19 October 1819
adams-john10 Neal MillikanFamily Finances (Adams Family)Bank of the United StatesHealth and IllnessPrivateeringRecreation
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19. V: Cardelli was here this morning, and I engaged him to give lessons of Drawing, three times a week, to my Son Charles and Mary Hellen—Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at seven in the Evening— He was to have begun this Evening; but was unwell, and at Night sent me word that he had been obliged to take to his bed. This day the races commenced, and the Public Offices were almost deserted. I called at the Branch Bank, and changed a small Bill, which had been given me with a number of others at the Branch at Boston— It was signed by the Cashier, but not by the President; and from its appearance had circulated through many hands— Its date was of 1. Feby 1817. and should have been signed by William Jones. I was also at the Metropolis Bank upon other business— B. Homans the Chief Clerk of the Navy Department came to ask directions for Instructions to be given to Captain Charles Morris who has been designated to take the place of the gallant, and lamented Captain O. H. Perry, who after performing part of the service which had been assigned to him, by going to Angostura, fell a victim to the climate, and died of the yellow fever in August last at the Island of Trinidad— His business was less than half accomplished, and Morris is to be charged with the remainder of the Commission. Homans sent me a Journal kept by a Mr Handy, who ascended the Oronoco river with Captain Perry, and was with him at Angostura— And the Correspondence which Perry had with Mr Roscio, the Secretary of State of Venezuela. Commodore Decatur was likewise at the Office— He gave me a Letter to him from a Master of a Merchant vessel named Cooper, complaining of having been taken, and plundered by a piratical privateer of Aury’s; and by Aury himself at Old Providence. But Decatur’s principal object was to ask for some allowance, for the benefit of Perry’s widow and Children; to which I think they have the most undoubted of claims.— My wife and the children spent the Evening at W. S. Smith’s; and at the close of it, I called for them there.

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