John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

17. VII: Dr Thornton came again to the Office, to re-urge his pretensions for appointment as agent of the United States to Venezuela, or any other part of South-America. Of all the official duties of my Station, there is none that tries the temper so severely as that of conflicting with the stubborn perseverance of unsuccessful candidates for office. To persist in reiterated refusal without ever falling into harshness of manner, is a labour more than Herculean— An unprovocable temper is the first of qualities to be prayed for, in the discharge of these duties— The doctor will not receive this appointment, and this day came to insist upon his claims to it; to hint at the multitude of powerful friends who would intercede for him; among whom he expected would be many of the Senators, and to enquire what were the Reasons why he should not be appointed. I told him that as he had always been a very ardent South-American Patriot, perhaps the President might think a person more cool, would suit better for the impartial observation necessary to such an agency— He thought that very strange; for in his opinion, it was precisely that which made him peculiarly fit for the Agency— I was at the President’s, and reported to him the substance of Judge Todd’s conversation respecting the appointment of his Son; and Mr Eddy’s charges against Robbins the District Attorney in Rhode-Island, and Collins the Collector at Bristol in the same State— The President said he would fix the Compensation of the Agents to South-America, on a par with those allowed by Law to Chargés d’Affaires—a Salary at the rate of 4500 dollars a year, and in lieu of outfit, a passage in a public vessel, and reasonable necessary travelling expences— He said he had thoughts of appointing W. P. Van Ness, now District Judge of the Southern District of New-York, to go as agent to Buenos-Ayres, authorizing Prevost who is now there to return as he wishes to Chili— As to the charges against Robbins and Collins he requested me to call on the Senators, and members of the House from Rhode-Island, and arrange with them the manner of calling upon those persons to vindicate their characters or to institute an enquiry into the facts, which is now indispensably necessary. With regard to Dr Thornton, the appointment of him was out of the question. It was not compatible with the courtesy of social life to tell him the real reason why which was that the Doctor, with great learning, ingenuity, and good-humour, wanted discretion, a quality quite indispensable 268for these agencies.— We had company to dinner— Messrs. Gaillard, President pro tempore of the Senate, Horsey, and Johnson of Louisiana, Senators, Stevenson Archer, Baldwin, Silsbee, Street and Whitman of the House of Representatives, R. J. Meigs, Post-master General, Professor Everett, General Harper, Genl Swartwout. Coll. Wool, Genl. P. B. Porter, C. J. Ingersoll, R. Peters junr. D. Webster W. S. Smith, and Horace Gray— There had been invited the Senators John Elliot of Georgia, William Hunter of Rhode-Island and William Smith of South-Carolina, who declined the invitation. Generals Brown and Cadwalader Coll. Bomford, Commodores Chauncey and Decatur, Captain Biddle, H. W. Edwards and James Pindall, members of the House, J. H. Read of S. Carolina, Insinger and Labouchere, who sent excuses, from indisposition or previous engagement— The dinner was agreeable, but short, all the company being engaged at the Ball at Commodore Decatur’s, which we also attended— There were between three and four hundred persons present; every member of both houses of Congress, and all the principal inhabitants of Washington having received invitations. It was said to be the most splendid party ever given at this place. We came home before Midnight.