John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

22. VI:30. Cardelli was here this morning, recovered from his indisposition, which was in a great measure hypocondriac. He is to come to-morrow Evening to give the first lesson of drawing to the children. I called at Davis’s Hotel to visit Mr Poinsett; but he was abroad— Captain Morris called at the Office to enquire for Instructions, for his Expedition— I examined the Papers which Captain Perry had, and which since his Death have been returned to the Navy Department; but found nothing requiring any further Instruction for Morris. I received a Letter from J. A. Smith, with a Statement of Account, not very intelligible; and the impression of a Seal, of which I had sent him last May a device to be engraved, and which I intend as a present to my Son John; having given one to George, before we came from England— George’s was the Crest of the Boylston arms—a Lion holding a Cross; and his Cypher G. W. A.— This Seal for John is a Ship, “fluctibus laborans,” and the Motto from Horace Lib. 1. Ode 14. “Fortiter Occupa Portum”; with the cypher J. A. beneath. My purpose is in giving a trinket to my Son, to give him at the same time a useful moral lesson, and an elegant classical allusion.