John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

18. VI: Mr Greuhm, the Prussian Minister Resident and Consul General, came to take leave. He goes the day after to-morrow upon a tour of two Months to New-York and Boston— The weather continues bad— Rain almost the whole day. Mr. J. M. Baker a perpetual solicitor of Office came and occupied about an hour of my time— The Office of Consulor commercial agent at Porto-Rico, was his last request, and the President had consented to let him have it. He now came to say that he had been to Baltimore to look out for a passage and found there was no vessel going. That he had been to Mr Onis for Letters of Recommendation. Onis had promised him a Letter for the Intendant; but told him he would not be permitted to stay there— That he found there was very little commerce with Porto-Rico, and in short that he wanted another place. For instance, he would like to be Secretary of Legation to Russia—to go with Mr Campbell. I told him I believed that place was supplied; but promised to mention him again to the President for any vacancy that may occur. Mr Kemper came about his Florida claims with Mr W. Jones, his Counsel. After some discussion of their merits, he concluded to apply with them again to Mr Pleasonton the Auditor— There was in the year 1811 an insurrection in West-Florida, against the then existing Spanish Government there— It was managed entirely by Americans, of whom Kemper was one of the most active. They formed a Convention, and constituted a Republic, and made war upon Spain, until the Spanish Governor Folch applied to the Government of the U.S. to take possession of the Country, which they did, and have kept it ever since— The insurgent Convention men then applied to Congress for the payment of their expenses, and for compensation for this insurgency; and Congress in 1814. passed an act, authorising the Secretary of State to adjust and settle these claims. Mr Monroe appointed Kemper, Commissioner to go and collect the claims which he has done— It was understood when the Act of Congress passed, that their amount should not exceed 40,000 dollars. The auditor under Instructions from the acting Secretary of State, Mr Rush, has already admitted claims to the amount of more than 40,000 dollars, and there remain claims not admitted, of about 30000 dollars more; a large part of which are for Kemper himself. When I came home to dinner P. Ford the man who is begging for a place in some custom house followed me there, and kept me another long hour, dwelling upon the details of his distress, and the wants of his wretched family— Mary Hellen and Antoine are still confined with fevers— Evening idle.