John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

5. V:45. Mrs Chambré took her daughter to school at Hayes— Her Son Walter came with a Mrs Williamson, and returned home with his mother to Hampstead this Evening. He is to come back to school on Wednesday— I walked to Kew Bridge and near there was overtaken by a Stage in which I went to the White Horse Cellars, Piccadilly. Alighted there and walked to Craven-Street where I found Mr Oliver, just returned from Ireland.— He came by the way of Cheltenham where he found Mr and Mrs Patterson, and the Miss Caton’s, much gratified with the attentions they had received there, particularly from the Duke of Wellington— But he left the place last week, after which it was deserted by most of the fashionable company and Mr & Mrs Patterson talked of leaving it. Mr Oliver is going in one or two days, to meet Mr Pinkney at Naples. One of his nephews came out with Mr Pinkney as his private Secretary. Dr Burgoyne came, and brought me a Letter of introduction from William Crafts junr. of Charleston South Carolina— Dr Burgoyne has been here about a Month, and proposes going next week with his Lady to France— Mr G. Joy came, with a Note from himself, having made the arrangement for a pipe of Madeira Wine, in the London Docks. He sat with us until five O’Clock, conversing as usual upon a variety of Subjects— Mr Luffman the engraver came, and made further enquiries about the means for him, of going to the United States— He proposes to take out with him many 46plates of his maps to pursue his business in America; but being apprehensive that they might be seized in the attempt to carry them away, he came to enquire if I would guarantee their safe exportation, which I of course declined. Mr: Patrick Smyth came according to the appointment I had made, and shewed me the Will of his brother upon which he claims the Estate in West-Florida; and some minutes of Evidence, from which it is not fully ascertained that the testator himself is dead. I told Mr Smyth, that as the general question in this case applies to both Nations, it might be necessary that there should be an understanding between the two Governments on the subject— It would be therefore advisable for him to apply to the British Government; and, obtain their interest in his favour— They would then either through me, or through the British Minister in the United States, propose some arrangement which may operate with reciprocity, and I was sure the Government of the U.S. would be ready to settle it upon the most liberal principles— After some embarrassment and hesitation, Mr Smyth acknowledged that he had already made an application, upon his case to Lord Castlereagh, and had received his answer, which declined any interference, until Smyth should have pursued his pretensions, in the proper channel, which Smyth said he had now done by applying to me— I told him I supposed Lord Castlereagh had meant, not me, but the Courts of Law in the Country where the estate lies— Smyth wanted me to give him in writing the assurance that the American Government would make the settlement on the most liberal principles, but he finally went away, saying that he should make a new application to Lord Castlereagh. There was also a Letter from Philip Thorne of Tavistock; enquiring if I had received his Letter enclosing the Information of Avery, and stating that he had been advised to publish it in the Newspapers; but as they would probably go to the United States, he wished first to hear from me.— I answered his Letter, dissuading him from the publication at present, and stating my intention to present the affair to the Consideration of this Government— I took to town the two Notes to Lord Castlereagh that I had prepared— Mr Smith made out the original of that relating to the Sales at Auction, which I signed and it was sent. Mrs Adams came into town at six O’Clock, and we went and dined with Mr and Mrs John Cowell at N. 20. Bedford Square— The company consisted of the Countess of Cork, Lord and Lady Mexborough, General and Mrs Doyle, Mr Drouet the French flute player and his Sister, Mr Perry, Editor of the Morning Chronicle, Mr Sheridan, son of the celebrated person of that name lately deceased, a Mr Smith, an Etonian and schoolmate of Young Cowell, with two or three others, and Mr Prince Sanders— The Conversation at table was not remarkably harmonious; and the company was not well assorted— After dinner there was a numerous party; and one Card-table made up. Mr Drouet played upon the flute; his Sister, Miss Cowell, and one or two other young Ladies played on the Piano, and sung. There was a younger Miss Cowell who sung uncommonly well. Young Cowell introduced Sheridan to me— I asked Perry who was the author of some verses on the Death of Sheridan which appeared in this day’s Morning Chronicle— He told me it was Tommy Moore— He spoke to me of a pretended Treaty between Russia and the United States, which has been announced in many late Newspaper paragraphs— I told him he might rely upon it there was no foundation for the Story— He spoke also of the distressed State of the Country, and the late Meeting, called by the Duke of Rutland, and presided by the Duke of York; which had a curious and quite unexpected result.— He said that in his paper to-morrow, there would be an account of the Spanish Expedition against Algiers, in 1775. which failed.— That the present expedition of Lord Exmouth had been undertaken sorely against the inclinations of the British Government, at the urgent instigation of the Emperor of Russia, who was meddling with everything.— That there would also be in to-morrow Morning’s paper, a call upon the Ministers to assemble Parliament immediately, or that they would incur a heavy responsibility— That there was a monthly agricultural Report in which there were dreadful details of the distresses of the Country— It was printed, and partially published; by distributions only to particular persons— But he had a copy of it, and should certainly make use of it— Mr J. A. Smith sent me the Note to Lord Castlereagh, concerning R. Shapley’s case to be signed— I took it home with me— It was one in the Morning when we reached home— The Morning had been fine, and at Summer heat; but there was a heavy thunder shower by four in the afternoon, and from that time cold and frequent rains all the Evening.