John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

35728. V:30. The President left the City early this morning for Annapolis; going from thence down Chesapeake Bay by water to Norfolk, and to be absent about three weeks— The Secretaries of War and of the Navy are going with him; and from Norfolk Mr Calhoun goes for two Months to South-Carolina, and Mr Crowninshield for four or five to Massachusetts— I drafted a Letter to the Secretary of War, requesting him to issue instructions to detach an Officer, to go and take possession of Moose-Island, jointly with the Sheriff of the County of Washington in the State of Massachusetts—and also a form of a Warrant to them jointly to receive possession, to be signed by the President. I was taking these papers to Mr Calhoun’s house to consult with him upon them, when I met him and Crowninshield in a Carriage, going to Annapolis— Mr Calhoun took my drafts with him to the President for his final determination upon them— At the Office I had as visitors, Mr G. Gill, who applied for an official Certificate that the Little Saint Mary’s river is in East-Florida, and within the Spanish Territory. He brought a printed copy of Ellicott’s journal as evidence of the fact, but I declined giving the certificate as unusual. Mr M. M. Russell came to announce that having been to Liverpool on his way to Riga, where he was appointed Consul; he had been obliged by the ill health of his wife to return immediately to this Country; and now would be glad to have the Consulate of Tunis, or any other, that should be profitable— Then Mr G. S. Johonnot, who brought me strong Letters of recommendation from Judge Story and Mr Silsbee. He had been sometime bondsman for his brother as Navy agent at Boston, and he proving a delinquent, and since dead, this person has been sued upon his bond. He brought me the papers of the case from the navy department, and requested me to see the Comptroller judge Anderson, who had told him he must consult me before he could make up his decision, upon the extent of his responsibility, and he wanted to leave the City to-morrow Morning— I went over to Anderson’s office, and after a perusal of the papers and a discussion upon them with Anderson, he told me, it was not me, but the Secretary of the Treasury whom he had told Johonnot that he must consult with before deciding on his Account— Thus my Office hours were absorbed, and nothing done— In the Evening Mrs Adams went to her sister Boyd’s, and I took a solitary walk round the Capitol Hill.