John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

14724. IV:45. Rain, Hail and Storm— Call at the President’s— He fixed Monday next at one O’Clock, to see Mr Canning and receive from him, the Letter from the King of Great-Britain, announcing the death of the Queen— I remarked to the President that in the language of Mr Canning’s Note, there was something of the pretention which he had advanced last Summer— He desired me to take the President’s pleasure, only with respect to the time, when he would receive the Letter; as if the manner of receiving it was not to be optional— I said I did not think it worth while to notice this now; but it would be advisable to bear it in mind, and not suffer the pretension to take root, by acquiescence in it— The President said he should take care to keep the mode of receiving these Letters, always subordinate to his convenience— He spoke of the papers from judge Fromentin; and said he had given those last received to General Winder for his perusal— Fromentin and Winder having married Sisters. He had told Winder that these papers were in language so extraordinary, that the Government in justice to itself was compelled to mark them with disapprobation— Fromentin would therefore be informed that they would not be communicated to Congress unless he should desire it himself— He said Winder thought Fromentin had been transported out of the bounds of judgment—he had promised to write to him; and believed that upon cool reflection, he would himself ask to withdraw the papers— I had received this morning Letters from Governor Jennings, and of Judge Parke the judge of the United States District Court in the State of Indiana, mentioning the Death of the District Attorney, Meek, and recommending Charles Dewey for the appointment. The President said there could be no better recommendations and directed the Commission to issue, immediately. There was also a Letter of the 6th. instt. from James G. Forbes at Pensacola St Augustine, giving a melancholy account of the situation of the place where the yellow fever has been raging among all the new Settlers, and is now he says among the troops. The President spoke of the discriminating duty repeal system again, and read me a slight modification which he has made of the part of his message relating to it— He had favourable accounts from Mrs Hay’s daughter who has been so long and so dangerously ill; and he expects now the immediate return of Mrs Monroe— Mr and Mrs Gouverneur have arrived— I wrote to E. Cruft, and read part of Shaler’s Manuscript account of Algiers.