John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

7. VI. The City swarms with strangers, and the succession of visitors this morning was so numerous, that the names of several of them escaped my recollection— General Brown, W. Plumer jr. D. H. Miller M.H.R. with a Mr Proud, whom I knew at St. Petersburg in the year 1813. B. W. Crowninshield, with a judge Thatcher, E. Lincoln M.H.R. A. Hobart, M.H.R., with a Mr Hedge, and two others from Plymouth, R. D. Spaight M.H.R. from North-Carolina, W. N. Edwards M.H.R. from the same State. Dr Everett, the President’s Secretary, with a Mr Tappan from Boston, and three others: H. R. Warfield M.H.R. from Maryland. P. S. Markley, M.H.R. from Pennsylvania, with Mr Paulding and Mr Kittera. S. F. Vinton M.H.R. from Ohio. Mr Cummins of Salem, and others were at my House: and at the Office, James M’Ilvaine, S.U.S. from New-Jersey, with his Son, Bloomfield M’Ilvaine; H. U. Addington, Chargé d’Affaires from Great-Britain, Baron Tuyll the Russian Minister, Genl. Brown again and E. Wyer— Many of these were merely visits of courtesy, and for introduction— General Brown told me he had yesterday morning had a long conversation with the President; and had distinctly told him his impressions of the present and recent conduct of Calhoun— He said the President had heard it with surprize— Brown himself is deeply affected by it— At the Office, he shewed me a Letter from Ambrose Spencer at Albany, whose election to the Senate hitches between the two Houses of the Legislature.— He was nominated without formal opposition by the House of Assembly; having however, only 77 votes— In the Senate, he had from ten to twelve votes, with at least 20 against him. These, so scattered their votes so that no nomination was made by the Senate, and they could not go into joint ballot. The day passed without completing the election, and now they must pass a Law to fix another day for the choice— Spencer writes Brown that my friends in the Senate concurred in this postponement, from an opinion that he was hostile to me, which he solemnly protests he is not. His professions have been constantly friendly. His manifestations of inclinations, and his actions so far as he has acted constantly adverse— This species of duplicity pervades the conduct of so many public men in this Country, that it is scarcely possible to know upon whom any reliance can be placed— Edwards came to enquire about the nominations to foreign Missions, and to urge the interest of Mr Miller of North-Carolina, who is recommended for that to Guatemala. I told him how the matter stood, and the doubt whether the nominations would be made by Mr Monroe at all. And when he should finally determine, whether he would or would not make them I promised to give Edwards seasonable notice of his determination— Mr Warfield came upon the notice given him as I had yesterday requested, by Mr Webster— He said that he had not expressed his determination for whom he should vote in the House on Wednesday— His friends Mr Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and Mr Taney of Baltimore had urged him to vote for General Jackson, under an impression that if I should be elected, the administration would be conducted on the principle of proscribing the federal party— I said I regretted much that Mr Carroll, for whose character I entertained a profound veneration, and Mr Taney, of whose talents I had heard high encomium, should harbour such opinions of me. I could assure him, that I never would be at the head of any administration 75administration of proscription to any party—political or geographical. I had differed from the federal party on many important occasions, but I had always done justice to the talents and service of the individuals composing it; and to their merits as members of this Union— I had been discarded by the federal party, upon differences of principle, and I had not separated from one party to make myself the slave of another— I referred in proof of my adherence to principle against party, to various acts of my public life, and Mr Warfield declared himself perfectly satisfied with my exposition of my Sentiments. Mr Vinton applied for collections of the public Congressional Documents, for the University in the State of Ohio. Mr Addington came to enquire whether I had received official accounts of the intention of the British Government to acknowledge the Independence of the South American Republics— I mentioned to him the purport of the despatch received yesterday from R. Rush with which he appeared to be highly satisfied. I told him also that Mr Fitzgerald had declined accepting the mission to this Country—of which he had not been before informed. Baron Tuyll brought me an extract from a despatch received by him, concerning discriminating Tonnage duties in Russia— It was not known to him and we had much conversation concerning it. He had also a circular from Count Nesselrode written in August last; relating to a new levy of men at that time to recruit the Russian army. The Baron will write to me upon the Tonnage duty.— I sent to the President a draught of Instructions to Commodore Rodgers— In the Evening I attended the Theatre with my family— Cooper’s benefit. Damon and Pytheas; and Catherine and Petruchio— The house was more crowded than I ever witnessed it. The President, Genl. La Fayette, Genl. Jackson, Mr Crawford, and perhaps a hundred members of Congress were there. The performances were good; but Cooper is getting into the decline of age. Between the Tragedy and farce he recited Alexander’s Feast—well.