23 May 1816
adams-john10 Neal Millikan African Americans
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23. VI:15. Answered the Note from Charles Murray, Secretary to the Society of Friends of foreigners in Distress, and accepted the invitation to their anniversary dinner, on the 5th. of June.— Wrote little of my Journal— Received a Letter from Coll: Aspinwall, enclosing accounts of a vessel which he lately despatched to convey upwards of one hundred Seamen to the United States— He contracted with a Jew named Jacob, who now advances several extravagant claims for allowances altogether inconsistent with the contract— Coll: Aspinwall disputes all these demands, but sends the accounts to ask my opinion of them— I left home at Noon, leaving orders for the carriage, to follow me in an hour; with the intention that it should overtake me at the entrance of Hyde Park from Kensington, or in the Park— But it passed 451by me, just before I came to Hyde-Park Corner, and neither the Coachman nor either of the footmen perceived me, although they passed me, almost within Call.— I walked therefore the whole way to Craven-Street— I found there a Letter from O. C. Kellermann, dated at Copenhagen, 4. May, and proposing that the United States, should purchase from the Government of Denmark the Nicobar Islands in the East-Indies— He professes to have full-powers for this Negotiation, and says he can explain to me, why it ought to be secret— Mr Couling called at the Office; I had advised him the day when he was at Ealing, to go to the United States immediately; and there to make his own bargain with the Governor of Virginia. He had then appeared much inclined to take that course; but this day he thinks it will be better for him to wait for a reply from America, and to settle his affairs in this Country, before he goes. I asked him therefore to write me a Letter stating the terms on which he is willing to engage, in the service of the state of Virginia, and promised to forward it to Governor Nicholas— From his Conversation this day, I found that he had among his projects contemplated a removal to Russia, as well as to the United States, and had been to some Correspondence with the Russian Consul Dubachefsky, respecting the execution of that part of his plan.— I had a visit also from Mr Prince Sanders, whom I met just as I was going to dinner— I dined at Fishmongers Hall, at the Anniversary dinner of that Company. Before dinner we witnessed the swearing in of the Duke’s of Kent and Sussex as Members of the Company. The Duke of Gloucester was already a Member, and was present—as were the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Darnley and his Son, Lord Clifton, Lords Holland and Erskine— The Prime Warden of the Company, Nathanael Brickwood Esqr: presided at the table—the Lady Mayoress and two Miss Wood’s her daughters, Mrs and Miss Brickwood, and a large number of Ladies were there. I was the only foreign Minister; and I believe the only foreigner present. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress sat, at the right and left hand of the Prime-Warden, at the Right of the Lord Mayor, Mrs Brickwood the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, Miss Wood, myself, Miss Brickwood, Lord Erskine, &c— At the left of the Lady Mayoress, the Duke of Sussex, the younger Miss Wood, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Holland &c. The process after dinner, was the same as at all these great Entertainments— Non Nobis Domine was sung instead of saying grace— Then came the toasts—the King in respectful silence— The other toasts with three times three.— The Prince Regent; the Queen and Royal Family— The Princess Charlotte and the Prince of Saxe-Coburg— Then the Lord Mayor—the Dukes of Kent Sussex and Gloucester successively—then, the American Minister, and perpetual peace and friendship between Great Britain and the United States—then, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Erskine and trial by Jury, Lord Holland, and the Earl of Darnley. The Prime Warden, the Wardens of the company &c— As usual every person present who was toasted returned thanks by a Speech. This part of the ceremony, always excessively irksome to me, was peculiarly so this day— I said—[“]Mr Prime Warden, Gentlemen, Wardens of the Fishmongers Company, Ladies and Gentlemen; I beg leave to return my thanks, as well for the distinguished honour that is done me by this notice; as for that of having been permitted to participate in the festivities of this entertainment on this auspicious occasion. From my earliest infancy I had always been accustomed to hear the City of London celebrated for the liberality of its principles; nor is this the first day, upon which I have heard the praises of the Company before which I stand as being among the liberal, distinguished for its liberality. Since my residence in this Country, I have had ample opportunities to experience in my own person the truth of that which I had before heard, and to say with one of our ingenious Poets, “I thought so once, but now I know it.” Sir, I have been very recently informed of the arrival in the United States, of a Minister from the British Government accredited to that of my Country. It will be his Duty to support the interests of his Countrymen, and the rights of his Sovereign, in the United States, as it is my duty to support the interests of my fellow-Citizens, and the rights of my Sovereign here— But there is one duty common to us, both— It is in my estimation by far the most important, of those with which I am charged, and I am perswaded that he will consider it as among the most important of those incumbent upon him— It is the duty of contributing the utmost in our power, to make these two Great Nations better known and better friends to each other— The duty of softening the asperities, of cultivating and multiplying all the harmonies between them. I will only add the wish that he may have equal reason to be gratified with the reception and treatment which he will meet in that Country, as I have to feel myself honoured and gratified by that which I have experienced in this.”— This speech was well received, and something complimentary to the United-States was said in the speeches of the Royal Dukes, and of almost all the noblemen who were toasted— The Ladies left the table about ten O’Clock— It was near twelve when the rest of the Company rose, and there was still to be a concert in the Hall above— The band of instrumental performers was numerous and excellent, and there were several fine voices among the singers— 452They performed and sung at intervals, while the company were at table.— Lord Erskine told me that he was determined to pay a visit to the United States, and he promised again to send me his Speech upon the Orders in Council— Lord Holland told me that the Fishmongers were the only whig company in the City, and had uniformly been so. The Prime-Warden in his Speech observed that the king’s father Prince Frederick of Wales had been a member of the Company— Lord Holland invited me to dine with him at Holland-House next Sunday week; and said he would send me a Card. I got home at two in the Morning.

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