised to give him a Letter for Dr Mitchill at New-York. When he and Mr Bennet were gone I wrote a Note Mr Hamilton, the Under Secretary of State, enclosing to him Webb’s petition, requesting a decision of this Government upon it— I took it with me, down to the foreign Office, to leave it there in case I had not found him— But he was there, and received me.— I gave him the Note, and Petition, which he finally took, though in the first instance he wished me to take it back and address it to Mr Beckett the Under-Secretary in the Home Department— But I told him I had in this instance followed precisely the course recommended to me on a former and exactly similar case, by Mr Morier— I enquired also of Mr Hamilton, whether foreign Consuls residing here enjoyed any exemption from the payment of taxes— Mr Maury had written to me, requesting this information— Mr Hamilton told me they were not entitled to any such exemption. Count Lieven the Russian Ambassador sent in his name, and I immediately came away, and returned to Craven 421Street— Left Bode’s Uranographia to be bound— Settled the Account of Williams the Stationer, and took with me the Book of minutes of Office charges— It was about seven when we reached home, and I found an answer from Captain Stuart to the answer I had written him relating to Pio.