John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

31. VI:30. Mrs Swan came at eleven O’Clock this Morning according to appointment— E. Coles was here at the same time. She gave a hint that she had business with me, and Coles immediately withdrew— She came to solicit the interference of this Government to obtain the release of her husband James Swan, from the prison of la Force at Paris where he has been ten years confined— He was there upon a sentence obtained in the Courts of France after three trials— A very unjust sentence for they were debtors to Mr Swan for 150,000 dollars, instead of being his Creditors— All Mr Swan wanted was to get released and come to this Country for a fair trial. But he would never pay the money of the Sentence decreed against him there. A great deal of money had been sent to Mr Swan by her; but it had all been absorbed in the expences of the trials. Mr Hyde de Neuville had befriended Mr Swan very much, and thought if the Government of the U. S. would interpose, his release might be obtained. I promised to speak with Mr de Neuville upon the subject, and if any thing could be done for Mr Swan, very readily to do it— Madame Plantou came with a Print of her allegorical picture of the Peace of Ghent; for which she laid me under a contribution. It is a bombastic and foolish thing, but Madame Plantou gives herself out for a native of Philadelphia, and is a Painter. This is one of her works— There is an America, in a triumphal Car, and a Britannia, upon her knees, submitting to terms of Peace dictated by Minerva, and Hercules— Oh! the voracious maw, and the bloated visage of National vanity— If it were true that we had vanquished or humbled Britannia it would be base to exult over her, but when it is so notorious that the issue of our late War with her was at best a drawn game there is nothing but the most egregious National vanity that can turn it to a triumph— I received this morning Notes from Mr Bagot and Mr Hyde de Neuville, to ask if their Ladies could visit Mrs Monroe to-morrow. At the President’s where I met Mr Crowninshield, there was again a consultation; and my wife called one the Ladies and informed them that they would also be received at half past eleven to-morrow— At the Office I had another long Conference with the Agent from Buenos Ayres, Mr Aguirre—Urging still for the acknowledgment of his Government. He came to enquire whether it was of any importance that he should remain here, or whether he might go to Baltimore or Philadelphia where he could find useful business to do. I told him he must judge of that for himself. That his demand for the acknowledgment of his Government was under Consideration of the President; and that if he should go to Baltimore or Philadelphia, and any thing important should occur requiring his presence here, I could have immediate notice given to him— We had a short visit this Evening from the Abbe Correa the Portuguese Minister, and from Mr. and Mrs. Walsh.